The MK319 is a hard mic to judge, because Oktava's quality control is spotty at best. I've had one for years, and it is a go-to mic, especially for female vocals. I've refused to have it modded, only because- I have better and more expensive mics that don't sound like the Oktava, and I'm afraid the mod would make it into a better mic that doesn't sound like it sounds right now, if that makes sense. There is this, though- I've auditioned two of them side by side, and although they both sounded good, they were totally different. My girlfiend's is bright, almost like a U87ai. Mine is dark and smooth, like an AKG Solid Tube. Both mics are just fine, but you would never guess, in a blind test, that these were the same model.
Are you "missing out" on the better sound of a more expensive mic? Probably. Modding it mostly consists of replacing substandard components, and may involve modification of the body and grill. In the good old days, Oktava used whatever components they could buy cheap, including components from obsolete Soviet military equipment. Will modding it make it better? If it's done well, almost certainly. But I can't tell you if it's really a good mic as is, because they don't all sound the same. Some of them are very good mics, and I don't doubt that some of them suck. I bought mine for $99, and it's among the best $99 I've ever spent on studio gear. Good luck with yours.-Richie
