Bottlehead Forum
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Doc B. on September 13, 2016, 09:06:15 AM
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We've been talking a lot lately about things we would like to do around here besides packing kits. One of the ideas that came up was inspired by a nostalgic feelings for the good ol' days of our local VALVE club (Vintage Audio Listeners and Valve Enthusiasts). Bottlehead came out of that club, as well as several very important friendships for me. Everyone had a great time and we all learned a lot.
I recall that we did something like 84 meetings over 7 years, pretty much on the first Sunday of every month. We'd have anywhere from 5 to 35 people show up. Typically at least half of the attendees would bring in a DIY project that we would either put into the system if it worked, or put on the bench if it didn't. Guys like PJ, George Wright, John Tucker and others would show up and there would always be lots of interesting conversation and sharing of ideas. The meetings actually became sort of a pilgrimage for the guys who were into this SET stuff when it first came on strong in the 90s, which led to our putting on the VSAC conferences we did in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Back then we mostly held meetings in my basement and had occasional meetings at other member's homes. Now we have this great venue with lots of room to spread out, a reference system to run gear in and a lab with plenty of space to work out kinks on a new project.
What do you guys think? Should we give it a go? If there is enough interest we'll pick a date and get the word out.
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Hi there,
I think it's a great idea and would be interested in attending. An occasional tech talk from the experts would be great and a big attraction.
The idea of a regular date (first Sunday, second Saturday, that sort of thing) is helpful to aid in planning ahead.
Looking forward to it if it comes together.
David
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Wish I lived in the Seattle area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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We certainly would love to see anyone who wants to come by for a visit when they are in town.
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I would love to attend these meetings but North Carolina is a long way from Bottlehead headquarters. I'm certainly not qualified to contribute to equipment designs but I would love to listen to the conversations that will happen, just to learn. If this great idea takes off maybe you could use a web cam and a webinar hosting site for remote folks like me. I would be willing to pay a fee to help cover the webinar cost. It would certianly be cheaper than a plane ticket. That being said, I do want to visit someday. It's definitely on my bucket list!
Ken
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I'll be there. Weekdays are tough but weekends would be great.
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You could start slow and ramped up the meetings to support the available attendees, I know I'd love a vacation in the Pacific NW, I look forward to Burning Amp each year it happens here and would love to add to my experience.
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I'm sorry some of you guys can't attend because of distance. Hopefully we will continue to see posts here from people who are able to attend, so I can get a feel for whether we have a quorum. I think our first meeting back in 1994 had 13 or 14 attendees. If we could see around that number of people saying they would attend here I would be happy to organize the meets. Looks like we have two participants for starters. Let's hear from 13 more of you. If we get a good response then we can discuss the best day to do this.
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Sign me up!
I really like this idea. I am new to the DIY side of audio and would love to learn from others. I am lucky enough to be local, but for those that are not local it would be a good idea to have a section in the forum for people in the BottleHead community to announce other regional groups that can start up. Who knows, maybe one day all groups can come together for BottleheadCON ;)
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Being on the other side of the country, it would be a little tough to attend.
Might it be possible to use something like GoToMeeting or Webex to allow those of us that are remote to participate?
Rich
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There have been some groups in different parts of the country over the years, and we have had conventions for tube DIYers, called VSAC. These are all good ideas that we could do again as we did in the past. The best way to approach all of this is to start with a local meet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3JPa2mvSQ4
I really appreciate hearing from the local folks who have expressed interest so far.
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Haha Doc I love the video! I am excited to bring back the community and am proposing that we have our monthly meet on a Saturday and offer specific topics, guests etc!
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I have all sort of strange things (and people) I could bring along. Count me in!
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I'll be there regularly, too!
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I have a friend over there who's local...I'll work on him to be a plus one...
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Would Saturday, October 15th be too soon for a first meet?
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That works for me.
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October 15th works for me as well.
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Love the notion, but I will be in Sasyama, Japan making pottery and firing a big wood kiln there for two months. Maybe I will be able to make a later meeting. I won some GIK room treatment panels and am enjoying my VPI/BH/Blumenstein system even more these days!
Cheers! Hank in Eugene
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I can make it on October 15th!
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I'm interested in attending and the 15th works for me!
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Sadly, I would be in if I weren't at a family reunion that very weekend... otherwise I'm always up for putting on the riding gear and taking the ferry across. I miss the good old days when we would spend half the meeting soldering stuff together on the bench and the other half moving equipment in and out of that basement!
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Well, it will be moving gear up to the listening room now. We'll save a couple of big speakers for you to schlep. ;D
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Just like old times...... only now we are old. ;)
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I'm in Gig Harbor, I'll definitely be there.
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I'm in Gig Harbor, I'll be there.
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We've been talking a lot lately about things we would like to do around here besides packing kits
I'll be there. Did I miss it, or was there a time posted?
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Well, I live across the country with small children who are starting their school year. In short, I won't be making it. But why not try to organize local gatherings around the country? NW, SW, Central, NE, SE??? If I can get my barn listening room set I'd be happy to host something in New England. But that may be a year or so off. In any case, there must be a group of customers in each major region of the country who could form a base of fans who get together on an occasional basis and show their wares? I only have the Quickie but may expand at some point. And if I can play around with a 3S4 cathode follower for my system, that'd be an interesting addition to any discussion.
Carl
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I'm a definite maybe - have a sort-of-planned gathering that day at home but may be able to change the date for that.
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OK, let's shoot for Saturday, October 15th, 1-4 p.m. for this first meet. We'll have some munchies and sodas and water, and of course there is beer and wine next door. You have to buy a bottle and bring it in to our place to open it. You literally cannot take a glass of beer across the sidewalk from the brewery to our door. A minor inconvenience, we will have glasses and cups. So all you guys and gals need to bring is
yourself
your friend
your latest project, finished or not
some music you like - but no Diana Krall
All of these are optional except for the no Diana Krall. If someone wants to be a hero and immortalize the event with pictures and a writeup we will all be forever in your debt.
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This sounds like a great idea. I am looking forward to attending.
I ran into Gordon H. and Nick F. (long term VALVErs) last month at the antique radio swap meet in Shoreline. I have no current contact info for them. Hopefully they will also see this thread.
John
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Awesome John, it will be great to see you! I hope Gordon and Nick get the word too, as I don't seem to have current contact info either. The emails I sent apparently went to old addresses.
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Sounds like a lot of FUN.
I've read and reread all your old news letters. (Valve)
I come up to Portland about once a year, when the sun comes out. :)
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Dan,
I have a friend that knows Gordon, I will ask her to tell him. I have not seen him in a couple years.
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Thanks, that would be great. If anyone thinks of other old timers we have missed and you know how to contact them, give them a heads up. It would be fun to show the new kids just how weird we used to be.
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I'll try to be there.
And by the way, I have never heard of Diana Krall. So of course I had to look. Gee, thanks a bunch. I hope to be over my indigestion by next weekend.
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Hey Doc,
Do you think the [currntly, predictions of] this weekend's "Blowmageddon" in western WA will affect the plan to hold this Bot-Do?
thanks,
David
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The meteorologists are admitting that they are SWAGing the intensity of the storm as far as I can tell. So I think the best plan for me is to prepare to host a meeting Saturday. If we see a foot of rain, or we have no power, or our building is uprooted and headed for Oz I will do my best to wave everyone off with a post on the forum. If we do have the meeting and you guys get trapped here, well, there is a brewery and winery and a distillery next door. You could get stranded in a worse place.
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Sounds good; thanks.
Stranded next to a brewery, eh? Kinda reminds me of the joke about the tragic demise of Paddy McGillicuddy, who perished in an unfortunate distillery accident. It fell to the foreman to inform the now-widowed Mrs. McGillicuddy.
"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but it's my sad duty to inform you that Paddy fell in a vat at the brewery today and we couldn't save him."
"Oh, Lord," replies Mrs M, "do you think he suffered?"
"Oh, no, Ma'am," replies the foreman, "he got out three times to go to the bathroom."
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some music you like - but no Diana Krall
Overplayed? Pretentious? Arguments break out when she's played like politics or religion?
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overplayed