Author Topic: Schoeps buying pitfalls (Read 8554 times)

Duncan · « **on:** February 16, 2015, 02:12:19 PM »

Hi Experts

I've got the chance to buy a pair of Schoeps for a good price, What should I be wary of, are there things I can check to minimise the risk

Thanks
Duncan

Also how do you pronounce Schopes :-)

aaronji · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2015, 02:27:27 PM »

Check this thread out: http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=100660.msg1340911#msg1340911. Might help with your second question (audio from the man himself, if the link still works)...

Cobiwan · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2015, 02:52:15 PM »

pronounced "Shehps"; the E is pronounced like the word "wet"

stevetoney · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2015, 03:15:43 PM »

You don't specify the specific gear, but here are a couple of thoughts to start...

- Assuming capsules are included in the purchase, you can email Germany to determine whether the capsules have been back for any reason. That may or may not influence your evaluation of the value of the capsules.

- If the gear is vintage, meaning it isn't in the current catalog, Schoeps may or may not still service the equipment if it needs repair. However, in general they service what they sell.

- In general, a pair of capsules that are sold with matching certificates when they are new cannot be assumed to still be matched if they are used.

- Nextel grey finish seems to be more popular and have a higher demand, though I personally prefer the nickel finish since IMHO it's less prone to degrade and show age over time.

Duncan · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2015, 05:21:13 PM »

They are CCM5s described as hardly uses

My main worry is that they are not real Schoeps (I haven't even heard of forgeries) or they are damaged in some way that I can't see

Cheers

Duncan

dnsacks · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2015, 06:15:37 PM »

can you try before you buy? I'd want to assure a) that levels from capsule to capsule are relatively matched, b) that the pattern selection works as advertised and consistently between capsules, and c) that neither mic makes excessive/different noises when cables are being handled.

A "quick and dirty" way to accomplish would be to set up both mics so they are close-recording a speaker in a room -- each close to the other and both pointed @ the speaker. then record something being played from the speaker. Then, while recording (and monitoring the recording live with headphones), switch up the capsule settings on each mic and fiddle with the wires a bit -- assuming the mics sound identical and switch between patterns cleanly, this should, at least help confirm that the mics are balanced and not obviously messed up . . ..

Duncan · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2015, 06:23:30 PM »

Quote from: dnsacks on February 16, 2015, 06:15:37 PM

can you try before you buy? I'd want to assure a) that levels from capsule to capsule are relatively matched, b) that the pattern selection works as advertised and consistently between capsules, and c) that neither mic makes excessive/different noises when cables are being handled.

A "quick and dirty" way to accomplish would be to set up both mics so they are close-recording a speaker in a room -- each close to the other and both pointed @ the speaker. then record something being played from the speaker. Then, while recording (and monitoring the recording live with headphones), switch up the capsule settings on each mic and fiddle with the wires a bit -- assuming the mics sound identical and switch between patterns cleanly, this should, at least help confirm that the mics are balanced and not obviously messed up . . ..

Yes I'm defiantly going to insist on trying them before I hand over any cash and your suggested test sound good

Thanks

Duncan

stevetoney · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2015, 06:46:06 PM »

I can't imagine there's a way for someone to forge a CCM5. The capsules are switchable, so get your hands on them and do the suggested test and that should convince you. Good luck!

H₂O · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2015, 06:51:53 PM »

I have probably bought more Schoeps gear of all vintages then any one else on this site. (Not counting DSatz

)

For CCM's just have the seller provide pictures and serial numbers. Send the serial numbers to Schoeps to get any repair history, original delivery dates, and to see if they have been flagged as stolen, etc

Chances are you should be ok.

Duncan · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2015, 05:00:37 AM »

Thanks I'll do that
Duncan

Cobiwan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2015, 01:22:45 AM »

Quote from: H₂O on February 16, 2015, 06:51:53 PM

I have probably bought more Schoeps gear of all vintages then any one else on this site. (Not counting DSatz )

For CCM's just have the seller provide pictures and serial numbers. Send the serial numbers to Schoeps to get any repair history, original delivery dates, and to see if they have been flagged as stolen, etc

Chances are you should be ok.

Can you point me to where exactly I email this info to? I poked around the site but wasn't sure where to direct my question.
I am looking to buy a pair of MK41s next month, possibly used, and would like to check the serial numbers of the MK41 lot Justin has at PSS in NY (i'm sure others may have the same inquiry). I'd prefer a new matched pair but would settle for a used matched pair if the history looks good.
Thanks!

H₂O · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2015, 10:58:57 AM »

Quote from: cobiwan on February 18, 2015, 01:22:45 AM

Quote from: H₂O on February 16, 2015, 06:51:53 PM
I have probably bought more Schoeps gear of all vintages then any one else on this site. (Not counting DSatz )

For CCM's just have the seller provide pictures and serial numbers. Send the serial numbers to Schoeps to get any repair history, original delivery dates, and to see if they have been flagged as stolen, etc

Chances are you should be ok.

Can you point me to where exactly I email this info to? I poked around the site but wasn't sure where to direct my question.
I am looking to buy a pair of MK41s next month, possibly used, and would like to check the serial numbers of the MK41 lot Justin has at PSS in NY (i'm sure others may have the same inquiry). I'd prefer a new matched pair but would settle for a used matched pair if the history looks good.
Thanks!

I think the email is:
service@schoeps.de

As I am at work I do not have it handy - I will check tonight to be sure - DSatz would know off the top of his head I am sure.

But should get a response buy filling out the contact form on Schoeps' website:
http://www.schoeps.de/en/contact_form

pohaku · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2015, 12:25:22 PM »

I sent my request to Bernhard Vollmer at Schoeps, who responded promptly.

Bernhard Vollmer
Senior Customer Service & Quality Control
Phone +49-721-9432021
E-mail vollmer@schoeps.de

jbell · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2015, 01:00:32 PM »

One pitfall for me was I can't stop buying schoeps gear!! The wife loves that

stevetoney · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2015, 02:41:45 PM »

Quote from: jbell on February 18, 2015, 01:00:32 PM

One pitfall for me was I can't stop buying schoeps gear!! The wife loves that

Cool, at least you know why she loves you.

connloyalist · « **Reply #15 on:** February 19, 2015, 10:33:42 AM »

Quote from: cobiwan on February 16, 2015, 02:52:15 PM

pronounced "Shehps"; the E is pronounced like the word "wet"

Not picking nits here, just filling in some linguistic details for anyone interested.

In English yes, that is the accepted pronunciation. In German, no.

In German when you see either the letter a, o or u followed by the letter e then that "e" is a subsitute for the a, o or u with an umlaut (ä, ö or ü). So "Schoeps" is the same as "Schöps". The pronunciation in English rimes with "cups", so the way the Germans (should) pronounce it sounds like "Shups" in English. Strictly speaking

Regards, Christine

2manyrocks · « **Reply #16 on:** February 19, 2015, 11:34:05 AM »

So another potential pitfall of buying Schoeps is when one does not correctly pronounce the name and suffers countless embarrassing situations when asked, "what kind of mics are you running?"

Bruce Watson · « **Reply #17 on:** February 19, 2015, 11:46:54 AM »

Quote from: jbell on February 18, 2015, 01:00:32 PM

One pitfall for me was I can't stop buying schoeps gear!!

Yep. The Schoeps addition is painful, yet strangely satisfying.

DSatz · « **Reply #18 on:** February 19, 2015, 06:30:21 PM »

Christine is certainly right about "oe" being a respelling of "ö"--but I disagree strongly that "Schoeps" should ever rhyme with "cups," unless it's in a regional accent that I'm unfamiliar with. When people say something that sounds like "shepps" it isn't quite correct, but it's probably the closest you can get in standard American English.

I think this was covered in a thread a few years back, in which I posted a brief sound file of the late Dr. Schoeps saying his own last name. Someone else in that same thread, if I remember correctly, posted a nice explanation about how to form the proper sound from an American English perspective.

Back to the main topic, though: The main thing is that the CCM 5 is a current product, and the company has no problem servicing them and keeping them up to spec. Also, the fact that the CCM 5 (or its counterpart, the MK 5 capsule) has two patterns with mechanical switching doesn't make it more delicate or vulnerable, or likely to need service in a given set of field conditions, than the company's single-pattern capsules.

--best regards

John Willett · « **Reply #19 on:** February 20, 2015, 08:47:43 AM »

Quote from: DSatz on February 19, 2015, 06:30:21 PM

Christine is certainly right about "oe" being a respelling of "ö"--but I disagree strongly that "Schoeps" should ever rhyme with "cups," unless it's in a regional accent that I'm unfamiliar with. When people say something that sounds like "shepps" it isn't quite correct, but it's probably the closest you can get in standard American English.

But everything is mispronounced in American English.

I think the closest pronunciation in English is:- Sherps

Not quite right, but I think the closest - the "oe" or "ö", as I understand it, is trying to pronounce an "o" and "e" at the same time.

pohaku · « **Reply #20 on:** February 20, 2015, 05:34:04 PM »

Quote from: John Willett on February 20, 2015, 08:47:43 AM

Quote from: DSatz on February 19, 2015, 06:30:21 PM
Christine is certainly right about "oe" being a respelling of "ö"--but I disagree strongly that "Schoeps" should ever rhyme with "cups," unless it's in a regional accent that I'm unfamiliar with. When people say something that sounds like "shepps" it isn't quite correct, but it's probably the closest you can get in standard American English.

But everything is mispronounced in American English.

I think the closest pronunciation in English is:- Sherps

Not quite right, but I think the closest - the "oe" or "ö", as I understand it, is trying to pronounce an "o" and "e" at the same time.

That's what my English brother-in-law keeps telling me. I have been corrected about the proper pronunciation of "scone" any number of times. Clearly we in the colonies have some linguistic deficiencies.

Humbug · « **Reply #21 on:** February 27, 2015, 09:35:13 AM »

I think it would be a great idea if two or three of the more experienced Schoeps tapers were to put together a practical guide in the TS Knowledge base.

This would detail what cap options are out there, interconnects, preamps, bars for stands etc, and the relative benefits of each.

I realise some of this will be subjective (ie some of you prefer MK4s to MK41 and vice versa).

This would be of enormous help to those of us thinking of making the step up at some point in the future.

Cheers,

Humbug

Humbug · « **Reply #22 on:** February 27, 2015, 09:40:02 AM »

Maybe include rough costs of new and second hand gear, and if course a few photos.

Would probably reduce the number of questions on here too.

Way too many options to make a sensible guess at what for most of us will be the biggest investment in our hobby.

bombdiggity · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2015, 10:53:51 AM »

Quote from: Humbug aka good taper midget on February 27, 2015, 09:35:13 AM

I think it would be a great idea if two or three of the more experienced Schoeps tapers were to put together a practical guide in the TS Knowledge base.

This would detail what cap options are out there, interconnects, preamps, bars for stands etc, and the relative benefits of each.

I realise some of this will be subjective (ie some of you prefer MK4s to MK41 and vice versa).

This would be of enormous help to those of us thinking of making the step up at some point in the future.

The myriad "active" powering options are the part I just don't really get (but would like to have available). The Schoeps site itself it very good for going over the capsules and patterns (maybe not the subjective aspects but those aren't much different than any other discussion of preferences here).

if you're running them standard phantom there's little mystery to it.

jefflester · « **Reply #24 on:** February 27, 2015, 11:39:21 AM »

Author Topic: Schoeps buying pitfalls (Read 8554 times)

stevetoney

stevetoney

stevetoney