Microphone mods - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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Davesax1965 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
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Points: 2839

Topic: Microphone mods
Posted: July 01 2017 at 08:22

Hi folks, I'm vaguely thinking of modding an MXL 990 to take a larger capsule (RK-47) and possibly doing some circuit board changes.

Anyone done anything like this and do the results justify the outlay and work ?

Cheers

Dave

pitfall

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Joined: June 22 2012
Location: Essex, England
Status: Offline
Points: 109

Posted: July 02 2017 at 16:05

Most certainly - I'd say that 80% of the sound of a microphone comes from the capsule, 10% from the electronics (as long as they are reasonably designed), and 10% from the housing.

The MXL 990 is not a bad mike - but the diaphragm is actually not a large one - it's about a half inch, and is, typically for a far eastern one, a bit on the bright side.

You should end up with a mike which performs as well one costing several times as much.

Alternatively, you could opt for something like an Oktava 219 or 319 secondhand - these sound phenomenal on a lot of sources, and have even been compared to a Neumann U47.

Davesax1965 View Drop Down

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Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839

Posted: July 05 2017 at 04:08

Fantastic, thanks, Pitfall. I'll replace the capsule with an RK-47. It's just finding the anvil the capsule sits on. Yep, I thought the PCB was not worth bothering with- most mods I've seen just change a few capacitor values and replace some of the caps with plastic film ones. Won't have much effect.

I'll swap over the capsule and get a modified headbasket with a more open weave. Thanks !!!

Davesax1965 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839

Posted: July 06 2017 at 05:58

And I've found some valve mic kits in the interim. Soldering iron out. ;-)

Davesax1965 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839

Posted: July 07 2017 at 03:43

Coming along. New headbasket.

RK-47 capsule replacement next, followed by a capacitor upgrade. And I'm looking into 12AX7 based valve microphone kits.

Davesax1965 View Drop Down

Forum Senior Member

Joined: May 23 2013
Location: UK
Status: Offline
Points: 2839

Posted: August 29 2017 at 05:54

End result ? Pretty good. Sensitivity went through the roof. Not given it a proper tryout yet, but it's transformed the microphone.

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Davesax1965 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 23 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 2839	Topic: Microphone mods Posted: July 01 2017 at 08:22
	Hi folks, I'm vaguely thinking of modding an MXL 990 to take a larger capsule (RK-47) and possibly doing some circuit board changes. Anyone done anything like this and do the results justify the outlay and work ? Cheers Dave


pitfall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: June 22 2012 Location: Essex, England Status: Offline Points: 109	Posted: July 02 2017 at 16:05
	Most certainly - I'd say that 80% of the sound of a microphone comes from the capsule, 10% from the electronics (as long as they are reasonably designed), and 10% from the housing. The MXL 990 is not a bad mike - but the diaphragm is actually not a large one - it's about a half inch, and is, typically for a far eastern one, a bit on the bright side. You should end up with a mike which performs as well one costing several times as much. Alternatively, you could opt for something like an Oktava 219 or 319 secondhand - these sound phenomenal on a lot of sources, and have even been compared to a Neumann U47.

Davesax1965 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 23 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 2839	Posted: July 05 2017 at 04:08
	Fantastic, thanks, Pitfall. I'll replace the capsule with an RK-47. It's just finding the anvil the capsule sits on. Yep, I thought the PCB was not worth bothering with- most mods I've seen just change a few capacitor values and replace some of the caps with plastic film ones. Won't have much effect. I'll swap over the capsule and get a modified headbasket with a more open weave. Thanks !!!


Davesax1965 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 23 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 2839	Posted: July 06 2017 at 05:58
	And I've found some valve mic kits in the interim. Soldering iron out. ;-)


Davesax1965 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 23 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 2839	Posted: July 07 2017 at 03:43
	Coming along. New headbasket. RK-47 capsule replacement next, followed by a capacitor upgrade. And I'm looking into 12AX7 based valve microphone kits.


Davesax1965 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Reviewer page Forum Senior Member Joined: May 23 2013 Location: UK Status: Offline Points: 2839	Posted: August 29 2017 at 05:54
	End result ? Pretty good. Sensitivity went through the roof. Not given it a proper tryout yet, but it's transformed the microphone.