The "Real" Bob Starr Octavia?

[jmusser]

I've built the Bobtavia (my first build), which as far as I know, is Doug Hammond's modification of the Original Bob Starr Octavia. Where is the schematic for the original Bob Starr Octavia? I'd love to build that one, and see what it sounded like. So far, I haven't seen anything about him, or what other types of things he's built, except something to do with a Univibe something or other. Who is this masked man? Right now, I have a Shocktave about 3/4ths of the way done, so I ought to get back at that. It just occured to me the other day that during my whole time here, I have never actually seen a Bob Starr Octavia picture or schematic, and I've never heard the first thing about him. :shock:

[Mark F]

Man, ya know, I vaguely remember seeing a site that I believe was his. I know it had the Octavia & some other circuits on it but I can't remember much about it.That was probably two maybe three years ago. Maybe longer. I may have a hard copy of the Octavia somewhere but I'd have to look & I'm not where all my stuff is now. When I get back there I will check. Hope I didn't ramble too much.  :!:  AHA! It just came to me. Happy Bob's circuits or something like that. I definitely remember the "HAPPY BOB" part. I'm almost positive it was Bob Starr. Wish I could be of more help.  

[steve b.]

Back about 5 to 7 years ago in aron's first or so forum's i have the one that was posted then.Also there was a newspaper article of a bob starr in prison down south that was posted in the forum back then but we didn't know if that was really him or not. steveb.

[steve b.]

This may have been a joke--but notice his wifes name----maybe she named herself after a pedal after smoking some good ol colorado mud weed or maybe not :lol:  


Bob Starr
Sometimes is is hard to know what to believe. One often hears about something and thinks, "Surely our government isn't that corrupt. There must be another side to the story." And sometimes, it's the other way around where one doubt the government/media story. So, when the opportunity came, Charles decided to see for himself. Although he could ill-afford a day off, he went to Bob Starr's and Jimmy McCranie's Probable Cause hearing May 5, 1996, in Macon, Georgia. Here's what he saw and heard.

In case you aren't aware, Bob and Jimmy are the two Georgia militiamen who are charged with "Conspiracy to construct a destructive device." Bob is also charged with "Possession of an explosive device."

Upon arrival, there were lots of press people around, as expected. What wasn't expected was that the court house was surrounded by federal marshalls, federal police, GBI soldiers, and who knows what all else. On the fourth floor of the parking garage across the street were two GBI snipers with their rifles pointed toward the court house lawn, or should one say at various people on the court house lawn. It was a bit unnerving to not be able to walk into a court house without being in the government's cross-hairs. As many of you know, pointing a weapon at someone is an act of aggression. Those of you who claim you are free should remember this incident. This is not a free country if our government points a gun at you on a public sidewalk. Most people there were going into the courtroom and were obviously unarmed.

One fellow decided to have a little fun while most people were in the courtroom. He went up there and shouted to those below, "Hey, they've got a really neat sniper rifle up here!" About a dozen GBI guys immediately converged on him and the snipers covered their guns. But, obviously, he'd done nothing wrong so they simply "asked" him to leave. He asked if he could see the rifle, but, alas, they refused to let him get any nearer.

Another little story re the snipers: a young lady from the press was talking to someone (probably militia) in front of the courthouse. She asked him about the concerns and fears people have about the militia. He responded, "I'm going into the courtroom and am obviously unarmed. If you'll turn around and look across the street, you'll see 2 sniper rifles pointed our way. Are you more afraid of me, or them?" End of interview.

The militia decided to have only J.J. Johnson and Nancy Lord speak to the press. They thought it would be kind of hard to label them as racist, sexist or anti-semitic if their designated spokesmen were an angry black man and an angry Jewish woman. :-)

Please note that the items placed in quotes are not word-for-word quotations, but are hastily scribled notes of the gist of what was said.

No recorders or cameras were allowed in the courtroom. Everyone had to pass through a metal detector to enter. It was apparently set pretty sensitive as one man's hearing aid caused it to go off. The courtroom was packed, mostly with militia, many having to stand in the back.

Nancy Lord represented Mr. Starr. She had the ATF agent in charge, Steven Gillis [referred to as ATF hereafter], called to the witness stand. She began with questions re jurisdiction. ATF stated that there was no interstate commerce involved. That allows the questioning of jurisdiction.

Next, she addressed the "possession of a destructive device" charge. ATF stated that Bob Starr was not present when the materials were buried on his property, that he had no evidence that Bob knew the materials were there, and that the pipes and chemicals were buried about 10 feet away from each other. Lord asked if the separated components constituted an explosive device. ATF said they were close enough. She then asked if the ATF considered a molotov %^&*tail an explosive device. ATF: "Yes." Lord: "Most of the people in this courtroom have gasoline, bottles, and rags within 10' of each other in their garages. Do they possess explosive devices?" He said a bunch of stuff but never directly answered her question. [Just as many are beginning to suspect, we're all guilty!] Lord: "In order to have legal possession of something, doesn't one have to know where that something is?" ATF: "Yes." Lord: "Did Mr. Starr know where the items were buried?" ATF: "Not to my knowledge." Lord: "Did Mr. Starr ever possess all the components to make a bomb?" ATF: "They were on his property." [Hey, even Charles can see the inconsistency here!] Lord: "But he didn't know where they were, right?" ATF: "That may be correct." Lord: "So, as far as you know, he never had legal possession of all the components to build a bomb, correct?" ATF: "That is correct." [Doesn't this effectively destroys the possession charge?]

One other thing re Starr's possession. ATF admitted that Starr did not purchase the pipes and thus never had possession of them. However, he emphasized that Starr did purchase the powders (which hadn't been lab tested to even determine what they were!) at a gun show. He also admitted that even a minor could legally purchase all the items.

Next, Lord addressed the conspiracy charge. ATF agreed that a conspiracy charge could not be just between an undercover agent and another person and that there had to be 2 non-government people for there to be a conspiracy. Lord: "Who was the other person?" ATF: "Mr. McCranie." Lord: "Was Mr. McCranie present at the taped meeting?" ATF: "No." Lord: "Do you have any evidence that Mr. McCranie ever agreed to participate in bomb making?" ATF: "No." Lord: "In fact, aren't you aware that Mr. McCranie said that he didn't want anything to do with it?" ATF: "That is correct." [!!!] Lord: "Do you have any evidence that Mr. Starr gave anyone permission to bury the items on his property?" ATF: "No." Lord: "Do you have any evidence that anyone ever agreed to meet with Mr. Starr and build bombs?" ATF: "No."

Several times, Lord asked if the only people who ever went along with the bomb making were government informers and every time the prosecution would object saying that ATF couldn't answer since it might endanger the CI(s) ["Confidential Informant(s), possibly more than one]. It became very apparent that the CI instigated the entire thing and were the ones to bury the items on Mr. Starr's property.

Next, Mr. McCranie's attorney got up and mostly emphasized that point about Jimmy saying he didn't want anything to do with it. He also asked ATF about the items taken from Jimmy's property. ATF read the list: pipes, end caps, staples, nails, etc. [McCranie is a plumber.] Attorney: "There's nothing here peculiar to bomb making is there?" ATF: "Most definately." Attorney: "And what might that be?" ATF: "Item #4, the nails." [No kidding! There were quite a few chuckles in the court room.]

In her closing arguments, Lord reminded the judge that there were no devices and that there was never any agreement between 2 non-government people to build any devices. So, we learned May 10 that the judge did what we all expected: he said there was probable cause. "Expected?" you ask. Yep. It was very clear that the judge had little intention of being impartial. Someone had already predicted that regardless of what happened in the hearing it had to go to trial since it had to do with politics rather than justice and the Feds are very much aware that their time and money are virtually unlimited whereas we will have to greatly struggle just to keep food on Mrs. Starr's table.

Obviously Charles isn't being impartial either. There's no way he can be since he strongly believe that our forefathers showed great wisdom in the Sixth amendment which absolutely prohibits "confidential informants." He also considers it wicked and immoral for the civil government to plant agents who attempt to get people to break the law so they can arrest them. Suppose someone really had built a bomb and hurt themselves or someone else?

In summary, it appears the ATF had one or more insiders begin attending the Georgia militia's meetings. The group was planning some buried storage caches with food, bandages, guns, ammo, etc. The mole(s) told them they should include some pipe bombs and told them what they needed to build them. Mr. Starr began to suspect these were moles and pretended to go along with them. He bought the potassium perchloride and powdered aluminum at a gun show. As said before, this is something even a minor can do legally. Apparently, he gave the powders to Jimmy. He then called for everyone to meet on a given Saturday to "do our thing." Only the moles showed up. He did it again. Same result. Then, Jimmy and the mole(s) moved the items to Starr's property because Jimmy had said he didn't want anything to do with it. This was without Starr's knowledge or permission.

Starr believed the moles were acting illegally and was attempting a counter-sting. He received a threat on his life and called in to J.J. Johnson's shortwave program telling people about the threat on his life and that he was close to breaking something as big as the "Good Ol' Boys" expose. He was arrested the next day.


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Other facts about the case
There is documented information proving that confidential informants were paid by the BATF to make pipe bombs. Reports say that agent Steven Gillis testified to this under oath, but we have not yet seen the transcripts of the preliminary hearing.

Another cameraman (FOX 24 TV) also verified snipers around the Federal building in Macon on Monday, May 5.

Sheriff deputies now stand outside the jailhouse with shotguns.

Through independent investigation, we believe that paid govenment agents (Danny and Kevin Barker) were attempting to make bombs to stage a terrorist strike at the Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia this summer and blame the Georgia Militia. This clandestine activity is called "Operation Piedmont". Piedmont Road is a major thoroughfare in Atlanta which passes Piedmont Park and Georgia State University (Athletics).


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Today, two innocent men rot in jail; held without bond, while the government admits in court that their own paid agents collected and transported materials to make pipe bombs. The Starr and McCrannie families are devastated. The fear of these two men being "railroaded" through the federal injustice system via government witnesses who can and will LIE under oath, along with all the other illegal activities that have occurred in this area, can make almost anyone feel the situation is hopeless. This will be the case if we maintain our current posture.

We must become pro-active. FREE BOBBY and JIMMY NOW !!!

If you agree then call and say so:
Call the BATF at: (912) 474-0477
Tell'em "FREE BOBBY AND JIMMY NOW !!!"

Send a donation and/or word of encouragement to Bob's wife:
Octavia Starr
Rt 1, Box 1143
Knoxville, Georgia 31050

[jmusser]

All I can say is Wow! I mean if this is actually "THE" Bob Starr, that's some wild stuff going on. If his wife's name is really "Octavia", then of course, it has to be "THE" Bob Starr. :wink:  So he not only invented the Octavia, but the "Pipe Bomb" too? :lol: Thanks for the info!

[Mark F]

WOW! :shock:  As I stated in my last post, my memory of "HAPPY BOB'S" site is rather vague but I think there was something "odd" about the demise of the site. Something like he wouldn't be available for some time or something.

[Doug_H]

Hold on!!!

I posted my google search for Bob Starr back then as a joke, showing some weird stuff, his wife's name etc.  That is not "The" Bob Starr who designed the octave pedal we know and love. We were trying to figure out who he was, as he was kind of a "mystery man" at the time.

Bob worked in a studio somewhere down south (Alabama or Georgia? Can't remember) and had a band at one point. He had a web site for a while but I don't think it's up anymore. He had some sound clips of his band and they sounded really good. It was like a power trio blues rock thing IIRC and they had a real tight sound. Anyway...  I emailed him a few times back then and he is a really nice guy, very supportive of what we're doing here. He was not a survivalist serving out a prison term or etc etc....

It's funny how an old thread like that can start wild rumors. Please, lets kill this rumor before it gets started.

Thanks,

Doug

[jmusser]

I didn't figure this was "THE" Bob Starr, but you never know, anything is possible...well, except skiing through a revolving door. So, was Bob basically someone like yourself, who has designed and modified stuff, but isn't someone like ZVex who did it commercially?

[Doug_H]

So, was Bob basically someone like yourself, who has designed and modified stuff, but isn't someone like ZVex who did it commercially?

He is probably more like Z than me since he works in a studio. I don't think he sells effects but he might be involved in designing studio equip, I don't remember.

All I know is he designed this circuit that ended up in a schematic zip archive somewhere. IIRC, Joe Gagan found the zip file.

Doug

[steve b.]

since i rehashed old crap,and didn't recall  all the info, i looked it up and found his site----sorry bob---i know it's somewhat  amusing--well anyhoo here's his site now that he's out of jail ( kiddingggggg) :lol: http://www.rtzaudio.com/

[David]

Man, ya know, I vaguely remember seeing a site that I believe was his. I know it had the Octavia & some other circuits on it but I can't remember much about it.That was probably two maybe three years ago. Maybe longer. I may have a hard copy of the Octavia somewhere but I'd have to look & I'm not where all my stuff is now. When I get back there I will check. Hope I didn't ramble too much.  :!:  AHA! It just came to me. Happy Bob's circuits or something like that. I definitely remember the "HAPPY BOB" part. I'm almost positive it was Bob Starr. Wish I could be of more help.  

"Happy Bob" posts occasionally here and at Ampage as "Skreddy".

[Doug_H]

"Happy Bob" posts occasionally here and at Ampage as "Skreddy".

That's not Bob Starr. Skreddy's been on ampage for years.

Doug

[jmusser]

The "Happy Bob" I know is "livin' large & laughin' easy! :lol: