Group Dinner and Listening Party With Ian Mackenzie - Come One/Come All

Ian Mackenzie is coming from Aussi-land to Southern California for a visit. He will arrive on Friday, Jan. 18th and we would like to arrange for a group dinner and possible subsequent listening party at my place that night. The listening party could also occur on the following Sat and/or Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Day).

For those who would like to join us, we are thinking about any of the following three places all located in Tustin. All are easily accessable from the 55 Freeway. We are thinking about:

Mimi's on 17th Street at the 55 Freeway:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura...alifornia.html

The Citrus Cafe on Redhill at Edinger:

http://www.citruscafe.com/

Or El Torito, also on 17th at the 55 Freeway

https://www.opentable.com/r/el-torit...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

I would like to get an idea of those who would like to attend and their restaurant preference so I can make the reservation. Please respond no later than Thur., Jan 17th. You can respond here or PM me directly. Let's make an evening of it!

For those who would like to attend a listening party, we have a wealth of speakers to choose from, and you may bring your own. I have the ability to A/B/X any two pair.

Our offerings include:
JBL L200/300 variants
JBL L112's
JBL/Heil "Ethyl Mermans" (2241H/2251J/AMT)
Altec "Big Red Supers"
Chartwell LS3/5A's
RSL 3800's

Sounds like a lot of fun // though for some obvious geographical reasons I can't attend.

You have lots of neat stuff that would be fun to give a listen to .

Have Fun!

Earl

Hi Todd,

Thank you for the welcome.

This time l will get some sleep before l turn up.....
I arrive before l actually leave apparently which can make it a long day.

And l will speak some “Aussie” slang for those who enjoy it and tell a few jokes.
I may also bring some Koala bears and other more amusing souvenirs.

Ian

Hey have fun!

Rob:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie

Hi Todd,

Thank you for the welcome.

This time l will get some sleep before l turn up.....
I arrive before l actually leave apparently which can make it a long day.

And l will speak some “Aussie” slang for those who enjoy it and tell a few jokes.
I may also bring some Koala bears and other more amusing souvenirs.

Ian

---

Some good ads for JBL stuff running locally on C/L right now. Maybe if this interests you you could prearrange a look/see.

How about a pair of 6290s for $260 with a very motivated seller? I actually contacted this guy a couple weeks ago but didn't need that much power and bought the Soundcraftsmen 300x4.

MORE POWER CAPTAIN!

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...790443786.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...792395202.html

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/...792387759.html

Ah excess baggage and 240V at my end could be a limitation.
I also need to go shopping for the “wife” and the kid.

How about a Jbl garage sale? Bring you boat anchors....

Does Steve Schell till run his Altec museum? That was really cool. I mean l experienced a 1.5 watt digital amp blow the room apart with his sub horn!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie

Ah excess baggage and 240V at my end could be a limitation.
I also need to go shopping for the “wife” and the kid.

How about a Jbl garage sale? Bring you boat anchors....

Does Steve Schell till run his Altec museum? That was really cool. I mean l experienced a 1.5 watt digital amp blow the room apart with his sub horn!

---

Boat anchors is appropos as 2440s were commonly used in fog horns and there are/were countless carcasses lying at the bottom of the ocean.

I don't know if Steve still runs his Altec museum. I do remember listening to his "tar-filled" horns through the low powered amps and the singer (don't recall the woman) sounded delightful. Would love to see it again and any changes he has made.

Steve..., are you reading/listening?

How about it guys? No dinner responses yet.

I’m in for Friday/Saturday, possibility Monday

Quote:

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Originally Posted by toddalin

Boat anchors is appropos as 2440s were commonly used in fog horns and there are/were countless carcasses lying at the bottom of the ocean.

I don't know if Steve still runs his Altec museum. I do remember listening to his "tar-filled" horns through the low powered amps and the singer (don't recall the woman) sounded delightful. Would love to see it again and any changes he has made.

Steve..., are you reading/listening?

How about it guys? No dinner responses yet.

---

Thanks Dave,

If anyone is having a problem with a Friday dinner, we can do it Sat or Mon. Just let us know and we'll work around it.

Thanks.

I'll be in LA Wednesday and Thursday, but I should be arriving home about the time Ian lands at LAX. At least he and I won't be waiting in different terminals for me to pick him up!

:eek:

That was funny 😁. I was only there for two days.

Now l need a few options on my first Man versus Food venue after l arrive in the morning and grab the car.

Any ideas? It needs to be a descent stodge 🍣🍣🍔🍔🍛🍧🥞🍺🍺☕️☕️🍟🍟 Lol

After that l will probably do the tragic tourist thing.

Any ideas. No rules anything goes...Lol. (Might be easy to rule out what not to do)

After that l will probably chill out in a bar.

Oh you guys are going to have LOTS OF FUN!!!

The government is shut down and TSA agents have reported double the normal sick outs. Inspecting agents were just ordered to inspect planes without pay!

Because California is anti-Trump, maybe you'll get lucky.

https://www.sfgate.com/travel/articl...t-13533315.php

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie

Now l need a few options on my first Man versus Food venue after l arrive in the morning and grab the car.

Any ideas? It needs to be a descent stodge 🍣🍣🍔🍔🍛🍧🥞🍺🍺☕️☕️🍟🍟 Lol


Any ideas. No rules anything goes...Lol. (Might be easy to rule out what not to do)

After that l will probably chill out in a bar.

---

If I were there, I'd meet you at Islands Fine Burgers and Drinks.

https://www.islandsrestaurants.com

There are two locations near LAX:

MANHATTAN BEACH 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Phone: (310) 546-4456
Sun - Thurs: 11am - 10pm Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm





REDONDO BEACH 1609 Hawthorne Blvd. Redondo Beach, CA 90278

Phone: (310) 363-8968
Sun - Thurs: 11am - 10:30pm Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm

Sit at the bar if you're by yourself and strike up a conversation with someone. I've had intriguing encounters with all kinds of folks, young, old, male, female, trans, local, out-of-town, international, filmmakers, execs, cops, teachers—the list goes on. After returning from my grandson's funeral in Chicago last February, I sat next to a couple, maybe 10 years younger than me, and they had just buried their daughter. We were all looking for answers. We didn't find any that night other than shared experiences and mai tais, but it shows you can meet anyone there.

Once, a car dealer took me out to the lot and let me drive his 911. (He was in the passenger seat, of course!)

Another time it was an old geezer, older than me! who could barely hear, so I interpreted what was showing on the big screen. He had a ball, thought I was a surfing genius, and I enjoyed him so much I paid for his food and drink. It made both of our days.

Just use your natural charm, and you'll be a hit, If you sit at the bar and strike up a conversation.





Good food, big screens showing amazing skiing, surfing, sports, etc., endless fries, soup, salads, fish tacos, good drinks, etc. What could go wrong?

Okay, that's my idea. Wish I could be there.

I've always wanted to drive west on Sunset to the sea. For some reason. Gonna have a rental car this time?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie

After that l will probably do the tragic tourist thing.

Any ideas. No rules anything goes...Lol. (Might be easy to rule out what not to do)

After that l will probably chill out in a bar.

---

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie

That was funny ��. I was only there for two days.

Now l need a few options on my first Man versus Food venue after l arrive in the morning and grab the car.

Any ideas? It needs to be a descent stodge ������������������☕️☕️���� Lol

After that l will probably do the tragic tourist thing.

Any ideas. No rules anything goes...Lol. (Might be easy to rule out what not to do)

After that l will probably chill out in a bar.

---

You could kill many birds with one stone. Many serve food.

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=str...-los-angeles-2

Yep. It won’t be a Dodge Charger unfortunately

You could visit "The Source" in Torrance, just south ofd the airport.

https://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-source-a...iophile+stores

Quote:

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Originally Posted by grumpy

I’m in for Friday/Saturday, possibility Monday

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Well guys, looks like just the three of us. I've not got any other responses and I even PM'ed Steve Schell and Bart with no responses. I haven't had El Torito in a dog's age and it is close for some listening/libations before/after. I'm good any/all days/evenings.

Just let me know the venue and when.

Small gatherings are fine...

I think Barry might be a starter but not to the weekend.

Arrived, got the Dodge Challenger and planning a good coffee and a burger.

No sleep on the flight so it will be a quiet afternoon.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ian Mackenzie

Just let me know the venue and when.

Small gatherings are fine...

I think Barry might be a starter but not to the weekend.

Arrived, got the Dodge Challenger and planning a good coffee and a burger.

No sleep on the flight so it will be a quiet afternoon.

---

You are welcome to come here and crash in the spare bedroom or on the couch. I'll PM the address.

Have a great time guys......sounds like a great session to be at.....jealous ;)

We are getting together today ~noon for lunch and listening. If anyone would like to join us (Ian, Grumpy, myself), we are in the North Tustin area for the afternoon.

What no pictures?

Rob:)

Pictures???

I don't even have a cell phone.

Ian, for your ankle biter:

https://youtu.be/JhjVtw1poeI

Firstly Todd is a great host and a funny guy.

We had a lot of run listening to and comparing Todd’s two main
Jbl Loudspeaker systems and the new Altec monitors. I think the jury is still out for me on the preferences for either the L300 or the three way diy system featuring the Heil driver. The Altec monitors were a real surprise however. They were the best l have heard a 604 sound. Excellent.

Thankyou also to Grumpy who joined us on Saturday and special thanks to Todd’s wife Linda for putting up with us.

It was 1975 when I recorded synthesizer tracks at Momma Jo's Studio in North Hollywood and they used Altec Big Red Supers, and this is the sound that I remember from the control room. I don't know if theirs were tri-amped, eqed, or what, but the Big Red Supers that I auditioned in my living room with Mastering Labs passive units sounded nothing like these. More like when I switched off the the in-line passive eqs, and even then less highs/presence and there was no adjustment for the aux speaker's balance/response.

Momma Jo's was quite popular at the time.

From Wikipedia:

Dave's Room was built in the late 1960s by producer, and engineer Freddie Piro.[1] Originally called Mama Jo's, the studio was the first independent recording studio in North Hollywood, California. Albums by artists such as Richie Furay, Keith Green, Billy Joel, Pat Benatar, Amy Grant, Sam Phillips, Ambrosia, Ziggy Marley, George Michael, Love Song, Michael W. Smith, Margaret Becker, BeBe and CeCe Winans, Andraé Crouch and the Disciples, Blink 182, Chuck Girard, The Way, Smokey Robinson, Randy Stonehill, Sweet Comfort Band and Daniel Amos were recorded there.

Producers and engineers including Alan Parsons, Jack Joseph Puig, Jonathan David Brown, Al Perkins, T Bone Burnett, Andy Johns, Brown Bannister, Burt Bacharach and Larry Norman were clients during this period.

After falling into disrepair in the mid-2000s, in 2006 it was completely refurbished by David Bianco. Bianco restored the recording space with an eye toward maintaining the incredible period feel, and acoustics. The control room, originally designed by Vincent Van Haaff,[2] was updated technically. The main speakers were re-built using matching components from another Van Haaff-designed room at Larrabee Sound Studios, and was re-named Dave's Room.

Albums by Lucinda Williams, Blues Traveler, Bob Dylan, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Trombone Shorty, Exene Cervenka, Meghan Trainor, Bettye LaVette, Tift Merritt, Susan Tedeschi and Judith Owen were recorded there. Along with soundtrack music for The Muppets, Blades of Glory and Gangster Squad.

After Bianco's death, in June 2018[3] the studio was taken over by his longtime friends, and colleagues David Spreng and Paul "Fig" Figueroa with the support of the Bianco family.

Well it’s time to leave LA.

I must say it’s been might nice visiting LA and l look forward to my next visit a bit later in the year.

Ian

Have a good trip back. I've been enjoying the Tour Down Under on tv. Nice scenery. :)

GREAT!you guys have so many fun:applaud: