Tom Ishimoto '71

Here's some interesting stuff you might like since you into electronics. The first photo is my audio/video/music system in 1970. It consisted of AR4x speakers, AR3a speakers (not in photo), Dynakit Pas 3X preamp, 2 Dynakit Stereo 70 power amplifiers, Dynakit SCA35 integrated amplifier, Dynakit FM3 FM tuner, AR turntable with Shure V-15 type II cartridge, Sony TC-366 tape deck, Sony TC-155 dubbing deck, experimental 4 channel matrix decoder I designed and built (way before 4 channel stereo came into existence), Superex headphones, RCA television, Rubenstein piano, and a 12-string guitar. All amplifiers and tuners were built from kits and they were all vacuum tubes.

( Rick's note: I remember when Tom built the ST-70 -- I built the transistorized version: The ST-120, which is in the background of my 'then and now' picture in my Dorm room -- AR2Ax speakers, AR turntable with the VI15type II -- all from Tom's influence -- the Tiedyed curtains and petermax posters in that photo were of other influences)

The second photo is my present audio/video/music system. It consist of Magnepan speakers, Infinity Studio monitors, RH subwoofer, Revox A77 tape deck, NAD T163 preamp/tuner/processor, Mitsubishi HSU69 SVHS deck, Mitsubishi HSU61 SVHS deck, Sharp 100” projector screen with Infocus DLP front projector(now shown), Denon LA3500 laserdisc player, Marantz CDR500 dual CD burner, (3) Yamaha MX1000 power amplifiers, Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with ADC carbon fiber arm mounted with Supex SDX1000 moving coil cartridge with matching transformer, Phasor Phono Preamp (my first creation that went into production after graduating college), Sony DVPC985V 400 disc Super Audio/DVD changer, Stax Electrostatic headphones, Yamaha PF80 electronic piano, Oberheim Matrix 6 synthesizer, Boss mixer, Emu sampler, Nexus midi switcher, Yamaha R7 receiver, Technics SLL20 turntable, Yamaha RX15 drum synthesizer. The guitar has sentimental value to me because Spencer gave me the guitar as a gift and he used it is as a practice guitar. (Spencer Davis from the Spencer Davis Group (Gimme'some lovin', I'm a Man)!)

( Rick's note: Tom's influence carried into college, I designed and tried to market my own stereo amplifier design while in school -- it was a flop and his influence was gone -- Tom went on to a great career with Marantz stereo when he graduated -- I went to the kennedy space center and lit the fuses on rockets - My current stereo equipment is an Ipod which I never can remember to charge up - but it does have all my Jefferson Airplane and Steppenwolf albums on it)

The 3rd photo is Sandy(my wife), Greg(my son), and myself. Greg graudated valedictorian at Simi High, received his Bachelor of Science in Microcell Biology at UC Berkeley, and now in his last year of medical school at USC.

The last photo is myself today at my office at my company, Northridge Electronics.

With warmest regards,
Tom Ishimoto Class of 1971

(And of course -- to make it an 'official' then and now -- Here is Tom's Senior year photo from the yearbook)

submitted by Tom Ishimoto '71 February 2006