If...

[mylesgm]

If someone was to give 2-3k to spend on something special and long-lasting for your studio/career what would you spend it on? why?

[ChrisW]

It's going to be different for everyone. What do they already have?

[gigpiglet]

whenever i get "extra" money from some windfall (as in not my usual paid day to day work) i usually try to spend it on something that i wouldn't otherwise.
i like the idea of i have "X' from the gift/ royalties/ outcome of "Y"
i think that makes for satisfying "collection" as well as just good gear.

so - something that you have always wanted, but would never have bought - would be my recommendation.

in my position - that might be a high end mic (for the work i do, I've never really justified getting a 5/6/7 thousand dollar mic… but i sure would like one!)

[mylesgm]

Definitely different for everyone but interested in what you want and why, not a generic "everyone must have..."

That was my thinking gareth...

[wez]

It's funny, I'm really trying to get in to the spirit of this question, but I'm struggling to conceptualise what "spare" money looks like! Pretty much all of my income is "unexpected".

Having said that, right now I'm thinking I'd buy a good camera lens. So the ultimate luxury for me then I guess is to spend decent money on something NOT for the studio - something unjustifiable in terms of work/income/career.

[wez]

Actually 12 months ago I would've said a Fender Rhodes, but I have one now (thanks Barney!)

That's a good example of something I'd struggle to justify buying, but when it's part of a trade... hey, what can you do?

[Drumstruck]

I guess you mean it's a present from someone special and you want to get something that you remember them for?

For me that would take a lot of thought to determine something that:
a/ won't wear out or become obsolete
b/ won't be outgrown or be a fad

So I'd go with a special instrument (custom made cymbals or drums) or perhaps a pair of higher end nearfields (e.g. Neumanns).

[Wiz]

I considered this over a cuppa.

Its a really tough question.

I don't have an answer.

I really don't.

[ether]

Today, though 2-3K wouldn't be enough, I'd get a Nagra recorder.

[Paul Maybury]

I would get another Compex and/or Vocal Stressor.
Anything left would go into finishing any number of projects, ADM Eq's, Optro mini console, custom mic pres, CBS limiters....
Or maybe just a 16 track 2" tape machine.
Cheers,
Paul

[Alistair]

Another old U87 or 2" machine would be pretty high on my list.
Maybe the U87 as a the maintenance on the 2" machine probably wouldn't engender thankfulness for very long!

[rick]

I had this exact problem .. so I bought a dog
(for about 500bucks)
then a series of dog stuff as needed and now she is getting desexed this week
.. so i think my 2 grand is about up .. and well worth it !

seriously what else can you buy for your studio that will still be around in ten years ( albeit a bit stinky ) for 2 k ?

if in doubt buy neves .. then sell the neves and buy neumanns
then sell the neumans and buy a dog.

[mylesgm]

don't want a dog. I was thinking neve or neumann but what can you get for $2k? anybody want to sell me a cmv or a um57?

[Paul Maybury]

Ah. Well, I got two close serial number Sony C38b's for $1800 a couple of weeks ago. Love them, that's why I now have 5..
I believe Norm Cleary may still have a pair of Sony c500's for $2.5k.
Japaneumans.
I wouldn't mind a dog though, just to keep the studio cats in line.
Cheers,
Paul

[rick]

image.jpg

Buy everything .. Sell most of it
Buy a dog .

[stosostu]

I already have a dog, so I would probably do the same as most of the above, buy a good, secondhand LDC, probably a Neumann. I can't justify it for the stuff I do, but I'd like one if I had "spare money".

[Drumstruck]

Nothing better than a dog - unless it's 2. Got me 11x2 years of total devotion from mine..... just haven't found the attenuator yet

[gigpiglet]

i got a cat late last year
my first pet ever
hes a champ.
but he got attacked by a dog on the weekend! and is now recovering (tissue damage only) on antibiotics and pain killers.
so if you get a dog make sure you train him!

[Thirteen]

Music lessons.

[rick]

Did you just invite everybody to train their dog
To attack cats ..?
Curious

[Wiz]

sorry to hear about your cat gig piglet... its awful I wouldn't make jokes about it.

I was walking my dog years ago in suburban melbourne with my wife, when he was set upon by two american pit bulls.

My dog was a border collie, and was large and could handle himself. He was no match for those two.

I saw the dogs, coming and ran at them with my arms outstretched I was screaming and growling, they shot either side of me and took Chester down like missiles, in a flash one had him by the throat, the other by a leg and my wife was screaming.

I had steel cap work boots on (thank god) and on instinct started kicking the dog that had Chuck by the throat, miraculously I knocked it unconscious, and then got the other one off him. Chester lots a large chunk of his front leg fur and skin, but was generally okay.

I am thankful I was there, had the boots on. Had the dogs, decided to go me or my wife, things might have been very different.

I still get upset thinking about it and it was 20 years ago.

The owners of the dogs appeared, distraught and apologetic. My wife was in shock, so was I.

It was terrifying.

For years after that I carried a Cattle prod whenever we walked Chester.

[stosostu]

My dog and cat have grown up together and are best of friends. Barney (the dog) can't understand it when we go for a walk and other cats don't want to play with him.

[ether]

I prefer old analog dogs. The new digital ones just aren't the same.

[gigpiglet]

was actually similar to your story wiz
my girlfriend was out with the cat
dog attacked the cat
she got involved to save him… and got some pretty brutal wounds herself
i was just across the road at the studio (now there is a good reason for working close to home)

so its actually girlfriend and cat on antibiotics/ painkillers
medicine time morning and night!

keep your dogs away from my cat (and my girlfriend) rick.
;-)

[mylesgm]

Don't want a dog, don't want a cat....

[rob]

If s couple of grand fell out of the sky I'd be inclined to spend it on the home hi-fi

[Mark Bassett]

I had this exact problem .. so I bought a dog
(for about 500bucks)
then a series of dog stuff as needed and now she is getting desexed this week
.. so i think my 2 grand is about up .. and well worth it !

seriously what else can you buy for your studio that will still be around in ten years ( albeit a bit stinky ) for 2 k ?

if in doubt buy neves .. then sell the neves and buy neumanns
then sell the neumans and buy a dog.

It cost me close to $5000 to bring my 2 cats to Dubai with me, twice as much as it cost to bring my wife over.

[The Tasmanian]

Ha - I thought all day about this - and like Rick and Ian, came up with a dog or 2 as the best studio investment- since I buried my old great friend at home 2 years ago.

Cats? - as long as they are locked up in prison like conditions, I really like them - but I kill them when they come on to my property.
After watching so many animals die in agony from toxoplasmosis last year from my neighbours cats, I learned to kill with ease, no guilt whatsoever.
Dogs Rock!

[wez]

I have a Labrador. A Neumann would have been cheaper.

[Wiz]

I have a Labrador. A Neumann would have been cheaper.