A thought about build quality and craftmanship
Sept 20, 2023 4:53:01 GMT -6
keymod, jeremygillespie, and 5 more like this
Post by niklas1073 on Sept 20, 2023 4:53:01 GMT -6
I don't know if this thread speaks to anyone but I just had to put some thoughts down regarding build quality and craftmanship which I hold high in value.
I just received my Soyuz 1973. And I don't want this to be about the Soyuz 1973 per se. Sound wise my cup of tea, period.
But what struck me was the price and what you get for it. This is an all hand made in house piece so to speak. This is pretty much my definition of Boutique. I know machining and what goes into this work wise. It's not the most complicated piece, but it sure takes hours and knowledge to make it, pretty much from raw material.
In these days where "boutique" has become everything that is made in small batches and by small vendors that there seem to be as many as home studios today of which many are just screwing together overseas parts or tweaking and quality controlling them, holding this in my hands just made me happy.
I am not saying over seas capsules are bad, or over seas mass produced bodies are bad. Not by far. But when you hold something so well and personally crafted in your hands, you start to think do we throw the concept of boutique around too easily. And the fact that similar mics, I'm not here to bash anyone in particular so I'm leaving brands out, considered boutique-ish with third party components are selling for higher price. I have a few other units that I feel the same about in my studio. They kind of get the personal status of a great instrument.
My point being I suppose. Sometimes, in these days of plenty of cheap around, it's just nice to hold something really great sounding AND really well built in your hands. Pieces that instantly becomes kind of heirlooms in your studio, pieces you will keep for so many other reasons than just the sound. And I really didn't think a microphone could make me this happy anymore... and it had nothing to do with the sound.
I just received my Soyuz 1973. And I don't want this to be about the Soyuz 1973 per se. Sound wise my cup of tea, period.
But what struck me was the price and what you get for it. This is an all hand made in house piece so to speak. This is pretty much my definition of Boutique. I know machining and what goes into this work wise. It's not the most complicated piece, but it sure takes hours and knowledge to make it, pretty much from raw material.
In these days where "boutique" has become everything that is made in small batches and by small vendors that there seem to be as many as home studios today of which many are just screwing together overseas parts or tweaking and quality controlling them, holding this in my hands just made me happy.
I am not saying over seas capsules are bad, or over seas mass produced bodies are bad. Not by far. But when you hold something so well and personally crafted in your hands, you start to think do we throw the concept of boutique around too easily. And the fact that similar mics, I'm not here to bash anyone in particular so I'm leaving brands out, considered boutique-ish with third party components are selling for higher price. I have a few other units that I feel the same about in my studio. They kind of get the personal status of a great instrument.
My point being I suppose. Sometimes, in these days of plenty of cheap around, it's just nice to hold something really great sounding AND really well built in your hands. Pieces that instantly becomes kind of heirlooms in your studio, pieces you will keep for so many other reasons than just the sound. And I really didn't think a microphone could make me this happy anymore... and it had nothing to do with the sound.
