[sdiy] First the Queen, now Harry...

[Peter Snow]

Well folks, it had to happen!

Last weekend the Queen and Prince Philip were in Ottawa on the last leg of their 50th Golden Jubilee
tour of Canada. And his week-end Harry and Dana Bissel were in town - way more exciting!

On Sunday we all met at Mark Hammer's house (Mark hangs out at Ampage and has a large basement -
thanks Mark!). Apart from Harry & Dana, there was Mark, Mike Irwin, Osamu "Sam" Hoshuyama, Gilles
Caron (Ampage), and me.

We all had a blast playing with all the "toys". I never realized how difficult a theremin was to
play - even when quantized! Dana has my undying respect.  And Harry's hex-fuzzed-guitar-synth-thing
(sorry to get technical) was truly impressive. Tracks like a dream and sounds great!  Mike Irwin
brought a 4049-based 24-stage phaser that has sample and hold built in - sounds really wild (in a
good way).  Sam had just completed his PAiA 9700 which we finally got working with an ARP Axxe as
controller - it didn't seem to like my CASIO MIDI guitar's output too much.  He has inspired me to
finish mine now after it has remained unloved and unfinished for the past couple of years.

It was really great to meet Harry & Dana in person and hear Harry's explanations of the design and
construction of his guitar-beast and I think he mentioned BBD's only once!

It's getting late so I'll post more later and pix too if I can find a site...

Cheers,

Peter