McIntosh Laboratory has announced its sponsorship of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip exhibition.
The Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” utilized 48 MC2300 amplifiers to provide 28,800 watts of McIntosh amplifier power.
The exhibit opens as a part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012 Induction Week.
In early 1969, McIntosh engineers began creating the sound system that would be used at Woodstock. The Grateful Dead played on day two of the iconic festival, relying on McIntosh’s amplifiers to project their music a full quarter of a mile away.
In 1974, the Grateful Dead unveiled what they called their “Wall of Sound” – a mega stage system that utilized 48 MC2300 amplifiers to provide 28,800 watts of McIntosh amplifier power. As the band evolved, so too did the Wall. The completed wall was powered by 48 McIntosh MC2300s and two McIntosh MC350 mono tube amplifiers for a total of 29,500 watts.
“McIntosh is deeply rooted in American music history, and a huge part of that history is the Grateful Dead,” said McIntosh president Charlie Randall. “Like the members of the band, our brand has always recognized the importance of sound quality. We are proud not only to sponsor this exhibition, but also to have played a part in the band’s history. It’s an even bigger honor to have McIntosh artifacts included in the exhibit. From the sound system at Woodstock to the ‘Wall of Sound’ created especially for the Grateful Dead, McIntosh was at the very heart of an audio revolution that literally changed the way musicians played live concerts – and the way audiences enjoy them.”
The Grateful Dead: The Long, Strange Trip exhibit will include three McIntosh MC2300 amplifiers from the band’s personal collection, finished and working manuscripts for classic songs, an unprecedented collection of original album cover artwork, as well as numerous instruments used by the Dead over the years. Additionally, McIntosh is providing the museum with its SOHO Collection.
