Hi,

I'm in the process of buying a boom pole. I'm seriously looking into this boom:

MICROPHONE »FISHING POLE«-23770-000-55 (http://produkte.k-m.de/en/Mic-stands/Mic-fishpoles/23770-MICROPHONE-FISHING-POLE-black?x6ecf2=27tdv9j716n66e4qtjj17tn0u2)

Does anybody have any info on this company and their boom poles? Nobody that I know of hasn't held one of this boom poles... The trick is it's very cheap. 4,6m goes for about 100€.

thanks!
S

Hi buddy I haven't used their boom poles but we had a lot of their mic stands at ITV Tyne Tees in the 80's and they were very good quality.

Only problem I can see is that glass fibre can be quite springy and it may not be as rigid at longer lengths and heavier than other poles as it needs to be thicker.

Personally I am using the Gitzo carbon fibre 3 section boom pole these days as they are very light and good value too: http://www.prokit.co.uk/index.php?view=product&product=gitzo-boom-pole-carbon-fibre&source=googleps

Hi Garry!

Springy? Really? Damn... The problem is that I need one delivered now and this is the only one I can get in 2 to 3 days. As for the weight I think it's quite light. It's 0.,8kg with a length of 4.6 meters. Don't you think so?

Yes glass fibre is basically re-inforced plastic and whilst it may be OK on short extensions when it is on longer ones it may be very springy and make the mic bounce quite a bit, don't worry as panamics with an 816 on full extension do this too and it may be OK for most uses and your boom op or you will get used to it.

The alloy ones bounce too and are even worse as they can break or split in time.

Beware when working with it an handling the glass fibre sections as any fibres that may come loose due to scratches and wear could be painful if they got under your skin.

Sure it will be OK for you but I love my little Gitzo ones and they are big enough for most jobs inc drama.

It sounds like fibre glass is a hassle. But for 90€ even if my sound guys gets to hate it - it still won't be such a loss if I'll buy a different one.

Thx for the help Garry.

Br
S

Hi,

I'm in the process of buying a boom pole. I'm seriously looking into this boom:

MICROPHONE »FISHING POLE«-23770-000-55 (http://produkte.k-m.de/en/Mic-stands/Mic-fishpoles/23770-MICROPHONE-FISHING-POLE-black?x6ecf2=27tdv9j716n66e4qtjj17tn0u2)

Does anybody have any info on this company and their boom poles? Nobody that I know of hasn't held one of this boom poles... The trick is it's very cheap. 4,6m goes for about 100€.

thanks!
S

K&M are an excellent company and make the finest mic. stands around.

Their boom poles are well made and good value for money - I have one, but I only got it as I don't use a fish pole very often.

My No.1 choice for poles would be Ambient (http://www.ambient.de/index_e.html) in München in Germany.

My No.2 choice would be Rycote (http://www.rycote.com/products/boom_pole/).

Both these are carbon fibre poles as opposed to aluminium; though Rycote do also make aluminium poles.

... The problem is that I need one delivered now and this is the only one I can get in 2 to 3 days. As for the weight I think it's quite light. It's 0.,8kg with a length of 4.6 meters. Don't you think so?

I would say that either Ambient or Rycote would be able to get one to you in 2-3 days.

As you are in Slovenia, you could easily drive to Ambient and back in a day and pick it up in person.

I spoke to Ambient this morning (actually about their new EMESSER fig-8 mic.) - they do keep boom poles in stock (not all, but a good selection), so I would give them a ring as they may be able to get one to you very fast.

I spoke to them in English (my German is pretty bad).

I hope this helps.

John, I really appreciate the help! But I've already ordered the K&M 4,6m boom pole. Your words on K&M are reassuring and I hope the pole is going to work alright - at least at shorter to medium distances.

Again thx for the help. I'll report back when I do get it if somebody else will ever wonder about K&M:)

Thx
Br
S

Don't get me wrong it may be OK and I certainly will be interested in your reports on it.

The K&M is a nice inexpensive boom pole - but I would put it in the category of a good semi-pro one, rather than one used by a professional sound recordist.

The K&M is a nice inexpensive boom pole - but I would put it in the category of a good semi-pro one, rather than one used by a professional sound recordist.

Yeah. I thought as much... If we won't be pleased with it I have an option to get an lightly used Manfrotto 373-3,6m carbon fibre boom. What's interesting is that I can't find a single ting about this pole on the net...

Well I got the boom pole in my hands and I couldn't be more disappointed. It's build quality is very disappointing and this isn't just some superficial bickering - it's useless.

The joints tighten alright but the problem is they almost don't want to be untightened. One joint untightened so that I got left with 2 separate sticks in my left and right hand! The stick is only threaded to the joint not glued or anything else...
The screw at the end of the pole is part of the last extension arm which can't be tightened so much that it would compensate for the weight of the microphone and the blimp at the end. What you get is that no mater how you rotate the pole (around it's z axis) in your hands the blimp/microphone always turns to the ground! I mean seriously - they sell this to people??

So I guess that from my experience with this item I would strongly disadvise anybody to buy it.

The first photo shows the pole coming into 2 parts and the second one the thread.

Well I got the boom pole in my hands and I couldn't be more disappointed.

Well - I did suggest Ambient or Rycote above this one.

Having said this, I don't have this problem with my K&M boom pole.

Is it a genuine K&M or could it be a Chinese copy?

If you found the end pole cannot be tightened enough to compensate for the weight of the mic., as you said, then under European Law it is not fit for purpose and you can return it for a full refund.

Having said this, I don't have this problem with my K&M boom pole.

You don't? Interesting...


Is it a genuine K&M or could it be a Chinese copy?

It's from a trusted reseller so my guess would be no. But anything is possible.


If you found the end pole cannot be tightened enough to compensate for the weight of the mic., as you said, then under European Law it is not fit for purpose and you can return it for a full refund.

I'll do that!

Just to close the thread up: I returned the pole without any problems. The pole was actually coming apart at al the joints - it really looked bad so there were no questions about the return.

Br
S

Glad it worked out ok for you, looking at the pictures it seems that they have just threaded the fibre glass and that is not good as it will come apart with use and as you have already found it is not very robust.

John made some good recommendations there and I am certainly very happy with my Gitzo carbon fibre pole.

Just to close the thread up: I returned the pole without any problems. The pole was actually coming apart at al the joints - so it really looked bad so there was no questions about the return.

Br
S

Sorry to hear that didn't work out.

Have to throw a big recommendation out for K-tek boom poles (K-Tek | Boom Poles, Microphone and Camera Accessories (http://ktekbooms.com/)), excellent poles, excellent customer service. I have an Avalon 12' and a Klassic 16', been very happy with both.

K-Tec is a US company and would have import duty into the EU.

Ambient are German and pretty close to the OP (I will be visiting them in München in a couple of days) and Rycote is in the UK - both EU companies, which may be a better option for the OP.

You don't? Interesting...


It's from a trusted reseller so my guess would be no. But anything is possible.



I'll do that!

K-Tec is a US company and would have import duty into the EU.

Ambient are German and pretty close to the OP (I will be visiting them in München in a couple of days) and Rycote is in the UK - both EU companies, which may be a better option for the OP.

Point taken John. Wonder if K-Tek are stocked there? Either way a good product is a good product, sometimes worth the extra bucks. Good luck!