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[londonbarn]

he has my  amplifier and my $5,000 +       since 2002  and he just continues to ignore me now,  suppose to build a dream amplifier for me.

[hargerst]

Have you called him and raised holy hell with him.  I sure would.

[Vertigo]

It's been three years??? I'd have been on his doorstep after one...

-Lance

[londonbarn]

i have a few times and one of the last times i called and inquired  his voice kind of shrank down to an inaudible mumble, it was kind of bizarre,  i kept saying , "i cant hear you, man" . the thing is i am living in london  so i cant yet, AND  i just want him to make the amp  so i dont want to burn my bridge.  crap,  all he has to do is put some time in and build it, even if he spent my money, just buy the parts and build it. the only thing is that i have told him not to rush (trying to be nice) because i am still in england.he assured me that he didnt go to hawaii with my money, and that he will build it. but now when i called just to keep in touch, his daughter answered the phone and when i mentioned steve she very dodgily said uh , i just got out of the shower and call back in five minutes and i will get him.  of course i call back and it is an answering machine. and has been since .  i have tracked him on ebay and he is buying parts and things, so he is still in the game it looks like. i guess all i can say is that when i get back to the states , i will definitely fly to his house that is for damn sure. he talks about carrying on his fathers legacy, i hope that is not totally true         anyway thanks guys

[danickstr]

Perhaps the question is, how low has stephen sank?

[John Ivan]

danickstr wrote on Sun, 02 October 2005 12:37

Perhaps the question is, how low has stephen sank?

Hi All,

First , let me say that I have had NO experience of any kind with the apparently ,well known Mr. Sank. I just thought I would ad some ideas from outside. I don't even know why I'm doing this,it just sort of came to my mind.

It's sad to read this sort of thing because within all these comments, there seems to be some agreement the Mr. Sank has real talent so, if there are problems on the business side, this is always sad.

It sounds like there may be what can only be called, "life problems" here. It sounds to me like at one point or another,he had his shit together better than he does now. This could mean that maybe things are not going so well on any number of levels for him. I'm not in any way saying that this means he has the right to screw anyone or pass off bad work either, I'm just saying he might be having a hard time in general and this could explain why some had a good experience and some did not.

I would suggest that anyone who has out standing business with Mr. Sank make every effort to contact him again. With everyone doing this at once,it could be a wake up call for him that he's let things go way to far.

As for Mr. Sank himself, I would suggest that  WHAT EVER THE TRUTH IS. You should contact all these folks and do all you possibly can to make any outstanding work, right. Sometimes people let things go and the next thing they know, it's overwhelming and they owe to many people to much and they come apart at the seams. Then they just hide and that is no way for a talented guy {or anyone else} to live.

Keep in mind the possibility that my entire post could be WAY WAY off base and I could be totally full of shit. I don't know what is true and what is not true but, this kind of thing can get really ugly fast and I just thought it wouldn't hurt to make these comments at this point.


P.S. Hope I didn't over step here. I'm just thinking about the possible Human/emotional cost.

My 7 cents.

Ivan..........

[Revolution]

I'm with you Ivan40 .

Sounds rather sad to me.

[londonbarn]

very well said ivan , and i have thought about these very things also, that is why i havent yet torn every limb off his body. what i would love for him to do is to come clean and at least communicate, i cant imagine a MORE understanding guy than myself about this. but just COMMUNICATE for god's sake. we all would probably help the poor chap.  i want to thank harvey gerst for providing this forum because i was hoping that other people would respond so that sank would maybe see this and grow a couple of cahones.

[hargerst]

I watched David Butler and Sly Stone and many others "self destruct", and now, it appears to be Stephan Sank doing the same thing.  It saddens me when someone with talent destroys himself.  

Some people choose to try and hide their demons from the world as they struggle with them.  I don't know what problems he may be having, but I wish him well in overcoming them.  

It's unfortunate, because they often destroy their credibility and their reputation in the process.

[londonbarn]

perfectly said

[Mark Gensman]

I just found this forum and thread by doing a search on Stephen Sank. I am dismayed at what I am reading.

Last month I sent Mr. Sank my Beyer M260 for ribbon replacement. He told me it would be back in a week on September 22. My check has been cashed. No mic.

Mr. Sank is not returning my emails and his telephone message says the mailbox is full and please hang up.

Do any of you have his home telephone number? I would hate to think I have not only lost my Beyer mic, but paid someone to take it away from me.

Are any of you in the Albuquerque area or close to it? I'm in Portland, Oregon and can't get there from here. I am hoping the worst hasn't happened..

[Craig Patterson]

I'm dismayed to read all this too.  Stephen did a one-of-a-kind mod to one of my ribbons several years ago, and I'd like him to do it again with another.  But I've been unable to reach him as well.

I'm concerned about what I'm reading here - does anyone actually know that Stephen may be going off the deep end in some way, and that perhaps he may *need* one of us to pay him a visit to check on his welfare?  Or are we just speculating?

Because if someone knows a backstory about him that may require some intervention or display of love, please let me and the others in on it, because I'm sure we can arrange something.

-Craig

[Mark Gensman]

I'm looking into airfare and lodging for Albuquerque as we speak, I have no problem paying a visit to see if I can help...and to extricate my mic.

[hargerst]

All I can add is that I visited Stephen at his house in Albuquerque and watched while he modded my M260 mic.  It was a small, modest house and he was running a one-man shop.  Wife, two kids, and a couple of dogs.  He had re-ribboned Mike Rivers M260, and he was working on some ribbons for Dan Kennedy at the time. He had a lot of the old RCA stuff that he inherited from his dad Jon Sank.

[Mark Gensman]

Harvey, is there a way to find his wife's name?

I am getting no email response and his message phone is still full and telling me to hang up.

I really have no idea on how to proceed in getting my mic back from Mr. Sank. I have his emails notifying me he recieved it, I have his signature on a cancelled check, so I can prove he recieved it. I am not interested in waiting months to see if it shows up.

I suppose the worst case would be to hire an attorney in Albuquerque and see if a theft charge loosens any lips..

Suggestions gladly accepted.

[John Ivan]

Well, perhaps someone who knows him well personally should pay him a visit. Maybe he'll make a statement or at least be convinced to privately e-mail some of you.

Hope he's OK...

Ivan............

[londonbarn]

i like the visit idea , i never could, but will gladly in about 5 months time. i dont know him personally except from a ton of emails and phone calls, i have liked him from the start, but i just cant keep getting ignored now. i would also be interested in helping him out anyway i can, his services are invaluable to all of us.

[Mark Gensman]

Well today I took the step of filing a police report for the theft of my mic. I filed it with my local police department after talking with the Albuquerque Police. My local police will forward the complaint to the NM police and they will investigate the location of Mr. Sank and the possible return of my mic.

I am not going to hold my breath. What really pisses me off is that after forty five years in the music business I have never been ripped off like this, (which is a miracle in itself) and stealing my mic is one thing, but I even paid to have it stolen.  

[hargerst]

This is the only information I have on Stephen:

5517 Carmelita Drive, N.E.
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111
Phone: (505) 332-0336

That was his actual home address (which I visited) and his home phone number.

[londonbarn]

well, keep us posted  mark  and good luck

[bgarrett]

See below

[londonbarn]

sorry to hear that the boat is getting pretty full , since he also has my 5 grand , i feel that i paid for the damn boat for all of us to be in!!! lol (oooh, it hurts to laugh)

[Mark Gensman]

An update.

I filed a complaint with my local police department who apparently forwarded it to the Albuquerque police department. I also found a very helpful studio owner in Albuquerque who just happens to have a son in law that is a policeman.

I also was preparing to file a complaint with the New Mexico Attorney General's office.

Anyway, today (Saturday the 22nd), I recieved a message from Mr. Sank that he had been recovering from a car accident and would get the mic out to me on Monday.

When I recieve the mic, I will update everyone.

If indeed, Mr. Sank was injured in a car accident, I wish him a speedy recovery and continued good health. I will feel better once my mic is returned to me in good working order..

[londonbarn]

WELL, THAT IS ONE OF US NOW WHO CAN LEAVE THE BOAT THAT "SANK" BUILT.       WAY TO GO MARK  IN FEBRUARY WHEN I ARRIVE , I WILL DO THE SAME. MINE  WOULD CONSTITUTE "GRAND THEFT"

[Mark Gensman]

bgarrett wrote on Wed, 19 October 2005 23:34

If you're reading this, Stephen, you have until October 24 2005 to communicate with me and salvage your reputation before I contact the police and an attorney. Best Regards, Brook Garrettson brook_garrettson@yahoo.com

Brook,
You can contact your local police and file a theft charge. You can also contact the New Mexico Attorney General and file a complaint with them.

I was getting read to file with the AG office when Mr. Sank contacted me via email. If I do not recieve my mic this week, I will proceed.

As a businessman, this is very frustrating. I researched Mr. Sank before I sent the mic, and had multiple email discussions with him regarding the repair to my mic. I was actually excited to know I was getting a Sank Modified Beyer M260 ribbon.

I hope that excitement returns when my mic arrives safely and is upgraded properly.

A word to the wise. Keep all copies of correspondence, pay with a check that can be traced, keep copies of shipping documents and request a confirmation that the item has been recieved.

I had all that to provide to the police and since I had paid by personal check, I had the cancelled check and his statement he recieved the mic and the approximate turn around time.

Pretty hard to claim the mic isn't stolen if it was recieved, the check was cashed and the mic was not returned. Now if it isn't repaired, that's another story but at least I'm only out the money for repair and shipping. I would have my favorite sax mic back home.

Good luck.

[Dan Kennedy]

I haven't had any recent correspondence with Stephen, but I also know he has no reason to be engaging in anything dastardly.

If it is indeed recovery from a car accident and/or any number of
complicating factors, I would wish him well and be patient.

His communication is an indication of his willingness to work this out.

We are all aware of how fragile a reputation is, and how easily destroyed it can be. Especially with the speed and inaccuracy of the internet!

Dan Kennedy
Great River Electronics

[londonbarn]

Dan,Dan,Dan,Dan, and Dan,    those of us unfortunates are pretty much suffering here with the silence of mr. sank,We all like steve and hope he is well! (nobody more than I) , if you own a recording studio and you accept money and take on gear from customers , and then for months to years, cease to communicate to anyone (COMPLETELY IGNORE) and have someone LIE to me when, i do call, WE ALL including YOU would have no choice but to start doing something. Because of the callousness we have been shown and the worry that we have gone through, when just a SIMPLE EMAIL EXPLAINING CIRCUMSTANCES would have been great. however , we have NEVER been extended that simple courtesy! and dont think i havent been PLEADING to steve. I and i think the rest of us dont want to see his reputation go down the tubes either. the only person i think that does is STEPHEN SANK himself,  CANT HE HAVE HIS DAUGHTER OR someone else for god's sake at least send an email to all of us whom he has property of to explain very simply what in the hell is going on? Dan , could you please send me $5,300 and buy me a moscode 600 with george kaye mods (i sent him) , so that i can jump over into your sympathy boat? i would love to be in your boat instead.

[Mark Gensman]

Well, I have good and bad news.

I recieved the mic yesterday. I can't tell if it has been repaired or not. When I sent it to Mr. Sank, it was because the output was slowly decreasing and I had to turn the input gain nearly all the way up to get it to the same level as my 58's, 57's, 767's, OM5, etc. mics.

Now, it requires as much or more gain to get an adequate signal and it sounds exactly the same as before to my ears. I am not sure what to do next.

I guess I need to know a source for fixing a Beyer M260 so I can send it in and have it checked out. I may try Beyer themselves..

But hey, I have the mic back.

[Dougtune]

Mark G.,
I had my M260 rebuilt by Beyer 2 years ago, for $210.  It came back perfect, like when new in 1973.  Their phone# on the receipt is (631)293-3200.  They did it fast, too.  

[Mark Gensman]

Thanks.. If it needs to be repaired because it wasn't in the first place, gee.. I'll only be out $350 for a mic worth about that much..plus shipping of course.

aaarrggghh...

[londonbarn]

what happened to my message, it was my best one yet. was it over the top?

[hargerst]

londonbarn wrote on Fri, 28 October 2005 15:17

what happened to my message, it was my best one yet. was it over the top?

Yeah, I thought it was a little too much.  Dan Kennedy is a pretty damn nice guy, and it sounded (to me) like you used a shotgun to blast him, where a pea-shooter would have sufficed.  

I can empathize with your frustration in dealing with Stephen Sank, and I can't offer any explanation of what happened, but Dan was simply trying to say maybe there are reasons.

I would be as upset as you are if I were the one caught in this situation.

[londonbarn]

i know , and i am sorry harvey, i just couldnt help it. lol, won't happen again

[bgarrett]

Stephen Sank was apparently involved in a bad car accident that has left him in bad shape. He's a bit overwhemed trying to recover as well as getting back to angry customers. His email posted on his website does work. Just try to be understanding as he is diligently taking care of past-due business for his clients. His work does continue.

Best Regards,

Brook Garrettson

[londonbarn]

thanks for that Brook, were you the one that hit him? to know that , We all wish him a very good recovery. but....we are angry because of our pleading to get any reply. when i called... and i got a snub from his daughter?  instead of an explanation (which my 10 year old son would have been capable of doing!!!) it tends to make one nervous , especially when the communication got very scarce way before the accident. AND then we are hearing this from a guy who lives in sacramento???  anyway  like i say and i think i can speak for everyone, is that i hope very much for a well and speedy recovery (and it is not just so he can build my amp), after 3+ years, i think i have given up hope.  AGAIN , thanks  for that Brook

[londonbarn]

hey brook!!!!  i for the last year now  (at least) emailed steve with a nice message to get well and ONCE AGAIN asked him to email me and confirm about working on my project .he never replied as usual.   please tell us what is in your magic bottle?

[musical5]

I tried calling many months ago to have a ribbon mic repaired. I only got a voice mail with some kids voice on it. If he is indeed in the microphone repair business, he may want to go to school and learn some proper business etiquite. Spelling?

[Mark Gensman]

Well, I now have a further update on my Beyer M260 problem. As I stated, I did recieve the mic back from Mr. Sank. The output level is still way low, which was the reason I sent it in the first place.

The explanation I recieved during the intitial contact phase with Mr. Sank was that the stock ribbon in the mic had fatigued and a new ribbon would solve the problem.

He got the mic, I presume he replaced the ribbon and the output is still low.

I recently called Beyer. The tech there told me the problem is not necessarily with the ribbon but with the magnet structure losing it's magnetism, which causes the low output. They charge $130 for a full repair and replace of the entire ribbon/magnet unit.

So, for Christmas I am going to get my Beyer M260 microphone fixed.. At Beyer.

And I wish Mr. Sank nothing but the best in his recovery.

[Del-Uks]

Just to let you know...

http://www.electrical.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=184366#1843 66

Cheers!

[Mark Gensman]

Since this thread has been revived, I have a question. Do any of you know how I can open my M260 and see if it actually DID get a new ribbon? I haven't used it since it got returned from Mr. Sank because it just doesn't seem to sound good any more, and it now requires turning the input gain on my mixer all the way up.. which is not right.

So.. Is it rocket science to take a Beyer M260 apart and see what the ribbon looks like? I have a description of the stock ribbon and a comparison to the RCA 77 ribbon, which is supposedly what Mr. Sank uses for replacement.

Anybody?

[JP Gerard]

You take the 3 screws on the side of the grille off and peek inside... make sure you don't sneeze  

BTW, Stephen probably told you that rewinding the transof was going to drop the sensitivity.

I found the sensitivity drop to be simply unacceptable on my 260DX and eventually went back to the stock transfo + ribbon assembly.

[Mark Gensman]

Actually, no he didn't tell me the sensitivity would drop.. In fact just the opposite.

When I originally contacted him about modifying the mic, I explained that it worked fine, but the output was getting lower as years went by.

He said that was because the stock ribbon had become fatigued and his modification would bring it back to life.

Turns out the mic requires so much gain now, I cannot use board pre's at all.. And I use the mic on my sax live. Turning the board pre all the way up induces too much noise.

So.. It's off to Beyer. But... my mic is a mid seventies unit a Beyer M260 N (C). The published frequency response is 40 - 18K.

From what I can find out now, the Beyer M260 is a M260.80 with a low frequency roll off.. I have to make sure Beyer won't give me the guts from a mic with that roll off..

The adventure continues...

[JP Gerard]

Right, the .80 transformer has a lower ratio resulting in the leaner low end (well, that's what Stephen told me and it makes sense).

If stephen didn't rewinf your Xfo, I'd expect the sensitivity to be as high as it was before... if not, the ribbon isn't tensionned right.

Yes, make sure you tell Beyer to return an M260, not an M260.80...