Fun at GC

[mandocaster]

So...

I returned the DOA Oktava MKL2500 I bought last week. This time I was determined to test its replacement out before I took it home.

The clerk was a little reluctant, but came around.

We went into the live sound room, where a CD was blaring at about 145 dB's. He connected the power supply to a powered PA speaker. I asked "Don't you want to hook it up to a board with a mic pre-amp?" He had already concluded that I was dumb as dirt, so he rolled his eyes, pointed at the mic's power supply and said "Whaddya think that's for". If any sound came out of the PA speaker, it wasn't audible over the throbbing dance grooves.

He didn't admit defeat, but he did patch it to a board. He struggled for a minute to find the phantom power switch, so I told him that I didn't think the Oktava needed it since it had a power supply. He remembered just how stupid I was. "Every condenser mic requires phantom power."

Eventually we were able to assemble a combination of mic/cable/power supply that seemed to work.

I asked where the guy I used to deal with was (the who was nice, reasonably knowledgeable, and willing to admit if he didn't know something). Naturally he doesn't work there anymore.

I don't want to whine too much. I am glad that a store with a pretty good selection and good prices is nearby. They didn't fuss when I wanted to return the defective mic.

[acorec]

Originally posted by mandocaster
So...

I returned the DOA Oktava MKL2500 I bought last week. This time I was determined to test its replacement out before I took it home.

The clerk was a little reluctant, but came around.

We went into the live sound room, where a CD was blaring at about 145 dB's. He connected the power supply to a powered PA speaker. I asked "Don't you want to hook it up to a board with a mic pre-amp?" He had already concluded that I was dumb as dirt, so he rolled his eyes, pointed at the mic's power supply and said "Whaddya think that's for". If any sound came out of the PA speaker, it wasn't audible over the throbbing dance grooves.

He didn't admit defeat, but he did patch it to a board. He struggled for a minute to find the phantom power switch, so I told him that I didn't think the Oktava needed it since it had a power supply. He remembered just how stupid I was. "Every condenser mic requires phantom power."

Eventually we were able to assemble a combination of mic/cable/power supply that seemed to work.

I asked where the guy I used to deal with was (the who was nice, reasonably knowledgeable, and willing to admit if he didn't know something). Naturally he doesn't work there anymore.

I don't want to whine too much. I am glad that a store with a pretty good selection and good prices is nearby. They didn't fuss when I wanted to return the defective mic.

Yep, they are dumb shits. I do have a guy here in Mass who worked for Fletcher at Mercenary Audio and is very knowledgable. He likes Fletch but moved too far away to continue working in Boston. The MKL2500 is a very good mic and in time you will find out. Good luck !

[tjohnston]

yea those guys are weird. Its like they eye you up and down trying to figure out how to get you to buy some crap. They say things like, " Digital sounds a little harsh you're probably gonna need a tube preamp to warm things up. Ive got one in the back and 300 is the lowest I can go on it. I dont know but digital harshness is the least of my recording problems!!!!

[therage!]

Originally posted by mandocaster


I asked where the guy I used to deal with was (the who was nice, reasonably knowledgeable, and willing to admit if he didn't know something). Naturally he doesn't work there anymore.

the smart ones find jobs that pay them something.

[Flatpicker]

Man, what a rip! I guess I’m fortunate that some the folks in pro-audio at my GC (Knoxville, TN) are pretty sharp and do make a decent amount of money since they move a lot of high-end pro-audio stuff here. Still, I tell them to give me a stand, cable, and headphones, show me to a decent mixer or preamp with a headphone amp built in, and go away! They are usually happy about this as it frees them up to help other customers. I’m a regular happy camper at my GC’s sound room.

So what happened? Did you get another mic that works? If not you should ask for a manager and voice your complaint. If that doesn’t work, let me know and I’ll ask my guys here for a “higher up” person you can email about it.

[Fletcher]

Originally posted by acorec
I do have a guy here in Mass who worked for Fletcher at Mercenary Audio and is very knowledgable.

Fred at the Attleboro store?

[mandocaster]

Thanks for the concern, Flatpicker.

I did end up with a functioning mic, but I haven't had a chance to track with it yet. It may sound like "Mister Mic" for all I know.

I used to get mad when I ran into these situations. I figure there is such a high turnover of employees, I count myself lucky if they remember to unlock the doors and answer the phones now and then.

[Rocket Boy]

i wanted to try a fucking u87 the other day and the guy didnt know what phantom power was. it then took alot of convincing to get him to show me to the room where they have all the monitors hooked up instead of the live PA stuff...

this was a guy working in "pro sound"... whatever. it sucked.

[acorec]

Originally posted by Fletcher
Fred at the Attleboro store?

Why yes, it is Fred.

[grahamware]

Wow! An intelligent GC employee in the Boston area!

Thanks acorec (and Fletcher for whatever knowledge you passed on).

[arcaxis]

How's the Natick GC compare to Attleboro so far as what is stocked and "intelligent" assistance ? The closest GC for me in Mass is in CT and it's usually a wasted trip to go there to try something out - "not in stock, we'll order it for you".

[acorec]

Originally posted by arcaxis
How's the Natick GC compare to Attleboro so far as what is stocked and "intelligent" assistance ? The closest GC for me in Mass is in CT and it's usually a wasted trip to go there to try something out - "not in stock, we'll order it for you".

Good stock and 1 knowledgable guy in Pro Audio.

[omtayslick]

I used to like the GC on Commonwealth Ave., (by the BU bridge) in Boston. Haven't been in a few years though. They seemed pretty good at the time. And they had a parking lot. (a rarity in Boston)

[Richard Monroe]

Actually, I do a lot of shopping at the Natick, Mass. GC, and the turnover has been pretty brutal. Andy Ryder actually knew what he was doing. Then it was Chad, who wrote me some great deals. Now the Pro Audio guy is Dan, who will try to make you actually pay for shit, so I have to break him in some more. He did sell me a DMP3 for $120, after I beat him down for a while. He did, however, try to sell me a pair of Oktava MC012's for $140. It was pretty funny as he walked into the store the next day as another salesman was writing them up for $100. He didn't look real happy about it.
Andy Ryder was an expert. These guys probably know about as much as I do, which means that they aren't pro audio engineers, but at least they know what phantom power is, and they don't use it on tube mics!-Richie

[David Artis]

While I'm doing an IT contract here in Woodland Hills, (not so warm) Ca. I went to a local GC on Ventura Blvd.

I asked a sales rep to demo Nuendo 2.0 for me. After going thru 3 saleman I came to a conclusion that GC pro audio guys are dummer than dirt.





Wait --------- I take that back --------- dirt at least has good use such as growing food.

Perhaps the GC guys could be the fertalizer....

[detuned6]

Originally posted by Fletcher
Fred at the Attleboro store?

I just bought a focusrite twin trak off fred, he seems to be a pretty knowledgeable guy.

[detuned6]

Originally posted by arcaxis
How's the Natick GC compare to Attleboro so far as what is stocked and "intelligent" assistance ? The closest GC for me in Mass is in CT and it's usually a wasted trip to go there to try something out - "not in stock, we'll order it for you".

Why dont you go to the the store in RI on route2 ?