Tony Merrill

[Jim Williams]

Originally Posted by yotonic

He comes from a different era, when people who had microphones modded were working for real studios, places where there were mic lockers, and actual records being made.

Many of us are also from that era. Timely work was expected back then, we pro's didn't have the time nor patience for a esteemed mic miracle worker to take the tools away for years. That was unacceptable.

Perhaps it's the realization that many of the customers are not those pros anymore and that these delays have become common and extended because of that.

It still doesn't make it right.

[mtstudios@charter]

I bought a Neumann U47fet in 1995.
I dropped off the Neumann U47fet to get repaired by Tony in 1997.
He got back to me three days later informing me it was listed on a flyer of stolen property. I explained to him that I paid for it and we should work it out with the authorities so I could get it back or get restitution. He ended up giving that mic to Sound Castle in 2001 who had said it was theirs. I took Tony to court in 2003. He showed up with the Sound Castle owner. The Sound Castle owner had no record of ever owning the mic. I of course had a receipt. The judge was very angered by them playing police. She ruled in my favor. I never got my mic back. I waited two more years, then Tony gave me a half working Neumann U87 loaner in 2005 until he could get me my Neumann U47fet or a Neumann U47fet. I Still have the U87, wish it was the or a U47.

So it has been 15 years for me.

Tony is a nice guy, but his business sense has a lot to be desired. I will give him the benefit of the doubt, he probably thought he was doing the right thing. Plus Sound Castle probably brought him a lot more business than I. So he took their side.

[cinealta]

Originally Posted by mtstudi@pacbell

The judge was very angered by them playing police. She ruled in my favor. I never got my mic back.

Private citizens can never determine provenance or title to property, only a court order based on verifiable chain of custody. Doesn't matter if it's a $50 bicycle or $5k mic. Good intentions are not an excuse for ignorance of the law.

The correct course of action would have been for SPA to contact the authorities and report possession of stolen property. Let the police investigate ownership or settle the matter through civil litigation (as was done). Businesses open themselves up to liability if they try and play police (despite good intentions).

Having said that SPA have been fantastic mic techs for decades but customers should be apprised of the 6 mos to 6 yr waiting time so they can plan their studio/projects accordingly.

[Plush]

Laughable
Only tolerated in Hell-A.
A total joke.
You've got to be kidding me.
Oh boy!
Say it ain't so.
A joke.

Too bad it's real.

[dbjp]

Originally Posted by Plush

Laughable
Only tolerated in Hell-A.
A total joke.
You've got to be kidding me.
Oh boy!
Say it ain't so.
A joke.

Too bad it's real.

There's a melody in there somewhere...

[andreaeffe]

Originally Posted by yotonic

He comes from a different era, when people who had microphones modded were working for real studios, places where there were mic lockers, and actual records being made. A time when studios had full time techs modding lots of their gear, and the budgets, and time to continuously reinvest into their mic locker. And a time when people getting mic mods done were actual engineers who knew what the frick they were talking about, and not some guy with his first Neumann off of Gearslutz.

Lets face it, today most guys are weekend warriors who can barely afford the mics they have and spend most of their time making music no one will ever listen to. And now Tony has a bunch of people who are essentially amateurs that have no concept of what used to be the norm in the "profession" chasing him for their mics back so they can sell them to buy a compressor. It's sad really, a sign of the times and an end of a great era for the big studios and the old timers that made a living off of them.

If you don't know any better and don't care then just send your mic to any of the 10 gear pimps on here who swap capsules or return it to website you bought it from.

I actually was thinking of not responding to any of this as it does not concern me directly (and, as I said, I have no direct implication with or knowledge of the person in question - just freely expressing my opinion on the basis of what many are stating here as their direct experience and therefore facts), but, as it follows my post and somehow pokes a finger in the rib, I'll just say this:

I too am from "a different era", in more than one way.
I'm well over 40 and I remember what some might call "good ole days" of tape, of few brands of mostly great LDC pro mics and well before the Chinese cheap mics & SMT technology breakthroughs, the time of non automation and of the advent of total recall etc, the beginning of the various MIDI sequencers on Atari & Mac and their gradual growth to today's full fledged DAWs, the time of all hardware and no plugins, the times when U'd plan well ahead of going into that spacey mothership that was a big recording studio because time was (major) money and recording/producing/engineering definitely wasn't something U'd be doing in your slippers in your bedroom on a laptop, etc etc.
With all that said, even in those days, if someone had kept me waiting for 3 years for anything or not returned phone calls, or if I'd done the same to someone, the only possible and correct assesment would be bad service, bad business practice, ignorant attitude, and... more bad service.
Period.

Pointing a finger (questionably & a bit disrespectfully, in my opinion) towards the "weekend warriors making music no one will ever listen to" (btw U never know what & when some of it might become the trendsetter hit or revelation of today or tomorrow) as this poster did, or others repeatedly pulling out more snake oil mumbo jumbo about "artistry" & therefore cosmically artistic timing in a mic servicing/repair, is just disrespectful to the people posting here who have been evidently badly mistreated & misserviced by this guy, and it's also unrealistic and denial of plain logic - and of good business practice - and of plain politeness.

I'd suggest a re-read of Jim Williams' (another professional from "another era", if U will) excellent post below, here:

Many of us are also from that era. Timely work was expected back then, we pro's didn't have the time nor patience for a esteemed mic miracle worker to take the tools away for years. That was unacceptable.

Perhaps it's the realization that many of the customers are not those pros anymore and that these delays have become common and extended because of that.

It still doesn't make it right.

Exactly.

Very, very exactly so - in my opinion & experience.



A
F

[drBill]

Originally Posted by yotonic

My point was dont cry the blues when you use a vendor with known lag times. The reference to "weekenders" is accurate, because often times it's uninformed noobs using some mic tech they read about on GS.

Thanks for the warning. I will heed it. Merrill will never get one of my mics - thanks for making that crystal clear in my mind. I have to work weekdays AND weekends to make a living in this biz. I too am from the "old days" and I would not have put up with it then, and certainly not now. I'm not the amateur you suggest I might be now, and I wasn't back then either.

I wish Mr. Merrill all the best. It's obvious by the accolades of many he is an artist - and we need more artists in this biz. But often, artists well are known for being lousy businessmen. He should raise rates, and get himself an assistant to answer emails, and the dozens of phone calls stemming back years from people who (like myself) cannot tolerate a 3-15 year wait to get their mic back. In the day of internet, text, email, etc. there's really no excuse for this style of incompetent customer support. No matter how brilliant you are, it will kill you.

[dandeurloo]

I have used a pair of u67's and a c12 he modded. I should crack them open next time I'm at that studio and see what kind of magic is happening in them that takes so long. They did sound good, actually they sounded great. They seemed a little brighter then I normally hear form each of them but it was very, very nice. Maybe it was more detail rather then bright. Hard to say because I wasn't doing a head to head but they did sound nice.

No way I would wait that long and still be smiling however. Good idea about him getting an assistant or intern! I hope he reads this and does that.

[YRLK]

I agree: you probably should've sent the mic back, and/or there should be far better communication coming from Tony / SPA.

And I do appreciate unique qualities when I hear them in any instrument, and I know that every instrument does things a little differently than the next, but I'd rather find another creative way or tool to do things "90%" the same than spend very much of my time at all thinking to myself "if only I could."

Yeah. Preferred/understood equipment can really help, and some sounds are difficult to achieve without certain tools, but in general, this is 2011: there are about 20 ways to achieve a fantastic result, and we waste far too much time thinking "I could do 'this' if only I had 'this' piece," and we forget about what really makes great recordings great: great songs, great performances, great engineers. And most great songs, performances, or engineers can do just fine without many of the toys we think would be fun to own.

So cheers to those who have the time and money to have a nice and vast mic collection, but if the upkeep ever starts slowing down your output and/or creativity, just remember: you don't actually need everything... just enough to get it done. *And minds are the main part of this, not toys.

Good luck with your 67. I'm sure it will be a fantastic piece. Make sure you get a few magical spare tubes once they can actually find them.

[ssprod19]

I wonder how many slutz have their mics with Tony right now?

[Wilburguy]

Hi,

I too went through the long wait and absurdly poor communication with Tony Merrill and 2 KM86s. The work he did was indeed superb (until the mic failed again and I send it to Neumann) but the experience of having him do the work was horrible. Weeks without replies to daily emails/phone calls, lame ass excuses when I did actually get to talk with him. I will NEVER send him another mic and would advise others to avoid him.

[yeloocproducer]

Another frustrated customer. I can't seem to get through to him and now his email address is bouncing back.

[toneguru]

I know a guy that swears by Tony.

I needed a quick fix so Charlie Bolis took care of me and I got my C12 back in less than two weeks. The sound was stunning. The cost was more than it would have been with Tony though.

Oh well...

[ssprod19]

has anyone been able to get a hold of him lately? He has a couple of my mics that I need to get back. He hasn't returned any of my calls or emails for over 6 months.

[ssprod19]

Originally Posted by REX

I bought a nice U87 from him with the Stephen Paul mod a while back. He said it was a mic somebody left whatever that means. I'm loving it.

how long ago? I haven't been able to reach him for months now.

[Fred Mann]

I sent 3 Neumann/Gefell mic heads to him almost 4 years ago!!!
Haven't been able to reach him for 3.75 years. I'm out of the audio biz, so he is just costing me money right now.
If anybody has been able to reach him, please post your info here!!!
I'm considering getting the law involved since I can't think of any other way to get my property back.
Fred

[kosmokrator]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Herein lies the difference... there are many of us who understand the artistry of his work... and don't mind waiting to get a mic back as the results will be more than worth the wait.

Others want it now... Tony isn't the right guy to send things too in that case. He's got all the work he needs from people like me who understand the difference between "excellent work" and down right "brilliant artistry".

For those that are looking for "excellent work" there are lots of guys out there... you usually have to book something in advance - wait 9-10 months before your appointment comes up [or just 9-10 months before you get things back] and you're fine. For those looking for "brilliant artistry"... you give the artist his space, and when the mic comes back it comes back...

Its really not all that difficult a concept... is it?

So Merrill is 3 years better than Grosser et al?

A turnaround time of several years is just unprofessional, the work being done is absolutely not relevant.

IMO anyone doing that is a masochist.

And don't get me started on no communication. If you're such an artist / so occupied that answering phone calls & EMails is too difficult, get an assistant to do that.


But what do I know. There are also people still buying EQs from Burgess McNeal. Same thing. I will never understand that.

[Bob Olhsson]

If you need repairs rather than mods or extensive restoration of a Neumann mike, there's nothing at all wrong with just sending it to Neumann! They are fast and reasonably priced.

[jdunn]

I brought Tony/SPA a tube mic that neither the manufacturer nor other techs could fix. It had a persistent noise problem. It took around a year as I recall, but he did manage to get that mic sounding absolutely perfect. I think the problem ended up being a high failure rate on the sub-miniature military tubes. The repair cost was quite reasonable as well, maybe because I balked at waiting a year. I didn't know at that time it was common to wait longer.

I agree with Mr. Olhsson's post above, if it's a repair issue, try the manufacturer first. If it's something nobody else can fix though, Tony's work is top notch IME.

[Rascal Audio]

If someone has current contact info for Tony, would you please PM me with it? I don't get responses from him anymore, so I may have bad info.

It's important.

Thanks,

Joel

[cinealta]

Do you guys know that Tony works crazy hours? Something like midnight to 6am (PST). The best time time to call him is between 3am - 4am PST. That's like the middle of his workday. Sometimes he may take up to 6 yrs to repair a mic so folks should plan accordingly.

[automatom]

Well, 'in the middle of his work day' he should send a few emails.

[RFZ DUDE]

all this voodoo mic tech talk is really giving me good laughs...it is about a microphone, a rather simple electromechanic device - sure you need to know what you are doing & experience helps BUT there really is no ART in there...period...and seriously if it takes weeks, month or even years, the repair guy / tech is just an idiot.

if i had my mics at his id sue him or fly over to his place and give him a lesson in customer service.

[nielsb]

Has anyone reached Tony?

[laddie.music2]

Yeh he has a mic of ours,
I'm surprised he doesn't just come on here and ask for address's etc and send the damn things back.

[BradD]

This is insane. It seems like we need more good mic techs. In any other industry, he would be out of business.

[RoundBadge]

I'll never send a mic to this guy.
tried emailing,calling late ..all that crap and he responded waaay too late.
interesting business model going on over there.
plenty of other good guys out there,Gangwer,Bock, Bolois etc

[toneguru]

Originally Posted by toneguru

I know a guy that swears by Tony.

I needed a quick fix so Charlie Bolis took care of me and I got my C12 back in less than two weeks. The sound was stunning. The cost was more than it would have been with Tony though.

Oh well...

The guy I said swears by Tony... now he is just swearing!

Honestly though... I do hope Tony is okay.

[drBill]

Originally Posted by toneguru

The guy I said swears by Tony... now he is just swearing!

he should have read this thread I guess....

[cinealta]

I don't know if we should single out Tony. IMO, except for Klaus Heyne who is very professional and prompt in his replies, many of the other well-known U.S. mic techs have also been sketchy.

I won't mention any names, but unreturned phone calls, unreplied emails, asking in advance for the caller's phone number so they'll know to pick up because they screen all calls, threats of a lawsuit just to get an unrepaired mic returned after years in limbo. Would one even feel comfortable leaving expensive vintage mics with them, no matter how good the work will be?

Interestingly, the European guys are much more professional in their communications. I would probably feel more comfortable shipping a rare, expensive mic to Germany than driving it around LA or sending across the U.S.