best tube for Nady 1050 tube mic -mod

[shorty1]

Hello, I have been using a Nady 1050 tube mic on my banjo for 2 years in my studio sounds good, but I want to switch the tube in it to something warmer and something with less high middy sounding, what tube would some of you reccomend.

Thanks

 

[Zetajazz44]

Hello, I have been using a Nady 1050 tube mic on my banjo for 2 years in my studio sounds good, but I want to switch the tube in it to something warmer and something with less high middy sounding, what tube would some of you reccomend.

Thanks

I know this isn't exactly the answer that you were expecting, but, I would try a ribbon mic on banjo... Most of all the bluegrassers, in the studio use ribbons on banjos... The ribbons seem to naturally roll off that ugly 12Khz that a banjo has... I suppose my answer/suggestion would be to instead of investing money into a new/different tube, is to try some of the cheaper ribbons.


Randy

 

[kojdogg]

I like 6072a tubes-- particularly NOS GE JAN or GE 5 Star 6072a tubes, but a decent cheaper alternative is an Electro Harmonix 6072a. I've used all three and found them to be nice upgrades to the stock tubes that come with these mics. Some folks recommend nice 12AT7's such as NOS or reissue Mullards. IME and from what I've read of other people's opinions, either of these tube types in general will suit the 1050 better than the 12ax7's that come stock, but if you want to stick to a 12ax7, there are many upgrades from the stock tubes the 1050's come with.

 

[JTC111]

I know this isn't exactly the answer that you were expecting, but, I would try a ribbon mic on banjo... Most of all the bluegrassers, in the studio use ribbons on banjos... The ribbons seem to naturally roll off that ugly 12Khz that a banjo has... I suppose my answer/suggestion would be to instead of investing money into a new/different tube, is to try some of the cheaper ribbons.

Randy

Apologies for the brief hijacking of the thread.
Randy, would you also reach for a ribbon first when recording harmonica? Whenever I've recorded harmonica, I've always gone with a dark mic (usually my AKG Solidtube).

 

[kojdogg]

well i'm not randy, but to reverse hijack: personally, i like using dynamic mics on harmonica. for that bluesy sound you can use the shure green bullet plugged to a little tube guitar amp (then you mic the guitar amp).

 

[JTC111]

well i'm not randy, but to reverse hijack: personally, i like using dynamic mics on harmonica. for that bluesy sound you can use the shure green bullet plugged to a little tube guitar amp (then you mic the guitar amp).

hmm...i'd have never thought to grab a dynamic (mainly because i don't even own one anymore, nor do i own an amp). I had an sm58 some years ago but i gave it away to a friend. But even if I still owned it, my instinct is the harmonica would sound too shrill through that mic. With the Solidtube, I just eq down the mids and it sits pretty nice.

 

[JTC111]

well i'm not randy, but to reverse hijack: personally, i like using dynamic mics on harmonica. for that bluesy sound you can use the shure green bullet plugged to a little tube guitar amp (then you mic the guitar amp).

hmm...i'd have never thought to grab a dynamic (mainly because i don't even own one anymore, nor do i own an amp). I had an sm58 some years ago but i gave it away to a friend. But even if I still owned it, my instinct is the harmonica would sound too shrill through that mic. With the Solidtube, I just eq the mids down a bit and it sits pretty nice.

 

[mshilarious]

You can rewire a Green Bullet for low-impedance XLR out, so you don't need an amp. But it is definitely a midrange honk sound; if you want a natural tone more like Stevie, you'll probably stick with your condenser.

 

[Jonk]

An AKG Solid Tube mic is darker than an SM58?

Hmmm. Can't say I've used that mic, but in my experience the vast majority of all condensors are brighter than the vast majority of all dynamics.

Exceptions like the AT4047 come into play, but I've never used an AKG condensor that was darker than a 58.

Just has me intrigued that's all.

 

[BudgetMC]

So much, of course, depends on what you are going for. I just finished a session tonight, and got a very nice (acoustic) harp sound with a pair of mics... a Fathead II and an MCA SP-1.

That said, on an acoustic harp solo a couple of years ago, I used a Rode NT-1, and it absolutely nailed the tone for that track. The solo climaxed with a long note that built to a wail with just a hint of slow tremolo. Totally cooked... one of the best things I've ever recorded. You might not think something as hyped on the high end as an NT-1 would work for harp, but it did in this particular case.

 

[dgatwood]

An AKG Solid Tube mic is darker than an SM58?

Hmmm. Can't say I've used that mic, but in my experience the vast majority of all condensors are brighter than the vast majority of all dynamics.

That's not my experience at all. Many cheap dynamics are exceptionally bright. The word we usually use is "tinny".

 

[Zetajazz44]

The word we usually use is "tinny".

I thought I was the only one who used that word!

I described a fiddle tone my my violin maker as being "tinny" and he still don't understand what I was meaning!

Randy

 

[PhilGood]

Changing the tube really isn't going to change the EQ very much. Mostly what it will do is change the gain if you change to a different value of tube. The only way it will effect the tone is simply by finding a tube that sounds smoother to your ear. All tubes sound different, even amongst the same make and manufacturer. You would hear a more dramatic improvement in tone by replacing the capsule and transformer.

But, since you asked I would replace the stock tube (12AX7) with a nice NOS 12AT7 or 12AY7.

 

[JTC111]

An AKG Solid Tube mic is darker than an SM58?

There's nothing at all bright about the Solidtube... definitely a dark mic.

Hmmm. Can't say I've used that mic, but in my experience the vast majority of all condensors are brighter than the vast majority of all dynamics.

Perhaps the majority of all condensor mics are bright (I've never done a survey), but that doesn't mean the Solidtube is bright. I own one and it's my favorite vocal mic for my own voice.... at least up until this point.... my microphone addiction could yield a different preference in the future.

Exceptions like the AT4047 come into play, but I've never used an AKG condensor that was darker than a 58.
Just has me intrigued that's all.

It sounds like you're saying that all AKG condensors have the same qualities. I don't know of any manufacturer that has a line where all the mics share the same qualities. But if you ever get a chance to play around with a Solidtube, you'll notice the difference right away. It sounds NOTHING like a 414, for example, which is very bright.

 

[JTC111]

That's not my experience at all. Many cheap dynamics are exceptionally bright. The word we usually use is "tinny".

Yep. "Tinny" about sums it up.