Apex 460 capacitor change?

[kojdogg]

Thanks mbrebes!

So in this thread someone said the CEK347 capsule sounds close to a U87, and the CEK12 capsule sounds closer to a 414. In that regard, I'm inclined to go with a CEK12 capsule because I've found 414's way more usable than u87's in the past. Then again, I tried a 414 recently (BUL/S) that I thought was very murky. I guess I should ask which 414 does the original poster think the CEK12 capsule sounds like?

Strange comparisons anyway, since we're dealing with a tube mic, but my Soundelux U195 sounds very tubey to me, so why not the other way around?

It may sound wierd to some people but what I don't want is a mic that sounds like a U87. So I may end up getting the CEK12 capsule. But I'm on the fence. If someone posted and said that's crazy, it sounds much closer to a U47, well that might change my mind.

But anyway, anybody have a sample of the 460 with a CEK347 capsule?

dave thomas is modding my tcm1100 with a cek-12 and cinemag. i have no idea when i'm getting it back ( ), but if it's any time soon, i'll happily post my impressions.
i think the cek-367 is the one that you're talking about and it's modelled after the u-47 capsule, and the cek-89 is modelled after the u-67 capsule. i dunno about the cek-89, but supposedly the cek-12 and cek-367 are w/in a db of the capsules (dunno how they account for individual variances) that they are inspired by.
http://www.pelusomicrophonelab.com/capsnmnts.html

 

[mbrebes]

dave thomas is modding my tcm1100 with a cek-12 and cinemag. i have no idea when i'm getting it back ( ), but if it's any time soon, i'll happily post my impressions.
i think the cek-367 is the one that you're talking about and it's modelled after the u-47 capsule, and the cek-89 is modelled after the u-67 capsule. i dunno about the cek-89, but supposedly the cek-12 and cek-367 are w/in a db of the capsules (dunno how they account for individual variances) that they are inspired by.

The CEK-367 is actually supposed to be similar to a U67 capsule. The CEK-89 is physically smaller any my guess is that it's similar to a U89 capsule.

The CEK-367 has that Neumann type sound. Warmer mids.
The CEK-12 is roughly similar to a 414 but with scooped mids and a presence hump. I previously posted links to some audio files that had the CEK-12 capsule against the stock capsule, which is more similar to the CEK-89 capsule.

 

[kojdogg]

The CEK-367 is actually supposed to be similar to a U67 capsule. The CEK-89 is physically smaller any my guess is that it's similar to a U89 capsule.

The CEK-367 has that Neumann type sound. Warmer mids.
The CEK-12 is roughly similar to a 414 but with scooped mids and a presence hump. I previously posted links to some audio files that had the CEK-12 capsule against the stock capsule, which is more similar to the CEK-89 capsule.

ah my bad then-- i was just relaying what dave thomas told me. guess i am easily led when it comes to this stuff.
edit: duh-- the numbering makes a whole lot more sense that way!

 

[PhilGood]

The CEK-367 and CEK-89 are both based on the U67 capsule, but one is smaller. They use the same in-line grid vent hole pattern with the same spacing, the CEK-367 is just .1" larger.

The U47 (UK47) has a radial vent pattern, which has a different effect on the sound. Much more like an M7 capsue would sound.

The CEK-12 is pretty close to a C12 capsule, but the plate depths are bigger, and I don't know if John adds the 40 micron resonance chamber known to exist in the C12 capsule. That probably makes the sound different but similar to a real C12.

 

[Jonk]

Just one more question.

I've looked through the thread again. It's not clear to me yet what you guys are doing with C1 and C2. Are you just replacing them with better quality lytics, or using mylar caps there too. Increasing them at all?

Also, from what I gather it seems they're not as critical as say, C8. Are C1 and C2 just filtering RF?

 

[mbrebes]

I just leave C1 and C2 alone. All they are doing is filtering out any AC on the supply voltage at those points in the circuit.

 

[ittam]

I got these curves from kind John Peluso.
Matti

 

[kojdogg]

Anyone know of anyone else who will do these mods for a reasonable price-- especially if I source the Capsule and Transformer? I sent Dave Thomas my TCM1100 four months ago, and am still waiting for it.
I just got a great deal on a used TCM 1050, that I would like modded (with a Peluso Capsule, Cinemag Transformer and with a tube swap and the simple capacitor change (would prefer the critical ones to be changed to Black Gate as described in this thread), but would prefer not to deal with the same kind of turn around time.

 

[PhilGood]

What does Dave charge for doing the mods?

I might be interested.

 

[ittam]

It seems Dave is out reach for now?
But you can do these mods by yourself
quite easyly.
Matti

 

[mbrebes]

I will do the mods. Contact me.

 

[kojdogg]

What does Dave charge for doing the mods?

I might be interested.

He charged me $421 total which broke down as follows:
$229 for the Peluso CEK-12 capsule installed
$79 for the tube/circuit upgrade (tube changed to a Sovtek 6072a tube)
$91 for the Cinemag transformer installed
and $22 return shipping.

I will do the mods. Contact me.

Pm'ed you!

 

[Marik]

I will do the mods. Contact me.

Wow,

I was on this board for many years and always felt ashamed just to say like that: "I will do the mods. Contact me", as I thought it would be a spam.
I guess, I had to be much more aggressive.

 

[PhilGood]

Wow,

I was on this board for many years and always felt ashamed just to say like that: "I will do the mods. Contact me", as I thought it would be a spam.
I guess, I had to be much more aggressive.

You're never here often enough Mark!

 

[kojdogg]

Philgood-- returned your pm

 

[kojdogg]

Looks like PhilGood will be modding my mic!

 

[Marik]

Whoever modifies your microphone, the very first thing to ask is what tubes they are using.

Avoid those who offer Sovtek, as those tubes are unusable for microphones.

Another important question, whoever selects the tubes for your mic, ask how much they pay for the bulk and what conditions they put the tube under, and how they measure/evaluate it.

The next question ask how they install the capsule, whether it is Peluso, 797, or original Neumann.
This part will really tell you a lot!!!

There is plenty information on the net and the mods are pretty easy to perform, but there are some catches only real experienced microphone techs know and would never reveal them.

You will immediately recognise those who know and understand what they are doing vs. some clowns who picked some info on the net and eager to earn some easy shekels.

Best, Mark

 

[PhilGood]

Whoever modifies your microphone, the very first thing to ask is what tubes they are using.

Avoid those who offer Sovtek, as those tubes are unusable for microphones.

Another important question, whoever selects the tubes for your mic, ask how much they pay for the bulk and what conditions they put the tube under, and how they measure/evaluate it.

The next question ask how they install the capsule, whether it is Peluso, 797, or original Neumann.
This part will really tell you a lot!!!

There is plenty information on the net and the mods are pretty easy to perform, but there are some catches only real experienced microphone techs know and would never reveal them.

You will immediately recognise those who know and understand what they are doing vs. some clowns who picked some info on the net and eager to earn some easy shekels.

Best, Mark

Mark,

I'm not sure what you're implying here.

I have offered to perform the mods suggested by this other threads and have taken into consideration what works and what doesn't. Since I started doing this I have learned a great deal and have been studying microphones and their electronics in depth. More than you can imagine. I have had the microphones I have built and modified tested by some serious pros in the industry. I have had both rejects and praise. I have learned from all of it.

Kojdogg has done some research as well, knowing that a GE five star is the best tube (which I will test for problems in microphonics and output quality), has chosen a Peluso capsule, the correct Cinemag transformer for the circuit, all of which are quality products and all we have agreed to do is follow only the best suggestions given by this forum as well as others. These will be a great improvement for the amount he's paying to get the job done, which isn't much.

I'm quite capable of installing the capsule, tube, caps correctly and modifying the circuit and am offering the service because of his lack of knowledge of soldering skills and circuits. I'm not doing the mods just whilly-nilly and am not doing it for a huge profit. I'm merely asking for a slight compensation for my time in performing the labor. I'm not some clown trying to earn some "easy shekels", as you put it.

I take umbrage at some of these comments. I know you may not be directing these at me personally, but if you are then I take offense.

I'm merely doing what I can to make his mic better than what it already is. If he was a serious studio with the budget to fine tune the mic to higher standards, then I would have advised him to follow that course. The first person I would have asked him to contact would have been my old friend Tony Merrill, but I think that would be far outside his budget.

Any suggestions you have to further improve things already discussed are greatly appreciated, but we're essentially talking about someone who is asking a favor, not employing someone to build a world class mic to compete with major studios.

Kojdogg, if you feel this arrangement is in error, feel free to cancel the arrangement and go with someone else.

Phil

 

[Marik]

Mark,

I'm not sure what you're implying here.

I have offered to perform the mods suggested by this other threads and have taken into consideration what works and what doesn't. Since I started doing this I have learned a great deal and have been studying microphones and their electronics in depth. More than you can imagine. I have had the microphones I have built and modified tested by some serious pros in the industry. I have had both rejects and praise. I have learned from all of it.

Kojdogg has done some research as well, knowing that a GE five star is the best tube (which I will test for problems in microphonics and output quality), has chosen a Peluso capsule, the correct Cinemag transformer for the circuit, all of which are quality products and all we have agreed to do is follow only the best suggestions given by this forum as well as others. These will be a great improvement for the amount he's paying to get the job done, which isn't much.

I'm quite capable of installing the capsule, tube, caps correctly and modifying the circuit and am offering the service because of his lack of knowledge of soldering skills and circuits. I'm not doing the mods just whilly-nilly and am not doing it for a huge profit. I'm merely asking for a slight compensation for my time in performing the labor. I'm not some clown trying to earn some "easy shekels", as you put it.

I take umbrage at some of these comments. I know you may not be directing these at me personally, but if you are then I take offense.

I'm merely doing what I can to make his mic better than what it already is. If he was a serious studio with the budget to fine tune the mic to higher standards, then I would have advised him to follow that course. The first person I would have asked him to contact would have been my old friend Tony Merrill, but I think that would be far outside his budget.

Any suggestions you have to further improve things already discussed are greatly appreciated, but we're essentially talking about someone who is asking a favor, not employing someone to build a world class mic to compete with major studios.

Kojdogg, if you feel this arrangement is in error, feel free to cancel the arrangement and go with someone else.

Phil

Phil,

I saw this line:

$79 for the tube/circuit upgrade (tube changed to a Sovtek 6072a tube)

And my message was directed to it.

Best, Mark

 

[kojdogg]

Kojdogg, if you feel this arrangement is in error, feel free to cancel the arrangement and go with someone else.

Phil

Nope, I feel quite confident in your services Phil-- thanks again. I just have to get the parts together now. I've appreciated how easy it's been to deal with you and how you've handled my questions about this.

Marik, as I explained in my email, I am sorry this did not work out. I asked here for someone to do this, and Phil responded to my post first, mbrebes second, and you third. Best of luck to you.