mic mods

[maxamy]

I have a Nady TCM 1100 I want to dabble in mic modification as I have never done that before and I have little invested in this mic so if I tear it up ....oh well....I have read some forums and studied some but can't find alot of info on that particular mic....I want to change the socket to a user friendly socket that I can change....I believe a 9 pin if I read correctly.....The tube is not removable in the Nady TCM 1100 I want to use standard tubes such as the 12AX7 or something similar......not sure about the power supply but I was thinking something better than the NADY one it is kinda cheap and noisy but I don't know what others will work with it....I want to learn to do this myself not hire someone to do it...I am pretty handy with electronics as far as soldering goes and I can read a basic schematic....I am certainly not an expert but fascinated with mic modding and I want to learn........anyway I was wondering if anyone out there has attempted this and would share any information with me on this subject......Thanks and God bless.......Max

 

[PhilGood]

What do you mean? The tube is easily removed and changeable in this mic! You just have to loosen a couple screws and remove the head support system so you can get the tube un-socketed.

Are you just trying to change the tube? There''s only limited improvement by just doing that. There are all sorts of standard mods available all over the web (some of which I'm responsible for) but to tell the truth, after as much as I've learned in the last 5 years, this mic could use a serious rebuild! I'm taking different tube (EF86), different caps, serious re-wiring, and of course a lower turns ratio transformer to make it worth while!

Enough! I have done too much tonight already!!!

 

[PhilGood]

Wait, you said 1100, not 1150. Changing the tube socket is fairly easy! Just get some good smaller 9 pin tube sockets of ebay and install them. Its pretty easy. While your at it, replace the 1uF 400v electrolytic to a 1 or 1.5 uF film 250v (polypropylene preferred, mylar OK) amd change the electrolytic next to it to a Nichicon Gold or similar to a 200uF 16v.

 

[maxamy]

tcm 1100

Actually I said the tube wasn't easily removable.....I did take it apart and saw that the wires were connected to the tube(no socket)....there is no removable type socket in there....I want to learn how to work on these things and I have little invested in this mic therefore I thought it would be a good mic to practice on....I have soldered things before but all of those terms you are using are above my head.....I know what capacitors are and resisters but ....not the specifics....I have heard in other forums that I need to replace the transformer, tube (and socket of course) capacitor and capsule for this mic...are you saying there is more to replace? are there any places were you can order these parts or is it best to get different parts at different locations? I do appreciate the help.....Also I have noticed this mic to be noisy.....could the power supply be going bad...or maybe the cable.....is it possible that the upgrades will take care of the static in this mic.....Thanks again

 

[maxamy]

more questions......

here are some pics......which is the 1uF 400v electrolytic and which on is the electrolytic next to it I have pics of black capacitors and gray ones.......

http://dotystudios.com/pics/gray capacitors.jpg also where can I order the one i need to replace them with......thanks again

 

[maxamy]

capacitors

I had someone reply to me about the capacitors he said this
220uF 16V Nichicon FG @$.70

The other capacitors in your image are 0.022uF 400V, and are probably not the ones you want to replace with a 1-1.5uF, and physically much larger capacitor. If they are, this would be a difficult fit.

The smallest 1uF 400V we stock are a MultiCap PPMFX metallized polypropylene (0.8" wide x 1.3" long) @$8.35

do I need to squeeze the larger capacitors in or purchase these smaller ones....also what about the transformer.....should I replace that as well ? or is the stock one sufficient?....

 

[PhilGood]

If you're holding the mic upright, the one on the left is 1uF 400v. That should be replace with a 1uF 200v or 250v. Mylar would be fine and is probably all you're going to find that will fit. The left one is the one to replace with a Nichicon FG or Black Gate. You could go as low as 47uF 16v for space. All frequencies are passed on anything large than 22uF. The rest of it should probably be left alone. You could replace the capsule with something like a K47. That alone would make it an extremely good mic.