U47-style bodies - who can make one?

[audiovisceral]

I hope it doesn't just end up looking like a standard issue Apex type body.

What I like about the one you did here:
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/skylargray/47/shock01.jpg
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/skylargray/47/shock02.jpg

is it looks unique and has character.

The brushed silver metal on the body and brass collar around the rim. If it ends up being just a generic Chinese body with slightly different dimensions, we can just buy some of these and be done with it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stellar-CM-2-Multi-Pattern-Tube-Condenser-Microphone_W0QQitemZ130327720652QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e582332cc&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I agree with Tommy Piper. No matter the manufacturer there are going to be some issues to resolve along the way. The advantage of using local machine workers is you are more closely in contact for turn around. And do we really need to be outsourcing more jobs to China?  ???  I would feel much better giving that work to local workers.  :-\

 

[jdbakker]

So, I'm working with two new manufacturers (both Chinese), and I have three different quotes from one of them.
The positive side of working with them is that the whole thing (parts, headbasket assembly, finishing) can be done in one place, which really simplifies things.
If the quality is good, then I'm going to go for it.

Note that there's a disturbingly high amount of reported incidents where a manufacturer in the Mainland would produce on-spec prototypes but switched to cheaper methods/materials for the main production run. I've experienced this myself (actually: a company I was consulting for has, on a few occasions), and similar stories pop up regularly. This would appear to be partly QC and partly simply trying to get the most out of a deal. There's also a certain eagerness to say yes, we can now and figure it out along the way; this has just hit another project (more on Alex and HPSDR here).

Not all Chinese manufacturers are the same, of course, and standards would seem to be rising. However be prepared to do more hand-holding than for companies in Taiwan (or England, or the US).

JD 'YMMV' B.

 

[Skylar]

Too bad.  Were they American? 

Maybe they thought the details would be insured in the production run and they were just trying to solve the latest issue, while ignoring previous details that had already been built correctly in previous prototypes because those details had already been solved.  A quick prototype might not get the overall attention to previously confirmed (and correctly built) specs, as a production run would.

I'm sorry to see us going to China for manufacturing.  My opinion is a bit different than yours about the Chinese quality.  You say it's good quality.  With the possible exception of a ribbon mic I've seen, the quality IMO is not good and the attention to detail is extremely inconsistent.  I hope I'm wrong, but I fear you will have a similar experience with inconsistencies as your previous manufacturer.  Hopefully it won't happen during the production run, because returns and guarantees are usually impossible.  Materials are also a question mark with the Chinese.  Quality of metals and finishes is never tops. 

I don't want to start a debate about Chinese manufacturing, in general -- I'm speaking from my experience, just FYI.  Let's leave it there.

Best of luck on this and thanks for your patience and persistence!

In baseball, you get three chances.
I gave this US manufacturer four chances.
They struck out +1.

If the Chinese quality sucks, then we'll need to look elsewhere yet again.
I may also look into the possibility of having the bodies machined in China & finished locally (Oklahoma, USA).
There's a medical-grade finishing place an hour away from me that has a reputation for doing astounding work.

I hope it doesn't just end up looking like a standard issue Apex type body.

What I like about the one you did here:
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/skylargray/47/shock01.jpg
http://s73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/skylargray/47/shock02.jpg

is it looks unique and has character.

The brushed silver metal on the body and brass collar around the rim. If it ends up being just a generic Chinese body with slightly different dimensions, we can just buy some of these and be done with it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Stellar-CM-2-Multi-Pattern-Tube-Condenser-Microphone_W0QQitemZ130327720652QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e582332cc&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116

I agree with Tommy Piper. No matter the manufacturer there are going to be some issues to resolve along the way. The advantage of using local machine workers is you are more closely in contact for turn around. And do we really need to be outsourcing more jobs to China?  ???  I would feel much better giving that work to local workers.  :-\

The microphone body, regardless of where it is made, will still be my design.
No off-the-shelf parts will be used. Everything will still be totally custom.
Otherwise (I agree), there would be no point.

Excerpts from my manufacturing requirements doc:




This is still what the design will be.



I'm with TommyP in that I don't want to get into a big discussion about "outsourcing jobs" to China.
But I will say this...
China has a large amount of manufacturing services that do not currently exist (and some that never existed) in the US.
So, when no one in the US is either willing or capable of making these mic bodies (which is the case in this situation), I no longer have reservations about trying to get some samples from China to see what they can do.

 

[audiovisceral]

Sounds good, Skylar. Keep us informed, and good luck.

 

[ENS Audio]

Somewhat off topic...with I'd imagine a fair amount of people lining up for this Groupbuy, how many of you still need to buy the shockmounts to go with these micbodies?  PM me if theres any such activity going on OR if you're interested in getting another U47shockmount groupbuy underway



Cheers,

 

[585musicman]

i would be in for a groupbuy on mic body and shockmount

 

[Ian]

I would be interested in a shockmount as well.

 

[mitsos]

Somewhat off topic...with I'd imagine a fair amount of people lining up for this Groupbuy, how many of you still need to buy the shockmounts to go with these micbodies?  PM me if theres any such activity going on OR if you're interested in getting another U47shockmount groupbuy underway
Cheers,

I would be interested in a shockmount as well.

I would be interested in a shockmount as well.

That's good initiative ENS, but this should probably be in another thread.

 

[audiovisceral]

I missed the shockmounts last time so I also vote for another thread and another buy. 

 

[synchroman]

I would buy for shockmounts... Groupbuy...

 

[imbuedblue]

I'm in for shockmounts.

 

[zayance]

Hi Skylar, i ve sended you private mail just telling you that i was in for two Mic bodies, and asking where i could fill out your form, because your website doesn't show any way to that form.

Best regards.

 

[MATTI]

Is there an eta for this project seeing from now? Not that I´m in a hurry by any means  -just curious

Matti  ;-)

 

[Skylar]

Hi Skylar, i ve sended you private mail just telling you that i was in for two Mic bodies, and asking where i could fill out your form, because your website doesn't show any way to that form.

Best regards.

You have been added to the list. I will send out an email blast a week or two before these are ready.
But watch this thread for updates...I will be posting here as more progress is made.



I'm ordering materials samples from the new prospective supplier right now, which will include wire mesh and various finishing options.
If these look good, I will have full samples made and then go into production.
I don't quite have an ETA...timing is kind of dependent on the supplier at this point.

For the first run, I'm going to do 200 mic bodies.
The best thing to do, I think, is to go through my original Feeler list in order, giving this group priority.
[But being on the list does not obligate you to purchase, of course.]
Once I have worked through the list, there may or may not be anything left from the run of 200.
If there are any units left over, I will put up a webstore, and it will be first come, first served.

Does that sound fair?

 

[radardoug]

Hi,
    Ill be in for a couple!
Thanks.

 

[JW]

Wait,

Where was that feeler list? Was it the one where we selected whether we preferred chrome or matte finish etc.? Or was it something else I missed?

 

[Skylar]

Here are the results of the survey.
It shows the list of submitters in order.

http://www.equinoxsystems.net/community/node/6

You can get to this page by the link in my signature as well.

 

[VanGenz]

I have been following this project for a while but have not understood that there was a list. Anyway, I place my self at the bottom of this list if it's not to late.

 

[Nora]

I'm pretty sure you're gonna sell a lot more than 200, skylar

Happy to be high on the list

Keep up the good work!

Think we're all silently looking forward for the new proto-samples (with our fingers crossed)

 

[tv]

It Looks Just Like A Telefunken U47!