Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey Brad (or anyone who has info),

Any experience with using tube power amps like old McIntosh MC240 or MC275? I know they cost a fortune but what about old Dynaco ST70 kit amps. I remember Ron Wickersham saying they used to use Dynaco tube amps along with McIntosh. Dynaco amps are much more affordable.

Jim

Any experience with these Brad?

I've read audiophiles say that the only thing that sounds better than a McIntosh MC250 is an MC275. I wonder how the MC275 sounds with guitar.

Jim

I've got a sweet Dynaco ST-70 here. I've honestly never played guitar thru it. It's an EL34 powered amp, and probably would sound very hi-fi and if you drove it hard, it would likely have a bit of that Marshally EL34 breakup to it compared to the Fendery 6L6 type clipping. The ST-70 is a beautiful sounding stereo/studio amp and is quite the audiophile enjoyment kind of piece. Very sweet and detailed sounding amp. I've never owned a MC275, but sure would like to. Wasn't Jerry using the MC275 to power his Twin preamps in the early 70's?? Waldo?? I was under the impression that quite a bit of the '72 stuff of Jerry's was using Mc275's.

Brad

That's what Ron Wickersham told me by email. On Owsley's web page he says the first PAs the Dead used they were using McIntosh power amps (must have been tube): http://www.thebear.org/notes.html#anchor44597

I really wonder how an MC275 or MC75 would sound with a Twin.


Jim

1969- mid 1972 (August, possibly into Fall) Garcia's (and presumably Weir's) speakers were powered by MC275, as seen in pics and film from England, Germany, and Veneta, OR.

During the early part of this span, we might also presume that they were used for everything else too , however by '72 we see the MC3500 used for at least bass and piano. Then by 12/31/72 (Barncard's pics) we see several MC2300's entering the picture, beginning with Phil's rig. By the first gig of 1973, (2/9/73 Stanford) the whole PA had been converted to solid state MC2300's, except, vocals which were still on the tube MC3500's.

The very early "lead sled" PA of 66-67(?) was powered by MC240s.

Brad? Waldo? Healy? ...Bueller????