Copper Magazine · Issue 172 · A free PS Audio publication
Issue 172 Opening Salvo

Redemption Song

Redemption Song

Sir Rastus Bear who’d ever believe
You’d be by a song
Redeemed

– Blue Öyster Cult, “Redeemed”

Copper’s Tom Gibbs is going to be absent from the next few issues. He’s in the process of moving, and his audio system is dismantled for the time being. When he returns he’s got some stories to tell about the adventure, which – wait for it – hasn’t been going entirely according to plan…

In this issue: John Seetoo interviews mastering engineer Piper Payne. Tom Methans visits the 2022 New York Audio Show. J.I. Agnew considers the finer points of record cutting lathes. Wayne Robins reviews Beyoncé’s new album, Renaissance. Jeff Weiner pays another visit to the Musical Instrument Museum. Ray Chelstowski talks with tour manager David Libert about his new book, Rock and Roll Warrior. Harris Fogel looks at the recent NAMM music industry show. B. Jan Montana ponders the question of limited identity. Rudy Radelic continues his series on A&M Records with a look at their Latin side. Ted Shafran begins a new series on desert island classical music recordings.

I hit an Octave Records LP trifecta: the release of three Octave titles on vinyl. Ken Kessler finds goodies in boxes – tape boxes, that is. Rock runs in the family: Andrew Daly interviews Graham Whitford (son of Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford) of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown. Russ Welton looks back at a unique musical instrument industry apprenticeship program. In a Copper exclusive, Larry Jaffee offers a never-before-published chapter from his Record Store Day book. Anne E. Johnson celebrates the 150th anniversary of master of orchestration Ralph Vaughan Williams, and hears empowerment in the country music of Martina McBride. We close the issue with a hearing aid, alien musical taste, tubes to go, and a theatrical display.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Harris Fogel, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

 – FD

More from Issue 172

View All Articles in Issue 172

Search Copper Magazine

#236 Magic Boy: The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Live and Rediscovered by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Great Rhythmic Divide: Composer David Chesky Asks, Why Doesn't the Symphony Orchestra Groove? by David Chesky Nov 02, 2026 #236 More Record Reviews: Roni Eytan’s Microtonal Harmonica, Jane Ira Bloom, and a Frank Zappa Freak Out by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 An Album of Inviting Beauty: Goodnight Moon from Acoustic Eidolon, And an Interview With the Artists Who Created it by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 Never Ignore Your Inner Voice by B. Jan Montana Nov 02, 2026 #236 Composer Joseph Bertolozzi Uses Bridges, Structures and the World as Musical Instruments, Part One by Joe Caplan Nov 02, 2026 #236 Transmission: A Powerful Horn-Loaded Album from the Huntertones by Ray Chelstowski Nov 02, 2026 #236 Les Quatre Saisons du Québec: a New “Four Seasons” on Tour and on ATMA Classique by Robert Schryer Nov 02, 2026 #236 From The Audiophile's Guide: A Glossary of Terms for Today's Audio Systems, A – M by Paul McGowan Nov 02, 2026 #236 From The Listening Chair: An Introduction to Audiophile Tweaks by Howard Kneller Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Vinyl Beat Grew Two Inches Since October! by Rudy Radelic Nov 02, 2026 #236 How to Play in a Rock Band, Part 29: Figuring Out How to Play the Songs by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Return of the Residents: Eskimo is On the Road by Wayne Robins Nov 02, 2026 #236 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Nov 02, 2026 #236 The People Who Make Audio Happen – Fun In Las Vegas at…CES 2026? by Harris Fogel Nov 02, 2026 #236 The Forms of Things Unknown by Frank Doris Nov 02, 2026 #236 Prophetic by Peter Xeni Nov 02, 2026 #236 Here's Looking at You, Kid by Rich Isaacs Nov 02, 2026 Favorites From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Cam Martin Oct 05, 2026 #235 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create, Part Two by Joe Caplan Oct 05, 2026 #235 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part Two by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Grammy-Winning Producer, Songwriter, and Guitarist John Leventhal Goes Instrumental With National Drift by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room—to Founding an Accidental Audio Company by Gilles Laferrière Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Vinyl Beat’s Size Matters Edition by Rudy Radelic Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Sublime Complexities of Nature by B. Jan Montana Oct 05, 2026 #235 How to Play In a Rock Band, 28: Growing Older and Dealing With It by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Young Rascals: From Bar Band to Stardom by Wayne Robins Oct 05, 2026 #235 Duncan Sheik: In Memoriam by Ray Chelstowski Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Listening Chair: The Meze Audio 105 Silva Headphones by Howard Kneller Oct 05, 2026 #235 Checking Out Some NOLA Loudspeakers – and Some Thoughts About Audio Writing by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 The Kanazawa Phonograph Museum: Music from a Time Capsule by Sebastian Polcyn Oct 05, 2026 #235 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Oct 05, 2026 #235 From The Audiophile’s Guide: Making the Most Critical Choice by Paul McGowan Oct 05, 2026 #235 Evolutionary Growth by Frank Doris Oct 05, 2026 #235 Speed Racer by Peter Xeni Oct 05, 2026 #235 Happy Halloween! by James Schrimpf Oct 05, 2026 #234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026

Redemption Song

Redemption Song

Sir Rastus Bear who’d ever believe
You’d be by a song
Redeemed

– Blue Öyster Cult, “Redeemed”

Copper’s Tom Gibbs is going to be absent from the next few issues. He’s in the process of moving, and his audio system is dismantled for the time being. When he returns he’s got some stories to tell about the adventure, which – wait for it – hasn’t been going entirely according to plan…

In this issue: John Seetoo interviews mastering engineer Piper Payne. Tom Methans visits the 2022 New York Audio Show. J.I. Agnew considers the finer points of record cutting lathes. Wayne Robins reviews Beyoncé’s new album, Renaissance. Jeff Weiner pays another visit to the Musical Instrument Museum. Ray Chelstowski talks with tour manager David Libert about his new book, Rock and Roll Warrior. Harris Fogel looks at the recent NAMM music industry show. B. Jan Montana ponders the question of limited identity. Rudy Radelic continues his series on A&M Records with a look at their Latin side. Ted Shafran begins a new series on desert island classical music recordings.

I hit an Octave Records LP trifecta: the release of three Octave titles on vinyl. Ken Kessler finds goodies in boxes – tape boxes, that is. Rock runs in the family: Andrew Daly interviews Graham Whitford (son of Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford) of Tyler Bryant & the Shakedown. Russ Welton looks back at a unique musical instrument industry apprenticeship program. In a Copper exclusive, Larry Jaffee offers a never-before-published chapter from his Record Store Day book. Anne E. Johnson celebrates the 150th anniversary of master of orchestration Ralph Vaughan Williams, and hears empowerment in the country music of Martina McBride. We close the issue with a hearing aid, alien musical taste, tubes to go, and a theatrical display.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:
Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Harris Fogel, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:
“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:
James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:
James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:
Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:
Frank Doris

Publisher:
Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:
No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

 – FD

0 comments

Leave a comment

0 Comments

Your avatar

Loading comments...

🗑️ Delete Comment

Enter moderator password to delete this comment:

✏️ Edit Comment

Enter your email to verify ownership: