1:1 U47/48 Body Clone

[GeorgeToledo]

What are the currently existing sources for a 1:1 clone of the U47 body? I know of FLEA. AMI has also had full clone bodies at various times.

Any others?

Relatedly, do any of the many clone bodies that lack the mechanical switching at the headbasket, have a full size connector? I believe Beesneez has had something like this, AMI as well. Any more?

 

[gyraf]

Hi George,

..from what I've seen, the flea seems to be closest to the authentic...

/Jakob E.

 

[Delta Sigma]

Dany's?

 

[ZHOUJUN]

The cost of the U47 housing and connector molds is very expensive. I think only FLEA can completely copy it now.

 

[johnsonic]

I have Dany's and it's very well made

 

[soliloqueen]

My friend runs a t&d shop that might be able to make the parts in small batches & the basket could probably be pressed using a short-use 3d printed form. if someone got me a sample I could quote doing it in person here in my workshop.

 

[OneRoomStudio]

My friend runs a t&d shop that might be able to make the parts in small batches & the basket could probably be pressed using a short-use 3d printed form. if someone got me a sample I could quote doing it in person here in my workshop.

That would definitely be interesting to see, but as others have mentioned, Dany (@poctop) already makes great 1:1 U47 and U48 mechanicals (there are some good pictures here: https://www.instagram.com/poctop/p/B-xoUOrhF2T/).

It would be really interesting to see a 1:1 M251 body though! I don't know of any on the market currently.

 

[Recording Engineer]

Last I looked (when first available), Dany was only selling a complete microphone kit with his body. Is that still not the case?

 

[soliloqueen]

It would be really interesting to see a 1:1 M251 body though! I don't know of any on the market currently.

it's hard to find empty originals tbh, people don't want to take the electronics out and re-insert them, it's risky and cumbersome

 

[GeorgeToledo]

That would definitely be interesting to see, but as others have mentioned, Dany (@poctop) already makes great 1:1 U47 and U48 mechanicals (there are some good pictures here: https://www.instagram.com/poctop/p/B-xoUOrhF2T/).

It would be really interesting to see a 1:1 M251 body though! I don't know of any on the market currently.

The plastic inner stuff is sort of a black hole. The originals had a habit of cracking.

Sneezby says whatever he is doing for plastics won’t crack.

It winds up being one of these things where you don’t necessarily want to replicate what AKG actually did, but if you don’t, it becomes “different”.

Upton just uses a regular circuit board approach.

I wonder if FLEA would offer their body as a kit, maybe after their mic has been on sale longer. Speaking of FLEA, I wish they had brought the CMV563 style kit that was on their site for awhile to market, it looked fantastic. Really nice body work, in general.

 

[soliloqueen]

The plastic inner stuff is sort of a black hole. The originals had a habit of cracking.

Sneezby says whatever he is doing for plastics won’t crack.

It winds up being one of these things where you don’t necessarily want to replicate what AKG actually did, but if you don’t, it becomes “different”.

Upton just uses a regular circuit board approach.

I wonder if FLEA would offer their body as a kit, maybe after their mic has been on sale longer. Speaking of FLEA, I wish they had brought the CMV563 style kit that was on their site for awhile to market, it looked fantastic. Really nice body work, in general.

there are lots of modern insulating plastics that don't have cracking issues, but they aren't clear. they're all opaque. i feel like people get upset about the aesthetics of parts that go inside the microphone that you'll never see.

 

[GeorgeToledo]

there are lots of modern insulating plastics that don't have cracking issues, but they aren't clear. they're all opaque. i feel like people get upset about the aesthetics of parts that go inside the microphone that you'll never see.

I think the popularity of the 251 is very aesthetics driven.

(Looks inside 251… “I think I’ve seen vintage plastic bongs with less cracks than this thing!”.)

I prefer a C12 and the optional ovaloid windscreen, with the ability to use or not use it, as far as related systems go.

Internet recording forums seem to be having a 251 era. They do look cool and can sound great.

—

The main thing that possessed the original question, is that I have had a Neumann K49 that I think I might like to do something with during the coming months. Maybe I will think of something more original than U47 or M49 though.

 

[Electrobumps]

I think the popularity of the 251 is very aesthetics driven.

(Looks inside 251… “I think I’ve seen vintage plastic bongs with less cracks than this thing!”.)

I prefer a C12 and the optional ovaloid windscreen, with the ability to use or not use it, as far as related systems go.

I've never fallen in love with a C12 like I have with a 251. Maybe it wasn't the sonics, but the exceptional good looks. I have not had the pleasure to AB these lovelies, but I don't pine for a C12 in my collection like I do a 251.

It is an interesting point, aesthetics do have a huge weight on percieved quality and in turn percieved sonic quality.

It would be really interesting to see a 1:1 M251 body though! I don't know of any on the market currently.

I have Dan's PCB's, a Beeskneez CK12, and at a loss of what I should put it in!

 

[soliloqueen]

I have to care about aesthetics because I sell retail parts and that can be stressful. At retail I can't sell a part with cosmetic issues even if it tests perfectly. Part of the reason that I offer graphs for every capsule and do such extensive listen testing is so that I have an excuse to care less about how things that go inside of a microphone look.

 

[Accelerator]

@GeorgeToledo​

What are the currently existing sources for a 1:1 clone of the U47 body? I know of FLEA. AMI has also had full clone bodies at various times.

Any others?

Relatedly, do any of the many clone bodies that lack the mechanical switching at the headbasket, have a full size connector? I believe Beesneez has had something like this, AMI as well. Any more?

Which one tube are you planning to use in this 1:1 U47/48 Body Clone?...

The Flea 47 Mechanical Kit seems to be the closest to the authentic, but from the other hand the tube housing that it has it is only for the VF14, EF 12, EF13, EF14 Metal Can tubes...

The Tab-funkenwerk/AMI U-47A Kit has the tube housing for noval tubes aka you can use the EF800 tube or any other noval basing tube that you may like it.

Dany’s (@poctop) already makes great 1:1 U47 and U48 mechanicals

(There are some good pictures here:

D-47 Tube Mic Kit DIY Solution

and here:

https://www.instagram.com/poctop/p/B-xoUOrhF2T/).

And by this you have the luxury of pluralism to choose if you like to use a VF14 tube, a EF14, a sort of EF 12, EF13 Metal Can tubes, a EF800 tube, or even a pair of twin 408A tubes…

So as you see there are some valid 1:1 U47/48 Body Clone options and it is up to you which one to choose if you looking after for a U47/48 Body Clone…

From the other hand the Flea 49 Mechanical Kit and the Tab-funkenwerk/AMI M-49A are also as alternative options…

I also would like to see in the market a (new) Microtech Gefell CMV563/M7S Vintage Condenser Microphone big bottle style body but alas there isn’t one out there and the Microtech Gefell CMV563/M7S price of € 6,971.10 Euros at the Musicstore it is way too high as a price for me for a just a microphone…

 

[bremusound]

https://digitalaudioservice.com/FLEA-CMV563-kit-whole-kit/fleacmv563kit

FLEA CMV563 Kit