listen, try, buy, sell, trade, listen

[johnnyblotter]

Hoping to get a little feedback on the issue of listening carefully before buying, and letting your ears be the judge.

Of course we all know this, but my experience with any piece of gear I've owned (and admittedly I haven't owned a ton) is that it takes quite a while with a new piece, in your own place, to really get a sense of whether it is right for you. I've gone over to people's places and listened to things, but even messing with something for a day or two in someone else's place just isn't enough information. Other times I've been able to borrow things from people for a few days, but I feel like I need lots of time using a piece to see whether it's really right. That throws the gear rental idea out the window, cause it's not worth the expense to NOT figure out what you need to figure out.

Being a guy with a bit of a budget, enough to get a few decent pieces anyway, my strategy has been to listen as much as I can, but also consider what more experienced people have to say about gear choices. The thing is I'm picky as hell about what I like. But since I can't borrow things for weeks, my strategy is just
to buy pieces that I'm fairly confident hold a good resale value, even if I sometimes haven't listened to them. This way I figure I'll get to try more stuff, and not be waiting forevor to make decisions. Like I got a pair of Averill 312 API's (the old ones) on the recommendation of a trusted friend (I'm a drummer) and they've been just great on drums. What they aren't so spectacular on is guitar, and also when running samples through them, you can crank up them up but you'll also get a lot of noise.

How long does it take for you guys to figure out whether something is a keeper? Can you tell right away, or does it happen gradually? And what do you think of the strategy of sometimes just buying things without hearing them?

[joeq]

Is this a problem?

Perhaps it is actually part of the joy of gearslutdom- to acquire gear and live with it, try it out and really learn what it does.

sometimes it doesn't work out, and you have to say goodbye, but you can't have the highs without risking the lows.

it is better to have slutted and lost than never to have slutted at all.

[johnnyblotter]

yeah, cause I feel like an ass sometimes buying stuff I haven't heard.

[joeq]

it seems to me that you are buying well respected professional gear. Even if it turns out not to be "it" for you, it's hard to go "horribly wrong", both in terms of sound and in terms of resale value.

think of it like this

Purchase price

- resale value
_____________

= long term rental of gear

[NathanEldred]

Originally posted by johnnyblotter
Like I got a pair of Averill 312 API's (the old ones) on the recommendation of a trusted friend (I'm a drummer) and they've been just great on drums. What they aren't so spectacular on is guitar, and also when running samples through them, you can crank up them up but you'll also get a lot of noise.

There are a lot of pieces that are like that, and there are a few that are extremely versatile. When getting recommendations, make sure the person giving the recommendation has heard a large amount of things. Otherwise there is a good chance you will have higher expectations for the piece you buy, just like in the situation you tell us about here. The net is a great place, but I think it suffers from oversaturation and a lot of bravado.

How long does it take for you guys to figure out whether something is a keeper? Can you tell right away, or does it happen gradually?

Personally, I've got a quick learning curve at this point but it comes from having the luxury of being a pro audio shop owner who simultaneously owns a commercial studio. Lots of tinkering and comparing going on there.

And what do you think of the strategy of sometimes just buying things without hearing them?

I think it's a great strategy, but sometimes overhyped for certain people. And what I mean by that, is that there is a huge group of beginning engineers who don't know what they want, or expect to hear. I've experienced this many times first hand. They could borrow $100K worth of gear for a month, and still not figure it out. My advice still stands on talking to engineers you know are 1) experienced 2) have utilized a large variety of gear in the trenches. Otherwise everyone is wasting their time IMO.

[studiomusic]

I lived in France for 7 years and funded my slutness with buying in the States and selling in Europe. It worked great at the time (exchange rate) and I was able to find the right core gear that works for me in the process.
So buying, trying, selling is a very good way to go.
Just find the good deals (like the HUI I got for $500 , used for a couple of months then sold for $1500 when I found it wasn't right for me).

My $.02

[echorec]

Originally posted by joeq


Perhaps it is actually part of the joy of gearslutdom- to acquire gear and live with it, try it out and really learn what it does.

sometimes it doesn't work out, and you have to say goodbye, but you can't have the highs without risking the lows.

it is better to have slutted and lost than never to have slutted at all.

Well put, that´s how I slut.

[SoundCampaign]

Yeah I totally know the feeling...I recently bought an amek9098 dual compressor only to be somewhat let down...I was using an ART PRO VLA and to tell you the truth I really miss that piece of crap...I was getting great sounds out of it and I'm pretty "bored" w/ the 9098...Oh well at least this "high end" stuff keeps it's value (for the most part).

[DirkB]

Where I live, it's very hard to get the stuff to try out and then decide if I want to buy.

But, with acquiring high-end stuff this tends not to be a problem for me .

I find from surfing gearslutz, getting a feeling of who knows what, I've been quite successful in deciding what to buy, even without hearing (Rumour, Chandler TG2, BAE312 etc.).
And although all these purchases justified theirselfes on the first listening, something like a preamp I really start to dig after quite some use and yeah, just trying it out somewhere for a few hours doesn't tell much...


If I ever get me something that I truly don't like, I'll be able to sell it without losing too much money.

Greetings,
Dirk

[ShellTones]

Originally posted by joeq
Is this a problem?

Perhaps it is actually part of the joy of gearslutdom- to acquire gear and live with it, try it out and really learn what it does.

sometimes it doesn't work out, and you have to say goodbye, but you can't have the highs without risking the lows.

it is better to have slutted and lost than never to have slutted at all.

This is the most sage-like wisdom I have ever encountered on the Net--or anywhere else.thumbsup

[faeflora]

Originally posted by joeq

think of it like this

Purchase price

- resale value
_____________

= long term rental of gear

Hehe! That's great! Long term rental of gear! I like that

I love to buy, try, and sell.
In fact, I consider it my hobby.

I only keep the stuff that gives me wood right off (DCL-200, most underated comp IMHO).
I really don't have the budget for my taste so I have no
choice but to sell off stuff to get more in most cases.
And if I don't like it right off the bat I pull it from the rack (LA2A, I don't get it. too mushy.)

I do agree that some pieces have grown on me over time but, I can usually tell quickly. The only exception being that sometimes you don't try it on the right source and have a false opinion.
I have sold gear only to hear it somewhere else and gain the appreciation I should of had for it (G384, ouch. Should have kept it).

More than anything else I find that plug-ins fall under your scenario. I almost have never been excited right off the bat but, since I have to use them and the resale is a joke..I learn to squeeze them and have grown to love many.


My $.02

david