Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

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NY Chief
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Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by NY Chief » Tue Aug 02, 2005 11:00 am

Anybody rememebr a band called "Cactus"? Tim Bogert and Carmine Appice rhthym, Rusty Day vocals and Jim Mcarty on fire on guitar. I just came a cross a CD of their best stuff. Mcarty says he used an Ampeg Scrambler to get those over the top tones. It sounds like an octave splitter.

Anybody ever hear of these pedals?

And for you guys who have never heard "Parchman Farm" or "Can't Judge a Book" or "Evil" are really missing some outrageous playing.

Appice said "Parchman Farm" was intended to make TYA's "Going Home" tame. It did. In SPADES!
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NY Chief
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Post by NY Chief » Fri Aug 05, 2005 4:05 pm

C'mon....NOBODY knows who Cactus was? :?
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Post by jimmy_j » Sat Sep 03, 2005 1:20 am

Ampeg reissued the Scrambler now because they were fetching up to $1000 on eBay. I've heard they sound true to the original.



http://www.ampeg.com/products.htm?product=117&catid=35

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Post by Country Boy Shane » Sat Sep 03, 2005 10:31 am

I am a Cactus fanatic. That could be one of the most underated bands ever. Blues rock... over the top.
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Post by npminard » Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:21 pm

Cactus kicks a lot of...you know what...shame they aren't as well known or more popular back in the day. Jim McCarty was originally in Mitch Ryder's Detroit Wheels

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Post by NY Chief » Tue Nov 08, 2005 3:30 pm

jimmy_j wrote:Ampeg reissued the Scrambler now because they were fetching up to $1000 on eBay. I've heard they sound true to the original.



http://www.ampeg.com/products.htm?product=117&catid=35
Got one! Never played an original but, it definitley gets those haywire octave doubles when cranked. Scared the shit out of my bass player.
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Post by VelvetGeorge » Tue Nov 08, 2005 6:25 pm

F**K Yes! Cactus rocks. Now I'm going to have to find their stuff on CD or download. I used to have the vinyl. I'll look for it too.
I need to get a turntable.


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Post by sub » Tue Nov 08, 2005 8:32 pm

I'm working in a (used /secound hand/) CD/DVD store.
I found Cactus CD....... hmmmm cool. I got ZEP feeling when i listen :)
I can hear octave effect --> most guitar solo
I will buying this CD --> ~$2.3 :lol:

Sub
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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by milnersXcoupe » Tue Nov 11, 2008 9:22 am

Yeah ! Met 'em ! Jim gave me two thumb picks [one new metal - one plastic he'd shaved down] and a std. pick he'd used that evening at The Ulster Performing Arts Center Concert '71.

Hung out at the Kingston NY Diner after the
Concert with Rusty - smoked up the last of his Parliment Lights......


Jim McCarty & Mystery Train :

http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/street/2818/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Planning on building a Stereo Scrambler soon..

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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by carlygtr56 » Tue Nov 11, 2008 2:44 pm

Huge fan right from the first album. Collecting on them for decades!

http://www.supload.com/music/Parchmen-F ... 41L51.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by milnersXcoupe » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:27 pm

Ahh.....! BrUtal .........

nice photo dude - Thanks !

During these past Presidential Debates - I'd be watching Sarah Palin while listening to Rusty maneuvering smooth harp on their tune: 'Alaska' :wink:

Has any recordings of Rusty's Florida 'Cactus' group effort surfaced ?

I've heard one live recording in Tampa Joe's with Steve Dansby on Guitar - John Sautor on Bass with Knoblock on Drums .

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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by carlygtr56 » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:16 pm

milnersXcoupe wrote:Ahh.....! BrUtal .........

nice photo dude - Thanks !

During these past Presidential Debates - I'd be watching Sarah Palin while listening to Rusty maneuvering smooth harp on their tune: 'Alaska' :wink:

Has any recordings of Rusty's Florida 'Cactus' group effort surfaced ?

I've heard one live recording in Tampa Joe's with Steve Dansby on Guitar - John Sautor on Bass with Knoblock on Drums .
I got a Fla show buried somewhere

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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by milnersXcoupe » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:45 pm

.....Wall_House ! :mrgreen:

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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by braveandawesome » Sat Nov 01, 2014 1:00 pm

milnersXcoupe wrote:Have any recordings of Rusty's Florida 'Cactus' group effort surfaced ?

I've heard one live recording in Tampa Joe's with Steve Dansby on Guitar - John Sauter on Bass with Knoblock on Drums .
I've never heard of this "Tampa Joe's" recording before, but it sounds really interesting. Wish I could download it & listen to it myself. Anyways, to answer your question, only 3 recordings of the reformed lineup have surfaced online (all of which feature .38 Special's Gary "Madman" Moffatt on the drums):

6 Gun Territory, Ocala, Fla, May 1978 (fair quality) - http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f90/ca ... 33849.html

Sunshine Speedway, Bradenton, Fla, October 28th 1978 (terrible quality) - http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f90/ca ... 33840.html

The Comic Book Club, Jacksonville, Fla, June 15th 1979 (excellent quality) - http://www.guitars101.com/forums/f90/ca ... 33842.html

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Re: Ampeg "Scrambler" / Cactus

Post by milnersXcoupe » Sun Nov 02, 2014 10:46 pm

First Link worked .. the .jpg too .. other two Links kaput. :peace:

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