GT-44 Capsules

[bigtoe]

does anyone know a good place to get the optional capsules for the GT-44 (omni and a tigher cardioid)? my guitar center doesn't seem to want to respond to getting them...

also what is a good price?

any help appeciated...

Mike

 

[ozraves]

I went by the GT booth at AES. I was going to ask if they were still marketing the GT33 and GT44. They were busy. I didn't want to wait. I don't think they were on display. You might call them and ask.

 

[pohaku]

It would be a shame if they quit marketing the GT-44/AM-40. I think it was one of their best, if not the best, recent microphone.

M-Audio's web page still lists the additional capsules - although they are a bit pricier than I remembered them (I thought GT sold them for @$100 each direct). I wouldn't count on the listing being current though. Perhaps they got stuck with inventory after the deal collapsed?

http://www.wholesalemusic.com/catalog/brandname/midiman/

OK, I just looked and they are still listed on the GT site for $129 each which is cheaper than the M-Audio site ($139). They have the shock mounts cheaper too.

http://www.groovetubes.com/microphones.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=124

Now, if only GC would do a blow out on the additional capsules.

 

[bigtoe]

thanks a bunch guys...i'll look into the direct sales...

and yeah, amazing mic...makes me want to hear the earlier mics they made that everyone raved about...as the raves were on the mark with this one.

Mike

 

[pohaku]

Some of the earlier mics are absolutely great and worth picking up if you ever find one. The initial series of mics is IMHO the best of the bunch. I have an MD-1a and an MD-3 and they are both excellent mics. The "a" series is preferable as the electronics are a bit more refined, but either series would be great. There is an MD-2 up on E-bay currently with a BIN of $499 which is a decent price. Unlike the current crop of GT mics, these were hand built (very clean), run on 12AT7 tubes, and you can change the tubes. I have Siemens ECC81 NOS tubes in mine currently. The current mics have mil spec mini tubes soldered in - which isn't necessarily bad - but it does limit your choices a bit. I understand that the capsules in the MD2 and MD3 were built by David Josephson. I have an AM-52 from the Alesis joint venture which is an OK but undistinguished mic. While it is entirely acceptable as a general purpose multichannel LD mic, it doesn't stand out from the pack like their earlier mics.

 

[reshp1]

I've always raved about GT mics. I have a GT66 and LOVE it. An amazingly rich yet clear and detailed sounding mic. It has a great flattering affect on just about everything. I was just looking at an older Musicians Friend catalog from a few years back and they were blowing out MD-1a's for $200... I wish I hadn't missed out on that one.

 

[pohaku]

I was just looking at an older Musicians Friend catalog from a few years back and they were blowing out MD-1a's for $200... I wish I hadn't missed out on that one.

If those were the reissues, you don't have to feel that bad. I bought one hoping to get a match for mine and opened it up. It was nothing at all like my original MD1a. Had the current electronics and capsule in it (actually it looked a lot like the innards of a GT-66) and the soldered-in mil spec tube. I sent it back.

 

[chessrock]

The GT-55 and 66 both have some sort of a feature to enhance the diaphragm, which supposedly extends the top end. I hate those things. Just a personal preference. The reissued MD's are almost the same thing as the GT-66 and 55, except they don't have those thingies to boost the high end. They sound a good deal smoother and more natural in the high end as a result, in my opinion.

 

[reshp1]

The GT-55 and 66 both have some sort of a feature to enhance the diaphragm, which supposedly extends the top end. I hate those things. Just a personal preference. The reissued MD's are almost the same thing as the GT-66 and 55, except they don't have those thingies to boost the high end. They sound a good deal smoother and more natural in the high end as a result, in my opinion.

Yeah, there's a little disc in front of the diaphram. It doesn't cover the whole thing like in the Octavas, just covers about a 1/4" of the middle. I was toying with the idea of removing it, since it improved my Octavas quite a bit, but I don't know if it's going to make that much difference on the 66.

 

[chessrock]

All I know is that, after toying around with the GT55 and previously with the reissued MD-1 ... there's just something I don't really like about the high end of the 55. It's a sibilant mic in comparison to the MD, which to me almost seems mildly rolled off in the top like with the GT44 and 33. Again, I haven't worked with their LDC's extensively, but it is the impression I got from them. And I believe the biggest difference between the two is that disk, so I'm assuming it to be the culprit. I could be wrong, though.