[FEELER] C12 Clone Project

[Matador]

Version 2 of the boards are in my hands.  I have a day set aside over the break where I'll build the second prototype and shower the thread with more pictures.

 

[desol]

Nice Mark. Tx's, tubes, capsules...

Your almost ready to rock. 

 

[moltenwok]

Nice Xmas stash mark, got my CT12s , telefunken headbaskets and Adair of original N12 power supplies. Where did you actually purchase the AMI transformers. Cheers johnny.

 

[chunger]

Nice Xmas stash mark, got my CT12s , telefunken headbaskets and Adair of original N12 power supplies. Where did you actually purchase the AMI transformers. Cheers johnny.

contact AMI directly.

http://www.tab-funkenwerk.com/id53.html

 

[JessJackson]

looking forward to it chunger

 

[tonycamp]

Hey Matador,

whats up with round 2? Got my donors coming from Chung, cant wait to build this sweet girl

thanx
T

 

[Volume11]

Hey Matador,

whats up with round 2? Got my donors coming from Chung, cant wait to build this sweet girl

thanx
T

I was wondering the same thing. I have two that will be here saturday

 

[Matador]

I've been sick for the last 5 days.   I hope to get a window this weekend to stuff and test version 2.

 

[tonycamp]

Bummer Matador, feel better soon buddy

 

[Matador]

Ok got most of the second prototype together.  Will finish everything tomorrow hopefully.  Not a ton of pictures, because to be honest it hasn't changed much between the two versions:  so I will focus on the differences.

Here is the new PCB set:

A few passes with a Dremel cutoff wheel and a sanding drum removes everything and cleans it up:

Most everything with the PSU is the same:  I added a few more screw terminals so that the board can be removed without desoldering anything.  There is also a trim pot for B+ voltage now, and a PCB-mounted fuse holder (for those that don't want to punch a hole in their PSU chassis):

Now on to the microphone PCB changes.  First, two caps are now on the back side of the board.  Hence some turrets mount on the other side now:

Stuffing goes as before.  With the cutout for the output cap, a bigger cap can be fit.  This is a 2uF (stock value is 0.5uF).

The biggest change is how the tube pcb integrates with the main pcb.  Version 2 is slotted (much like octopi's U67 boards) and the two boards interlock.  There are also provisions for wire bracing leading from the tube pcb to the main pcb.  Here are the back two braces populated:

 

[Studio Mollan]

Nice!
Looking forward to this!!

 

[poctop]

Nice!
Looking forward to this!!

+1 ,  Nice Work Matador , can't wait to build this baby as well,
Best,
Dan,

 

[micaddict]

Must be something wrong with my monitor screen.
It's showing odd colors.

 

[chunger]

upcoming in-studio tests will reveal that yellow/lime green PCB's sound way better than green pcb's.  This will be a definitive, conclusive test.

 

[Matador]

I finished the second prototype.  I'm going to hand it in to the studio so it can be compared to the first version.

I am negotiating pricing and delivery terms with my PCB supplier, so this is almost ready to go live!

 

[Studio Mollan]

Is it possible to give an estimate on this? Only if you're going to offer a complete kit of course. The pcbs alone I can afford.
/
Emil

 

[mrvision]

Nice job!

+1 or 2 for me depending on price

 

[tonycamp]

Matador, nice job man, you must have given it your cold, cause it looks SICK!(even though its yellow ;D), I love the look of the cut out for the OP cap, in combo with the turrets. I have to say, the yellow looks pretty damn sweet also, total gear ****!

I also got my donor mics from chung today, now i'm really champing at the mic!

 

[mulletchuck]

you must have given it your cold, cause it looks SICK!

Sir.

Sir, you should be ashamed of how corny this joke is. lol

 

[chunger]

OK. . . it's looking like this kit is going to go live soon, so perhaps it would be time to iron out some details.  Because there are probably a lot of folks here on forum who already have gathered various bits for this project, I'm thinking all items at least initially should be made available  a la carte.  Some of these items are simply too pricey for me to float if the interest is even marginally high, so I'm thinking I may need to take a deposit on kits before ordering parts.  Tim Campbell, AMI, and Christian Whitmore are quite reliable folks though, so I am reasonably certain they will deliver as arranged once we get the wheels in motion.

I am scheduled to see a sample of my custom spec'd headbasket next week so it's looking like all the major pieces are lining up assuming the fit and finish on that headbasket are good to go.  Also, Tim Campbell has expressed interest in getting hands-on the kit and optimizing his capsule to the mic, so I will be sending him a test kit ASAP to get his thoughts.

In broad strokes, I'm thinking about doing it 2 ways. . . premium package and budget package.  All of these are unconfirmed ball-park prices just to get a feel for the general range.

Premium complete package configuration:

Tim Campbell CT12 capsule ~$397.41
AMI T14 transformer ~$95
microphone grade NOS GE6072a tube ~$110
HT-11A donor mic (full kit) $160
custom headbasket ~$30
PCB kit ~$30
Electronic components ~$100  (really pulled that one out of thin air. . . subject to change)
premium cable (Gotham or Redco cable and Neutrik 7 pin connectors) ~$60

YEEEHAAWWWW!  ~$982.41 that'll put a nice dent in the bank account.




Budget build configuration:

Advanced Audio AA12 capsule ~$95
Cinemag 2480 transformer ~$60? just guessing
mic grade Mullard or Siemens 12AT7 ~$60 - much less for Russian Electro Harmonix tube
HT-11A donor microphone $160
Custom headbasket ~$30
pcb kit ~$30
electronic components ~$100
stock Alctron cable $0

Total ~$535


So, from my ball-parking, the complete turn-key package looks to land either just north of $500 or just short of $1000 depending on which route you take.  My current stock of HT-11A donor bodies is around 28 units, so one big logistical question is if an how many more bodies I will need to get shipped from China.  Hopefully, those 28 will hold us for the 1st round on this kit as I have a few other items I am developing for my 2nd import freight from China, and things work MUCH better when combining large/heavy items into a single shipment.

Also, I should be able to batch order AMI transformers and include different models if folks have more than one microphone project brewing and want to combine shipping on those with this kit.