KONTIKI Revisited

[Spike]

Hi Everyone
We have been updating some of the tunes on the jukebox that were done a few years ago (some with the now superseded TVS2).

This is our latest effort and we think it is an improvement on the earlier version.
Here is the link http://www.tvsspecialtyproducts.com/page7.htm

Click on the JukeBox button and scroll to number 23


Hope you like it

Spike

[John Boyd]

Hello Spike,
There's 'That Sound' !! A great post - sound, performance and a backing track to die for . I just loved it. Kontiki is one of my favourite Shads tunes, so
thank you so much for posting the link.
Cheers,
JB

[keithmantle]

If you could 'bottle' that sound you'd sell crate loads !!.

[fullerton62strat]

Spike,

That is fantastic! Apart from Gary being a great player the sound is to die for. If only we could reproduce that on stage our quest would be over.

First class - top marks - absolutely spine chilling playing and sound. Full marks to the team down under (and it almost hurt to say that).

John

[Uncle Fiesta]

Agree - full marks and more for both the playing and the sound. The Aussies have done it again, dammit.

[Spike]

Hi Everyone

Sorry for the late response but I have been a bit sick with the dreaded cold and still battling with it

I must first congratulate you Brits for kicking our Ozzie butts in the Olympics and congratulate you on a brilliant Olympics that I have thoroughly enjoyed....well done.
Hope we can win the cricket...not feeling confident though:D

Anyway back to here....thanks very much on your touching comments. It makes us happy to see you liked the sound, performance and mix.

We will shortly be revisiting The Savage and a few other tunes that need to be updated.

Take Care
Spike

[Spike]

PS: John

Reproducing that sound live on stage is a pretty tough ask. Even The Shadows couldnt produce it as Malcolm Addey post mixed all the early studio recordings differently and none sound like their stage sound.
The best stage sound of THAT SOUND by The Shads was at the ABC KIngston Concert and probably the Paris Olympia but its not quite the same as their recorded sound.
It does have a kind of THAT SOUND but different....if you know what I mean.
We can go close to the ABC KIngston sound on stage too, but the accoustics of the venue have to be helpful. When The Shads toured in 2009-2010(with the TVS3) their sound varied from venue to venue. Some said it had that ABC K. sound in some places but not in others as there are many variables at play.

Cheers
Spike

[fullerton62strat]

Spike,

I think this posting has answered the fundamental question of ''That Sound''.

It has always been thought that the sound was enhanced by the studio and recent disclosures have highlighted anomalies that point in this direction. One of the most interesting is the RS 106 Echo Control System that regulated the bass cut at 600 herts and top at 10,000 herts. This had the effect of thickening up the signal, enhancing the harmonics and reshaping the signal before it hit the echo unit. Whether this was the king pin in producing that sound is still not known, but is very interesting

What you guys have done is produce THAT sound in a similar way to how it was done originally, in a studio environment. That in itself is pretty remarkable. You point out that THAT sound could not be produced on stage in the past and present and I totally agree. Acoustics and audience mass at a venue all contribute to the sound and no two venues are the same. Having heard the Shadows on vynil first before seeing them live probably spoilt all of us into thinking a Strat, amp and echo box would produce the sounds on that first LP! Not even the Shadows could reproduce that sound live on 60s TV shows - close, but not there. Also, Hank was playing so the phrasing and playing style would have been a mental 'same as' in the overall assessment to the ear.

We have been looking in the wrong direction all the time - here's the proof. The kit you are using incorporating the TVS, has produced outstanding results. Congratulations to you all.

John

[dave robinson]

Yeah that's the sound, well done guys.

[Spike]

Hi John and Dave

Your comments are well appreciated and its always great to get some reward for work done.

As we go through and update a few more tunes, I will post the links here for those interested.

I must add that having the right equipment is a must starting point as no amount of post mixing will help otherwise.
Also the post mix settings such as amp settings, speaker distance....etc...for KonTiki may be different to say Wonderful Land or Dance On.

If anyone who is interested and hasn't seen our 4 videos on this topic...they are on the Video Section of the TVS website.
Paul and Gary demonstrate many important factors including picking positions, the gear we use, playing techniques, etc...
Its of benefit to all not just those having Meazzis or TVS3's.

Cheers
Spike