schematics for mic mods

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aaronmcoleman

aaronmcoleman

The truth is out there!
I have an old MK 319 that I never use. Does any one know of anywhere to get schematics to upgrade it? I don't want to rip off the guys who do this for a living, so its fine if someone charges for it, I just don't want to pay for some crappy schematic that won't improve the sound.

Basically I can do all of the electronic work (or at least experiment, I've moded a number of amps), I just want to improve the sound and maybe make a usable mic again.
 
Is this the one that has some rust on the tranny?
 
don't know, i've never torn into it. it's been stored well and in a case, so if there's rust it must be an across the board issue, not an issue with just mine.
 
I see sorry I must have it confused with an other post.
You can contact Michael Joly at Oktavamod.com and ask him about the 319.
 
Yeah I'd feel like a jerk asking him for information on a DIY project that he's making his money off of. I just didn't know if anyone here knew of any mod schematics out there. Plus he probably doesn't want his specific changes getting out, which is fine with me.
 
Not really the site tell you what he does in his mods and he'll tell you personally what he does in his mods. Most all of the modders out there will tell you exactly what they do but besides the electronic part most everything else falls under the category of physical labor of workmanship like head basket replacement or modification.
 
Cool I stand corrected. I guess there are still some super cool people in the world. I'll check out those sites and contact him. I think I can do the physical labor part. Thanks.
 
The Art/Workmanship is the physical end part and I've seen some butt ugly DIY work.
 
Thanks for all the links. Lots to think about. I've actually got 2 319s, so maybe one will be the experimenter and the other will become the good one. who knows, doesn't seem like I can do a lot of undoable harm.

As far as ugly DIY, I didn't know there was any other kind! From household repairs to working on my old motorcycle, to amps that's all I do!

Oh and Michael Joly has some great things to say in some posts and on his site. I really appreciate guys like him (and you all) who don't keep these trade secrets a secret.

Thanks for all the help. I've got all the info, now I need parts and some time to experiment.
 
Haha! moresound, I have a butt ugly NT1 I have been dicking with. The head basket fabrication is utterly atrocious. I took a wire brush to the body to try and make it match the ratty looking head basket I made. Perhaps when someone needs a really good laugh at my expense I will share a pic. By far, the least amount of resources are on head basket design. For me it wasn't about finding the mesh, it was fabricating the bracket. I wish I could find a good resource for some kind of brass cutouts or sheets to make them from.
 
Ken A said:
Haha! moresound, I have a butt ugly NT1 I have been dicking with. The head basket fabrication is utterly atrocious. I took a wire brush to the body to try and make it match the ratty looking head basket I made. Perhaps when someone needs a really good laugh at my expense I will share a pic. By far, the least amount of resources are on head basket design. For me it wasn't about finding the mesh, it was fabricating the bracket. I wish I could find a good resource for some kind of brass cutouts or sheets to make them from.
Click to expand...

Come on Ken post some pictures!

Do you mean the bracket that holds the basket to the body of the microphone?
 
moresound said:
Come on Ken post some pictures!

Do you mean the bracket that holds the basket to the body of the microphone?
Click to expand...

See, I'm kind of impatient. So when I got the mesh, then searched for and hour or so for some kind of bracket on the net with no luck, I just cut a piece of sheet steel from an old tape deck enclosure I had laying next to my desk. LOL. Its quite a mess. Of course the solder didn't want to stick and they were dissimilar metals, and I tried getting hot enough with a torch, so it discolored the brass mesh. After a while I just stood back and laughed at it. So yeah, my first home brew head basket. And a stripped down body to match.

NT-1Pic1.jpg
NT-1Pic2.jpg


Marvel at this piece of "WOW, did he really do that?"
 
You asked for it.

I hope it at least sounds good once I get the capsule swap done.
 
I thought we were looking for UGLY DIY stuff. That is gorgeous! I don't care what it sounds like, I'd use that for everything (drum overhead, kick drum, guitar, vocals, harmonica, kazoo...). That is awesome! I think I'm going to take a wire brush to all my gear.

Seriously, I see why people pay for mods now. (but I still like Ken's craftsmanship). I predict wire brushing mics will now become the hot new mod, and someone will come up with some clever reason why it sounds better..."removing a portion of the material using the wire brush increases the response in the 2243 khz region which makes all sources sound better all the time, oh and this is what Jimmy Hendrix did to all of the mics he recorded his guitar solos through, but don't forget to treat your room or else the wire brushed mic will sound like it was used to make a limp bizkit album".
 
aaronmcoleman said:
Seriously, I see why people pay for mods now. (but I still like Ken's craftsmanship). I predict wire brushing mics will now become the hot new mod, and someone will come up with some clever reason why it sounds better..."removing a portion of the material using the wire brush increases the response in the 2243 khz region which makes all sources sound better all the time, oh and this is what Jimmy Hendrix did to all of the mics he recorded his guitar solos through, but don't forget to treat your room or else the wire brushed mic will sound like it was used to make a limp bizkit album".
Click to expand...

Haha. Thats good. I think I'm gonna suspend a CB mic capsule inside a beer can for next trick..lol that should be unique.
 
haha you know that was jimmy page's favorite trick too (now you can see those beer can mics for a couple hundred at least)! I'll bet it'll sound real tinney :)
 
I am actually half tempted to throw it up on Ebay with this as the description
aaronmcoleman said:
"removing a portion of the material using the wire brush increases the response in the 2243 khz region which makes all sources sound better all the time, oh and this is what Jimmy Hendrix did to all of the mics he recorded his guitar solos through, but don't forget to treat your room or else the wire brushed mic will sound like it was used to make a limp bizkit album".
Click to expand...
just to see what happens.

You know that an "air guitar" actually sold
 
you have my blessing. I'll start a bidding war and see how high it gets!
 
ken a said:
see, i'm kind of impatient. So when i got the mesh, then searched for and hour or so for some kind of bracket on the net with no luck, i just cut a piece of sheet steel from an old tape deck enclosure i had laying next to my desk. Lol. Its quite a mess. Of course the solder didn't want to stick and they were dissimilar metals, and i tried getting hot enough with a torch, so it discolored the brass mesh. After a while i just stood back and laughed at it. So yeah, my first home brew head basket. And a stripped down body to match.

nt-1pic1.jpg
nt-1pic2.jpg


marvel at this piece of "wow, did he really do that?"
Click to expand...

Ouch !
 
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