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Post by johneppstein on Sept 17, 2021 19:40:08 GMT -6
I was skeptical, but perhaps due to "Covid purchase syndrome," I acquired a Northfield mandolin with Chinese production involved, and it equals many mandolins manufactured in the U.S. There are obviously great crafts people and many other great people in China making items. As to this microphone, it would be interesting to put it through the standard paces to check it out. Off topic completely... but I had a Northfield Big Mon mandolin for years before I got my Gibson Fern. Very well made mandolins. Absolutely world class fit and finish. I don't think because something is made in China that it is bad. There are good and bad products coming out of every country. Chinese manufacturing obviously has the ability to make super high quality products. It's a bit odd that they have chosen (in most cases of microphones) to go with mass quantity over quality. It has to be hard to hit these ridiculous price points. I just feel bad for the people being paid so little to make all the stuff we consume. But that's another story. You can make a LOT more money selling mediocre but usable mics for cheap than you can selling real premium mics for what you'd need to make money.
As long as the chinese economy is dominated by the Communist system they will never make a premium mic of real quality.
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 18, 2021 12:53:58 GMT -6
Certainly, anyone who deals with China, does so at their own risk. It is different, however, in dealing with Northfield (mandolins), and other entities in the U.S. and elsewhere that have components made in China, as those other entities outside of China are the ones offering warranties and responsibility. It is always good to know who is going to be responsible for gear if it is not delivered, is faulty, needs service, etc. And it is not good when that responsibility is controlled by China (and some other countries). If I had FU money, I'd see if I could buy these from China and flip them here in the states. |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Sept 18, 2021 16:59:32 GMT -6
Certainly, anyone who deals with China, does so at their own risk. It is different, however, in dealing with Northfield (mandolins), and other entities in the U.S. and elsewhere that have components made in China, as those other entities outside of China are the ones offering warranties and responsibility. It is always good to know who is going to be responsible for gear if it is not delivered, is faulty, needs service, etc. And it is not good when that responsibility is controlled by China (and some other countries). If I had FU money, I'd see if I could buy these from China and flip them here in the states. We shall now call you Teladunkin😎 |
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Post by mrholmes on Sept 19, 2021 19:52:17 GMT -6
Off topic completely... but I had a Northfield Big Mon mandolin for years before I got my Gibson Fern. Very well made mandolins. Absolutely world class fit and finish. I don't think because something is made in China that it is bad. There are good and bad products coming out of every country. Chinese manufacturing obviously has the ability to make super high quality products. It's a bit odd that they have chosen (in most cases of microphones) to go with mass quantity over quality. It has to be hard to hit these ridiculous price points. I just feel bad for the people being paid so little to make all the stuff we consume. But that's another story. You can make a LOT more money selling mediocre but usable mics for cheap than you can selling real premium mics for what you'd need to make money.
As long as the chinese economy is dominated by the Communist system they will never make a premium mic of real quality.
When I was a Chinese / US endorser the owners of the brand gave me some insight. Its not the politics. It’s a mentality problem. They work hard in China but they can’t hold a constant quality level. They told me that they need to send techs near every month. It’s a pita to find a good factory etc…. If you need to invest in the Factory we talk big money … Producing in China equals a bigger revenue, for big trouble…. |
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Post by mrholmes on Sept 20, 2021 1:52:54 GMT -6
Fortune Cookie say... "Beware of big trouble, in whittle China". Chris Not to go into politics but the west could produce a lot of goods at home. Ok the shareholders must be willed to pay off. It all comes down to a positive attitude to your own people … |
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Post by m03 on Sept 20, 2021 8:35:55 GMT -6
Fortune Cookie say... "Beware of big trouble, in whittle China". Chris Oh there's definitely big trouble in China's market today. |
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Post by Guitar on Sept 20, 2021 8:41:22 GMT -6
Beautiful metalwork, if they were cheap and available I would get one.
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Post by chessparov on Sept 20, 2021 18:54:33 GMT -6
I just learned that "whittle" has a connotation related to "worry". Just assumed it was mainly related to whittling wood, or reducing a problematical situation. My kidding aside, IMHO it's mainly about having high QC (or lack thereof). Quite a few excellent mics (not that its news here) for example, have made in China capsules. Ref C/Soundelux/SE/AA/Lauten/3U/etc... Chris P.S. I deleted my last post, as it's all too easy to misconstrue it. In the 2D Internet universe.  |
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Post by pfhuck on Sept 20, 2021 23:56:48 GMT -6
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Post by m03 on Sept 21, 2021 9:21:00 GMT -6
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Post by enlav on Sept 29, 2021 15:12:23 GMT -6
The other 251 thread reminded me about this one.
Are there any details about the appearance of this new chinese 251? Perhaps a future group diy buy?
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Post by timcampbell on Sept 29, 2021 18:54:02 GMT -6
The other 251 thread reminded me about this one. Are there any details about the appearance of this new chinese 251? Perhaps a future group diy buy? No this is a completely finished microphone that is too expensive to be thought of as a donor body. There are some eastern european companies that do complete 251 bodies including all internal parts like MetPRO and FLEA but they are not budget prices either. This is so complicated a mechanical build that it can't really be done very cheaply. |
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Post by enlav on Sept 29, 2021 22:05:53 GMT -6
The other 251 thread reminded me about this one. Are there any details about the appearance of this new chinese 251? Perhaps a future group diy buy? No this is a completely finished microphone that is too expensive to be thought of as a donor body. There are some eastern european companies that do complete 251 bodies including all internal parts like MetPRO and FLEA but they are not budget prices either. This is so complicated a mechanical build that it can't really be done very cheaply. After re-reading the thread, I caught your mention of the price being around that of the Upton. Initially I had looked up "Panther" along with "ELAM 251" and stumbled on the NOS Audio NOS12* product site, so I was starting to speculate it was something more in that ball park (few hundred). My mistake.  |
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Post by Johnkenn on Sept 29, 2021 23:05:54 GMT -6
Ah. Ok. It’s like $4500?
(Of course if you know the right admins, it’s cheaper than that by a lot)
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Post by timcampbell on Sept 30, 2021 10:34:59 GMT -6
When I mentioned price I was thinking of Upton's street price 3500-4000 dollars but when this get's outside china it might be cheaper who knows.
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Post by sirthought on Sept 30, 2021 14:58:59 GMT -6
I've been searching the web, but find nothing on this.
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