Joe Meek Blackbox EQ

[norm]

For those of you interested in esoteric history. I was trawling some English second hand gear sites and was astounded to find an offering purported to be one of (3) the famous black boxes made and used by Joe Meek. After some solid research I could not do the deal quick enough. This will arrive in the next couple of weeks and I must admit it is like Christmas time when I was a little fella. Joe had three boxes. 1. A spring reverb. 2. A compressor limiter. 3. An EQ. I have purchased the EQ. Rob at Pro-Harmonics will do the cleanup and I will get him to prepare a schematic. I tracked down an engineer who worked with this box for years and he tells me it is totally unique in how it was manufactured. Norm

[Chinagraf]

Are you buying it from Nigel Woodward at Chiswick Reach in the UK? Last I heard he had it. From what he said it was based around the Pultec design. Sounds interesting. I heard the spring reverb was made from an old heater or something. Reminds me of a cabby I had one night after a late session who spent the drive telling me how he was constructing a spring reverb from an old toaster.

[norm]

Yes I am buying it from Nigel thru Gear Online. Nigel got it from Vic Keary. I had the pleasure of entertaining Vic when I was in the UK. Vic now produces Thermonic Culture. Vic produced a special mastering version of the Vulture for me and signed it. Vics apprentice is now a top engineer/producer in the UK (Nick Terry). Nick is the one who has used this for quite some time during the the Chiswick Reach days. Nick is the engineer on my sons album which is due for release next month. Regards Norm

[Kris]

How's Jarrah? I heard some stuff of his on the radio a while back. Sounded good.

[Chinagraf]

Nice one Norm. Much better to bring to Oz than the ashes.

[rick]

jeez norm
i folding my hand in the game of trying to find cooler gear then you
years ago but this is really rubbing it in ( as will that 2nd fairchild 670 ! )
ever thought about getting into classic cars ... say the red 64 futura coupe parked in my driveway :)

[Chris H]

Than's one heck of a find Norm.....Congrats.

Keep us posted on how it sounds etc

[Chinagraf]

What amazes me is that it was for sale on an online broker's site. Goes to show how underappreciated Joe Meek was. Would have been great to see where he would have taken things if he had lived longer. The English have a knack for producers that go outside the norm. (No pun intended Norm) Martin Hannett was another that did brilliant work but checked out too soon. Also great to see it is not ending up in a glass case at the Hardrock.

[chris p]

What? You mean it won't sound the same as my Mequaliser?

Look forward to some pics and a schematic in due course.

[Chinagraf]

What if you spray paint the front of your Meekwalizer totally black?

[rick]

i think history has shown joe meek was a pretty sick, sad and criminal character ( aside from being very creative with sound ) .
in my opinion the world is way better off without him in it

if you start having dark thoughts that you cannot explain after using that eq box norm , perhaps wrap it up in a old bag and use it for an boat anchor !

[rick]

oh yeah tell me which part of the swan you chuck it in and i might spend a few weeks dredging for it :)

[norm]

Well the beatup old box has arrived at customs and should be with me within the next week or so. Truthfully I dont give a damn if it works or not I just like the history it conjours up. This fits in well with the U47,s used by Chubby Checker and Dave Brubeck and the 670 used for Marvin Gayes sexual healing along with Billy Thorpes 1176,s and his MCI JH24. There really seems to be no value attatched to outboard which has serious history, I am sure that will change someday. Regards Norm