Any big differences between the MC012 and MXL603S?

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Imagine

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Anyone have both these mics, and what were your results?

Thanks in advance.
Imagine
 
"Marshall MXL-603 $99 This was a flat-out winner, folks. Almost identical to the MC012 in sound, with a wide cardioid pattern, almost approaching omni. We used them as drum overhead mics, and they did a great job. The diaphragms are easy to bottom out on voice, but with a pop filter (and positioned above the singer's mouth), they wouldn't be bad as a vocal mic on some singers, and they'd probably do fine on acoustic guitar, and many other instruments. They were also a perfect match to the Oktava MC012 - they sounded nearly identical. "

quote from Harvey Gerst.....
 
I had both, and I honestly couldn't hear a meaningful difference.

There is one other thing to factor in, though, that clearly does make the mc012 superior, and that is the interchangeable capsules. The oktavas generally come standard with a -10 db pad capsule. Basically, what you do is screw it on and it can now handle a louder source.

You can also buy separate omni-directional and hypercardiod caps that, when screwed on, change the polar pattern. You can even get the "lomo" head for it and turn it in to a world-class large diaphragm vocal mic.

Granted, the additional capsules cost extra, but just having those options open to you makes the mc012 potentially a much more versatile mic. And now I hear Guitar Center is blowing them out for $150 a pair. That's just sick.
 
chessrock said:
...And now I hear Guitar Center is blowing them out for $150 a pair. That's just sick.
Really?
Where'd ya hear that at?
 
Well, I'll be damned!
I read that too. But I guess I mis-read it.
Musicians Friend; GC's on-line service still has them listed for $199 ea.
Oh and umm I concure with the Quality Control thing. I read a review of these mic's when they first came out, and it cautioned about the QC as well.
 
I'd also be wary of all the "guitar center oktava hysteria." I think I first read about all of that like two years ago. And from what I gather, a lot of it centered around a few bad batches that got released at one particular timeframe.

Similarly, there was a time last year, I believe, when the Marshall 603s went through the same thing, and everyone made a big stink about it.

I got an mc012 from GC. Never auditioned it. Just plugged it in and went "Wow! So this is what a real condenser sounds like!"
 
chessrock said:
...I got an mc012 from GC. Never auditioned it. Just plugged it in and went "Wow! So this is what a real condenser sounds like!"
That's comforting!
Thanks for the insight.
 
Another thing to consider - according to Harvey (and my own ears, for that matter), the Marshall MXL1000 sounds identical to the 603. It's the same mic (or, well, close enough), in a handheld mic with a ball windscreen deal (take the ball ends off, or at least the foam insert, I'll guarantee you won't hear the difference between these and the 603). Musician's Friend sells these in the "fox mic package," two mxl100's plus a MXL Fox handheld dynamic (which is SM58-like, and not at all shabby) for $150. It's really, really tough to beat these, I love them!
 
Brought home a pair of 012's for $150 from GC today!

Came with the case and pads.

No paperwork/manuels though.

Was looking for the MXL 603's but I'm glad to hear they (012's) may be better.

Anything I need to know since I have no manuels?

Guess I will go look for their website.
 
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