Great thread, thanks for sharing the stories with us!
Manufacurers I have known....
Some of you have privately asked me about some of the industry legends...and as I'm now old enough to be a legend too (but not one) I can talk about some of them candidly.
I'll mention one, and if you want more write me or ask me to post more anecdotes, I can do it privately or on forum.
Jim Thiel--I met Jim back in 1981--at the time, I was a somewhat fledgling audiophile, working as the Vice President of an Air Freight Company. Being a research kind of guy, but in the days before the intenet (which wouldn't come until 14 years later)I wanted to know about all things audio. So I turned to what was the only 'Holy Grail' I was aware of, The Absolute Sound.
There, I found reviews of lots of speakers, with Harry Pearson's prose describing in titalating detail, the plusses and minuses of products. I came across, in the advertising section, (yes I believe it was all collected in the rear of the mag) an Advertisement for THIEL Audio.
They were/are in Lexington, KY about a one hour easterly drive from Louisville. So, one day, while at work, I simply picked up the phone and called Jim--right to the horse's mouth, so to speak.
To my enduring surprise, he came to the phone in just a few clicks.
We spoke for about an hour. I'd ask questions, he'd answer, embellishing not a lot, as Jim, as I was to find out, was a very, very introverted personality. But, I could feel his innate candor and honesty. He later confided that he thought I was Harry Pearson...just calling, I suppose clandestinely. Apparently Harry and I sound a bit alike on the phone. That, and he said, my questions were very much to the point of his designs.
We rang off, making plans for me to visit the factory in a week or so with my better half.
Arriving at THIEL, I was greeted by the very attractive brunette, Kathy Gornik, (my future boss) Jim Thiel and Tom Thiel. It was, by arrangement, late afternoon, 5ish, and a Friday.
We listened, in their then modest listening room.
The THIEL's sounded very different than virtually any speaker I'd ever heard. First, they were almost ruler flat in their frequency response--the O3A, the top model in 1981 was fed by an outboard equalizer to make them so, from 25Hz or so, to beyond 20Khz. It took a bit of adjusting, especially on one cut, 'Betty Davis Eyes' by Kim Karnes (C or K) can't remember. The song, poorly engineered, sounded thin and reedy...not at all like I expected. Tom Thiel pointed out this flaw in the recording and then played several cuts from other albums which allowed the THIEL's to show their stuff.
I ordered a pair within the next week from Gene Rubin Audio (still around and out in California).
Jim was shy, very shy at first...but always bursting with information--ton's more information than most anyone I'd ever spoken with--he really knew his product and that was very clear. He was so understated, he never came across as being haughty, or a know it all. Not even close...self depricating and honest a truly incredible mind and an obvious genius...something I never say about anyone. He was though.
I've said this last part before...and it comes under the 'feet of clay' category.
It's often said, don't get too close to your heroes, they'll always dissappoint. This is absolutely untrue of Jim.
In 1997/1998 I worked for him as Director of Sales/Marketing. To see him every day, work with him, go into his lab and have him explain his theorys and designs was such a thrill, then and even now, that I remember those moments with great fondness. He was truly, even greater up close and personal than I could possibly imagine. Kind, thoughtfull, and brilliant--rare yet complementary traits, all in one person.
His products were and still are, a true reflection of his personality--they're honest, don't embellish, and give the listener Jim's version of what that particular song sound's like, with as little change as was possible for him to engineer in to it.
Jim Thiel was one of a kind.
Thoughts?
Larry
I'll mention one, and if you want more write me or ask me to post more anecdotes, I can do it privately or on forum.
Jim Thiel--I met Jim back in 1981--at the time, I was a somewhat fledgling audiophile, working as the Vice President of an Air Freight Company. Being a research kind of guy, but in the days before the intenet (which wouldn't come until 14 years later)I wanted to know about all things audio. So I turned to what was the only 'Holy Grail' I was aware of, The Absolute Sound.
There, I found reviews of lots of speakers, with Harry Pearson's prose describing in titalating detail, the plusses and minuses of products. I came across, in the advertising section, (yes I believe it was all collected in the rear of the mag) an Advertisement for THIEL Audio.
They were/are in Lexington, KY about a one hour easterly drive from Louisville. So, one day, while at work, I simply picked up the phone and called Jim--right to the horse's mouth, so to speak.
To my enduring surprise, he came to the phone in just a few clicks.
We spoke for about an hour. I'd ask questions, he'd answer, embellishing not a lot, as Jim, as I was to find out, was a very, very introverted personality. But, I could feel his innate candor and honesty. He later confided that he thought I was Harry Pearson...just calling, I suppose clandestinely. Apparently Harry and I sound a bit alike on the phone. That, and he said, my questions were very much to the point of his designs.
We rang off, making plans for me to visit the factory in a week or so with my better half.
Arriving at THIEL, I was greeted by the very attractive brunette, Kathy Gornik, (my future boss) Jim Thiel and Tom Thiel. It was, by arrangement, late afternoon, 5ish, and a Friday.
We listened, in their then modest listening room.
The THIEL's sounded very different than virtually any speaker I'd ever heard. First, they were almost ruler flat in their frequency response--the O3A, the top model in 1981 was fed by an outboard equalizer to make them so, from 25Hz or so, to beyond 20Khz. It took a bit of adjusting, especially on one cut, 'Betty Davis Eyes' by Kim Karnes (C or K) can't remember. The song, poorly engineered, sounded thin and reedy...not at all like I expected. Tom Thiel pointed out this flaw in the recording and then played several cuts from other albums which allowed the THIEL's to show their stuff.
I ordered a pair within the next week from Gene Rubin Audio (still around and out in California).
Jim was shy, very shy at first...but always bursting with information--ton's more information than most anyone I'd ever spoken with--he really knew his product and that was very clear. He was so understated, he never came across as being haughty, or a know it all. Not even close...self depricating and honest a truly incredible mind and an obvious genius...something I never say about anyone. He was though.
I've said this last part before...and it comes under the 'feet of clay' category.
It's often said, don't get too close to your heroes, they'll always dissappoint. This is absolutely untrue of Jim.
In 1997/1998 I worked for him as Director of Sales/Marketing. To see him every day, work with him, go into his lab and have him explain his theorys and designs was such a thrill, then and even now, that I remember those moments with great fondness. He was truly, even greater up close and personal than I could possibly imagine. Kind, thoughtfull, and brilliant--rare yet complementary traits, all in one person.
His products were and still are, a true reflection of his personality--they're honest, don't embellish, and give the listener Jim's version of what that particular song sound's like, with as little change as was possible for him to engineer in to it.
Jim Thiel was one of a kind.
Thoughts?
Larry