Have you done business with Mike Dixon?

[piaptk]

Hey yall, I've got a couple potential customers who are (understandably) uneasy sending me advance payment for a lathe for delivery. And on the otherside, I can't fly halfway across the world to meet up with a total stranger from the internet to install a lathe without payment. SO.... If you have done business with me, been to a lathe cut camp, bought a lathe, had it delivered, etc. Please post your experience below. Did you get what you paid for? Did my after service tech support help? DId having it installed at your studio save you time and money? Etc. References greatly appreciated! I'm guessing that I've directly worked with 70% of the active cutters on here in some capacity.

[woot92]

Hey y’all,

Can’t speak more highly of Mike, went to his camp 3 or so years ago and now have 4 lathes, all from Mike and with great support through the years.

Highly recommend his lathe cutting camp for beginners!

[coreybauer]

Mike is the best in the business and taught me everything I know about antique lathes and cutting records! I have purchased 3 fully restored Presto 6Ns, and everything went seamlessly. One was installed in person and the additional 2 were safely shipped to me. Have successfully used these machines to scale my niche media duplication business over the last few years. He will also provide unlimited tech support and has many many years of experience and expertise!

[displacedsnail]

I tell everyone who's even remotely interested in records about Mike - we first met 15 years ago when he cut some 5" records for a music project of mine, and we reconnected when we were both working with Joyful Noise Recordings a few years ago. I attended his lathe cut camp in September 2023 and bought a Presto 6D he'd lovingly refurbished. When I got home with it, he walked me through setting it back up and my first few cuts - seriously, I called him about six times that first week, and he picked up every time. I probably called or texted him another 20 times in the first few months of using the machine to correct small problems, ask his opinion on equipment, and talk about lathes. It was only 6 months later I bought my second lathe from him, a restored Rek-O-Kut challenger, to get my partner up to speed so we could cut two records at once. He was once again instrumental in getting us up to speed and getting both machines cutting at a similar level. I built and restored my third lathe myself, a ROK machine cobbled out of various parts I've been acquiring, and Mike stepped in even then to help me with questions as I put it all together. He, of course, had the extra parts I needed to make the whole thing work: he carries external motors, crank kits to mod a lathe without a crank to make lead in/out grooves, sapphire embossing styli. As far as I'm concerned, he's the lifeblood of the current record lathe embossing scene, and I wouldn't have a lathe, let alone three of them, without him. - Joe @ ConsonantCollective.com

[Jccc]

I have bought some feedscrews and poly blanks from Mike in the past and his service is good. I would recommend him if you need any lathe cut equipment

[spinnertownblanks]

Best around! We are another supplier and couldn’t speak highly enough of Mike. We 100% vouch for him.

[tragwag]

I've known Mike for about 13 years now, he's a standup guy.
He's probably the most straight forward lathe-related person I know, he will tell you clearly, and immediately about the capabilities of certain gear (new people have to be told that a K series Presto just ain't a Neumann!), the lineage of what you're buying, and other options you have that may lie outside his purview.

If you're new and approach the record cutting craft with some humility and understanding of your applicable experience, Mike is the perfect guide.
He doesn't buy into hype, he tests and confirms the stuff he sells, and he stands by his gear with support.

I have bought a T560 Vinyl Recorder, embossing blanks and stylus, TKV cutterheads, adapters, and various doo-dads from him over the years.

I have sold him a cutterhead, feedscrews, stylus and done contract cutting work a few times.

All of this was conducted with the most upfront clarity possible.

[MikeyV]

I have known Mike for about 8 years. I've bought blanks, stylus', and other equipment over the years, including seeking information from him over the years and he has been straightforward and more then helpful. I hope to be buying another lathe from him this week. He is a business man and the Godfather of embossing lathes.