Doing what I do, I get to meet a lot of interesting people. Some pass through and barely leave an impression. But sometimes, I get to meet people who really matter, and whose impact makes their own little dent on the universe. One such person is Toshi Nakama, a man who has played a fundamental role in shaping the DJ industry into what it is today. And in light of last week’s news, Toshi has sent a very personal message to me and the readers of skratchworx and DJWORX, and is about as official as a response from Vestax as you’re likely to get.
Here it is in full:
Dear Mark and Skratchworx followers
This is an extremely sad news to tell you but I have to say good bye to Vestax where I had worked for the last 33 years and have to reset the company. Vestax had had a long history with Skratchworx. Mark had been the first to be provided with the information on our new products. We received form Skratchworx followers the opinions that were sometimes tough for us to hear but we always appreciated all of your constructive opinions and with those, kept modifying the existing products and developing new models. I cannot thank enough all of you for your support and enthusiasm towards us. And also I would like to sincerely apologize to you for not being able to continue our business.
Mark has been definitely one of the people who have built the new music culture and movement as he has been traveling around for interviewing and reporting and even putting in his own funds to enthusiastically and sincerely tell people around the globe how to enjoy music. This time as well, he was the first to know what was going to happen with Vestax. But he was so caring and worried about us that he hold the information until we released the official information. I am being reminded once again that what a respectable and great person Mark has been.
I am hoping from the bottom of my heart that Vestax will be rebuilt with people who have a “Vestaxism”. As for spare parts, I am going to give as many as I have in hand to repair companies. I would like to release the related information when things get ready.
Lastly, there is one thing I would like to ask you for: Please make the most of your knowledge and experiences to present ideas of dream machines that teenagers would love and could create a new music movement with their sense, and to tell them how much they can enjoy creating music and remixing. Without any complicated theories, please teach down to them how to enjoy creating music from the bottom of their heart. They do not know what vinyl records are like, what CD are like, and even what computers are like.
Thank you very much. I hope to see you all somewhere and someday in the future.
Toshi Nakama
Vestax Corporation
Speaking as just some guy who stumbles through running a website, it goes without saying that I’m genuinely humbled to be spoken of in such terms from someone who I admire so much. It’s not the kind of thing I’d normally share, but it was Toshi’s wish that this be published as he’s speaking to everyone who has visited skratchworx and DJWORX and offered support to Vestax.
That’s all I wanted to say. This isn’t some kind eulogy, as I’m certain that Toshi will pop up somewhere soon enough working his crazy genius somewhere else. As his message says, he’ll still be supporting Vestax users in any way he can for as long as he can, with the heartfelt hope that Vestax somehow rises from the ashes and lives in some form again. I’ll certainly be staying in touch with him. From everyone at skratchworx and DJWORX, we thank you Toshi-san. It’s been a pleasure and look forward to seeing what you do next. Deep respectful bow.
Vestax innovations will be missed. Great design and some great challenger products. Love my pdx a2’s. Hope to see the vestax legacy reinvented.
Toshi-san! what an awesome guy, Vestax will be missed, Thank you!
“Resetting” the company sounds like a new start. How I wish they’d build a 4-channel PMC-CX MK2 with a rotary kit. Or at least re-release the original one. Almost impossible to get it these days :(
I had so many Vestax products, the PMC05 II, III, PRO-SL, 06, 07, 37, 08, 05Samurai, PDXa2, PDX2000MK2-PRO, not too mention watching the Vestax Extravaganza events.
They were the first to release a proper crossfader with curve on a mixer, everybody wanted a PMC05 PRO late 90s, everybody wanted a PMC07 early 2000s as it was the ultimate scratch mixer back then. Not to mention the 07 PRO-ISP wich i sadly never owned cause i didn’t have the money back then.
All and all they did so much for the scratch community but sadly others competed and improved, specially the Rane TTM56 and 57-SL that made many ppl switch from Vestax to Rane but then came the PMC 05-PRO IV, first in red to my dislike but then beautiful in black wich an improved crossfader. But Rane dominated the scene with the release of the 61 62. i never owned any Rane products, i thought those Vestax mixers looked slick and much nicer with the glossy black finish, even though i had to sell my PMC08 cause i preferred analog sound opposed to digital.
Anyway, thanks for the great memories Vestax and mr. Toshi Nakama, all i ever needed were 2 Technics turntables and a Vestax mixer in between. And a spare PDX for high +- 50% pitch scratching
#vestaxism. We once had a debate about whether multiples of Vestax units would be referred to as Vestaxes or Vestices, like Matrix/Matrices. And we weren’t even drunk.
Mark… Is there any contact available for the company? I’m still hoping there might be a possibility to get the once promised DVS firmware update for VCI 380/400. I think there might be enough VCI-380/400 users we could pool resources to put it up on kickstarter to buy the firmware from what is left of Vestax. I’m sure if they are in bankruptcy, they would be trying to liquidate intellectual property. I’d be willing to pay US$50 for that firmware update. Would anyone else?
in Japanese, “Nakama” means friend/companion…
Nakama is closer to Comrade vs friend….but in this case, because of business partnership, it still works.
-living the dream in Japan.
Good guy. Both of you.
It’s Vestei
(plural)
さようなら
:(
very cool post. hope the future is bright for all involved. That peanuts cartoon is awesome, is that a one-off or is it available elsewhere?
Proper respects Vestax. Your innovation will be missed.
What a great post. Thank you so much for sharing this letter from Toshi-san!
I will never sell my 37 and I have great memories of long sessions mixing on a 55. What great mixers! Someday I hope to own the CX!
A company that always did things their own way. The same can’t be said for most these days.
It seems that the company refused to adjust to changes, refused to even sell off parts of the company so they could survive, regroup, and then come back in the future. The supply lines, and manufacturing plants have to be worth something, so I have to presume they’ve sold those off.
Apparently, this severs their responsibility to customer service and support as well. I don’t feel sorry for the company, they made a lot of bad choices. I feel bad for the people who bought their gear and are now out in the cold.
Hopefully there may still be that rumored firmware update for VCI 380/400 for built-in DVS support in Serato DJ. Anybody know anything about that?
I’m still holding out hope for this firmware update. Is there any contact available for the company? I think there might be enough VCI-380/400 users we could pool resources to put it up on kickstarter to buy the firmware from what is left of Vestax. I’m sure if they are in bankruptcy, they would be trying to liquidate intellectual property. I’d be willing to pay US$50 for that firmware update. Would anyone else?
Vestax may well be trying to make to through the other side of bankruptcy, and should they start up again, you can be sure that they’ll be doing everything they can to make new money and not throw resource at keeping old money happy.
Yes and no. It would be an instant revenue stream that they could sell for cash up front and little cost to them. I don’t know that people would trust the viability of Vestax brand enough right out of the gate that they are just going to plop down $500 or $600 for a new controller from a company they are not sure they can trust again yet. People take a while to build up confidence again in companies coming out of bankruptcy.
Vestax might have that kind of brand loyalty with turntablism and mixers/turntables, but I am not so sure about controllers. I think if I had to make the choice of buying the vci380/400 mk2 right now as Vestax is fresh out of bankruptcy, I might choose the Denon 6000 with DVS instead. Unless Vestax is re-emerging as a part of bigger conglomerate (that might sway me to think stability and support is strong into the future).
Maybe they could have 2 options – Offer the firmware upgrade for $50-100 or offer a trade-in/trade-up discount to MK2 version with DVS.
Panasonic Lumix is doing it with v-log for the GH4 camera. $100 for the firmware upgrade. (On a $1300 camera).