MOTM

Tkacs, Ken (12:43 PM 12/15/1999) wrote:

 >I just got a glossy little booklet in the mail from Big Briar. They are
 >pushing the new MF-104 Analog Delay 'Limited Edition,' saying, "Big Briar
 >has secured a supply of the last analog delay chips that will ever be made."
 >
 >Can they make a statement like that? It's very sad (there's a pun in there
 >somewhere). I really like the sound of analog delays, a nice compliment to
 >digital delays.
 >
 >It's also a bit frightening to buy a limited edition device that's
 >practically advertising itself as having no replacement parts.

I was involved in locating those chips...

I haven't seen the mailer, but the website tells the more accurate history 
(though still a bit sideways in wording):

   (from http://www.bigbriar.com/mf104presrel.htm)

   Shortly after its initial showing last July, Big Briar was informed that
   its supplier of analog delay chips planned to discontinue production. Big
   Briar initially backed off from the product, announcing that they had
   decided not to produce it. In response to overwhelming requests from
   musicians and retailers, the company reconsidered and secured enough
   chips to produce this limited run.

The part in question is available, it's a Panasonic MN3101 (there was also 
an issue with a pair of MN3005 per MF-104). The issue that Bob ran into was 
that his *supplier* was discontinuing the parts, did not have (and could 
not get) the quantities that he was looking for, and being able to find the 
parts at a reasonable cost was "interesting".

The chips are available in small quantities from various suppliers.


Mark

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