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Lexinator · 13th March 2009

Okay, deep breath...

Some idiot just offered me more for one of my "hand-built" Harleys than anyone in criminal possession of rational sense could possibly turn down...

So, I'm gonna do something I was gonna do a long time ago, and build myself a studio, right here in my house. Well, okay... not exactly "in" my house, but right next to it.

Here's where is gets complicated. Right next to my house are (4) shipping containers (all welded together, and insulated with 9"-12" of spray-in foam insulation) buried under four feet of soil.

The guy I bought the property from was gonna use it as a temperature-stabilized warehouse.

When I got it, it had (10) old cars pushed into it. I sold three of them, to build the Harley I just sold. So, HE actually paid for all of this! I love it when a plan comes together!

"The Cave" is cut into a hillside, that is really just a berm created by piling dirt on top of the containers. It's structurally sound, I had it checked out by engineers. There's a ton of rigid insulation and then almost 6" of steel-reinforced (rebar) concrete sprayed over the top of it...

There are several skylights (okay, about 12) built into the warehouse, that are basically just concrete boxes 5+ feet tall, capped with regular "venting" 4' x 4' skylights. These extend up thru the earth roof.

The vents are motorized, and "mech operated." You can set them to open or close with a thermostat.

One long side of the box is exposed, with an overhang of about four feet, to provide some shade. In the center, are two big truck doors, that I'll tear out, and replace with an "airlock door" and windows...

The rough measurements are: 32' x 40' x 9'6"

The inside measurements are: 30'6" x 38'6" x 9' with a slab floor that is 12" of steel-reinforced concrete. (He was gonna drive tractors over it.)

It's completely open inside. He used beams, the existing container steel framing, and enough welding rod to build the Eiffel Tower to build one big open space.

I'm thinking a control room, a nice studio "space," a podcast booth, an ISO booth, and a Piano room (for a Boston GP195 Grand Piano), some kind of "production lounge," and a small bathroom.

It'll be used for writing and producing scores, doing some podcasting and interviews, and other assorted projects, primarily by myself and a few drunken hooligans who call themselves "a guild of guitarists and musical miscreants."

I figure I need to allow for space for no more than about 8-10 musicians at any given time.

What I want to do is build a place where "new talent" can go to record, without suffering the slings and arrows of the "ponytails." As a guitarist, I've had a good run, and it's time to give something back.

I'll do some rough sketches (remember I'm a guitarist, and not an architect or engineer) and then I'm gonna ask for your help and suggestions.

I have about $50-70 grand to spend on the actual building.

I gotta be careful, because at my age, it ain't likely that I'll meet any rich widows (my wife wouldn't like it), and I ain't gonna come into any money from relatives. Heck, I probably won't even get Social Security, cuz' I'll be broke by then!

I have access to as much gear as I need, so that'll come later. What I can't get "because I'm an old 'used to be famous' guy," I'll buy out of a "war chest" that has about $40,000 in it, to date.

I've seen the kind of things you guys can do here, and frankly, I want a piece of it. Your talent would make anybody proud!

(How's that for gratuitous praise and the piling on of "butt-kissing and brown-nosin'?")

I need help with this! You have any suggestions? Comments? Sarcasm?

(Remember, I'm old. No "anatomical impossibilities," huh?)

Help an old guy learn new tricks. It's good karma!

And keep this on the "low-low..." Huh? If my wife finds out about it, she'll wanna buy (gasp!) shoes!

13th March 2009	#1
Lexinator Gear Head Joined: Mar 2009 Location: The "Dirty Dirty" Posts: 32 Thread Starter	A Harley fueled Home Studio!?! Okay, deep breath... Some idiot just offered me more for one of my "hand-built" Harleys than anyone in criminal possession of rational sense could possibly turn down... So, I'm gonna do something I was gonna do a long time ago, and build myself a studio, right here in my house. Well, okay... not exactly "in" my house, but right next to it. Here's where is gets complicated. Right next to my house are (4) shipping containers (all welded together, and insulated with 9"-12" of spray-in foam insulation) buried under four feet of soil. The guy I bought the property from was gonna use it as a temperature-stabilized warehouse. When I got it, it had (10) old cars pushed into it. I sold three of them, to build the Harley I just sold. So, HE actually paid for all of this! I love it when a plan comes together! "The Cave" is cut into a hillside, that is really just a berm created by piling dirt on top of the containers. It's structurally sound, I had it checked out by engineers. There's a ton of rigid insulation and then almost 6" of steel-reinforced (rebar) concrete sprayed over the top of it... There are several skylights (okay, about 12) built into the warehouse, that are basically just concrete boxes 5+ feet tall, capped with regular "venting" 4' x 4' skylights. These extend up thru the earth roof. The vents are motorized, and "mech operated." You can set them to open or close with a thermostat. One long side of the box is exposed, with an overhang of about four feet, to provide some shade. In the center, are two big truck doors, that I'll tear out, and replace with an "airlock door" and windows... The rough measurements are: 32' x 40' x 9'6" The inside measurements are: 30'6" x 38'6" x 9' with a slab floor that is 12" of steel-reinforced concrete. (He was gonna drive tractors over it.) It's completely open inside. He used beams, the existing container steel framing, and enough welding rod to build the Eiffel Tower to build one big open space. I'm thinking a control room, a nice studio "space," a podcast booth, an ISO booth, and a Piano room (for a Boston GP195 Grand Piano), some kind of "production lounge," and a small bathroom. It'll be used for writing and producing scores, doing some podcasting and interviews, and other assorted projects, primarily by myself and a few drunken hooligans who call themselves "a guild of guitarists and musical miscreants." I figure I need to allow for space for no more than about 8-10 musicians at any given time. What I want to do is build a place where "new talent" can go to record, without suffering the slings and arrows of the "ponytails." As a guitarist, I've had a good run, and it's time to give something back. I'll do some rough sketches (remember I'm a guitarist, and not an architect or engineer) and then I'm gonna ask for your help and suggestions. I have about $50-70 grand to spend on the actual building. I gotta be careful, because at my age, it ain't likely that I'll meet any rich widows (my wife wouldn't like it), and I ain't gonna come into any money from relatives. Heck, I probably won't even get Social Security, cuz' I'll be broke by then! I have access to as much gear as I need, so that'll come later. What I can't get "because I'm an old 'used to be famous' guy," I'll buy out of a "war chest" that has about $40,000 in it, to date. I've seen the kind of things you guys can do here, and frankly, I want a piece of it. Your talent would make anybody proud! (How's that for gratuitous praise and the piling on of "butt-kissing and brown-nosin'?") I need help with this! You have any suggestions? Comments? Sarcasm? (Remember, I'm old. No "anatomical impossibilities," huh?) Help an old guy learn new tricks. It's good karma! And keep this on the "low-low..." Huh? If my wife finds out about it, she'll wanna buy (gasp!) shoes! Attached Thumbnails __________________ The Man Cave Audio Project "Nothing separates the generations more than music. By the time a child is eight or nine, he has developed a passion for his own music that is even stronger than his passions for procrastination and weird clothes. Amen!"