The Seattle music scene has always had a special place in our hearts thanks to the whole grunge thing, and one of the studios behind some of the scene's biggest albums is in need of help restoring its classic Neve soundboard. The piece of equipment has had a role in countless albums, but standouts include Pearl Jam's Ten, 3 Doors Down's Away From The Sun, Soundgarden's Loud Love and Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut.
"We came to the consensus that the Neve was simply too important to the Seattle music community to replace it," said Eric Lilavois co-owner of London Bridge Studio, owner of the Neve. "Rather than raise our studio rates ... we're inviting those interested in preserving this rich history to take part in the restoration and help ensure this board's accessibility for another 40 years."
What's the big deal with Neve recording? Dave Grohl explained the appeal as part of his Sound City project during 2013.
"Different boards do different things to the sound that's coming through them. An old Neve desk does embellish it in a way that makes it sound sort of bigger or warmer. It doesn't change the performance but it does enhance the way that it sounds," he said. "You know, it's the difference between listening to an old record on an old stereo versus listening to something off of your iPod. It really suits rock 'n' roll. I think musicians like me are drawn to those older desks, not just because they're legend and lore but also because they do something really specific that is hard to emulate or re-create digitally."
Yes, there are plenty of more worthy charitable causes for you to donate to, but if you appreciate the device's history, there's plenty of incentive to donate. For starters, those who give $35 will receive a limited t-shirt featuring the schematic for the Neve. $150 will get you an autographed copy of Fleet Foxes, $250 gets your name engraved on the new plexiglass cover to the soundboard's back. The big draw is for $15,000, which earns you recording time with a surprise guest producer (and other perks).
