With state-of-the-art sound reinforcement equipment enjoying its part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, there was also a special place for a vintage Martin Audio PA rig.
Alex Czechowski of Ace Vintage Systems has a museum of working iconic pieces, some of which he fielded at Glastonbury last year (when the Orange Chill ‘n’ Charge tent was turned into a retrospective space). For the Jubilee, Ace provided high-quality vintage sound at a Jubilee event in Northampton, which ran totally in analogue from the microphone to the loudspeaker.
The stacks would have done credit to any band playing 25 years ago, since the bass bins were the legendary Martin Audio 215 Mk3, complemented by Martin Audio MH112 mids (also known as ‘Ladyshaves’) and some tops.
‘It sounded fantastic, producing a really warm and clear sound,’ says Czechowski. ‘It showed that new British music is alive and raw which I think makes a change in these corporate times.’
Stereo Asylum were among the acts to put the rig through its paces. The man at FOH was sound engineer Dave Callanan – although Alex doesn’t say what he was mixing on. A WEM Audiomaster perhaps?
