Oktava mods

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zbert

zbert

In the swamps of Jersey
Has anyone used oktavamods for their 319? I wrote Michael and he seems to be a nice guy. I'm only into my 319 for $80. Is it worth the $149 for the mod ?
Thanks for any advice you have.
Tom
 
I just got a modded MK-219 back from him yesteday and will post some observations (maybe clips) of it once I get a chance to try it out. I got the premium mod, which sounds like it offers a good deal more value for the extra $ (including a new F.E.T. and replacement of all components on the PCB except the tranny and capsule). Michael is an awesome guy to deal with and he keeps to his schedule like clockwork (which is unusual from my limited experience and what I've read, about quality tech work). I believe that the MK-219 and MK-319 share identical capsules and circuitry in different housings (perhaps Mr. Joly will chime in if I'm incorrect :) ?)
There was a really positive review of the Oktavamodded MK-219 in TapeOp this month if you can check it out. I'm pretty sure the review is only for the standard mod, which you are referring to.
 
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Did some casual testing tonight of the Premium Electronics modded MK-219. I was shocked how good this sounds! It sounds similar, but less hyped in the mids/highs (which is sometimes desirable, but not always) to my BLUE Blueberry-- my "nicest" and most expensive microphone. I tested both side by side with my Mackie Onyx pres, then through a Safe Sound P1, and finally through a UA m610 into the line in of the P1 to use the compressor, limiter and expander. While it compared favorably as a different "flavor" than the Blueberry, it smoked some of my other mics. This was really informal testing incidentally with me singing and I am not a singer.
Wow! I do not work for Oktavamod. :)
 
Thanks for the info. As I went back to read the FAQ's I found this about the premium upgrade.
"Short answer—If you are a perfectionist, or if you already own some of the better
Neumann, Gefell or AKG mics (or wish that you did) and you need your Oktava
LDC to deliver that level of performance, the answer is you should seriously consider
the Premium Electronics option. If you’re just starting out, on a tight budget
or if your best mic is on the order of a newer AKG-414 or better Audio Technica,
my lower-priced mods will delight you and probably cause your former “best” mic
to sit on the shelf more.

I'm going for one of the mods. At least I'll get the floating Dome. I'll see how money looks after the holiday's for the premium wiring.
Anyone else have this done?
 
Diy

I've no direct experience with Oktavamods myself as a company. I would like to say that it appears to me that you will get quite a lot of value from Michael's upgrades. He has the experience, tools and parts to bring out the best in your MK-319.

I base this on being a DIYer with 2 MK319 onthe bench right now. I think that I will have somewhere around 3 hours per mic into the equlivent of a Premium upgrade once I'm done.

See that pile of parts onthe right? thats what came out of the 2 mics.

This will be a good Christmas as you can see from the photo. I have 8 Jensen 990 DOA ready to test, 2 channels of JLM dual 99v premap moded to be closer to the jensen twin servo, the 2 MK-319 moded and 2 MK-012 ready to mod.

Sweet!
 

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awesome man--thanks for the pic! i wish i had some diy skills
 
About 20 years ago I went to school and got a degree as a watchmaker. I did all kinds of restoration work, but damn I'm just to chicken to try to mod the mic myself.
 
I just bought a premium Octavamod 219 off the tapeop classifieds. It makes my other mics ($250-$500 LDC by respected manufacturers) sound like they have a blanket over them in the mids/lows. The high end on the 219 is very smooth and makes the other mics sound strident in the high end. I like the 219 a lot. :)
 
rcane said:
I just bought a premium Octavamod 219 off the tapeop classifieds. It makes my other mics ($250-$500 LDC by respected manufacturers) sound like they have a blanket over them in the mids/lows. The high end on the 219 is very smooth and makes the other mics sound strident in the high end. I like the 219 a lot. :)
Click to expand...

Good info. Thanks. I have a 319 I'm going to send off for modding soon.
 
omtayslick said:
Good info. Thanks. I have a 319 I'm going to send off for modding soon.
Click to expand...
you won't regret it. Michael Joly is awesome to deal with too :)
 
I just purchased a 319 from BBS member Chessrock...Im sure you guys know of him....anyway...He asked if I was going to have it modded....of course I have heard of modding mics and gear but have never checked into it....I got the mic from him for $50....it sounds like it would be worth my money to have the mod done....where could I get more info??
 
yea....it took me a min to figure out why the link didnt work....thanks for the info man....:p
 
I've gotten a chance to do a little bit of recording with my PE modded MK-219. It sounded great on acoustic guitar and vocals. I put it up against a Blue Blueberry with and the MK-219 clearly won out for the singer's voice. It sounded great on acoustic too.
 
My premium modded 219 was probably the best buy I ever made in a microphone. I sold a Soundeluxe U195 for it and for half the money I got a WAY more clear, smooth sounding mic. Very clear in the top, but not peaky. It just sounds... natural somehow. I have an Sm-7 and an MD-441 as well and neither sound as clean and clear and natural.
I havent had great luck with it on guitar cabs yet, even though I am using it on one right now. The final product I guess will be the deciding factor.
Highly recommended.
 
Well, since you dug up this old post I did get the premium mod on my 319 and I'm a happy camper about the way it sounds.
 
I got my 319 modded and soon after, I purchased another 319 from another bbs member for $65....It along with my nady rsm5 will be modded soon enough...
 
What's the difference between the flat top and the floating dome sound wise?
 
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