Thanks David Bock

[Dave Ferris]

For salvaging my Soundelux E49.

Here is an abbreviated post from last week:
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My Soundelux E49 mic that I bought off the LA CL in July has been making intermittent hiss/ocean noises. At first they would only be short intervals after the mic had been on 45 minutes or so. Lately the intervals were longer after the mic was fired up after only 10 minutes or so. I knew somethin' was up so I contacted TransAudio group (former distributors for Soundelux) who in turn recommended repairman James Gangwer up in the Bay area. James thought it sounded like a bad tube and estimated the cost to $300-400 + shipping with a three week turnaround. That sounded fair although I was bit perturbed since I just bought the mic back in July but figured it's not exactly brand new so anything is possible.

Before I sent it off I was able to contact David Bock who said bring by our office in Studio City, we'll take a look at it. I brought the mic over to David's office yesterday and has his associate is taking it out of its wooden box, David says, "Let me have a look at that". He then breaks the bad news of, "I hate to tell you this but that capsule is not the original K47 capsule that was manufactured for that mic. It's the U195 capsule we used in our less expensive Soundelux U195 mic. This mic has has it is will not resemble a vintage 49 at all." Ouch!

Obviously the seller, who already admitted to being the original owner when I purchased it, switched out the capsules and me being a green "Jazz piano player", how the hey would I know?! I remember getting it home and thinking, this sounds pretty good, but maybe (?) not has full and warm on my voice has the Wunder CM49 I rented from Vintage King for a few days. Since I had no way to A/B, and granted my ears aren't that of an engineer who is used to instantly hearing such subtleties in high end mics, I just thought, well this one I paid 2K for, the Wunder is 6K with the M7 capsule so probably a little closer to that 49 sound. But is it 4K closer?

Later that afternoon after he had a chance to examine the mic closer David sent me an email listing 3 options .

1) he could repair what I have.
2) he could install an "equivalent" to original spec capsule
3) he could install the original spec part (K47)

So my a "little perturbed" turned into a pretty p...ed off. I still had the seller's phone and email. I did try and contact him but have yet to hear back, I'd be surprised if I did.

The topper was I literally getting ready to write a check for $2300 to someone in NY who was selling the E49 for his client on the GS classifieds. I spoke with him on the phone at length and felt very comfortable. I just happened to look at CL and this popped up. It was in Burbank, right next store to Glendale, no worries about shipping or having that thought in the back of your mind....I hope this is cool. Seemed like a slam dunk.
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I went ahead and had him install the K47 capsule. Within one day I had the mic back from David. I hooked it up and instantly it was, "Oh yeah, that's the sound I was hearing yet missing".

The sting of being scammed still hasn't worn off but it has been somewhat tempered with David, and his associate Shawn's immediate attention and concern given to my problem.

Thanks again guys, the mic sounds really great now!

[Roc Mixwell]

Dave this is crazy, but good to hear DB sorted it out and got you back up and running the way you should be. I would go ring the jokers neck who sold you this microphone [claiming what was claimed] and then hand it off to Dave to mount inside the body of a mock up E49 for your wall. His head is probably small enough to fit inside.

[Dave Ferris]

Thanks Adam, yeah it doesn't feel good to get scammed. The upside like I said earlier is that I live so close by to David's place in Studio City and he was able to turn it around so quickly.

The other rub was the fact that this guy who goes by the name of JC, said he was engineer with his own studio out in Canoga Park/West Valley. He said his main gig was in post production for the "studios", although he didn't say which one.

On the receipt he made up his name is Julio Costron or Castron. So if any people in the "biz" here in town do happen to know this guy, give him my best.....not!! I've called JC's cell 3X and sent a few emails saying I hope you feel good getting over, especially in these hard economic times.

I can't believe he went to the trouble of switching out that capsule. Both Shaun and David were pretty surprised I think. I was definitely stunned.