All things being equal, what should I buy?

I have a little bit of money to throw at the studio. Lots of places to go with it... about $1k just kind of laying around right now, and no bills due. I keep the studio money completely separate from our household money. Studio money pays for studio toys, and the taxes for the studio income itself. Thoughts I have:

1. A new rolling chair. Mine is comfy, and doesn't make me sweat, but it's a high back, and I know I'm getting reflections off the back of it. Lower lumbar support is important to me. thoughts? I probably sit in this thing between 30-50 hours in any given week.

2. A couple new mics. I'd REALLY like a ribbon of some kind, but you're just kinda hitting the "entry-level" ribbon mic at this price point. Also, whenever possible I buy two of anything, which means I'd be looking at two $500 mics instead.

3. Mic pre's. I can ALMOST squeeze out the price of a Grace 201, but I'd rather get something that actually ADDS something to the sound. My pre's are fine for staying out of the way, and my Focusrite ISA 110's are FANTASTIC. I'd love something that can complement them, and have "flavor" if ya know what I mean.

4. Some kind of coloring compressor. I'd LOVE to own a pair of Distressors, but again, out of my price range.

Below is what I currently own (extensive list to follow). What would you add to this list if you had $1k to throw at something?

Stuff/Gear:
Alesis HD24 Hard Disk Recorder
Behringer Eurodesk MX9000 24x8 Mixing Console
1 Korg DTR1 Tuner
1 Behringer Multicom Pro MDX4400 (4-channel Compressor)
2 FMR RNC (stereo compressors)
2 Focusrite ISA110 Mic Preamps (Rupert Neve Designed)
1 Alesis Midiverb II
1 ART MP1 Tube Mic Preamp
1 Yamaha Monoblock 500 watt Power Amp
1 Kelmar Systems, Inc 150plus Power Amp
1 QSC PLX 2402 Power Amp
1 pair of JBL LSR6325p Studio Monitors
1 Focal 10" subwoofer
1 Sony DAT
1 Nakamichi Tape Deck
1 ART Stereo 2-way Crossover
1 Line6 POD XT-Live
1 Johnson J-Station, version 2
1 Eden Navigator WP-100 Bass Preamp
1 Polytone MiniBrute II guitar/bass/keyboard amp w/extension speaker
1 Fender Bassman 50-watt tube head
1 Danelectro 15 watt practice amp (KILLER distortion for metal!)
5 Patch Bays

Mics:
6 Shure Beta-56 Drum Microphones
2 Shure Beat-52 Kick Microphones
2 Shure Beta-58 Vocal Microphones
2 Shure SM-58 Vocal Microphones
6 Shure SM-57 Microphones
5 Shure SM-98A Condensor Microphones
1 Electrovoice 747 Vocal Microphone
1 Electrovoice RE-20 Microphone
3 Sennheiser 421 Microphones
1 Sennheiser e609 Microphone
2 Marshall MXL-990 Condensor Microphones
1 Marshall MXL-909 Condensor Microphone
3 Audio Technica M1000 Blue Condensor Microphones
1 Alesis/GT AM61 Tube Microphone
2 Oktava MC012 Condensor Microphones
2 Oktava MK012 Condensor Microphones

Instruments:
Early 60's Sonor 5-piece drum kit
Ludwig Acrolite snare
Pacific 5" Maple snare
Ludwig 3" Piccolo snare
Yamaha Classical 6-string acoustic guitar
JBPlayer Telecaster
Hondo Les Paul Jr
2 Yamaha digital pianos
1 Peavey 88-Key Keyboard Controller
Warwick Thumb 4-string fretted bass
Conrad 4-string hollowbody fretted bass
Orr 4-string fretted bass
Lakland 55-01 5-string fretted bass
Mandolin
Bongos
Lots of percussion effects (chimes, shakers, wood blocks, etc.)

Life has a way of showing you what's needed.
In a week or two or three, an unseen need will arise and you will be ready for it.

The next client may insist on a Neumann 103. No problem. You will be ready..

Sit on it for a while. Needs will come looking for you.

Or you could, in fact, buy a viking a beer. Great PR value there.

Or you could, in fact, buy a viking a beer. Great PR value there.

My good wishes and $5 will get you a beer almost anywhere, Eric! Here's the good wishes...

Corey

ORIGINAL: lazarous
...Guess we'll just sit on it for a bit. I was really hoping somebodied pipe in and say "XYZ company has this great new widget that EVERYBODY loves! You can get two for about $950!"

Course, that didn't happen...

My God, man. There is always some great new widget that everybody loves these days, and you can usually get ten of them for $950!

15 years ago, it used to be that there was always some $1200 classic staple that everybody needed; these days, it's some newfangled reissue/knockoff or plugin version that costs $100, and it'll be twice as good and half the price next month. There has never been a better time to have money to spend on this stuff, and there has never been a better time to hold on to your dough.

The fact that one can even have a legit discussion about which $200 mic sounds most like a U47, or which $80 plugin sounds most like boutique compressor "X" is proof that a man with a grand is simply spoiled with options these days. And it just gets better every day, so there's no reason to hurry.

Although I must say I like the idea of buying beer. The biggest client draw I ever bought wasn't a telefunken preamp, it was a keg cooler in the lounge...

Cheers.

ORIGINAL: yep
My God, man. There is always some great new widget that everybody loves these days, and you can usually get ten of them for $950!

Very true...

The fact that one can even have a legit discussion about which $200 mic sounds most like a U47, or which $80 plugin sounds most like boutique compressor "X" is proof that a man with a grand is simply spoiled with options these days. And it just gets better every day, so there's no reason to hurry.

I completely agree...

Although I must say I like the idea of buying beer. The biggest client draw I ever bought wasn't a telefunken preamp, it was a keg cooler in the lounge...

Somehow, I find that completely believable! We tried to figure out someplace to put one when were designing the studio, but there just ain't no space... Ah well.

Even though there's a smoldering hole in my pocket, I guess I'll hold on for a bit. Thanks for the advice, everyone!

Corey

Kenny Said: I wonder If Cakewalk is selling stock ? Just a thought.

Interesting thought! lol

Jack Said: i hear creative's new soundblaster awesominity 9.1 is coming out with 43 i/o ports and a "make it teh r0x0rz!!!1!!" button (which of course, turns any mix which happens to be "teh sux0rz" into "omgrotfl teh b0mbz!!!!~!11!" in 5.2 seconds or less).

{robot voice ON} oh golly i must buy soundblaster gear because it's so great and works so well and all the studios are using it oh golly oh golly {robot voice OFF}

Nah. If I were to buy a new sound card, it'd be an RME Hammerfall DSP9652, or something else along those lines. I already have 24 channels of ADAT in/out conversion, so it'd just be a matter of 6 lightpipe cables to have 24 tracks in/out for use with Sonar.

It's on the list... just don't know if I'm ready to trust a computer for tracking and overdubs quite yet! lol

Corey