the price of admission

  • Thread starter Thread starter dobro
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dobro

dobro

Well-known member
Sonusman always used to say: "Buy cheap, buy twice", and I always took it as a warning. It's one reason the gear I have is as good as it is - I decided I should stop wasting my time with merely okay gear.

But you know, a lot of what I've learned has come from buying twice, and being able to compare.

"Buy cheap, buy twice, learn something useful."
 
Same is true in reverse as sometimes there are the bargains like the FMR RNC - where spending a little less in the first place isn't a bad thing. But if everyone followed the "Buy cheap, buy twice" rule, that little gem might not have been discovered. Well, that's not really true. I think the couple that invented that little treat sent it to some pro studios as a freebie to try when the first prototypes were made and the word spread like wildfire.

You can do it yourself, and learn - like you said (and like I have also - "HOSA works fine" I kept telling myself) , or rely on somebody else to buy cheap, buy twice, and pass along the info about the piece of shit they bought first.

In a perfect world, somebody would've warned me about becoming a gear slut too, but alas - it is too late; I am too far gone.
 
If something doesn't work out for me, I put it on Ebay and often get back more than I spent or almost all of my money back.

I'm very content with my set-up and I don't lust for more expensive gear. I feel my equipment is good sounding for a simple project/home studio and the only thing lacking for me is to continue to work on my arranging and writing skills. If you continually upgrade your studio it will always be in a state of flux and it can hurt your productivity. I do understand what you're saying Dobro, and I believe in buying quality too. The problem is when you just get started it's really hard to know what to buy.

I've always spent a lot of money for guitars and synthesizers and I never regret it in the long run. Sometimes quality is expensive and sometimes it's inexpensive. I bought a Les Paul Standard-(vintage sunburst) last week......that was one of the more expensive times ! I love Gibson guitars.

I am currently lusting after a Shure KSM27 but I really don't need it. I think gear lust will never go away.
 
I think it's "buy smart or buy twice". Do your homework and use your ears. But I haven't stopped buying so what's really the point.:D
 
Does anyone want to learn about the Alieses 3630?I know I did.
 
Yo Everyone:

Keep buying. Keep buying. High or low or low and then high.

It keeps my retirement checks coming in.

Heh, heh, heh.

PS I buy much gear too; always looking for good sound and "thin" clear, concise, and logical manuals. [I know, they don't exist.]

Green Hornet:D :D :p
 
I agree w/ Track Rat, there's so much info on the web these days that you can always find teo or three reviews of any new, or old, products.

Laj
 
Dobro, I agree. You always learn something by gradually improving your gear, and like Wide Awake says, it's usually not a problem getting rid of the stuff you've outgrown (because there is always someone else just starting out).

Also, compare the situations where you buy some low-end gear today, or you save up for a year and then buy some high end gear. In the latter situation you won't have recorded anything during that year! Just think of all the experience you could have obtained. Plus if you choose the low end situation, you will learn more about what you don't like about your gear, and thus more about what you're really looking for when it comes to sound.

Also, buying used stuff is such a good thing. I think that 70% of my gear is bought used.
 
Exactly, and exactly and exactly.

You learn by using the gear you've got and then comparing it to gear you get later on. It doesn't even have to be better gear - you learn even if it's just different gear.

What used gear you trying to get rid of these days? :D
 
'If you continually upgrade your studio it will always be in a state of flux and it can hurt your productivity'

-This is my biggest problem. You know what though, some times I'll get a new piece of gear and it inspires me to write a new tune. Its a double edged sword. Many times I try to designate nights in the studio for either writing or experimenting/working on my recording/mixing skills. Its all about balance..........and MORE GEAR!!!!!!! I'm done buying cheap.

I think the progreson we all go through from using cheap gear to semi-pro gear to top of the line is something everyone should have to go through. By using cheap gear and progressing on to more expensive gear it has helped my 'ears' tremendously. I remember the first time I 'heard' a compressor and its effect. For years I was compressing shit because 'I was supposed to'....Its an epiphany. As our studio's evolve with better gear so should our ears and mixing chops.
 
dobro said:
What used gear you trying to get rid of these days? :D
Click to expand...

Hehe, just sold my Fostex 812 mixer, my Fostex R8 1/4" tape recorder and a few reverbs. I still have an Alesis Nanocompressor that I for some reason can't seem to get rid of. :D Thankfully, it doesn't take up a lot of space.

Cheers
/Henrik
 
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