The "Spirit of 47" project

[PhilGood]

I just finished my project of converting an MXL 960 mic into a Telefunken U47 style microphone using a real Neumann M7 capsule. The reason I called it "The Spirit of 47" was because I know it will not sound exactly like a u47. There's too many component differences, so I opted to give it a name that would reflect what it is: as close as I will ever come to owning a real U47. I will post pictures here in a while after chopping them down to size. I have been sitting here for 45 minutes just talking and singing into the thing.

The results?

Absolutely spectacular!!

I do not own a mic that sounds anything like this mic! Period!

As a matter of fact I did not know a mic could sound like this. I just had no idea! And it isn't even broken in yet! I have to burn it in for more than 48 hours just to get the capacitors to open up. Still, the results have floored me. I can't wait to record something with this.

Like I said, pics will be up in a while.

 

[mshilarious]

Hey Phil, shoot me an email if it's not too much trouble . . .

 

[PhilGood]

Before gutting. This is what comes in an MXL 960. A good mic in it's own right.

 

[PhilGood]

Some of (but not all) the parts.

The white ringed capsule is the Peluso that went in my TCM1050.

 

[PhilGood]

Stuffing the board. Love the massive paper-in-oil output cap.

 

[PhilGood]

Mit tube!.....

 

[PhilGood]

Mechanics....

 

[PhilGood]

Board mounted...

 

[PhilGood]

Capsule: The M7.

Oooooooo!

 

[PhilGood]

Finished mic.

Hmmm... looks suspiciously like an MXL 960.




Guess it needs a coat of paint.

 

[mshilarious]

Well done. Did you have to do anything to the power supply?

 

[PhilGood]

Yes. I had to change the zener diodes to get the plate voltage down to 112-120v. I also had to add a resistor at the filament because it was almost up to 10v.

 

[Ironklad Audio]

mic: $180
capsule: $250

how much did the rest of the parts cost you??

 

[rayc]

I don't know anything about anything but WOW that prcess looks impressive. Now if I could just solder my guitar cables properly!

 

[PhilGood]

mic: $180
capsule: $250

how much did the rest of the parts cost you??

I don't think I added it up yet. I've been making mics as a hobby for a while, so I had some of the parts already. Some I had to order. If I did a full tally I'd probably fudge my huggies when I figured out that I spent that much. Maybe it's not so bad. It would still beat nearly $9000 for a real U47 or even $3000 for a clone mic.

Let's see.

Here's the basics of what I spent:

Mic $150
Capsule $250
Transformer $66
Tube $6
Capacitors and resistors, probably $20 total in the mic
Capsule mount $80
Copper board and wire $10

Roughly $600 because I'm sure I'm missing something. Of course I paid myself $8400 for labor, so I guess I came out about the same as the Telefunken.

 

[mshilarious]

Wait a minute, didn't you say before you had an EF14? That wasn't no EF14, it was 5840 maybe EF14 doesn't cost no $6

 

[PhilGood]

Wait a minute, didn't you say before you had an EF14? That wasn't no EF14, it was 5840 maybe EF14 doesn't cost no $6

Ah! no. That's another project. I haven't finished that one yet.

and this uses a 6205 tube.

 

[PhilGood]

This is the mic that has the EF14. Also has a U47 transformer.

 

[timthetortoise]

Any chance of you providing the schematic for that? I'm interested in giving it a try

 

[PhilGood]

Maybe after I fine tune the voltages.