Marshall revives the V77s Tube Mic in a newly designed body...

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kidvybes said:
...check the "mic controversy" thread for more negative/positive comments about the Apex 460/Nady 1150...also, to the best of my knowledge the MXL 960 does not have a transformer output...the V77s was MXL's only transformer coupled tube mic...
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You keep referring to threads we've already read and you only focus on the negative. I've been watching since you first posted that thread inquiring on the quality of the 460. If you recall, I was the first one to respond to the 'mic controversy' thread and have been following ever since! Do you recall ANY positive posts on the gearsluts threads? I do! I also recall alot of forums that have positive comments on the Apex. It just seems to me you know very little about the actual product except what you've read and chosen to remember and are now touting yourself as the Apex expert. Why do you feel you need to dominate this issue?

This is like saying I've read that chocolate is superior to strawberry ice cream because chocolate doesn't have that fruity sweetness I like. I tried chocolate once and thought it just didn't have what I was looking for.

Buy one, A/B it, use it in a mix and then tell me about it. I've got one and even though it ain't the best mic in the world it still a very usable peice of gear and it gives me a sound I like. I compared it to my Royer mods, which are killer sounding and found it to be close, just a little brighter (and I mean a little). Sometimes I need brighter!

I'm not totally defending this mic. I've heard better. It just seems like someone who went in to a drum shop to try out cymbals, tapped on a crash a few times and didn't like it, then proceeds to tell everyone how crappy this brand of cymbals are without using them in a performance.
 
zbert said:
Hey Kid
I had to open the mics. I have 2 of the 77's with the tube soldered in. This old version of the 77 is just different from other mics made in China. I have to say I like the v77 better than my AT4033. Nice smooth tone. Fat would be a good word. It can be a bit harsh on the upper freqs. with some singers but nothing a bit of EQ won't fix. I paid $200 each for them. One of them was even brand new in the box. I think that's a real bargin for the quality I get out of them. Keep an eye on ebay. That's where I found both of mine. A great suggestion of a mic from Harvey.
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Z...I agree!...probably MXL's best mic to date...really a step up from the typical Chinese LDC...I'm really interested in hearing the reviews of the new V76t...
 
PhilGood said:
You keep referring to threads we've already read and you only focus on the negative. I've been watching since you first posted that thread inquiring on the quality of the 460. If you recall, I was the first one to respond to the 'mic controversy' thread and have been following ever since! Do you recall ANY positive posts on the gearsluts threads? I do! I also recall alot of forums that have positive comments on the Apex. It just seems to me you know very little about the actual product except what you've read and chosen to remember and are now touting yourself as the Apex expert. Why do you feel you need to dominate this issue?

This is like saying I've read that chocolate is superior to strawberry ice cream because chocolate doesn't have that fruity sweetness I like. I tried chocolate once and thought it just didn't have what I was looking for.

Buy one, A/B it, use it in a mix and then tell me about it. I've got one and even though it ain't the best mic in the world it still a very usable peice of gear and it gives me a sound I like. I compared it to my Royer mods, which are killer sounding and found it to be close, just a little brighter (and I mean a little). Sometimes I need brighter!

I'm not totally defending this mic. I've heard better. It just seems like someone who went in to a drum shop to try out cymbals, tapped on a crash a few times and didn't like it, then proceeds to tell everyone how crappy this brand of cymbals are without using them in a performance.
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Phil...why all the hostility...all I said at the beginning of this post is that I felt the V77s is a notch above the Apex 460/Nady 1150...I maintain that position...I DID audition the mic...I've also auditioned the Nady 1150 (same mic)... if I didn't have 3 or 4 other Chinese tube mics already, I probably would have purchased the 460...I, as I stated before, am NOT trashing the 460...

Here's a list of the Tube mics I currently own (all with upgraded tubes except the Royer & Rode), listed in order of most preferred (#1) to least preferred/ignored (#5):
#1. Mojave/David Royer MA-200 (modded ADK51)
2. Rode NTK
3. 2 MXL V77s
4. MXL V69M
5. ADK Generis GT2

...don't know if the 460 adds much to the mix...but for $159 (Nady version) guess it's worth a shot...
 
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Kid, no hostility was intended. I didn't use all caps or exclamation marks (well, a few !s, but not in a threatening way). It just seemed to me you had already condemned the mic on several threads. Sorry if I came off harsh. That wasn't my stance.

I think I might give the v76t a try. I don't particularly like the body design. Wish the would make the 77 again. Then again I don't think I need another tube mic yet.

Think I'm gonna save up for a AT4040.
 
PhilGood said:
Think I'm gonna save up for a AT4040.
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Rdozz is selling one cheap!
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=157618

Phil...funny thing is, I was looking at a Nady TCM1150 on ebay for $159, and then I noticed the same seller was selling the Nady ribbon mic (which gets pretty good reviews) for about the same price, so I decided to give the ribbon mic a try (since I have too many "toob" mics already)...curious to try a ribbon for vocals...I'll report back once I get some tracks done...
 
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kidvybes said:
Phil...funny thing is, I was looking at a Nady TCM1150 on ebay for $159, and then I noticed the same seller was selling the Nady ribbon mic (which gets pretty good reviews) for about the same price, so I decided to give the ribbon mic a try (since I have too many "toob" mics already)...curious to try a ribbon for vocals...I'll report back once I get some tracks done...
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I'm VERY interested to hear how that one sounds! Get on it!
 
kidvybes said:
...you wanna call Scott or should I?...
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I vote for you - no telling when I'd get around to it. You'd enjoy talking to him. He's a really nice guy.
 
PhilGood said:
I'm VERY interested to hear how that one sounds! Get on it!
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I heard a few MP3 clips of that one a month or so ago that someone had posted somewhere. Sounded surprisingly good! One is definitely on my list.
 
Flatpicker said:
I vote for you - no telling when I'd get around to it. You'd enjoy talking to him. He's a really nice guy.
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Tim...Actually I have spoken to Scott and Robert over at MXL...they have been very helpful... Scott found me a replacement for one of my V77s that I had attempted to mod myself...I give MXL 5-Stars for customer service as they have repaired/replaced mics for me and some of my associates, even when the problems were not the fault of the product, but rather abuse by the owner of the product...and a 3 Year Warranty!...can't beat that...
 
kidvybes said:
...I noticed the same seller was selling the Nady ribbon mic (which gets pretty good reviews) for about the same price, so I decided to give the ribbon mic a try (since I have too many "toob" mics already)...curious to try a ribbon for vocals...I'll report back once I get some tracks done...
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If this is the one (and I think it is - it's the only one Nady sells)
http://www.nady.com/products/product_pgs/rsm2mics_pg.html
it's reviewed in today's Tape Op. The only good thing he really had to say about it was that it's affordable, though he hemmed and hawed about certain applications: "it sounded kind of old", "inherent lo-fi character", "added to the insane, transistorized sound" where it gave a different color to the usual ribbon sound. He noted several times that the small magnets and thin ribbon couldn't compare to the classic RCA ribbons.

Anyway, I have no ribbon mics, so will be interested in your take on this.
 
crazydoc said:
If this is the one (and I think it is - it's the only one Nady sells)
http://www.nady.com/products/product_pgs/rsm2mics_pg.html
it's reviewed in today's Tape Op. The only good thing he really had to say about it was that it's affordable, though he hemmed and hawed about certain applications: "it sounded kind of old", "inherent lo-fi character", "added to the insane, transistorized sound" where it gave a different color to the usual ribbon sound. He noted several times that the small magnets and thin ribbon couldn't compare to the classic RCA ribbons.

Anyway, I have no ribbon mics, so will be interested in your take on this.
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Doc...I was tentative to bite on that one, but I've been reading enough good stuff on Harmony Central to make the investment (afterall, anything is re-sellable on Ebay these days!)...check out the user reviews:

http://harmony-central.com/Recording/Data/Nady/RSM_2-01.html

http://harmony-central.com/Recording/Data/t_bone/RB_500-01.html
 
kidvybes said:
Tim...Actually I have spoken to Scott and Robert over at MXL...they have been very helpful... Scott found me a replacement for one of my V77s that I had attempted to mod myself...I give MXL 5-Stars for customer service as they have repaired/replaced mics for me and some of my associates, even when the problems were not the fault of the product, but rather abuse by the owner of the product...and a 3 Year Warranty!...can't beat that...
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I'll say! They are actually a few miles north of me. I've taken 2 bad mics over to Scott on separate occcasions and he replaced them instantly. He even gave me a tour of the facility and test booths. I got to see the 770 (big woo-hoo, I know) before it came out and the new USB mic. He even showed me 3 rows of v69s, which they burn in few days before shipping. That's pretty good treatment for someone who they don't know.
 
...Ok...so who's gonna buy one of these new V76t's so we can get some straight talk as to the mic's ups/downs...c'mon guys...someone's gotta bite the bullet...
 
kidvybes said:
...Ok...so who's gonna buy one of these new V76t's so we can get some straight talk as to the mic's ups/downs...c'mon guys...someone's gotta bite the bullet...
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Well, if you didn't tell me about the Nady first, it might have been me, but it's too late. (at least for a while) I did want the old 77 and it was like the day that I decided to get it, they were discontinued.

I researched for weeks, on and off, and got totally into getting that one, including Harvey's comments and stuff. So I'm also looking forward to some reviews, but it sure is fancy looking, not my style. It kind of looks like the Escalade. Too shiny and polished. Almost suggests fashion over utility, not a good idea. Hopefully it functions as good as it looks.

up to my second test of the tcm1150, this time on vox and spb3 right in front of sound hole on ac/gt - omni mode of course, a bit on the low end, gonna go pop one of the phases to see what I get....nice long weekend, extra studio time!!
 
and for the doubters...

chessrock said:
All of these Chinese mics are basically the same. They sound like crap with poor midrange and unnaturally exaggerated highs. Basically "toy" mics that try to mimic classic condensers, but do a poor job of it.
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...and posted today on another thread on this very site:

Harvey Gerst writes:

"In the last four years, I've found about 5 or 6 Chinese mics that are a good addition to our mic locker, and they continue to work well, for us anyway. To say that "any mic made in China is bad" is just unrealistic. And untrue, IMO. The MXL V69ME, the V77, the SP T3, the ADK Hamburg or Vienna are serious tools that will sit quite well in a professional studio.
I sold my U47 many years ago (when I got out of the studio business for a few years). At today's prices, I can't afford another one, but the mics listed above get me pretty damn close to that sound, at least close enough to get groups signed to major labels and released "as is". That's all I can ask of any mic. I don't look at the label or country of origin when I record; I listen and choose whatever I think is appropriate for the job."

...and thus the interest in MXL's V77 replacement, the V76t...thanks Harvey!
 
Flatpicker said:
I vote for you - no telling when I'd get around to it. You'd enjoy talking to him. He's a really nice guy.
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Tim...OK, I made the call, but Scott's presently in Barcelona, Spain for the AES 2005 show until 6/6...oddly enough, nobody else in the office had any specs for the V76t (it's so new it's not even up on the website yet)...so I left a voicemail for Scott to give me a heads-up when he returns...I'll post the info on the capsule when I get it...but I got a feeling you're right about the 6-micron diaphragm (instead of the V77's 3-micron disphragm)...that's what MXL is using in the new Silicon Valve V6...
 
kidvybes said:
...but I got a feeling you're right about the 6-micron diaphragm (instead of the V77's 3-micron disphragm)...that's what MXL is using in the new Silicon Valve V6...
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Looks like they are still selling 2003s with 3-micron capsules, so they haven't completely moved away from 797 - unless they just happen to have a lot of stock on hand. OTOH they could be buying just the capsules from 797. Hmmmmm... ask him about that too.
 
PhilGood said:
I'm VERY interested to hear how that one sounds! Get on it!
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Phil/Tim...I just did some preliminary testing of the Nady RSM-2 Ribbon Mic and I must say I'm real impressed...but I did test it thru a few different mic pre's and the results varied greatly...these ribbon mics eat gain by the truckload, so it's imperative you have a mic pre that can drive one of these suckers!...thru a Studio Projects VTB1, the mic sounded a bit anemic (thin and a bit hollow sounding)...definately not the sound you look for in a vintage ribbon mic...thru my Eureka (with Burr-Brown Ops) the mic had more warmth and substance...closer to the sound I would expect...but thru my Amek 9098 DMA, the mic sounded really WARM & FAT!!!...nice definition and full bodied...my guess is that little or no EQ would be neccessary using the Nady thru the Amek...if there ever was a case for a higher-quality pre enhancing the sound of a bargain-bin mic, this would be it...of course this testing was very much preliminary, using my own voice...the real test will come in the studio with a serious vocalist, hopefully in the next week or so...but I gotta say, it is more than worth the price!...definately a different flavor than the LDC mics I typically use...
...there's a seller on Ebay that offers the mic for $199. buy-it-now, but he also allows for "submit best offer" bids, and this mic was being sold for the $149-179. range using that feature...so if you want one of these check this seller's link, and use the "best offer" option...if you get one for $149. you're way ahead the curve!...its'a gimme at that price!...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=15198&item=7326420417

...oh yeah...and here's an odd opportunity...a "NEW-IN-A-BOX" ORIGINAL V77s (listed as "transformerless output...but it's got a transformer-coupled output I believe) from a dealer for less than $200...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41466&item=7326021254&rd=1
 
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i read somewhere that the new v76t is transformer coupled like the v77. so now i guess the question is mainly about the diaphram thickness. and of course that the v76 uses a 12at7 instead of the 6072/12ay7 in the v77. i guess a tube change is a simple mod. so once again the question remains concerning diaphram thickness
 
...still waiting to hear from Scott at MXL, but I did notice something in the specs that might indicate the diaphragm's thickness (and maybe not)...many of the MXL's that use the 6-micron diaphragm (V67,2006, 990, 770, V6 for example) show a frequency response of 30Hz-20kHz, while the mics that utilize the 3-micron diaphragm (2003, V77s) display a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz...the new V76t shares the 30Hz-20kHz response, so does this imply that the diaphragm may well be the 6-micron variety?...chime in PhilGood, Flatpicker, Marik, or anybody who has the tech expertise to comment on this...thanks!
 
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