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John Busch [message #95785] Thu, 07 July 2022 08:40 Go to next message
Barryso is currently offline  Barryso
Messages: 203
Registered: May 2009
Master
John's room was never predictable. Year to year he had all sorts of wild creations made of parts that shouldn't have worked together.

But they did.

He was a bit of a speaker designer mad scientist and took a great deal of satisfaction pointing out how the parts shouldn't have worked or be doing what he had them doing. He'd remind you several times that open baffle speakers produced no bass, then fire up his latest creations hat would knock you over with clean, textured and very abundant bass.

He could be quite the showman.

In addition to being a great speaker designer John also had a real bit of troublemaker in him. Mischief maker. Rascal. His aura was that he was up to something and if you hung around you'd get to be in on the scheme.

His room was always entertaining and time spent with him was always well spent. You always left knowing more than you did going in.

Here are some of the LSAF photos of his creations.

2007 - The original Manzanita
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3101&private=0

2008 - Altec 705a coax and Eminence 18" woofer
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3102&private=0

2009 - An upscale Manzanita style speaker
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3103&private=0

2010 - The Widow Makers
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3104&private=0

2011 - Open Baffle Madness - the 2nd photo is the Manzanita with the new tweeter
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3105&private=0

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3106&private=0

/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3107&private=0

2012 - 18" Coax Drivers
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3108&private=0

2013 - Ultra Plus
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3109&private=0

2014 - Killer Manzanitas
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3110&private=0

2015 - Boxes (Oh My!)
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3111&private=0

2016 - 18" Coax with 21" bass driver
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3112&private=0

2017
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3113&private=0

2018 - The new Widow Maker
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3114&private=0

2019 - The further refinement of The Widow Maker
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3115&private=0
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Re: John Busch [message #95786 is a reply to message #95785] Thu, 07 July 2022 08:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barryso is currently offline  Barryso
Messages: 203
Registered: May 2009
Master
One more.
/forum/index.php?t=getfile&id=3116&private=0
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Re: John Busch [message #95788 is a reply to message #95785] Thu, 07 July 2022 08:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18785
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

So glad you posted those photos, Barry.

I still can't believe it. When Pano first wrote - I knew it was serious - but I was in denial and expected John would get better. Weird how my mind works that way. I just couldn't accept it and thought he'd get better.

LSAF will definitely be different without him. We were kindred spirits - thought pretty much alike in all matters - and I'll miss seeing him there.

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Re: John Busch [message #95789 is a reply to message #95785] Thu, 07 July 2022 13:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pano is currently offline  Pano
Messages: 17
Registered: May 2010
Chancellor
Barry - thanks so much the great photo collection! I know most of those speakers, and I know that mischievous look in the last photo. Smile

I never did get to hear the 18" coax together with the 21" woofers, but did get to use them both separately, the MCM 21s lived at my house for awhile. They were the perfect OB woofer.
John said he wanted me to have the P.Audio 18" coax and some crossover parts, but I gotta figure out if I can get them down here to Panama where I live. They would be a fine souvenir of John's genius.

You are so right when you say Quote:
All sorts of wild creations made of parts that shouldn't have worked together. But they did.
That was John Busch's design philosophy in a nutshell. John took great delight in doing that. He was both out of the ordinary and extraordinary.

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Re: John Busch [message #95790 is a reply to message #95789] Thu, 07 July 2022 14:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Pano is currently offline  Pano
Messages: 17
Registered: May 2010
Chancellor
I'm helping to find a home(s) for John's gear that is currently in storage in Kerrville. I can post photos here, and a "speculative" inventory. John and I did an inventory back in 2018, but I know he sold off a lot since then. Because there is no one there to take an exact inventory, my best guess is all that I can post.

Obviously it would be best for John's family if someone could be there to sell off the items one per one, as that would bring the most money, but that is unlikely to happen. So we are hoping that someone will want to buy the whole lot, clear out the storage and find happy homes for all of John's gear.

Any thoughts? I want to post here first before posting anywhere else, because LSAF was so important to John.

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Re: John Busch [message #95791 is a reply to message #95790] Thu, 07 July 2022 17:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mightym is currently offline  mightym
Messages: 21
Registered: September 2009
Location: Checotah, Okrahoma
Chancellor
Thanks for posting the photos Barry. I heard everything from '09 on if memory serves me. I will never forget hearing the Widow Makers for the first time. Also Sprach Zarathustra at 101Db....

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Re: John Busch [message #95793 is a reply to message #95785] Fri, 08 July 2022 06:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Barryso is currently offline  Barryso
Messages: 203
Registered: May 2009
Master
Wayne

I think we were all hoping to hear news that John was recovering. He'd stopped answering emails many months ago and I was hoping to get another one soon. He had an engaging email style and it was always fun to go back and forth. Sometimes he'd delve into technical things and I had to hold on for dear life trying to take it all in.

Pano

There likely isn't anyone more suited to those coax drivers than you. They were John's and they were the very sort of crazy speaker project that only he'd do. That makes them special. It doesn't hurt that you're knowledgeable enough to do nice things with them. Hope you can figure a way to get them beasts delivered.

Having one person take John's gear and parse it out is a great idea but I've not got anyone to suggest off the top of my head. I'm in the Philadephia area which is about 1800 miles from Kerrville and way too far to be practical. There are others from the show that live closer so I'll put the word out on the LSAF Facebook group and maybe we'll find someone.

If somebody from his family could take a few photos it would likely help someone decide if they wanted to take on the project. It might sell off a few pieces, too.

Mightym

The Widow Makers were awesome. To this day I've never experienced a recorded orchestra sound that good anywhere else. Small room, big speakers and John controlling the volume. What more could you want?

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Re: John Busch [message #95802 is a reply to message #95785] Fri, 08 July 2022 18:18 Go to previous message
Shane is currently offline  Shane
Messages: 1117
Registered: May 2009
Illuminati (3rd Degree)
I will definitely miss seeing him and the emails back and forth.

What I really liked at the shows was to peek on the backside and see the real mad scientist crossovers. Then he would go on to explain why they worked like they did and what he might change. 10 minutes later he's got it half torn apart and swapping parts out. It was great!

I've got a handful of pics from over the years somewhere. Need to dig on my hdd.

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