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This cylinder has a striking "electrical" sound to me. Quite a nice recording for 1913!

BA 28156 The Flowers That We Love and Mariette (Vecsey's Orchestra, 1913)

https://app.box.com/s/kjlsik20v1g8w7ixfmspnv0iyafm96ik


The transfer was made with my John Petty pickup assembly:

http://www.christerhamp.se/phono/petty.html

I'd appreciate your comments!
Bob

Bob -

I completely agree. The range seems far expanded - especially in the high frequencies. The presence on the solo is great, but the sense of the whole orchestra in the room at the finale is quite remarkable. (Perhaps this is what I've heard others describe as "soundstage"?)

It would be interesting to know the particulars of the recording session. I have a Diamond Disc harp and flute duet from about that time that seems to have some of these qualities. I wonder if there were any similarities to the particular sessions like: shape of room, horn arrangement, recorder choice, etc.?

The pick up works nice. What kind of machine are you using for playback?

Martin

Glad you liked it, Martin. I figure the studio setup for both cylinders and discs must have been identical at the time this recording was made. Until 1915 separate takes were done for each format.

I used an Amberola V for playback. You can hardly do better with anything spring-wound, IMO!

barnettrp21122 wrote:I used an Amberola V for playback. You can hardly do better with anything spring-wound, IMO!

Ohhh...the travesty, Bob! Now, you know that you prefer your Edison Opera over your Amberola V don't you? My Oh My Oh My... Whatever you do don't tell your Opera what you said.

Doug

FellowCollector wrote:

barnettrp21122 wrote:I used an Amberola V for playback. You can hardly do better with anything spring-wound, IMO!

Ohhh...the travesty, Bob! Now, you know that you prefer your Edison Opera over your Amberola V don't you? My Oh My Oh My... Whatever you do don't tell your Opera what you said.

Doug

All my machines get along very well with each other-each knows they're loved as individuals!
Ordinarily the Opera would be my first choice, of course, but the electric pickup can only be used in Diamond B or C carriages. Here's a picture of it: