RockCity
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2005
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Since vintage is all the rage these days, I bought another pair of RS-1, which came today.
Backstory. A month ago I inquired the seller about his pair. Interestingly, he said he bought these directly from Joe Grado about seven years ago. I thought he meant John Grado, who introduced the RS-1, but he assured me it was Joe, the founder of the company. Unfortunately, I, myself, have no proof whether this could be true or not. Furthermore, he answered he did not receive a box (or anything) from Joe, but in lieu he provided me a vintage sr80 cardboard box from one of his other models. He also included an 1/8 adapter which I suspected he later bought.
I already have a RS-1 that was made in 2003. I would like to think that the one I have is one of the finest examples of the RS-1s because there are no late-Friday characteristics. The wood grain is perfectly directional, buttons and grill are perfecty aligned, and the wood tone is naturally dark. Also these were purchased directly from Grado Labs NY with no serial numbers on the housing. (As if that matters.)
The new or should I say mega-old RS-1 is different in all the observed characteristics: Gold L/R Letterings, metal post stoppers, Italic font, black mesh, and the conspicuous red/violet drivers. The odd-man out is the leather hand, which as tradition goes, should be brown. Instead it's black, but wait- the top band is a very rigid leather piece, contrasted below with a thicker soft padded leather. It would have been nice if it completed all the stereotypes, but I'm satisfied with the key ones. I should also note they came with the flat pads, which are glued to the cups with pure malice.
Upon arrival inspection, they seem unused. My conclusions are based on the wear of the plug, the grip, and the headband position.
Since, I blasted my time writing this post instead of listening to them, I will save my shortest comment for sound. It is very different than the Grado we know today. I only wish I discovered this part of the world earlier.
(Pictures from seller)
Backstory. A month ago I inquired the seller about his pair. Interestingly, he said he bought these directly from Joe Grado about seven years ago. I thought he meant John Grado, who introduced the RS-1, but he assured me it was Joe, the founder of the company. Unfortunately, I, myself, have no proof whether this could be true or not. Furthermore, he answered he did not receive a box (or anything) from Joe, but in lieu he provided me a vintage sr80 cardboard box from one of his other models. He also included an 1/8 adapter which I suspected he later bought.
I already have a RS-1 that was made in 2003. I would like to think that the one I have is one of the finest examples of the RS-1s because there are no late-Friday characteristics. The wood grain is perfectly directional, buttons and grill are perfecty aligned, and the wood tone is naturally dark. Also these were purchased directly from Grado Labs NY with no serial numbers on the housing. (As if that matters.)
The new or should I say mega-old RS-1 is different in all the observed characteristics: Gold L/R Letterings, metal post stoppers, Italic font, black mesh, and the conspicuous red/violet drivers. The odd-man out is the leather hand, which as tradition goes, should be brown. Instead it's black, but wait- the top band is a very rigid leather piece, contrasted below with a thicker soft padded leather. It would have been nice if it completed all the stereotypes, but I'm satisfied with the key ones. I should also note they came with the flat pads, which are glued to the cups with pure malice.
Upon arrival inspection, they seem unused. My conclusions are based on the wear of the plug, the grip, and the headband position.
Since, I blasted my time writing this post instead of listening to them, I will save my shortest comment for sound. It is very different than the Grado we know today. I only wish I discovered this part of the world earlier.
(Pictures from seller)
