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VESTAX officially out of business (conspiracy theory included)
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| DJ RANN |
I'm a bit late on this one but per the other thread, I just found out that Vestax, the company that can take a large chunk of credit for DJ culture as we know it, not to mention, really pioneered (lol) the first popular DJ controller, filed for bankruptcy this past December.
All the sites are down, as are the facebook pages for each country. The last remaining one which was Vestax.de now redirects to a site called Korg and More.
Sad day for any of those of us who remember cutting their teeth on Vestax kit.
My first Vestax (bought 1999) - PMC-15 Mkii
Loved that mixer. Great layout, had everything you needed in a basic 4 fader mixer. After about 5 years the faders started going but I loved that thing.
My next one, bought right thereafter - PCV 275.
ing loved those kills, and the thing was built like a tank. Sounded pretty good and my only criticizm was the the eq were not full kills, but other than that, absolutely flawless. Used this very heavily for 4 years and never even had to think about replacing a fader.
Finally (and best for last),my current mixer, the Mixer that Vestax made their name on:
RIP Vestax.
As for the conspiracy theory, the rumor goes that Vestax were in talks to do a deal with Apple, to get their products in to the Apple distribution network. With the aquisition of beats, apple were looking to tap in to the urban/youth/dj culture and put the feelers out to Vestax, who obviously struggling with an saturated market of Pioneer products (who are rapidly putting themselves out of business too apparently) were keep to do a deal.
The story goes that Vestax sent $500,000 of equipment at their cost price (so basically something around $1m). Apple then pulled out of the negotiations and refused to return, what they called "gifts". It caused a massive hole in Vestax's supply chain and this combined with a few other ill times decisions is what sank them.
one of those others ill timed decisions (and some say they did it to show Apple what it would like like to have retail appeal) was to open a couple of Vestax concept stores, which just showcased their products.
One was on Melrose Ave here in LA and literally at the bottom of my road. I went in there, and they hardly had much stock. a efw weeks later I called to get Rotaries for my mixer. They told me they didn't carry parts and couldn't even give me a price, I'd have to call their warehouse (they didn't even offer to do it). Called the warehouse, they had no idea about the part, promised a callback, but never happened. Doesn't surprise me the store lasted less than a year. |
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| Freak |
I have had a lot of mixers over the years and vestax remain pretty much my favorite. I didn't like their turntables- I thought they were too torquey, and didn't like the straight tonearm. but their mixers are superb.
My first vestax many years ago was if I recall correctly, a very battered PMC-625 -which is effectively a PMC-15 (confusing myself here!)
Later on I got a PMC-500.
Utterly superb, one of my favorite mixers ever, and very similar to the PMC-55 which I also adore, I just prefer the 19" layout.
Once when I was meeting with some of the design guys from pioneer japan, and they were asking my thoughts on some designs, and asked me what I wanted to see in a mixer with regards to connectivity and a few other things. I replied something along the lines of 'look at a vestax PMC-55' (as amongst other things, it has the extra channel inputs & inserts on the front panel, which would be a god send for connecting traktor etc nowadays). They weren't too happy with that response!
I had an isolator at some point (that got stolen);
My current weapon of choice is a PMC-46 mk2:
Which I have modified the VUs to glow UV...
(by the way, I had to adjust the internal output level and check something recently- check out the inside of this thing!)
I have one eye open for a PMC-CX;
but they rarely appear for sale. This is the pinnacle of mixer design to me- it has everything in the right place and sounds superb.
Mr cox himself moved onto the PMC-580 when he switched to traktor, as it has the built in soundcard.
I also have an eye open for a phenomenally rare vestax that I used once- it had a built in drum machine and (I think) a sampler. Haven't seen it since - maybe it was a prototype?
A sad loss. |
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| DJ RANN |
Sheeeeet, now w;re talking.
That PMC 625 is so oldschool. I love how it looks like it was designed for the japanese military. yeah, I think that became the PMC 15.
How come you let go of the PMC 500? That thing is ing beautiful. I was considering it instead of the PMC 55. The only real difference is the 55 has a "EQ in" button which makes the EQ act like a kill/isolator. Otherwise (apart form it being 19" and having 5 faders) they are literally identical.
Then again, you're hardly slumming it with the 46. Probably my favorite house mixer, and that mod is ing sweet.
Just look at how much they would pack in there in terms of electronics; they just don't make them like that anymore. Open up a Xone and the PCB takes up less than 30% of the available space. basically an empty box.
The CX is the one mixer I'd consider dropping my 55 for. Weren't they like £2,000 or something?
Only problem is that i love having 4 fader channels (for ease switching between CDJ's and Techs) - I could live with 3, but the CX doesn't have a FX send/return loop.
Thanks for posting these - brought back some good memories when Mixer's weren't made by Fisher Price.
btw, i think the rare vestax you're referring to was called something like the Vestax SL 15. It had a sampler built in. I only ever saw one but never got to play on it.
There way however legend of a ultra rare edition (probably protoype as you say?) which had drum machine built in as well. If you found a working one it would probably be worth thousands. |
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| Freak |
I just felt like a change, so got rid of the 500. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
I *think* that I replaced it with a Cloud CXM, which was a half decent modular install mixer that I was using almost every nite at the time, but with far too long faders.
The CX does have an effects loop, but it is a master loop, rather than an adjustable send/return, and surprisingly, no on/off switch for the loop. In two minds which is better, depending on what I am doing. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Freak
I just felt like a change, so got rid of the 500. Seemed like a good idea at the time.
I *think* that I replaced it with a Cloud CXM, which was a half decent modular install mixer that I was using almost every nite at the time, but with far too long faders.
The CX does have an effects loop, but it is a master loop, rather than an adjustable send/return, and surprisingly, no on/off switch for the loop. In two minds which is better, depending on what I am doing. |
Wow, i used a Could CXM when I was the standby DJ and lighting guy at a club in Tonronto called This Is London. I have exact the same beef with that mixer; great quality, built like a tank but those faders must have been 6 or 7 inches long - basically impossible to get an kind of cuts going and the crossfader was tiny.
If then CX has a master loop then i'd be fine with that. I just literally only see one come up for sale a year. |
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| miamitranceman |
| Beautiful mixers and classic design. |
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| Freak |
| quote: | Originally posted by Freak
I also have an eye open for a phenomenally rare vestax that I used once- it had a built in drum machine and sampler. Haven't seen it since - maybe it was a prototype?
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Found it....boom
MW-3000.
It is either a Jeff Mills or Derrick May signature model, depending on who you ask. That fits with my memory of it, as I remember it was a detroit artist I used it with, I just cant remember who!
Built in drum machine & sequencer, and midi sync. Can change the rom chip for new sounds. Manual here if you wanna take a look: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/335045/Vestax-Mw-3000.html
This is from the mid 90's....way ahead of their time. |
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| Guest |
| quote: | Originally posted by DJ RANN
My next one, bought right thereafter - PCV 275.
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Ugh you're bringing back memories. I loved this one.
I also had a chance to play on one of their signature controllers when my friend brought his over to jam. I can't remember the model name, but I really liked it, and as you said, they really did pioneer DJ controllers before digital DJing really took off. |
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| DJ RANN |
| quote: | Originally posted by Freak
Found it....boom
MW-3000.
It is either a Jeff Mills or Derrick May signature model, depending on who you ask. That fits with my memory of it, as I remember it was a detroit artist I used it with, I just cant remember who!
Built in drum machine & sequencer, and midi sync. Can change the rom chip for new sounds. Manual here if you wanna take a look: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/33...ax-Mw-3000.html
This is from the mid 90's....way ahead of their time. |
ing Boom indeed. I vaguely remember seeing this once, had no idea that all that was included. This is ahead of it's time for now; I mean no one has made a drum machine, sampler, midicontroller and DJ mixer all in one to date.
EDIT: Oh . It seems one went on ebay a few months back for less than £350
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vestax-mw...3035&rmvSB=true
And now I'm looking, it seems a bunch of old distributors are are selling some really rare Vestax stuff.
What the is this?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vestax-MD...=item2a1f1d4abe
Also haven;t seen these for a long while...
but damn, look at the ******:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vestax-Pm...=item51cf6d8ded |
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| DJ Sarah H |
Currently Ebay UK has 177 Vestax mixers for sale, 121 of which are brand new in the box!
As for parts 1000s of them including these
clicky -> Rotary Faders for the PMC 500
I quite like the Vestax range of mixers, never owned one but have used plenty in various clubs over the years. |
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| DJ Sarah H |
There is also a CDX 12 for sale on ebay Germany - UK cost at the mo = £144 lol
CDX 12 Link |
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| Innocence Lost |
| Damn that sucks, vestax def underrated. If only they partnered with Serato or NI and made kit. |
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