Is this wrong? (ordering a U87 to try out)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Myriad_Rocker
  • Start date Start date
I don't think it's wrong.


You should be able to REALLY KNOW if it's something you want or not, before dropping $3000.


Some people don't like the u87.
 
The only thing that makes me think you should not do this is that you are going into it intending to NOT buy it. If you really want to try the mic to make the purchase, then I would see no problem. GC or not, wrong is wrong. In this case I would rent the mic or be completely up front about your intentions and see what they say.

Also, regardless of whether there is a "LAW" or not, I would definately get it in writing that you can return the mic should you not be happy with it. You don't want to get stuck with a mic worth half what you are paying for it;)

Have you considered other mics? The u87ai is extrememly overpriced in my opinion. That kind of money gets you in the proce range of some truly stellar mics out there.
 
jonnyc said:
Of all places it's probably the better to do it to. If you went into GC it'd really suck for a guy to think he's getting a fat commision on a mic only to learn you were just renting it. While I do think this is morally wrong, it could be a good learning experience so I say go for it. Just remember it's really their mic so treat it with respect. Or gut it and put the guts in a cheap mxl body and send the u87 back with mxl guts. There's always that option.
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smae thing, musicians friend is guitar center, same company as I understand it. And yes, it's wrong. Just as screwing insurance companys. Somewon has to pay for it. Would you want to buy a mic someone used, say dropped and damaged but was not detected by store.I f you buy and are truly not happy return it, if you buy with the full ubderstanding you are just trying it out, that is wrong.
 
I do this sort of thing all the time. I have a rep I use at Sweetwater, he puts the stuff on my credit card, try it out, and send back what I don't want. Just be straight up with your sales guy as to your intentions and you should be fine.
 
bubbagump said:
I do this sort of thing all the time. I have a rep I use at Sweetwater, he puts the stuff on my credit card, try it out, and send back what I don't want. Just be straight up with your sales guy as to your intentions and you should be fine.
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This isn't the same thing though. You at least have some sort of intention of buying it or something else.
 
that looks like the older, purple badge version of the original u87 (not ai like the current) which used an internal battery. i don't recall (and don't feel like googling) whether it was to supply phantom power or to boost the mic circuit's ability to handle signal kind of like the us cad mics do (or both or neither), but in any case, i believe those handle higher signal levels better than the u87ai's.
 
kojdogg said:
that looks like the older, purple badge version of the original u87 (not ai like the current) which used an internal battery. i don't recall (and don't feel like googling) whether it was to supply phantom power or to boost the mic circuit's ability to handle signal kind of like the us cad mics do (or both or neither), but in any case, i believe those handle higher signal levels better than the u87ai's.
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lol...yup, your right i was to lazy to look for anything other than an 87 in general . i used the robert d's one minute search on yahoo to come up with the pic........ i gotta tell ya thou i wouldnt be pissed if they screwed up and sent me a purple version;)

:p:p
 
naw they are quite nice-- the singer in my band has two-- one has the swappable innertube mod circuit too!
sorry to get even more off-topic, but 'toon-- how about posting some recent pics from your studio in the studio making forum? :)
 
Robert D said:
You can't have looked very hard. Let's see............go.....9:23 AM

Dreamhire U87A $40 day 9:24 AM
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I meant locally. I don't want to mess with renting one online. And if I keep it for 30 days at $40/day...that's $1200. Might as well shop for a used one and buy it for that fucking price.
 
kojdogg said:
naw they are quite nice-- the singer in my band has two-- one has the swappable innertube mod circuit too!
sorry to get even more off-topic, but 'toon-- how about posting some recent pics from your studio in the studio making forum? :)
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i spit soda out my nose laughing so hard reading that.....:D

right now it looks like a trash heap. i took down my bed and now sleep on a love seat that hurts my back so bad(been on it for 3 months now). my room is stacked like a pack rats $30 a month rental shed. i litteraly have paths to walk thru. as soon as i rent a shed and a uhaul to get rid of all this pesky pilled up crap that most human have in a "home"(like dinner tables 5 pc bedroom set and sutch) i will def post up so photos:p:p. after its all done my only non studio related things in my house will be a love seat (i wanted to keep the full size coutch but then the stand up arcade game woudnt fit)and my clothes/blanket/pillow hidden i a closet(and a few personal bathroom personals). To show how anal i am getting the fridge will be full of goodies for guest only with diffent soda and beers to loosen up some people(with a sign on it that says limit 2 beers) and green apples .....etc. Its really coming along and turing into more of a studio than a house.......


and so the beautiful butterfly emerges from the cocoon to find the bright new world...lol
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
Well, I wasn't thinking "screw Musician's Friend over" when I thought about this. But certainly wouldn't do it to other more respected places. (Mercenary, Vintage King, etc)

I have full intention of taking great care of it so it is returned in the same condition in which I got it. As for gutting it...I think I'll pass. My conscience couldn't live with that.

I talked to one of the live chat guys and he said that I could return the Neumann for any reason. And no where on the U87 page does it say that Neumann is except from their policy. As for the 15% thing, that appears to be only if the item has visible signs of use or some of the packaging is missing.
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what's stopping you from doing it at this point then?

edit: toon you should definitely post pics then! :)
 
Myriad_Rocker said:
I meant locally. I don't want to mess with renting one online. And if I keep it for 30 days at $40/day...that's $1200. Might as well shop for a used one and buy it for that fucking price.
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Actually, $40 a day vs $30 to $150 an hour to use one in a studio isn't bad in my opinion, and they don't charge you for the transit time.

You have to rely on your own moral compass on this, and I'm not being judgemental, really. If it were a mom and pop store, that'd probably be different in most peoples minds, but no one's gonna feel a whole lot of empathy for MF, myself included. I just had to call BS on the "I couldn't find a place that rents one". It's not a situation where you need it today, and Dream Hire would have it in your hands faster than MF, which you weren't going to get the mic from locally either.

Nuff said.. Peace :)
 
xstatic said:
This isn't the same thing though. You at least have some sort of intention of buying it or something else.
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Indeed. I thought he did too. If you just want to mess with one, well, too bad. I don't get to test drive Ferraris just because.
 
bubbagump said:
I don't get to test drive Ferraris just because.
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hehhehehhe... actually i've done that a few times.... my mother in law had this tricked out fire engine red eldorado.... so i'ld put on the suit and drive that thing onto the lot and they'ld preety much hand me the keys to anything as long as i wasn't drooling on myself or had a visible hardon...
 
kojdogg said:
also, iirc there a few dealers who will let you do this openly (free trial as long as you put your credit card info down) including mercenary, warhead's front end audio (i believe), and high profile audio, among others
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vintage king allows it also. I believe they rent mics too. I could be wrong though.
 
jonnyc said:
Yes they will, you just have to call them out. They told me it was the law, I told them to show me this law and they refunded my money. There is no such law stating that mics cannot be returned due to health risks, if that were the case every radio station, live venue and studio would be shut down.
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and pay phones would be illegal. I've heard this crap too many times. The shop I mostly buy from does it too, but I think they may really believe there is a law against it.
 
donkeystyle said:
and pay phones would be illegal. I've heard this crap too many times. The shop I mostly buy from does it too, but I think they may really believe there is a law against it.
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i can't believe that mf actually believes that. their return policy contains explicit language about a "sterilization fee" for mouthpieces to brass and woodwind instruments-- things that one would blow spit into pretty much every time one used them.
now you may incidentally or excessively blow spit into a mic, but they aren't certainly designed for it and they can't just toss a microphone into an alcohol bath and sell it as new. alcohol wipes on the grill? maybe, but i bet that would leave an odor and there's always the risk of some of liquid damaging the capsule. plus, it will rub lettering and/or paint off of some of the cheaper mics.
at best they could sell it as a used item or send it to be refurbished which would significantly into the price that they could sell it for.
i'm sure it's a policy where they've been told to essentially fib about law vs. policy and hope the consumers buy it.
 
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