Mike Rutherford, Genesis questions from a newbie

relayer · Post by **relayer** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 1:30 pm

Yeah, I bought a set a while back (when I was certain I'd *never* find a Taurus II or I, both of which happened a few months later

). I did a little research, and opted for the Korg EX-8000 module instead of the FB-1, based on reviews at various synth users' pages (both are basically the guts of '80's syths). That module cost me an additional $150 U.S. When I was dealing with them, I wasn't made aware that they'd accomodate custom ideas, but that's okay, as I'm sure that would've added to the cost (the point, for me, was a lower cost alternative). They do nice work, but I'd suggest doing a search on both modules to see if the descriptions of each will satisfy your needs, because that's essentially the heart of the unit.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 1:18 pm

I have an original Taurus which I bought new in '77...used it a lot back in the prog days, then not so much through the late 80's/early 90's...I dusted it off and began using it again with The Perry Weissman 3, the band I've been playing with since '96...it's great for when you need 'that extra little push over the cliff'...in addition to it's musical value, running it through any reasonably powerful bass rig (an Ampeg V4, for example) and placing a brick on the low C pedal for an hour or so will drive vermin out of even the funkiest rehearsal space (I doubt the guy from Styx has ever tried that).
A related issue, and one I'd love to hear Rutherford or Lee comment on...the degree of difficulty involved with holding and playing a doubleneck while balancing on one foot and playing bass pedal lines ought to qualify as an Olympic sport, or at least a circus trick...talk about a younger man's game...

bill_jenkins · Post by **bill_jenkins** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:24 pm

Hi Dane,
I've often wondered about that. The Shergold didn't look very lightweight, and I've always figured I'd be sitting with my acoustic or Ric and tapping pedals. Well, we'll see. I'm torn between a set of pedals, a 4003, or a better quality 12 string (acoustic). Of course, if a 660/12 came along for the right price....not that I could stay married and buy all of that at once, or even in the same year...

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Mar 17, 2005 12:32 pm

Man, you're right about that...gear acquisition is best accomplished while one is young and single. As to playing bass and Taurus at the same time...I do that now from a seated position, as you described...a decision prompted by a need to project the dignity that should accompany middle age...that and my hernia, caused by lifting a Balinese gong by myself.

bill_jenkins · Post by **bill_jenkins** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:25 pm

So Dane,

What kind of stuff do you play? Into the old Genesis & stuff? Around these parts that seems to be a tall order, finding anyone who wants to attempt it. My tastes are all over the map. My originals are more David Crosby type stuff, and my listening tastes toward Genesis, Gentle Giant, Yes, and the like. Finding other middle-aged muscians to try and play something other than classic rock covers is frustrating. ANd I'm just not into doing the bar scene (or being asked to play "Old Time Rock'n'Roll...ever).

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:19 pm

Good for you, Bill...playing classic rock at this point in history is tantamount to working for Cadillac. The stuff we play in PW3 is really hard to categorize...sort of avant jazz but it veers into lots of different territories. (I think our website PW3theband.com has an MP3 or two you could listen to). I've played on albums by the Apples in Stereo and Neutral Milk Hotel, and I'm on drums on four tracks of the new Von Hemmling release, which is supposed to be out any day now. Most of my musical time (3 rehearsals a week minimum) is devoted to playing Balinese gamelan...I'm a founding member in a group here in Denver called Gamelan Tunas Mekar...been together since 1988. We've been to Bali to study several times and performed at the Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar in 1996, the second American group to do so. The feelings I used to get when I was younger playing prog rock...playing difficult material as tightly as you can...I now get from playing gamelan.
I do miss rocking out though...I've done a fair amount of that over the years but not a lot lately. I've been collecting players over the last few months for a project that would entail playing Vietnam era covers...I got the idea when I heard about a guy here in town who plays in a Civil War recreation band, and I thought "man, all that great music 'way back in the twentieth century...maybe it's time a new generation got to hear it live." Really, I just wanna play "Ballad of the Green Beret", "Sky Pilot", "Shotgun", "Vietnam Rag", "Machine Gun", "If Six Was Nine", "Clear Spot", "Trouble Comin' Every Day", you, know, all those heart-warming tunes we loved as kids. Call me old-fashioned, but I think those old songs still have something to say, maybe even something today's youth ought to hear! I'm calling the band "Apocalypse Now And Then"...I'd better get my ASCAP dues together...
I've never played "Old Time Rock'n'Roll" either, now that you mention it...but I subbed for a drummer in a cover band in Arizona in 1975 at a gig at the Yuma NCO Club...I thought they were all terrible tunes, but the crowd loved 'em...the one that tore the roof off the place was "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"...Man! they don't write 'em like that anymore...

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 3:56 pm

I agree that the original Taurus was superior to the "improved" version, even though that one has a half octave more range. The second version, although having more control, never did get the preset "Taurus" sound that Rutherford & Geddy Lee used so effectively. I managed to get pretty good at using one foot on the Taurus and singing/playing bass a the same time. I even had a barstool to lean back on so I could use both feet at times. Unfortunately, I sold both of them when I stopped playing full time 20 years ago.

relayer · Post by **relayer** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:02 pm

[I'm torn between a set of pedals, a 4003, or a better quality 12 string (acoustic).]

Only my opinion, but I'd probably go for the pedals first if you can, simply because they are harder to find (although there's been - relatively - a slew of them on eBay lately), and because the price will, unfortunately, continue climbing.

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:53 am

Taurus on Ebay now, but at $3000. I paid $600 for mine in 1975. You could get a 4003 and a 12 string for that money. Which would you use more? Unless you're doing prog rock covers or something that uses lots of droning, I think money toward a bass/guitar would be better spent. But I did love my Taurus -- heads turned when I used them -- cattle became restless, birds stopped singing, drinks vibrated, bowels were loosened ...

dswp · Post by **dswp** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 5:26 am

I know that the Taurus II’s are not as good as the original Taurus pedals.

But for around $700.00, they sound pretty good to me. (Plus the cost of lots of bass bins.)

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:27 am

Excellent price, and they STILL sound good -- it's just not as easy to get the Taurus sound by setting the oscillators as it was with the preset on the original. Easier to change settings, obviously, and you can do some crazy things with the wheels and repeat function if you have enough hands.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 11:24 am

Dave M., I'm unclear after re-reading your post...am I to understand that you SOLD YOUR BARSTOOL, AS WELL???

Dude...my sincerest condolences...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 12:56 pm

There's a thread-stopper if there ever was one.

Dane, I appreciate your view of the world

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 1:15 pm

Man...you should see it from this angle...

revolver323 · Post by **revolver323** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 2:10 pm

No, I kept the stool and sold it on EBay for $3 million plus shipping