Shure FP33 repair recommendation?
 

Could somebody recommend a good repair shop that can replace the master gain pot on an FP33? Shure flat rates their repairs for the FP33 at $661.00 U.S. which seems unreasonable to me. They will sell me the part for $50.
I am located PA, though I'll ship it anywhere in the U.S. if the repair shop is good and their prices are affordable.

Hi Kevin,

You might try Pro Sound in NYC (Pro-Sound @ Professional Sound Services). Trew Audio in Nashville (Trew Audio: Location Sound Equipment Sales, Rentals & Service for Film & Video Production throughout the US, Canada, and the rest of the world.) is another option. Both are first rate location audio sales/rental houses with in-house repair services. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

Yrs,

Hoi

I'm not sure who told you that, but I called shure directly and they wanted $160 for a flat rate repair. I think some one quoted you wrong.

they couldn't fix my unit and sent me a new one for like $40 more for shipping or something. I was very happy with the deal to have a new unit.

I spoke to someone in the service dept. I'll call again tomorrow and post their response.

Yes, I would double check that. I sent a client's FP-33 years ago to Shure and it was pretty reasonable. An FP-33 isn't even worth $661.00, so I would not go that route. I liked Shure service and yes they did offer to upgrade to a new model for a reasonable cost as well.

Or you could just chuck it into the bin and do what everyone else in this business does - buy a Sound Devices 302!

Dan

A new FP33 is over 1200 bucks, so I'd say it's definitely worth fixing, although not for that exhorbitant price.

I thought the fp33 was discontinued years ago. Website doesn't say that, hrmm wonder when the last time they sold a new one was?

Well I called Shure today and was told, yes $661 is the correct price for repairing the FP33 no matter what is wrong. When I mentioned that I was in contact with people who had their mixer repaired for much less, he said to send it in for an estimate and he'll get a specialist to look at it. He then said that Shure doesn't like to charge their customers that ($661) price and my repair would likely be less.

A very strange phone call. I'll repost once I get the estimate if anyone is interested.

Very bizarre.

Dan

brand new in box FP33 for $650.

Shure FP33 Portable Stereo Audio Mixer Unused

I don't think Shure is interested in making or dealing with mixers....

My thoughts exactly.

I know these things are inferior to the SD 302, but they are still good solid mixers. That seems like a deal if it really is new.

BTW I thought I read somewhere that if I get a SD 302 I could connect it to my FP33 through the mixbus and get 6 channels. Is this true?

well I called shure a day ago and got the PDF service manual in an email. if you can get the pot for $50, take it. that said, you do need to do a calibration procedure once its changed. there is a lot more going on inside these things then meets the eye.

as for the 302 being " superior " thats open to interpretation. both the 302 and 442 _lack_ a master gain control, and the FP33's headphone monitoring setup which is really nice. I"ll also say if you judge a FP33 being run on an external 12-14V battery, that is the bottom end of the mixer functioning. it wants 24-28V. run it like that and its a different mixer. its got about the same specs on paper as does the 302, and will meet those specs if powered properly. FWIW, internally, it has a diode bridge on input which causes a voltage drop right off the bat, so your 12V comes in more like 10.5V. the op amps want +- 15V, or 30V with respect to ground being the negative side of the battery.

Not quite true, while the 302's output level is set in the menu, not with a pot, the 442 has a perfectly conventional master level control pot with a detent at unity gain.

Um, then what's that knob on my 442 that says "Master?"

The headphone switching circuit in the 442 is the most complete I've ever seen.

Are you sure you're talking about the Sound Devices 442, Steve?

Regards,

Ty Ford

ok let me take that 1/2 back since its been a while since I've used a 442.

what I meant was, big honking knobs you can use with gloves on. here in WI, working outside during winter, a good pair of gloves is a requirement. the FP33 has knobs that are much easier to grab in respect to master output, and headphone monitor & levels.

True, except that Master Gain is typically a set-and-forget control, 99% of the time being left at the unity gain detent. Adjusting levels during the take would be done with the input channel faders and both the 302 and 442 have nice smooth controls there. It's one of the differences between live sound engineering and location recording - with live sound you ride the master to control the overall system volume the audience is hearing and the channel faders tend to stay set for the balance you're trying to achieve between the instruments, vocals, etc. But in location recording the master is usually set as part of establishing the gain staging between the mixer and the recorder, balancing the mixer's overall gain with the recorder input gain so they're both running at their optimal levels. Once you've achieved that balance, the master stays put and subsequent level adjustments during the take are done with the individual channel faders.

Master Gain
 

Absolutely, Steve! I have moaned to SQN about their 2S and 4S Mini mixers for some time as they have the Master Gain control (used perhaps once or twice a year for location recording) very accessible...bang next to the headphones level control and easily mistaken for it when rummaging for it when the mixer is in its bag around your neck. Whereas the audio return level control - needed each time you connect to a new camcorder - is accessible only with a little tweaker, tilting the mixer up towards the light and squinting. Designers not listening to the guys in the field.

"I was born sneering." Pooh Bah in The Mikado - W.S. Gilbert.