12-09-06

Freq City Sound was providing stage, sound, and lighting for an outdoor Don McLean concert. After the American Pie guy, there was a fireworks show. I put in the city's fireworks sound track CD, set the levels and went up on a hill to watch the show.

I was about 1000’ out when I heard the third track start. It had been burned a lot hotter than the rest and it was really loud. I took off running toward the board. The low end was so massive it was nuts. People were fleeing the stage area like there had been a bomb threat. By the time I reached the faders the low end was all consuming. I really can’t explain how much sub-bass there was on this field. The GT-3600’s always did kick the #*@% out of the kick drum, bass guitar and the low end of the keys so I was use to them performing well. This was another movie all together. If it ever happens to you, you’ll remember this article – it was kind of scary.

We had 8 of the GT-3600 subs / four a side. Each box was powered by half of a Crown MA-3600. I turned down the system resolved to the fact that I’d blown all 16 speakers. After the show and back at the warehouse, all of the GT-3600’s were tested. Not one was blown. Not only had they produced more low-end than I’d ever heard – they did it effortlessly. That day I became a believer in the quality and workmanship of the Grund people.

I needed another set of monitors and had been looking at the EAW line. I decided to give my buddies at Grund another shot at impressing me. I ordered 8 of the GT-1520M wedges. I could write for hours on these wedges and the success I’ve had using them. When we set a show, we ring the monitors out a bit using the artists preferred mics. The talent arrives and hits the mic with the standard “check 1-2-3.” The next thing that consistently follows is the old thumbs up at the monitor engineer.

We used the GT-1520M's with Marshall Tucker, Larry Carlton, The Lettermen, The Four Freshmen – always the smile and affirmative nod when they hear the Grund wedges. They’re warm, present, crisp, full and in your face. Nine times out of ten we’re asked to “turn them down.” That’s such a treat for a monitor guy. If a rider asks for a specific wedge other than my GT-1520M’s, I go through all the rest of the substitutions but never bring up the wedges. When the talent says check into the mic – all is well.

Michael Volkerding / President
Frequency City Sound & Lighting Ltd.
946 Redway Avenue / Cincinnati, OH 45229
513-751-0970
www.freqcitysound.com