Lightning Boy Audio | Studio Production Electronics

Mike's Blog

Contact Mike

RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Store
  • Products
    • Dark Storm - Mic Pre
    • Sun Storm - audio compressor
    • Super Storm - 500 Series Preamp
    • Eye of Jupiter - 500 Series Re-Amping DI Box
    • 23Fe+ Instrument Transformer
  • Mike's Blog
  • Reviews & Demos
  • Customer Support
  • LBA History
  • LBA User's Guides
  • LBA Studios

3/15/2022

Business on hold

Read Now
 
Due to world events, the price of Nickel surged three times to nearly its highest point in history according to the London Metal Exchange (article here).  The issues surrounding and created by this directly affect my business.  Nickel is the primary metal used in the shielding cans of my small signal audio transformers and that's where the issue is for me.  Many, but not all of my transformers use an alloy high in nickel, so those transformers are also affected.  I just ordered a very large quantity of transformer laminations (nickel alloy).  I paid 20% more than usual knowing the price will probably be high like this for a least a few months, but possibly over a year.  The last time nickel prices jumped like this it took a long time for it to recover.  The bottom line is I can't get more shielding cans at this moment in time.  My inventory of cans has dwindled down to a quantity of 32, which won't last long.  I have decided to reserve these for my upcoming 500 series mic preamp and halt all orders of other products until the situation becomes resolved.  I am working on a few ideas to at least temporarily remedy the situation.  The leading 2 solutions would involve manufacturing of custom cans in house.  I'm already manufacturing the transformer bobbins and an array of other components for my products - all of which eats up my time.  I'm not happy about any of this, but I will do what needs to be done.  I don't want to deal with China, but there's a Chinese company who may be able to supply me with clones of the cans I'm currently using.  I need to reach out to them for a quote.  Their price will need to be super low for me to even consider working with them.  I will do my best to keep you informed with future blog posts as things progress.   

-Update 3/30/22:  Enough transformer cans and laminations have been ordered to cover my business needs for an estimated 12 to 18 months.  Hopefully that'll be enough to ride the storm out.  Thankfully, I was able to save some money buy ordering larger quantities.  The overall cost impact on my transformers is minimal.  I will only need to raise my price by $1.50 USD.  The laminations are in stock.  I'm just waiting on the shipment of magnetic shielding cans.  Once they are in stock I'll be able to open my online store within a day or two.  I'm expecting to have them within 2 weeks, but who really knows with the current state of the world?

-Update 4/6/22:  Business will re-open on the 19th of April.  The webstore will be open at that time and all LBA products will be available soon after.

Share

Details

    RSS Feed


    About the Author

    Mike Congilosi II, Owner/Designer/Electronics Engineer at Lightning Boy Audio and Owner/Audio Engineer/Music Producer at LBA Studios.  

    Mike received a Master of Music Degree in Studio Production from SUNY Purchase in 2007.  He has been engineering and producing music for about 15 years and has been a musician since early childhood.  Mike's electronics background comes from self education fueled by love, necessity, and a insatiable drive to create.  

    Archives

    April 2025
    March 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    November 2023
    October 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    February 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    May 2012

    Categories

    All

  • Home
  • Store
  • Products
    • Dark Storm - Mic Pre
    • Sun Storm - audio compressor
    • Super Storm - 500 Series Preamp
    • Eye of Jupiter - 500 Series Re-Amping DI Box
    • 23Fe+ Instrument Transformer
  • Mike's Blog
  • Reviews & Demos
  • Customer Support
  • LBA History
  • LBA User's Guides
  • LBA Studios