Rock & Roll technology innovation from Amateur Radio

N9NY · Oct 12, 2019

Chet Atkins

N9NY · Oct 12, 2019

W0PV said: ↑

I ran across this story and thought it would be of interest here.

I hope it illustrates to younger generations that amateur radio interest, self-education and skill building, doesn't just lead to being an "uncool" nerd, it can actually be quite "hip" and valuable.

Too long to post the entire interview, here are just a couple of snips, I encourage clicking the link to the Ultimate Guitar web site embedded in the headline. Far more fascinating anecdotes are contained in the interview. IMO a "must read".

Wireless Guitar System Inventor Remembers Working With Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, and Others - A UG Exclusive interview with Ken Schaffer (N2KS), who single-handedly altered the course of rock and roll history.

"Actually, I started out as a recording engineer. Two of my ham radio buddies, Richard Factor and Steve Katz (who would go on to found Eventide Clockworks) and I boldly took on the assignment of building a recording studio. We actually didn’t know anything about building recording studios, but we were relentless ham radio buffs and well-read — we knew such esoterica as to line the wall with egg crates for acoustics. We had a three track Ampex there was state-of-the-art at the time and soon added a 4 track Scully, the first in the city, I think, which was kind of like science fiction."

"Although I was involved with music as an engineer, a producer, a publicist, my blood type was always radio [pictured below: Ken Schaffer – High School Radio Club President]. In fact, everything I’ve done my whole life was somehow an extension of my childhood hobby, ham radio. I was building antennas and transmitters and receivers when I was 11 or 12 years old. Everything I think I’ve ever done or come to do had to do with frequency — (thus my nickname, “Ken(neth) What’s the Frequency Schaffer.” Or WTF for short). “What’s The Frequency” was later memorialized by the REM song… Interesting note almost no one ever noted: the cover of REM’s CD single of “What’s the Frequency, Kenneth” has Morse code for “Kenneth” under the title. "

Hope you enjoy.

73, John WØPV
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Remember Electric Lady Land in NYC.

KC0KEK · Oct 19, 2019

The first console in Eddie Van Halen's 5150 home studio was designed by Bill Putnam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Putnam. The studio was inside a homemade Faraday cage due to a nearby AM station.

W0PV · Oct 23, 2019

KC0KEK said: ↑

The first console in Eddie Van Halen's 5150 home studio was designed by Bill Putnam: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Putnam. The studio was inside a homemade Faraday cage due to a nearby AM station.
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Another fascinating pop music anecdote, and another connection with Amateur Radio ...

Also from the cited wiki page for Bill Putnam,

"Putnam's interest in music began in this period, and his flair for electronics started when he was in the Boy Scouts working toward a 'wireless' merit badge. At thirteen, he tried and failed (!) to become a licensed Ham operator but at fifteen he succeeded, earning a Class B Call sign WA9PUK."

Glad the young Scout persisted!

Rock & Roll technology innovation from Amateur Radio

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