From Aaron Ross Sent Sun, Mar 8th 1998, 02:58
From Aaron Ross Sent Sun, Mar 8th 1998, 02:58
Hey friends,
All of this talk about inflated synth prices makes me *awfully* glad I've
had the patience to wait around for the ultimate deals. And, I've been lucky
enough to have some good friends who have helped me out. Check out this list:
<gloat ON>
Roland SH-5 received in trade for showing my video art at an
acquaintance's gig... I would have charged him
$100 otherwise
Pro-One gift from a friend
Six-trak paid $200, took advantage of poor roommate
Korg EX-800 paid $150, same as above
Synsonics drums gift from roommate (no hard feelings about
Six-trak & EX-800)
Fatar CMS-61 paid $40
Yamaha FX-500 gift from uncle
Lexicon Jam Man gift from uncle
PAiA Theremax gift from girlfriend
2 Switchcraft patchbays paid $5 each (worth ~$200 each)
Hill 12x4x2 mixer gift from boss (he thought power supply was fried;
actually just a blown fuse!)
TEAC 3340S 4-track permanent loan from a friend
TR-505 paid $75
The only substantial thing in my studio which I paid list price for is a
Kenton Pro-2. However, I sold my *donated* MC-4 sequencer to subsidize this
purchase. Net cost to me: about $100.
<gloat OFF>
(I've probably spent over $5K on computer hardware in the past 3 years, so
maybe it all evens out in the end.)
So, the moral of the story is, be good to your friends. Also, don't make any
rash "impulse" buys. I never bother with the latest, greatest toys, but
rather wait until they are considered passe and can be found for a fraction
of their original price. Someone mentioned FM synths as being the overlooked
instruments du jour, and I must agree. I'll take one of those TX802's as
well, or better yet, a TX816 rack!
I adhere to the stock trader's maxim, "Buy low, sell high" -- except I "Buy
low, almost never sell." Ride the waves of fashion trends, don't get bashed
against the rocks. I'd really like to have one of those fancy Nord Modular
dealies, but when the next great thing comes along, all the trendies with
more money than brains will be dumping them on the market. (I'm sure no one
on this list fits that description.)
Perhaps the greatest offenders in this area are the colleges and
universities, because they really should know better. Why are so many of
them getting rid of their modulars? Because they are stupid. Here's a horror
story: when I was at CalArts, I was astonished to find that the *FILM*
department had a huge Buchla 200 system; I would estimate between 50 and 100
modules. (The Music department had sold their system long ago.) No one used
it except me and one other guy, because everybody thought it was old and
crappy technology. The teachers didn't give a sh*t about it, and didn't even
offer any classes in how to use it. So naturally, none of the students
showed any interest. The teachers probably told the administrators about
this lack of interest in order to justify getting rid of it.
So, the Film department sold the Buchla to the other guy who used it, for an
undisclosed sum. IMHO, this was pure nepotism; the teachers sold it to their
buddy without announcing it to me, the students, or the public. Naturally, I
was outraged. I went to the other guy and asked if he was willing to sell
any of the modules, and of course he effectively said, "F*ck you." The WORST
part of this whole soap opera is that they took the money from the Buchla
sale and bought a lame Roland sampler. Not even an E-mu or an Akai, but a
ROLAND. It's true that the students needed a sampler, but this thing is a
piece of garbage and is probably worth about $300 now. Needless to say, they
didn't need to get rid of the Buchla in order to buy it.
Anyway, maybe I'll get over this someday, but I'm still in shock five years
later.
Although it'll take awhile to get my chops, eventually I'll join the exalted
ranks of the DIY synthgods and roll my *own* modular. It probably won't be
as bulletproof as a Serge/Doepfer/Modcan/etc, but I'm reasonably sure it
will be cheaper. Plus, I'll have the experience under my belt, and the pride
of a job (hopefully) well done.
Praying to Analog(ue) Heaven,
Dr. Yo
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| Aaron F. Ross |
| xxxx@xxxx.xxx |
| http://www.best.com/~dryo/ |
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