Still waiting on my Shadow Hills Gama...

[radiant]

Well, it's been 7 weeks and still a no show. Anyone else get theirs? Hopefully, good things come to those who wait. I still haven't heard any definitive reviews pitting the preamp against other top names yet. I can't wait to throw it up against my Purple/API/GR/Buzz/Martech micpres.

Kyle

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by radiant

Well, it's been 7 weeks and still a no show. Anyone else get theirs? Hopefully, good things come to those who wait. I still haven't heard any definitive reviews pitting the preamp against other top names yet. I can't wait to throw it up against my Purple/API/GR/Buzz/Martech micpres.

Kyle

I'm in waiting mode too. Got a Shadow Hills Gama coming along with a Purple Biz.

[transfiguration]

Guyz,

What worked for me was some persistant polite exchanges. Get Peter Reardon's email address (search on this site / may be on the Shadow Hills site) and drop him a note. Keep it short and sweet and just remark how long it has been since you placed your order and that you were wondering:

"Are you able to give a projected delivery date?"

After a while I received a call from Mr. Reardon. Resultingly, I then had his cell phone number.

After calling him on the phone and having the same discussion he said: "You've been waiting too long." & the GAMA arrived shortly therafter.

Polite persistanct exchanges seperated by reasonable amounts of time really does work.

Best, trans

[radiant]

Thanks for the heads up trans.

[jomo1234]

I've been waiting nearly 2 months for a custom job....unfortunately he is really backlogged. I spoke to him yesterday and he knows that people are quite anxious and he is certainly putting in the extra hours to get the orders out the door. Peter is extremely meticulous, and I would rather wait and have it be perfect than have him rush the work only to be disappointed.

[D Pinder]

Spoke to him a few days ago. Being a small shop it sounds as though he works on a particular model then ships them and moves over. He thought he'd be shipping within 2 weeks (or thereabouts). Nice guy.

Also, it sounds as though he was putting some finishing tweaks on the design. The 16v to 24v conversion is not ideal so he's done a version of the op-amp that runs on 16v with no real change in performance, but he said it would be about 2dB less output. I can live with that.

[music friend]

goin on three months... . i keep hearing its almost done. i try to forget about it so i'll be surprised and happy when it actually arrives. This has proven difficult to do.

[radiant]

It looks like I'm not alone. Thanks for the input!

Kyle

[rstreber]

I put my order in for the compressor just about 3 months ago. Just put in another email to Peter (didn't hear back from him after the first two) and am hoping to get some kind of update. We'll see.
On the one hand, I totally agree that these things should take as long as they need to take and I certainly don't think anything should be rushed. However, the original ETA was late September; I don't know if I would have put my money down on the thing if I had been told back in early september that it was at best a three month (rather than 3 week) wait. My budget is very tight, and this delay is hurting. But I trust it will be worth the wait in the end (just keep on telling myself that!)

[jomo1234]

It seems like Peter and Vintage King were taken by surprise with the amount of orders for the Shadow Hills gear. Peter did have one of his assembly people break his arm and/or elbow and I know that really put a crimp in the production schedule. Perhaps the rollout of so many pieces wasn't the best move for such a small operation, but Peter is a great guy to talk to and you can hear his genuine enthusiasm for audio production and the gear that he builds.

I am definitely more foregiving of the delays when I know that the people behind the gear are making an earnest attempt to correct the situation and are dedicated to giving the end user the utmost quality.

I'm happy to wait when I know the end result will be a superbly built and indespensible tool. If you want something quickly, you can always go to Guiter Center.

[rstreber]

Yeah, I talked to Peter at AES for a while and he was great. And yeah, Guitar Center is close at hand, no need to remind me, but thanks for the tip.

This isn't really about a need for things to be fast and cheap. A little more communication and or clarity about the situation would be appreciated. I mean, I wouldn't have known about any of these delays unless I either bugged the people at Vintage King or read about them here. Honestly, I wish Peter all the bes and want this line to be super successful for him. Just an email containing a reliable piece of information would be nice though.

OK, off to buy myself a Trakmaster and a Baby Bottle or something.

[jomo1234]

I think Peter's lack of communiction isn't a snub, and is simply due to the fact that he is putting in some serious hours at the test bench instead in front of a computer screen.

While you're at GC, can you pick me up a Behringer Composer and a dozen of the cheapest mic cables you can find?

[rstreber]

Happy to pick up the Composer, although I think GC carries Monster Cable...you know it will really make the behringer sound better if you use pro cables

And again, I have no ill will toward Peter...just dying to hear his stuff, like the rest of you.

[jdunn]

I just ordered a high end compressor, and the manufacturer is glad to hold off on the billing until it ships.

Maybe VK/SH should consider doing the same.

[jomo1234]

Holding off on billing until shipment is VK's normal policy. I think this was an anomaly due to the overwhelming demand for SH products and no one acticipated the delays in shipping. SH doesnt sell directly to the end user....it's all done through VK.

[rstreber]

Just got a nice email from Peter...looks like we're getting close. Hope I can report back with good news soon!

[radiant]

Mine's on the way! Be expecting a shoot out soon. I'll post some findings.

[radiant]

Well, it looks like Vintage King got to me too. I got a notice saying it had shipped and come to find out it was false. Peter emailed me and said they were behind again. I don't think this is the first time VK has showed an order shipped and it REALLY WASN'T based on some other post I've read. VK has had my money for months and I got nothing to show for it but numerous missed delivery dates.

[JohnnyTooLoud]

Most of what I hear here is that VK is dropping the ball.

It really is the dealer's place to keep the customer informed. That's their place.

Also - just put in my order for an 8 chan. unit. They said 4-5 weeks. We'll see.

Looking forward to it though.

--Giovanni

[rickrock305]

Originally Posted by JohnnyTooLoud

Most of what I hear here is that VK is dropping the ball.

on that note, I've sent a couple emails about my order, and no response.

[Shadow Hills]

We have turned a corner in our manufacturing. Gama 8's are now shipping in descent sized batches without sacrificing quality. We appreciate all those of you who have been patienly waiting. All Mono Gama orders are imminently shipping. Mastering compressors and Gama Deuxe's are very close. Expect a personal email, if you have not already received one, to confirm your status. Gearslutz has been very good to us, and we're planning some nice things to say thank you in the near future.
Thanks very much,
Peter Reardon

[bongo]

Originally Posted by Shadow Hills

Gearslutz has been very good to us, and we're planning some nice things to say thank you in the near future.
Thanks very much,
Peter Reardon

It's worth the wait. Trust me.

Aren't all good engineers supposed to be patient???






`

[unseen hand]

i've been using the gama pres for a few months now. its brilliant stuff and well worth the wait. easily on par with best. feel free to pm me with any specific questions...

[Teddy Gee]

Originally Posted by Shadow Hills

We have turned a corner in our manufacturing. Gama 8's are now shipping in descent sized batches without sacrificing quality. We appreciate all those of you who have been patienly waiting. All Mono Gama orders are imminently shipping. Mastering compressors and Gama Deuxe's are very close. Expect a personal email, if you have not already received one, to confirm your status. Gearslutz has been very good to us, and we're planning some nice things to say thank you in the near future.
Thanks very much,
Peter Reardon

I have been waiting for three months now also, but Peter has been totally approachable,......great to chat with and I got a personal email from him last week to say that my Mono Gammas would ship this week thumbsup

I will agree that I think Vintage King, being the distributor, could do more to help Peter out with this dilemna of being MUCH TOO POPULAR for his own good.......at least until things get moving, but the demand is rather overwhelming for such a boutique, hand-made product. A few weeks ago I was feeling a bit out-to-sea on this myself,.........until a conversation with my rep at VK who suggested I call Peter directly (??) led to a very satisfactory chat with the the guy doing the work. Like I said,........I think Vintage King could do more to help.

I have high hopes of getting my Mono Gammas for Christmas! ........and will cast Peter as Santa if that wish comes true.

Stephen

[parasitk]

I got my email from Peter. He said "a-coupla-few days" now. I've been waiting since September, but it's O.K. - man, I was really happy to get that email!

[GYang]

SH comp is attractive for many potential buyers, because of it's price point for interesting concept. Put 5500 price tag on it and no one would order it before everything is clear.
Same with preamps.
We still don't know what will be at the end of the day with comp.
I cancelled my order for SH, purchased another high end compressor and voila.
VK made big mistake with this approach of rasing pressure, actually there are many more loyal to its customer merchants.
Something to think about before making orders.

[Teddy Gee]

Originally Posted by GYang

SH comp is attractive for many potential buyers, because of it's price point for interesting concept. Put 5500 price tag on it and no one would order it before everything is clear.
Same with preamps.
We still don't know what will be at the end of the day with comp.
I cancelled my order for SH, purchased another high end compressor and voila.
VK made big mistake with this approach of rasing pressure, actually there are many more loyal to its customer merchants.
Something to think about before making orders.

GYang -

Though I think very highly of Peter Reardon who has behaved like a champion through this (and his pneumonia over the holidays), I have to agree that I think Vintage King is making a bad hash of this. They are invisible through all of the waiting leaving Peter to be the design, construction, marketing, and public relations department for his products. With all due respect to them, IMO they should be taking some of this weight off his shoulders.

Just $.02
Stephen

[parasitk]

I just got the email from VK - my Mono Gama has finally shipped!

[radiant]

My GAMA 8 was due to be shipped yesterday but haven't seen any emails come across my desk.

[radiant]

Peter gave me a call today to let me know the status. Talk about impecable timing!!! He called to tell me that my Gama was ready to ship at VK, but if I wanted the St. Ives it would be a couple more weeks. (I opted for the St Ives )

Two weeks wait is worth it to me for the St Ives option. I could really use another Neve'ish type pre...