How do I change tube on mic?

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Ribspare

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I just got the AKG 820 tube mic. I want to try to see if I can swap out the stock tube for a vintage RCA tube. How do I open the mic? I tried twisting and turning and no luck. Do I need some kind of opener?

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Each mic has its way...that one looks like the base should unscrew....then the outer sleeve will just slide off exposing the electronics and the tube. The screen will stay where it is, unless you unscrew it from the frame (no need to ever do that unless you have to get at the capsule).

AFA the tube...on those kinds of mics, it's usually mounted sideways and may very well just have a socket with a bunch of wires coming out of the end, and mounted kinda' lightly to the PCB.
IOW...it's not like pulling a tube out of a guitar amplifier socket...you have to be VERY gentle, and slowly wedge it out, almost going from pin to pin bit by bit until it comes out.
Putting a tube back is just as touchy....'cuz you can't just press it in. You have to support that ring with something...finger, pliers, screwdriver...whatever will work without fucking things up, to put it bluntly...and yes, it's easy to do that if you are not careful.

There...now get busy. :)
 
Ok, I tried but failed so here is a pic I took this morning of the bottom of the mic. It looks like I need some kind of tool to work with the small slots on the side. Any ideas?

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I've gotten those off before by using a butter knife (non-serrated kind) on just one of the slots and getting it to turn, ... once that happens and it's lose you can just use your fingers. Same with putting it back on finger tight then use the butter knife to torque it down.
 
Thanks. So I used a hair dryer to heat the base and soften the adhesive thin layer of glue. I have to admit it felt strange doing this and took me about 20 minutes to get it hot enough. Slowly it turned and unscrewed as I used a small thin Allen wrench handle and my thumb nail. It felt weird indeed but I was able to do it with success.

My initial sound impression was pretty good. Good tone, warm and pleasing. Of course, I'm in elementary stage of exploration and need to get my feet a little more wet in the AKG tube realm.
 
Once you install an other tube in that microphone leave it on for 3 or 4 days to burn it in before you use it.
 
Jim Lad;3631952[SIZE="5" said:
]Looks like you'll need a hair dryer.[/SIZE]
http://www.akg.com/mediendatenbank2/psfile/datei/17/perception4af3df90e862d.pdf
Let me know how the mic works out.
I was looking at that particular model.
Click to expand...

Ribspare said:
Thanks. So I used a hair dryer to heat the base and soften the adhesive thin layer of glue. I have to admit it felt strange doing this and took me about 20 minutes to get it hot enough. Slowly it turned and unscrewed as I used a small thin Allen wrench handle and my thumb nail. It felt weird indeed but I was able to do it with success.

My initial sound impression was pretty good. Good tone, warm and pleasing. Of course, I'm in elementary stage of exploration and need to get my feet a little more wet in the AKG tube realm.
Click to expand...



:laughings: :laughings: NOW YOUR SURE TO HAVE A NICE WARM SOUNDING MICROPHONE! :laughings: :laughings:
 
I had to! For it was staring me in the face for nearly 4 hours. :D
 
well i have to admit.......the same thing crossed my mind.....LOL
 
I don't get it.

By the way: I would have used a vice to hold two slim objects, such as butter knives, vertical and the right distance apart to suit the nut.
Then I would have held the microphone in place over the vice and carefully twisted the mic with two hands.
Unless I happened to have the right tool for the job.
 
I didn't even mention how stylish one can make the headbasket ..... a little hair spray a little heat ... :D
 
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