DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

In defense of Guitar Center, an employee (or someone who claims to be one) anonymously sent the following internal corporate memo. It explains the crazy-low microphone prices noted here recently. Here’s the memo in full:

This month, we are LIQUIDATING our entire Oktava Inventory. Due to various Intergrity issues, Guitar Center has chosen to no longer do business with Oktava. I don not want to take up too much space with the entire story, but if you like more info, feel free to contact me. Here are the most important things you need to know:

1) MKL2500 and MK319:

Both of these mics that you are selling right not are the official, made in Russia Oktava microphones, to the best of our knowledge. We are selling them below our cost because we no longer want to be associated with the problems this company is going through right now. Anything that your customer reads on the interenet is written by people who don’t know the real story, and they are simply trying to protect their interests in selling these products for a lot more money. (note: this is inregards to a customer bringing a print out that has the MKL2500 being sold for $699 US instead of Guitar Center $99).

2)MK012 (all versions of the 012- MK012K, MK012KM, etc)

The majority of these mics that we have were made in China. We had negotiated a deal with Oktava to sell the mics that would be made in China, but we did not anticipate such a differance in the sound quality. There are proabably a few of the Russian ones still out there in ou stores, but there are very few left and I would not spend a lot of the time trying to find them. You can tell your customer, yes, there are Oktava mics, made in China from the Oktava designs. They do not sound the same as the original MK012, but are very comparable to other microphones made in China. They sound fine for a $69 dollar mic!

REMEM, BE COURTEOUS WHEN DEALING WITH ANY UPSET CUSTOMERS OVER THESE ISSUES. WE ARE SEVERING RELATIONS WITH OKTAVA BECAUSE GUITAR CENTER WILL NOT SELL QUESTIONABLE PRODUCTS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

3) One final note, some of the MKL2500’s may have issues connecting the cable from the mic to the power supply. You mave to fuss with it a little bit, but it should work. If it absolutely won’t work, put it on RO and return it to the DC.

We will NOT e able to repair any of these microphones.

Thanks for all your patience and understanding.

You are all THE BEST!

This memo goes a long way to redeem Guitar Center in my eyes. I think the misleading ad copy on their website was an honest mistake and will likely be corrected soon, because it’s clear that the folks in charge are aware of the controversy and are actively distancing themselves from it. I’m happy to see GC stand by the statement made to me by their Oktava buyer back in May — that Guitar Center would not knowingly sell fake or counterfeit gear.

Regarding the sound quality of the 012 series… if Aidan Humphreys’ Oktava mic test is any indication, these mikes are very comparable in performance, even if they’re not as well-built as the originals. Anyone looking for an inexpensive condenser could do worse than the $70 (sale price) ASM MK012.

Previous Oktava news.