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View Full Version : The Funk Brothers' Motown guitar amp is up for auction...

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Joel Cairo
10-01-2019, 01:04 PM
The McIntosh MC-30 that was installed in the famous "blue box" used by the Funk Brothers in the Snakepit from 1964 to 1972 is currently listed on a popular internet auction site.

Just FYI...
ralpht
10-01-2019, 08:17 PM
Wow, very interesting. Box designed by tech wizard ..Mike McLean.
detmotownguy
10-01-2019, 08:28 PM
Wow, very interesting. Box designed by tech wizard ..Mike McLean.

For the layperson, is it possible to explain what the "blue box" did for the Motown Sound? Any special effects? Volume? Is this item something the Museum should purchase "back"?
Thanks!
ralpht
10-01-2019, 10:24 PM
It allowed each guitar player to set his own amp volume without affecting what was going to tape.
Joel Cairo
10-02-2019, 02:08 PM
...and more importantly, it provided both a clean signal to the control room, and a way for the musicians to adjust their collective performance, since they heard exactly what was being recorded, as they played.

Should the Museum buy it back...? Well, in this case, I can't think of anyplace else that's more like "home" for that amp than the studio at Hitsville.