[sdiy] Group buys: Alpha-style, dual pots, and Joysticks (WAS: RE: Dual-gang reverse-log pot group buy ?)

[flightofharmony]

I understand your concern. I wouldn't do this myself if I didn't A) know
that other manufacturers who have been in business for a while, and are
well-known and  liked, were using them, B) have any samples to examine and
abuse, and C) have experience in electromechanical design, troubleshooting
and repair to be able to properly examine them.
Alphas are a known quantity in the DIY/hobbyist supply chain, whereas the
others rely on volume commercial manufacturers for their sales and have been
in that business for more than 10-20 years. I know I've smoked quite a few
Alphas in my time, and I have yet to see any inside a non-boutique retail
product.
But that is my take on it. If anybody else has similar concerns, please make
it known! The last thing I want is for people to feel cheated. That's not
why I'm here. : )
I'd be happy to try and set up a group buy for Alphas or whatever brand
product others are interested in - I'm just starting with stuff I need until
enough people pipe up.

~flight
flight at flightofharmony.com
http://www.flightofharmony.com


-> -----Original Message-----
-> From: Andre Majorel [mailto:aym-htnys at teaser.fr]
-> Sent: Monday, November 17, 2008 3:01 PM
-> To: flightofharmony
-> Cc: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
-> Subject: Re: [sdiy] Group buys: Alpha-style, dual pots, and Joysticks
(WAS: RE:
-> Dual-gang reverse-log pot group buy ?)
-> 
-> On 2008-11-17 06:23 -0800, flightofharmony wrote:
-> 
-> > And, I've actually found much better pricing:
-> > Song-Huei quoted $0.16 each for 1000. They sent me some samples
-> > too, very nice! Identical to Alpha, except their washers are a
-> > much tighter tolerance so they pretty much stay centered without
-> > having to hold them while tightening the nuts.
-> >
-> > Even better, G&H quoted me $0.099 each at 1000 MOQ! Harvestman
-> > told me about them and let me check out a sample - I didn't
-> > think to check the washers, but they are also just like the
-> > Alphas in feel and build. They also carry those Illuminated
-> > caseless slide-pots I was hunting.
-> 
-> Are you really going for those non-Alphas ? The Alphas are a known
-> quantity, the Song-Huei and G&H aren't. They could look and feel
-> identical initially but not *be* identical.
-> 
-> 22 cents is cheap enough for me. I think I'd rather pay that much
-> for reliable pots than take a gamble to save 12 cents per pot.
-> 
-> > I've been drumming up interest in these on Muffwiggler and we're
-> > off to a good start. The plan is to make the purchase in
-> > January.
-> 
-> http://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2105
-> 
-> --
-> André Majorel <URL:http://www.teaser.fr/~amajorel/>