Instrument... or gear?

fooman · 21st July 2008, 01:32 PM

Hiya!
I'm getting a large tax return on my business's first year in the tax season. Prior purchases, catchup, etc = big first year return. So now I have over $3k to figure out what to do with.

So I have two options in my mind:
- Mesa Triple Rect head & pay some bills.
- Focal Twin or Solo's.

I want the Mesa head because a good friend whom I've played countless live gigs in a rock band with has it and it sounds excellent. I have the Recto-cab or whatever it's called. I currently have a JCM 2000 head, but it doesn't have the sound nor the client-attraction that the Mesa has. Clients see it and want to record here.

I want the Focals for obvious reasons. I have Yorkville YSM1p monitors, and I know them well... but they are a bit hard to get to translate well. I do have to guess a lot and compensate for their lack of low-end and their hi-end detail is weak.

So what's more important, the gear that will help me work or the gear that will be going in front of the mic?

Karloff70 · 21st July 2008, 01:58 PM

I was about to launch into a 'if you haven't got anything worth photographing, what are you to do with a really nice camera' type rant, but having read your whole post, if you can't hear what you need to I'd definitely get monitors.

Karloff70 · 21st July 2008, 01:58 PM

PMC TB2's and pay some bills??

fooman · 21st July 2008, 02:07 PM

True... but you also have to consider that owning a Mesa and having it 'on display' with translate into an easier sell for me to potential clients. I record mostly heavy acts and rock clients. So the more clients in the door the more cash, so I'll eventually be able to upgrade the monitors anyways.

But I agree with you for the most part!

Karloff70 · 21st July 2008, 02:10 PM

Sounds like you were just doublechecking your answer and you know what to do then

cosmos · 21st July 2008, 02:12 PM

little advice..
pay your bills first and then see how much you got left for spending.

fooman · 21st July 2008, 02:16 PM

I'm just seeing what others would do when they have to upgrade both an instrument and some gear.

The bills are under control... but obviously it's in the back of my mind.

Thanks for the opinions!

cosmos · 21st July 2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooman

I'm just seeing what others would do when they have to upgrade both an instrument and some gear.

The bills are under control... but obviously it's in the back of my mind.

Thanks for the opinions!

in that case i would upgrade room acoustics if needed, then monitors .. then gear.

mamm7215 · 12th August 2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooman

Hiya!
I have Yorkville YSM1p monitors, and I know them well... but they are a bit hard to get to translate well. I do have to guess a lot and compensate for their lack of low-end and their hi-end detail is weak.

I have the YSM1P's too and find the EXACT same thing, and I have a treated room. I put a the Yorkie sub on them and it's better but I'm thinking of springing for some A7's.

fooman · 12th August 2008, 06:31 PM

Having had some time to think about it waiting for the cheque to arrive, I decided to go with the Mesa head and pay some bills most definitely. Having just the Mesa Recto cab under my Marshall JCM 2000 head brings a lot of attention, so having the TR head would probably be the clincher for a lot of clients.

Plus... I need to pay some bills ;)

My monitors are ok for now. I know them, and have to guess less and less all the time.

Drlove · 12th August 2008, 06:45 PM

Like you said... If you have the Mesa you can get more work and THEN buy the monitors.

NorseHorse · 12th August 2008, 06:51 PM

Pay the bills!

Invest!

BLUElightCory · 12th August 2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmos

little advice..
pay your bills first and then see how much you got left for spending.

Yes. Get those things taken care of. Getting out of debt is much more important in the long run (especially in this business) than gear.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
What instrument is this?	bcgood	So much gear, so little time!	30	19th May 2008 09:26 AM
Instrument/Gear stores in Bali.	travisbrown	So much gear, so little time!	2	9th January 2008 08:32 AM
Stereo gear VS. Mono gear...& gear opinions?	xj32	So much gear, so little time!	1	29th December 2005 07:01 PM
Someone tell me what this instrument is...	notbillcosby	Geekslutz forum	2	20th April 2005 03:25 AM

21st July 2008, 01:32 PM	#1
fooman Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 853	Instrument... or gear? Hiya! I'm getting a large tax return on my business's first year in the tax season. Prior purchases, catchup, etc = big first year return. So now I have over $3k to figure out what to do with. So I have two options in my mind: - Mesa Triple Rect head & pay some bills. - Focal Twin or Solo's. I want the Mesa head because a good friend whom I've played countless live gigs in a rock band with has it and it sounds excellent. I have the Recto-cab or whatever it's called. I currently have a JCM 2000 head, but it doesn't have the sound nor the client-attraction that the Mesa has. Clients see it and want to record here. I want the Focals for obvious reasons. I have Yorkville YSM1p monitors, and I know them well... but they are a bit hard to get to translate well. I do have to guess a lot and compensate for their lack of low-end and their hi-end detail is weak. So what's more important, the gear that will help me work or the gear that will be going in front of the mic? __________________ XXII-22 Productions

21st July 2008, 01:58 PM	#2
Karloff70 Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: london Posts: 1,501	I was about to launch into a 'if you haven't got anything worth photographing, what are you to do with a really nice camera' type rant, but having read your whole post, if you can't hear what you need to I'd definitely get monitors. __________________ ...do things willingly or say no. psycho_monkey

21st July 2008, 01:58 PM	#3
Karloff70 Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: london Posts: 1,501	PMC TB2's and pay some bills?? __________________ ...do things willingly or say no. psycho_monkey

21st July 2008, 02:07 PM	#4
fooman Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 853	True... but you also have to consider that owning a Mesa and having it 'on display' with translate into an easier sell for me to potential clients. I record mostly heavy acts and rock clients. So the more clients in the door the more cash, so I'll eventually be able to upgrade the monitors anyways. But I agree with you for the most part! __________________ XXII-22 Productions

21st July 2008, 02:10 PM	#5
Karloff70 Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: london Posts: 1,501	Sounds like you were just doublechecking your answer and you know what to do then __________________ ...do things willingly or say no. psycho_monkey

21st July 2008, 02:12 PM	#6
cosmos Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Red Sea, IL. Posts: 976	little advice.. pay your bills first and then see how much you got left for spending. __________________ The Red Sea.

21st July 2008, 02:16 PM	#7
fooman Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 853	I'm just seeing what others would do when they have to upgrade both an instrument and some gear. The bills are under control... but obviously it's in the back of my mind. Thanks for the opinions! __________________ XXII-22 Productions

12th August 2008, 06:31 PM	#10
fooman Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 853	Having had some time to think about it waiting for the cheque to arrive, I decided to go with the Mesa head and pay some bills most definitely. Having just the Mesa Recto cab under my Marshall JCM 2000 head brings a lot of attention, so having the TR head would probably be the clincher for a lot of clients. Plus... I need to pay some bills ;) My monitors are ok for now. I know them, and have to guess less and less all the time. __________________ XXII-22 Productions

12th August 2008, 06:45 PM	#11
Drlove Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Germantown, MD, USA Posts: 213	Like you said... If you have the Mesa you can get more work and THEN buy the monitors.

12th August 2008, 06:51 PM	#12
NorseHorse Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 557	Pay the bills! Invest! __________________ Williamsburg, VA 23186

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread: