My First U47 Build Begins!

[MasterEvan07]

Those Switchcraft inserts are indeed barefaced ripoffs. At least in the EU, TME in Poland carries Cliff UK connectors for pretty good prices, and as i mentioned, i can attest for the (re)usability of their panel-mount XLRs' inserts.

I could shop around, and I have looked, but by the time I pay for shipping somewhere else on top of my current order in the queue at Mouser it'll be a wash of money and time. No NC7MPs on Reverb or eBay here in the States, so looks like I just gotta bite the bullet.

 

[MasterEvan07]

Hi, I'm also building a D-EF47 right now. Looks like we maybe got the same body off aliexpress? I was planning to grind away the parts of the rails that make electrical contact with the pcb, and then use a combination of screws and zip ties to secure the board probably. Can you let me know which XLR insert you end up with?

I ordered that one you linked to with my Mouser order. Hopefully it will work. If it doesn't I'll probably just order from Studio 939 but I'll let you know either way.

 

[MagnetoSound]

Why not just order them from the same place?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002254145176.html

 

[MasterEvan07]

Why not just order them from the same place?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002254145176.html

Quite simply, I’m not as hip to Aliexpress as most of the forumites here are. I didn’t/don’t think of it and have never frequented their options, so it’s not seated in my psyche when shopping - but I just did, thanks!

 

[ZHOUJUN]

I got a Neumann U47 by chance, with a power supply made by Andreas Grosser. Apart from the original version, this PSU is simply a work of art. I prefer retro PSUs, they are great.

 

[MasterEvan07]

I got a Neumann U47 by chance, with a power supply made by Andreas Grosser. Apart from the original version, this PSU is simply a work of art. I prefer retro PSUs, they are great.View attachment 115431View attachment 115432View attachment 115433

Beautiful. I'd certainly take one in a heartbeat if I could find one that wasn't insanely expensive.

 

[MasterEvan07]

Aside from the frustratingly obscene price for the insert, it appears to fit appropriately and should work just fine.

 

[MasterEvan07]

I had a similar issue with the mounting holes. Ended up making my own support frame with some brass bars and threaded L brackets. You can see what that looks in this post.

Do you have a picture of the backside? I finally got my capsule and have been so disconnected from this project that it feels like a full reset.

 

[ElSmurf]

Do you have a picture of the backside?

Unfortunately no. From the picture in that post you can kind of extrapolate the idea though. The L brackets are threaded, and on the bracket side I used countersunk flatheads, to keep the width in check. On the PCB side I used regular panheads.

On the top side, you can see the small portion of the original support frame that I cut off and used as a base for the brass one. I threaded the top holes in the brass parts and fastened them from the inside. This is also why the brass one is tapered at the bottom, to make up for the difference in width.

Hope this helps.

 

[MasterEvan07]

With the incredible skills of Chad Kelly at SAE taking it across the finish line, my U47 lives! Took way longer than expected but it’s finally done. This thread needed closure!

 

[soliloqueen]

With the incredible skills of Chad Kelly at SAE taking it across the finish line, my U47 lives! Took way longer than expected but it’s finally done. This thread needed closure!
View attachment 137738View attachment 137739View attachment 137740

Glad Chad and I could finish this for you. How do you find it?

 

[ElSmurf]

Congrats, it looks great!

 

[MasterEvan07]

Glad Chad and I could finish this for you. How do you find it?

This caliber of mic is new to me as I’ve historically been a live performer and used to rugged, cheap live mics.

That said, even completely unaffected, and with no EQ-ing, the scratch vocal track I made was like “instant professional” grade recording. The mids were sinewy, top end clear and detailed with no harshness or abrasive sibilance, low end huge yet focused with no flub or washing out bass.

It’s very cool and I foresee it becoming my personal go-to for…everything I can try it with!

 

[ze marcelo]

This caliber of mic is new to me as I’ve historically been a live performer and used to rugged, cheap live mics.

That said, even completely unaffected, and with no EQ-ing, the scratch vocal track I made was like “instant professional” grade recording. The mids were sinewy, top end clear and detailed with no harshness or abrasive sibilance, low end huge yet focused with no flub or washing out bass.

It’s very cool and I foresee it becoming my personal go-to for…everything I can try it with!

wow, that makes me want!!!
Could you share some records?
Do you have any idea how much you spent on the total project?

All the best

 

[MasterEvan07]

wow, that makes me want!!!
Could you share some records?
Do you have any idea how much you spent on the total project?

All the best

I’d really have to look back at the BOM and my substitutions - not a little, but not as much as a “proper” U47. I couldn’t even ballpark anymore after how long it took to complete.

Does it compare? I’ll let you know when I get a professionally made U47 to shootout against. I know it’s certainly a great sounding mic on its own!

I’ll share some recordings when I get back into the studio!