Mullard 4024 (12AT7) for MXL 960?

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mrface2112

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I'm thinking about popping an NOS Mullard 4024 in my MXL 960. I think the mic sounds splendid as it is, but i'm sure it could be made to sound better.

Any of you have any experience with one of these?

At $22 from KCA they're pretty cheap (especially compared to what the Mullard 12AX7s are going for) and I'll probably be giving it a go regardless.


cheers,
wade
 
Those are very good tubes, especially given the price. I'm using a Telefunken 12AT7 in my 960 and the results are MUCH better than the chinese stock 12AX7. I think you'd be pleased with the change simply for the lower gain, let alone the better sound. In fact, this mic could stand to use a 12AY7 or a 12AU7, with the 12AT7 the output is still very high.
 
thanks! that's what i was figuring.

I've got a telefunken 12ax7 in a vibro champ and it's extremely clean and smooth. in fact, i'm considering swapping it with an RCA blackplate b/c it's almost TOO clean and smooth--the RCA's got a bit more character.

the NOS mullard is about 1/4 the price of an NOS telefunken 12at7, which is why i was considering it over the tele. i should mention that the one i'm looking at is the military version (as there are numerous varieties of mullard 12at7).

IIRC, the mic is supposed to come with a 12AT7 stock....which is why i was looking for something in the same form factor. i'll have to look around a little.


cheers,
wade
 
I guess it depends on what you want to use the mic for. I use it on guitar cabs a few feet back (in conjuction with a ribbon mic for a M/S stereo pair, excellent guitar micing results this way), and with the 12AT7 the output is still very hot. The loudest amp I mic is a Marshall 18 watt into a 2X12. I'll have my Digi 002 pre's at 0 and still get a signal near clipping. Thankfully, driven guitar amp signals are naturally compressed quite nicely.

On vocals for this mic, I think the 12AT7 works nicely, plenty of gain and pretty low floor noise. I've got some GE 12AY7's I've been wanting to toss in there to see if it helps the guitar micing without impacting the mics vocal abilities.

I kinda think micing loud sources with an LDC is a no-no, so the high output shouldn't be too much of a concern I suppose. I guess blowing out this diaphragm will just give me reason to get a nice new Peluso diaphragm. :)
 
mrface2112 said:
IIRC, the mic is supposed to come with a 12AT7 stock....which is why i was looking for something in the same form factor. i'll have to look around a little.
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Ya know, either the Chinese have no idea what a 12AT7 is, or the American importers know how to take advantage of consumer ignorance and gimmickery as I have yet to open up a Chinese mic that contained the alleged 12AT7 that is claimed to be inside.
 
PhilGood said:
I have yet to open up a Chinese mic that contained the alleged 12AT7 that is claimed to be inside.
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that's a great point. this one's labelled "MXL" with no other markings. it looks like something from the 12a*7 family, both in terms of form-factor and pinout. the back of the tube's got some scratches/scoring on it from where it's either bounced against the circuit board, or was scraped during install.

i'll definitely concur that this is a pretty hot mic. i don't need much gain at the preamp at all, even with the 20dB pad in.

i've got the mullard on order, should be here in a day or two. i'll report back in when it's here. for $22 it was a no-brainer. and if it sucks, i'll put it in V2 (the vibrato tube) on my vibrochamp, just so i can say it's tubed with a telefunken, mullard and an RCA blackplate. :p


cheers,
wade
 
mrface2112 said:
that's a great point. this one's labelled "MXL" with no other markings. it looks like something from the 12a*7 family, both in terms of form-factor and pinout. the back of the tube's got some scratches/scoring on it from where it's either bounced against the circuit board, or was scraped during install.
Click to expand...

You kidding? I thought the Chinese manufacturing plants routinely sanded off the labels so you couldn't see what junk tubes they were putting in... or maybe to save the manufacturer from the embarrassment of being associated with the mics... not sure which. :D

But seriously, I've heard enough people mention Chinese mics with the labels being scratched off that I strongly suspect it is being done intentionally. I can't for the life of me imagine why, though.
 
mrface2112 said:
that's a great point. this one's labelled "MXL" with no other markings. it looks like something from the 12a*7 family, both in terms of form-factor and pinout. the back of the tube's got some scratches/scoring on it from where it's either bounced against the circuit board, or was scraped during install.

i'll definitely concur that this is a pretty hot mic. i don't need much gain at the preamp at all, even with the 20dB pad in.

i've got the mullard on order, should be here in a day or two. i'll report back in when it's here. for $22 it was a no-brainer. and if it sucks, i'll put it in V2 (the vibrato tube) on my vibrochamp, just so i can say it's tubed with a telefunken, mullard and an RCA blackplate. :p


cheers,
wade
Click to expand...

I'd bet dollars for doughnuts it's a stock Chinese 12AX7. That seems to be the only tube thay use. They all look the same, yet look nothing like a 12AT7 or even a 12AY7. The triple mica and basket getters look suspicious and are a dead giveaway!:)
 
PhilGood said:
The triple mica and basket getters look suspicious and are a dead giveaway!:)
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you got it! :D

dgatwood said:
You kidding? I thought the Chinese manufacturing plants routinely sanded off the labels
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nope, not kidding. it's very largely/visibly labelled MXL across the tube......and the "scoring" i mention isn't consistent with something being scratched off--it's definitely from the tube being knocked against something sharp or metal. there are only a couple scratches, and they're bunched in close proximity to one another.

that said, i really like the way the mic sounds with said stock cheap chinese tube. i'm hoping that the mullard will give me more of what i like about it, as well as making its output a good bit less hot.


cheers,
wade
 
I have a 960 and while it does sound good out of the box, it sounds amazing with a tube swap.

The stock "MXL" branded tube is definatelly a 12AX7.

With a 12AT7 it becomes very full with a mid forward thickness and color. This is great if you want to bring those freq out for a thinner.

With a 12AY7 it brings more of the bottom out with some more air to the sound. This sounded great on a tenor vocalist I just recorded that needed the bottom brought out on his voice but sounded too nasal with the 12AT7. The 12AY7 took out the too forward mids (around 800 to 1kish) which I had to use EQ to cut down like 6db on a previous song recorded with the 12AT7.

This a very useful mic, especially with an assortment of tubes.

I would say that it's more versatile with a 12AY7 and more colorful with the 12AT7.

Lucio
 
well, i put the mullard in over the weekend and finally got some good time with it last night on vocals.

The mullard 4024 is a *splendid* tube in this mic. lows are very big and deep, the mids are just present enough but not overly so, and the highs are wonderful--sheeny without being strident.

it turned a mic that was previously "good for the money" into a mic that is just plain GOOD. i'm really looking forward to laying down some vocals on this song i'm working on over the coming weeks.

here's the link to said tube, if anyone wants to do the same. for $22, it's hard to beat, and Mike K at KCA is a spectacular guy.

http://kcanostubes.com/products/70/NOS-Mullard-CV4024-ECC81-12AT7.htm


cheers,
wade
 
Dammit Wade!

Now you're making me wish I hadn't gutted mine and turned it into something else! I may have to buy a stock one now and try to resist the urge! I just can't leave well enough alone. It has a big body for space inside and it comes with a power supply and all.

It's a sickness really. I think I need help.:D
 
PhilGood said:
Dammit Wade!

Now you're making me wish I hadn't gutted mine and turned it into something else! I may have to buy a stock one now and try to resist the urge!
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sorry mate.....i just calls em like i sees em. ;)

i dunno if i'd buy a 960 at the current $249 price. i'm glad i got it when it was on sale at $149--shoulda got 2. then again, i'm really fond of this mic.....and feel that with this tube swap, it easily outperforms most $500 mics (and can be on par with mics in the $1000 range i've used in the past). i think a large part of why i feel this way is b/c it just sounds so good on my voice, which has been a challenge. now it's just smooooooth.

PhilGood said:
I just can't leave well enough alone. It has a big body for space inside and it comes with a power supply and all.
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yeah, if there were ever a great platform for modification, that's the one. lots of usable space in there. and the grill is actually pretty decent, acoustically speaking.

PhilGood said:
It's a sickness really. I think I need help.:D
Click to expand...

yeah, you need help. people to do the disassembly and reassembly, and to source parts so you can spend more time doing the R&D. that's the sort of help you need......you know....minions. :p


cheers,
wade
 
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