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Post by timcampbell on Mar 28, 2023 3:51:43 GMT -6
Well I was bugging FLEA to let me hear one of their new Ela M 251 microphones so they sent me one. I had told them to send a second or scratched one but they ended up sending me a proper one except with an unchromed headbasket which won't affect my testing.
I thought that you guys might like to see it next to my vintage 251.
Hopefully I will get some time to do some sound files but I am swamped until after NAMM.
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Post by hadaja on Mar 28, 2023 3:56:41 GMT -6
Looks nice to me. What are you doing with the Flea when you have finished testing it?
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Post by timcampbell on Mar 28, 2023 4:07:26 GMT -6
Looks nice to me. What are you doing with the Flea when you have finished testing it? Well I hope "testing" means many years loan. It is handy having an actual complete mic around to give feedback and maybe even fine adjust my work to their vision. I have asked this of every manufacturer over the years but this is the first actual time anyone has sent me one of their mics.
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Post by hadaja on Mar 28, 2023 4:19:54 GMT -6
I would of thought every manufacturer would have mo problems making that request happen. Maybe its about the propriety data of each mic that is unique each manufacturer they dont want released to others? Who knows but great news for you.
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Post by timcampbell on Mar 28, 2023 4:53:29 GMT -6
I actually think they feel it is unecessary and a large cost to them. They don't see the mic as what it costs them, They see it as income.
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Post by unit7 on Mar 28, 2023 5:04:19 GMT -6
Tim, I'm SO curious to hear about what you think about the Flea! I've been on the brink for a couple of weeks. I have a Lucas CS-1 here which I believe has your capsule in it too. Really lovely mic, but I'm curious if the 251 goes one step further..
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Post by Ward on Mar 28, 2023 6:10:22 GMT -6
I actually think they feel it is unecessary and a large cost to them. They don't see the mic as what it costs them, They see it as income. That is the correct assessment and the way business is normally conducted. Write down cost is part of the ‘cost of doing business’ and how it should be seen. But that’s only with regards to high profile companies looking to maximize sales in the broader market. IMHO…. Boutique companies should NOT be succumbing to this practice but building market segments more slowly for the long-term. One customer at a time. Boutique microphone makers like Heiserman or FLEA or Signal Arts or OPR (the list goes on) are well-served by peer review but not by giving away hand-crafted limited supply rare tools of our trade. But that’s just my philosophy on it. |
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Post by sean on Mar 28, 2023 6:36:20 GMT -6
I actually think they feel it is unecessary and a large cost to them. They don't see the mic as what it costs them, They see it as income. That is the correct assessment and the way business is normally conducted. Write down cost is part of the ‘cost of doing business’ and how it should be seen. But that’s only with regards to high profile companies looking to maximize sales in the broader market. IMHO…. Boutique companies should NOT be succumbing to this practice but building market segments more slowly for the long-term. One customer at a time. Boutique microphone makers like Heiserman or FLEA or Signal Arts or OPR (the list goes on) are well-served by peer review but not by giving away hand-crafted limited supply rare tools of our trade. But that’s just my philosophy on it. Tim being the manufacture of the capsule of the Flea 251 makes him a "special case" I would say...I would think a company would appreciate that level of commitment to excellence. |
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Post by chessparov on Mar 28, 2023 8:20:01 GMT -6
"unchromed"? Definitely not a Metal Head mic then.  Chris |
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 28, 2023 9:54:07 GMT -6
Good looking mic...What did they not try and match the same color paint? Or did I miss something somewhere?
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Post by christopher on Mar 28, 2023 10:02:22 GMT -6
That’s a vintage 251? Damn that thing looks brand new 😍
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Post by aremos on Mar 28, 2023 11:29:12 GMT -6
Tim, I'm SO curious to hear about what you think about the Flea! I've been on the brink for a couple of weeks. I have a Lucas CS-1 here which I believe has your capsule in it too. Really lovely mic, but I'm curious if the 251 goes one step further.. Weren't the Lucas mics based on Manning & BOCK, therefore using Haun for the "Akg" one & Thiersch for the "Neumann" one? |
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Post by timcampbell on Mar 28, 2023 11:37:53 GMT -6
Good looking mic...What did they not try and match the same color paint? Or did I miss something somewhere? Yes. I don't think they tried to match the color though I saw prototypes that were color correct. In person the off white looks great and makes my original look boring
"That’s a vintage 251? Damn that thing looks brand new 😍 "
Yes. My original is #272 from 1959 and sounds great.
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Post by recordingengineer on Mar 28, 2023 11:37:57 GMT -6
Tim, I'm SO curious to hear about what you think about the Flea! I've been on the brink for a couple of weeks. I have a Lucas CS-1 here which I believe has your capsule in it too. Really lovely mic, but I'm curious if the 251 goes one step further.. Right, aremos… Unless the capsule in that CS1 is not original, it’s an MBHO manufactured capsule, spec’d (by ear?) by Bock. |
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Post by timcampbell on Mar 28, 2023 13:15:46 GMT -6
Well please all of you take this with a grain of salt since I make the capsule for this mic and this is no reflection on anyone else's product, I have not heard the Upton, Heisermann, OPR, Golden age... but this things sounds like WOW! It is so creamy and sexy that I put it up and sang for an hour straight.
It is already my favorite vocal mic and right now it sounds better than my original. I may have to look at some of my vintage's components as they are almost completely from 1959.
It is louder and quieter than my vintage , very, very quiet in fact.
As I said I have a dog in this fight so I'd recommend you try to audition one for yourself.
I will try to make some sound files but as I said I am swamped and don't have recording setup in order right now.
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Post by unit7 on Mar 28, 2023 14:08:55 GMT -6
Well please all of you take this with a grain of salt since I make the capsule for this mic and this is no reflection on anyone else's product, I have not heard the Upton, Heisermann, OPR, Golden age... but this things sounds like WOW! It is so creamy and sexy that I put it up and sang for an hour straight. It is already my favorite vocal mic and right now it sounds better than my original. I may have to look at some of my vintage's components as they are almost completely from 1959. It is louder and quieter than my vintage , very, very quiet in fact. As I said I have a dog in this fight so I'd recommend you try to audition one for yourself. I will try to make some sound files but as I said I am swamped and don't have recording setup in order right now. Wow, thanks for the report! I can't take it anymore  I'm ordering one! |
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Post by unit7 on Mar 28, 2023 15:09:22 GMT -6
Tim, I'm SO curious to hear about what you think about the Flea! I've been on the brink for a couple of weeks. I have a Lucas CS-1 here which I believe has your capsule in it too. Really lovely mic, but I'm curious if the 251 goes one step further.. Weren't the Lucas mics based on Manning & BOCK, therefore using Haun for the "Akg" one & Thiersch for the "Neumann" one? of course you are right! More than ten years since I got it so I forgot. So please excuse me timcampbell |
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Post by ml on Mar 28, 2023 15:12:57 GMT -6
Beautiful mic! Just waiting for a used one of these or the heiserman to pop up on reverb, so I can buy it! haha
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Post by aremos on Mar 28, 2023 15:22:52 GMT -6
OK, we now need to put the Heisermann, the FleA & the Upton (& an original if possible) up against each other.
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Post by teejay on Mar 28, 2023 15:28:59 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 28, 2023 18:14:29 GMT -6
How do you tell if the No tax thing works for your state? |
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Post by teejay on Mar 28, 2023 19:13:00 GMT -6
How do you tell if the No tax thing works for your state?
Front End Audio is not currently required to collect or report sales tax for purchases made outside of South Carolina. In all other states, you are responsible for reporting and paying your taxes. If you're a South Carolina-based organization that qualifies for sales-tax exemption, please give Front End Audio a call for assistance with your order."I know the whole "paying taxes" discussion is present here in other threads. I guess I should qualify it by saying you won't be charged tax on your order by FEA. Your decision on paying it is another matter. Best is to contact them to validate, but it appears everyone qualifies. They are another great organization with a 30-day return policy on virtually anything, regardless of price. They've been good and easy to work with. |
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Post by ml on Mar 28, 2023 19:29:17 GMT -6
Hmm that front end deal is pretty damn tempting! |
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Post by ml on Mar 28, 2023 19:35:18 GMT -6
[/quote]How do you tell if the No tax thing works for your state?[/quote]
It should appear in your cart / checkout if tax will be applied. I’ve bought a few things from Alto music with zero sales tax and I don’t live in a tax free state. No idea how that works.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2023 20:21:00 GMT -6
I had to look at the first photo again I thought these were on the floor for a moment with the following photos aha
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I'm ordering one!
