Jim Williams, what gear do you like?

[djui5]

Jim,
I was curious what kinda gear you do like? I've seen you rant about a lot of gear I thought sounded good. What is build well? What passes your "scrutiny"?

[DISCERN]

Thats easy! Any piece of gear that doesn't appear on this "available upgrade" list.

[Sqye]

..

HEY - JUST A MINUTE THERE, RANDY.....


if it's a more AGREEABLE JW you're looking for,

i'm afraid you'll have to visit the newly moded Jim Williams GEAR FORUM.

it comes out of the box with the newly moded Jim Williams..

(he does the surgery on himself)






but, hey, we're not here to be AGREEABLE now - ARE WE?

(how boring would THAT be? -

like a fr*gg*n press conference for the Bush administration)

..

[Bdiggy]

I'd PM him Randy.

[djui5]

[jebjerome]

More importantly, what music do you like, Jim Williams?

I've read many of your posts and may eventually have some things modded by you, but I wonder if maybe you like everything to be cleaner than I do. So, if you don't mind, what are some of your favorite albums, artists, sounds, etc (and gear)?

I've wondered about many of the people of this forum's tastes as there seem to be so many experienced, intelligent, opinionated folks here, but if their tastes are completely different than mine, it'd be important to consider that in the equation when interpreting their posts and how one relates to those.

Sorry to be 'jacking.

One thing: I do believe he likes the Compellor. With the Jim Williams mod of course.

[djui5]

Originally Posted by jebjerome

Sorry to be 'jacking.

Not at all! I think it's a great question too.

This can be the "get to know Jim Williams" thread.

Jim,
this is your soap box! Step up to the mic buddy...

[davedarling]

I think he likes anything......wait for it.......THAT'S NOT FRENCH !!!

i kid. (kind of)

dd

[superburtm]

Good thread Randythumbsup THis I gotta hear

[Dan]

I'd like to hear also..

[Empty Planet]

Is this the line for Stones tickets?

???

[ronzie]

Sqye wrote:

it comes out of the box with the newly moded Jim Williams..

(he does the surgery on himself)

He can use himself ON himself because he's a tool.

Ron Allaire, Skyline

[Blast9]

He listens to Tool --- Question is did he upgrade Tool?

[Jim Williams]

Oh, THAT Jim Williams. I thought this was about Jim Williams from Linear Technology. Actually, we almost look like brothers.

Well, this Jim Williams likes to work on blues, roots rock, folk, jazz, classical. Anything with the required 4 food groups of recording:

Real music, in real time, with real players, with real sweat.

Modern rock music bores me to no end. I grew up seeing Hendrix, Clapton, ELP, Floyd, Winter, etc. so I'm not much impressed by the new crew.

I love a tweaked out analog console. I'm mixing the live show from Namm right now, "Tribute to Harold Rhodes" with George Duke, Jeff Lorber, David Benoit, Brian Bromberg, etc. Right now it's "in the box" as I havn't dumped it into the HD24XR (another one of my favorite pieces). The tracks sound pretty good but this ITB mixing sucks big time. No depth, nothing behind the speakers. I know this thing will jump out at me as soon as it's routed into the analog console.

These are a few of my favorite things:

Soundcraft Delta 24 console
Lexicon 224XL
Lexicon LXP-15
Adcom power amps
JBL speakers
Kimber Kable
Alesis HD24XR
Aphex Expressors
MXR graphic EQ's
Custom Neve EQ's
Aphex 612 gate
dbx 166
Ashley SC-55
Crystal CS5381 A/D converters
BurrBrown PCM1704/1792 DAC's
AKG460 mics
AKG414B mics
RE-20
RME digi 9636 pci card
AXON AX100 midi converter
6 Telecasters including a Rosewood and custom 12 string
1966 Deluxe Reverb
1965 Showman
1970 Vibro Champ
Basson Sound 120 head
Basson Sound 4x12
1967 Trini Lopez, 335 style

Most of the recording gear was selected after I had a chance to go through a customer's unit first. That way I had found the best stuff first. Of course, all of this gear is modified, including the guitar amps. The guitars are all active with custom EQ/electronics and the Telecasters have a hum cancel preamp that removes hum while allowing the use of the original pickups.

The console is amazing, kills any digital mix buss for clarity (it measures -134 db THD on the Audio Precision) while giving the much missing depth. Bandwidth is 200k hz. It's ready for the 574k sample rates! It does suck current big time, I'm using 18 amps to power a small 24x4x2 console. The TI THS opamps inside are all class A and are heatsinked. It does warm up pretty good.

The 224XL is the best reverb I've ever used or heard. It's also heavily modified and kills 480's. I have more money invested into my JBL crossovers than I paid for the speakers, it was well worth it.

The entire studio is free of transformers except for the 224XL and the Gates Solid Statesman. Even the mics have their transformers removed. I do have some Jensens around for that sound, but I usually prefer no nickel/iron in the sound.

All the wiring is Kimber. Some is silver. Even in the console I use the pure silver wire from the XLR's to the pcb and from the faders. I use silver foil capacitors in the speakers and A/D converters. The mic cables are either Kimber AGSS silver at $60 per foot or Carol/Belden 9182.

Why do I do this?

I follow the Jimi Hendrix school of recording:

"I want to see and hear EVERYTHING".

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[amino]

Hahahaha!!! Great post, Jim!

BTW, do you use anything that you haven't modified?

[Blast9]

Are you trying to insult him?

[Mike Jasper]

Excellent. The Ultimate Jim Williams thread.

I'm curious, Jim, why do you like AKGC414B (I assume that means B-ULS and EB) mics so much. You're pretty much the only one on this list who has anything nice to say about them, except for the old "they sound great on pianos" line.

So why do you like these mics? And what do you like to record with these mics? Hell, maybe it's piano?


Jasper

[Jim Williams]

My RE-20 is stock. That's probably about it.

I use the 414B's (I don't care much for the EB's) on many things, but not piano. I prefer an old Rode NT-2 for a pop piano sound, ( modified). For solo or classical I use the 414's in omni.

I like the 414's on vocals, electric bass, guitar amps, drum overheads, horns.

I like the 460's on overheads, hihat, bottom snare, acoustic guitar, jazz piano, jazz guitar, percussion.

Both mics are ruler flat, something I really want. I don't much care for mic's with built in EQ, it's usually not the frequency and bumps I would choose. With a great EQ the flat mics can be turned into anything. Since I don't own 50 various mics I need to make the one's I have cover all the bases. That's why I like the flat one's.
With great preamps flat mics have all the air and detail I need.

Oh, almost forgot those, I use them Audio Upgrades High Speed mic pre's on everything. I have a special one I made with silver foil caps and all Vishay bulk foil resistors. Never found anything close to it.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[MusicKat]

Of course the 414's have the "Jim Williams mod". If you get a chance to hear one you will know why Jim likes them. . . . absolutely a different mic altogether!!

[KevWind]

Adcom ... interesting are you talking in a pro live or recording context ? I have seen Adcom in the consumer stereo and Home theater market. but there you have the likes of Boulder , Krell, Classe', Mondial or its price point line Acurus (which I like.) But I also like Martin Logan and Magna Pan Spks...... BTW I'm not being argumentative. I used to sell High Fi so i am just curious. thanks .Kev

[KevWind]

I was lucky enough to see Live the likes of the Doors. Jefferson Airplane, Iron Butterfly, Paul Butterfield, SteppenWolf, Steve Miller, The Grass Roots, Leon Russel, Jesse Colin Young and ...Yes even John Denver (hell of a show) and many more... missed Jimmi though damn !!!

[Mike Jasper]

I got to meet John Denver in person at the Pasadena Ice House in 1977. Little known fact about John Denver -- he could probably kick your ass. John Denver was a studly dude in person and he didn't smile once. Very unlike his onstage image. Definitely a muscular, mountain man type. Really surreal.

Sorry to digress, but I still have nightmares about the guy.


Jasper

[Mike Jasper]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

These are a few of my favorite things:

Soundcraft Delta 24 console
Lexicon 224XL
Lexicon LXP-15
Adcom power amps
JBL speakers
Kimber Kable
Alesis HD24XR
Aphex Expressors
MXR graphic EQ's
Custom Neve EQ's
Aphex 612 gate
dbx 166
Ashley SC-55
Crystal CS5381 A/D converters
BurrBrown PCM1704/1792 DAC's
AKG460 mics
AKG414B mics
RE-20
RME digi 9636 pci card
AXON AX100 midi converter
6 Telecasters including a Rosewood and custom 12 string
1966 Deluxe Reverb
1965 Showman
1970 Vibro Champ
Basson Sound 120 head
Basson Sound 4x12
1967 Trini Lopez, 335 style

I see something very key missing from this list. Bueller? Bueller? Anybody?

Where's the infamous MCA SP1? I knew it. It's a hoax, right?

Jasper

[Snatchman]

Hey Jim. Sure would like to hear your modded gear in action! ( 'specially the console).. How bout it? Sample...Thanks...

[Metatone]

Originally Posted by Jim Williams

. I prefer an old Rode NT-2 for a pop piano sound, ( modified).

Hi Jim,

I'm curious about this mod...I've got a pair of NT-2's that I used to use as room mics. What's the mod (if you don't mind sharing) and what changes in the mic's character from stock? My grand piano and I are both interested to hear.....

Thanks!

[superburtm]

I really would like to hear his preamps

[Mike Jasper]

Originally Posted by superburtm

I really would like to hear his preamps

Yeah. Anybody use his preamp? They don't get talked about as much as they should, I think.

Jasper

[lame pseudonym]

Anyone who plays through a Showman is a friend of mine, but I'd like to know a little more about those hum-cancelling preamps in the guitars...to heck with mics and mixers, -that's- something I could really use....

lp

[DISCERN]

Cool post, Jim

[dan*leclub]

Hi,
you mentioned your modified Rode NT-2 Mics. I was curious what you did to them. The mod isn't mentioned on your website. I have a pair of those mics that don't see much use...
Greetings, Dan