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Post by phdamage on Sept 27, 2022 10:08:39 GMT -6
The pound is at a 37 year low right now!! I always hoped/assumed my Oktavamod Apex 205s were close but these prices might be too good to pass up. I guess I can always sell em and get my money back?
Am I looking at import duties if I buy these things?
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 16,107 
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Post by ericn on Sept 27, 2022 10:22:41 GMT -6
Before I imported a pair I would contact my favorite US dealer and see what kind of deal they could get from the importer. It Always seams like there are never any of these sitting on shelves in the US and right now that’s to your advantage. It might cost a bit more but no surprise duty or other fees.
Other wise find a UK dealer that has experience with export and is using a real customs agent NOT UPS or FEDEX! Even if there isn’t anything due they both have a way of finding a way to charge you.
You may also find with the increase in shipping costs it wipes out your savings, also and this is a biggie on any international transactions you need to know the exchange rate what ever your using for payment the exact moment you are pulling the trigger and any “ exchange/ transaction fees” . You may see a great rate on XE.com but that doesn’t mean you are getting that rate.
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Post by ulriggribbons on Sept 27, 2022 10:29:54 GMT -6
No, no reason. Now is always a good time to buy 4038's  |
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deif
Junior Member
Posts: 60
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Post by deif on Sept 27, 2022 10:43:38 GMT -6
I bought one from Andertons for $950 + shipping earlier today. They're now showing out of stock, though. Hopefully it means that I got one of the last ones in stock and not that they caught on to the price difference and are making adjustments.
I'll report later.
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Post by Blackdawg on Sept 27, 2022 10:47:15 GMT -6
I got a pair this year. Freaking awesome mics.
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Post by bgrotto on Sept 27, 2022 10:57:05 GMT -6
Ooh, great idea! I would love to add a second 4038 to my collection. Can anyone speak to the consistency from mic-to-mic? The 4038 I already own is probably 10 years old...will I kick myself for not getting a proper matched pair (if such a thing even exists)?
I should note that I'm not *that* obsessive about precise matching, in general. I just don't want any radically different tonalities.
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Post by ab101 on Sept 27, 2022 12:28:59 GMT -6
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Post by ulriggribbons on Sept 27, 2022 13:15:30 GMT -6
Ooh, great idea! I would love to add a second 4038 to my collection. Can anyone speak to the consistency from mic-to-mic? The 4038 I already own is probably 10 years old...will I kick myself for not getting a proper matched pair (if such a thing even exists)? I should note that I'm not *that* obsessive about precise matching, in general. I just don't want any radically different tonalities. I've been reribboning 4038's for more than a decade, and they are arguably the most consistently made microphone of all time. I've seen old ones, new ones, you name it. The only ones that sound different to me are the 30 ohm version. A freshly reribboned 4038 sounds just like the one I keep on the bench for comparison. $.02 Jon |
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Post by crillemannen on Sept 27, 2022 13:39:53 GMT -6
The only negative about Coles are that they break super easily so expect to service them every once in a while. I had a pair that I always took great care off but they still drifted in terms of sound. A friend of mine have had the same experience.
Sound absolutely lovely though!
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Post by Darren Boling on Sept 27, 2022 15:59:52 GMT -6
I was thinking the same thing with Coles as well as the AML 1084's. Curious if any of you pull the trigger what the customs hit will be (on the Coles from a dealer).
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Post by bgrotto on Sept 27, 2022 16:05:02 GMT -6
Thanks, guys.
My 4038 was actually blown out by a freelancer just a few years ago, so there's a new-ish ribbon there. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure Mr Ulrigg was the repairman on that one!
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Post by jmoose on Sept 27, 2022 16:57:12 GMT -6
I've been reribboning 4038's for more than a decade, and they are arguably the most consistently made microphone of all time. I've seen old ones, new ones, you name it. The only ones that sound different to me are the 30 ohm version. A freshly reribboned 4038 sounds just like the one I keep on the bench for comparison. $.02 Ok what do the 30 ohm versions sound like compared to the regular? Honestly? I totally don't get all the love for the 4038. They've never sounded good to me on anything. Overheads? Like a blanket of mud. Guitar amps? Even moderately loud ones I can hear the ribbon stressing & farting out. Forget about any "doom" cats with stacks of cabs... Totally unusable there. Every so often if a shop has 'em kicking around the locker & we have time to experiment I'll hang them on something... thinking this will be the time it all falls together! And it never happens. Then I start thinking its gotta be the preamps... loading... but I dunno. |
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deif
Junior Member
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Post by deif on Sept 27, 2022 18:46:45 GMT -6
I've been reribboning 4038's for more than a decade, and they are arguably the most consistently made microphone of all time. I've seen old ones, new ones, you name it. The only ones that sound different to me are the 30 ohm version. A freshly reribboned 4038 sounds just like the one I keep on the bench for comparison. $.02 Ok what do the 30 ohm versions sound like compared to the regular? Honestly? I totally don't get all the love for the 4038. They've never sounded good to me on anything. Overheads? Like a blanket of mud. Guitar amps? Even moderately loud ones I can hear the ribbon stressing & farting out. Forget about any "doom" cats with stacks of cabs... Totally unusable there. Every so often if a shop has 'em kicking around the locker & we have time to experiment I'll hang them on something... thinking this will be the time it all falls together! And it never happens. Then I start thinking its gotta be the preamps... loading... but I dunno. Maybe not right for the music you work on? Sounds great on every source here: |
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Post by phdamage on Sept 27, 2022 20:42:22 GMT -6
I've been reribboning 4038's for more than a decade, and they are arguably the most consistently made microphone of all time. I've seen old ones, new ones, you name it. The only ones that sound different to me are the 30 ohm version. A freshly reribboned 4038 sounds just like the one I keep on the bench for comparison. $.02 Ok what do the 30 ohm versions sound like compared to the regular? Honestly? I totally don't get all the love for the 4038. They've never sounded good to me on anything. Overheads? Like a blanket of mud. Guitar amps? Even moderately loud ones I can hear the ribbon stressing & farting out. Forget about any "doom" cats with stacks of cabs... Totally unusable there. Every so often if a shop has 'em kicking around the locker & we have time to experiment I'll hang them on something... thinking this will be the time it all falls together! And it never happens. Then I start thinking its gotta be the preamps... loading... but I dunno. Pretty sure they were all over guitars on the last 5 Neurosis records. |
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beyer160
Full Member
On Location
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Post by beyer160 on Sept 27, 2022 21:07:31 GMT -6
I bought one from Andertons for $950 + shipping earlier today. They're now showing out of stock, though. Hopefully it means that I got one of the last ones in stock and not that they caught on to the price difference and are making adjustments. I'll report later. From Andertons' POV a Pound is a Pound, it doesn't matter to them if it's converted from Dollars, Euros, Rupees or Hryvnia. UK businesses that export are going to do well in the short term, selling to countries with stronger currencies. |
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beyer160
Full Member
On Location
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Post by beyer160 on Sept 27, 2022 21:19:19 GMT -6
As of right now, Studiocare in the UK still has 4038s for £900- that's about $958 USD. Shipping to the US is steep ($64 flat rate under 5kg at the current exchange rate), but you're still way under US retail.
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Post by christopher on Sept 27, 2022 21:32:37 GMT -6
I think there’s VAT on top another 20%.. right?
My buddy has 2 wals (!) VAT was like 2k on each
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beyer160
Full Member
On Location
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Post by beyer160 on Sept 27, 2022 21:39:30 GMT -6
I think there’s VAT on top another 20%.. right? Not for us 'mericans. |
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Post by bgrotto on Sept 28, 2022 11:43:49 GMT -6
Ok what do the 30 ohm versions sound like compared to the regular? Honestly? I totally don't get all the love for the 4038. They've never sounded good to me on anything. Overheads? Like a blanket of mud. Guitar amps? Even moderately loud ones I can hear the ribbon stressing & farting out. Forget about any "doom" cats with stacks of cabs... Totally unusable there. Every so often if a shop has 'em kicking around the locker & we have time to experiment I'll hang them on something... thinking this will be the time it all falls together! And it never happens. Then I start thinking its gotta be the preamps... loading... but I dunno. Pretty sure they were all over guitars on the last 5 Neurosis records. Probably a good time to mention that the aforementioned freelancer-who-blew-out-a-ribbon-on-my-4038 was working on a doomy record, and she blew the ribbon up when it was pointed at a half-stack. So just proceed with caution! |
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Post by Hudsonic on Sept 28, 2022 12:10:17 GMT -6
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Post by jmoose on Sept 28, 2022 13:30:59 GMT -6
Maybe not right for the music you work on? Sounds great on every source here: Might just be the way my ear is tuned? I've got all kinds of material on my resume... everything from bluegrass & archival folk through downtuned chugga chuggas. Those tones all seem heavily processed? I've never had a vocal or guitar be that open. Maybe the 4038's I've tried were trashed..? Like, I remember putting one up for group vocals because I wanted fig 8 and that shop didn't have too many options... group says after a couple takes... we're not really digging this mic. What else can we use? Its probably just me and goes into the pile of things people dig that I don't... but still, I'd love to hear about those 30ohm versions. Maybe there's still hope!? |
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Post by EmRR on Sept 28, 2022 13:34:51 GMT -6
30 ohm is gonna be lower gain, loading lighter into a regular Z pre, etc. It's less turns in the transformer, so probably higher bandwidth because of, but that part may not be noticeable.
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Post by phdamage on Sept 28, 2022 14:01:10 GMT -6
hemming and hawing a bit. Matamps are awfully cheap right now, too!!! bet there are some steals on old Premier kits to be had as well
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beyer160
Full Member
On Location
Posts: 43
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Post by beyer160 on Sept 28, 2022 14:01:19 GMT -6
Maybe not right for the music you work on? Sounds great on every source here: Might just be the way my ear is tuned? I've got all kinds of material on my resume... everything from bluegrass & archival folk through downtuned chugga chuggas. Those tones all seem heavily processed? I've never had a vocal or guitar be that open. Maybe the 4038's I've tried were trashed..? Like, I remember putting one up for group vocals because I wanted fig 8 and that shop didn't have too many options... group says after a couple takes... we're not really digging this mic. What else can we use? Its probably just me and goes into the pile of things people dig that I don't... but still, I'd love to hear about those 30ohm versions. Maybe there's still hope!? I've never used a 4038 so take what I say with a bag of salt, but every time I've talked to someone about them they always say; "once you add in a boatload of high end shelf EQ, they sound great!" |
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Post by kristoferharris on Sept 28, 2022 16:54:27 GMT -6
Ooh, great idea! I would love to add a second 4038 to my collection. Can anyone speak to the consistency from mic-to-mic? The 4038 I already own is probably 10 years old...will I kick myself for not getting a proper matched pair (if such a thing even exists)? I should note that I'm not *that* obsessive about precise matching, in general. I just don't want any radically different tonalities. I believe Coles match their mics in categories, A, B, C and so on. I imagine the freq response has to fall within a certain specific range for each category. If you know you have a mic from a category B, you can at leat ask for another of those. I've used plenty of (technically) mis-matched Coles without concern. I've used OG BBC-era rusty ones alongside new models. Only ever sounded like a pair of 4038s! Should also be checking out Extinct Audio microphones right now too. Great UK made mics from a ribbon expert. Amazing value. Nothing like a 4038 tho. And to those buying 4038s for the first time, know that the clips are an add on and generally sold separately. |
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