How to 'audition' a microphone before buying

  • Thread starter Thread starter wheelema
  • Start date Start date
Harvey Gerst said:
Please not that in my very first post, I said,
"it would require going into the store when you and the store both have some free time. Asking to test mics in a busy store on a Saturday is NOT a good idea, for example."

One of the requirements of any comparison testing is consistent testing conditions. Obviously, a guy playing guitar 20 feet away, trying to be the next Eddie Van Halen, would not be a good thing.
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Thanks for yet another innovative, practical problem-solving approach, Mr. G.

I would add that many stores have isolated areas. If you were in the store at an off-time, and were respectful, a half-hour in one of these rooms/booths would be perfect.
 
Considering this thread started Dec 17, 2001, I thought it might be interesting to show some of the newer members just how good this Mic forum use to be. And this was only a "four star" thread.
 
Well, Harvey, you rock. This thread should be a sticky. I think something got glossed over in the process, although Alan expressed some concern, others intimidation. Just how do we get the GC chump salesman love us, and actually put up with our shit? I went one step further- found the salesman who was willing to *do* a similar set of tests, just to match up the store's inventory as best as possible.
They say before you meet the handsome prince, you must kiss a lot of frog. Before you find a salesman, you'll probably go through a bunch of wanna-be's.
In most big GC or similar, there's *somebody* who has a clue. You have to find that guy, and find out his hours.
Next, you must actually be somebody who will buy the damn mic when you're done putting the salesman through his paces. Harvey's suggestion that you do not do this on a busy Saturday is dead on. I would make an appointment for something like that. I find it convenient to test using the Korg PXR4 Pandora and a phantom power supply. I use the omni electret condenser in the Korg as a reference point, as I'm very familiar with it. That keeps the whole rig attache sized, with a desk stand.
My main point is that it is greatly to your advantage, as you invest in gear, to get on the good side of a gear salesman. It works both ways. He has to make deals and let you really check out gear. You actually have to buy stuff, because it feeds his wife and kids, or at least his pet Mako shark. I have learned to value the work of good sales staff, like a great waiter. The hard part isn't testing the mics, although this thread rocks as a tutorial. The hard part is earning enough respect so they'll let you do it. Sorry, but money does help. They are in business to sell gear.-Richie
 
Hey Harv:

Awsome!! Thread. I copied everything into a word doc and now it's in my computer. However, this should be a must read for newbies.... I should have read this thread (I didn't even know about it) before I bought my first mic.
We are not worthy to be in your presence!! :D
 
It's been a few years since this thread has seen the light of day. Now might be a good time to drag it out again.
 
Sticky Request

Harvey Gerst said:
It's been a few years since this thread has seen the light of day. Now might be a good time to drag it out again.
Click to expand...

I agree, Harvey. I just read it for the first time myself and WOW!, that's some awesome info. Our GC in Wichita is basically brand new. However, we have a few other stores in town that sell similar cheap mics, but their inventory isn't as vast as GC's.

Gonna try the test with GC and see if they feel like playing along.

Thanks again for an awesome post!

Chuck
 
Every time i have asked Guitar Center personel to allow me to demo things, in any combination I want, in any place in the store I want, they have been very accommodating and helpful.

Sometimes they seem clueless as to what I might NEED to do this, or seem clueless as to why anyone would WANT to do that, but they are perfectly willing to go along with my schemes.
 
The Axis said:
Every time i have asked Guitar Center personel to allow me to demo things, in any combination I want, in any place in the store I want, they have been very accommodating and helpful.

Sometimes they seem clueless as to what I might NEED to do this, or seem clueless as to why anyone would WANT to do that, but they are perfectly willing to go along with my schemes.
Click to expand...

It's because you look like a freakish murderer guy.
 
Might be a good time to bump this old thread from 2001. There seem to be a lot of new people here.
 
Great ideas Harvey. BTW, I PM'ed you yesterday about my TB1 going out. It's back up working better than ever but I still wonder about the ACM583 being OK for a backup FET mic.

Since this thread was about 'auditioning' a mic and you did just that a some time ago on the ACM583 I thought you might have the best insight.

Thanks for any input!

Earl
 
Just bumping an old thread that might be of interest to some of the newer people here.
 
Just bumping an old thread (from 2001) that might be of interest to some of the newer people here.
 
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