Neumann Vintage U87 Clone : Build Thread.

[tskguy]

Hello fellow Mic geeks,

So our good friend Wave and I have spent some time together to A/B our new Microphones. First I want to say what a very cool guy Dave aka Wave is, we had a great time! So some details regarding these clips. I used my SSL 9k pre my LA2A and then in to a crappy ada8000 converter at 24bit 44.1 khz.
Dave's mic had the la2a in but only compressing about 3 db max. After my la2a warmed up we noticed a bad tube so we bypassed it for my mic. Wave is singing and gives a nice intro detailing the caps. His mic is using a microphone parts rk87 and my mic is using my second and more accurate hand made k87 capsule.
Wink wink .  Please let us know what you think! One major difference is my mic has a cinemag and Wave's is using the t13.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/55530129/test87_ericmic3.wav
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/55530129/test87_Davemic.wav

 

[DUDE GUY]

Wave & tskguy:

Both mics sound fantastic, well done. The only real difference I hear is in the upper high end, maybe 8-10k. Tskguy, your mic sounds a bit more true to a vintage 87 sound, veeeery smooth, very controlled sibilance, whereas Wave's mic has a bit more air and detail in the high end. The sibilance was slightly more pronounced in Wave's, but nowhere near undesirable. I would guess this difference is due to the capsules, but there are multiple variables in this case (I do not have the technical knowledge to make connections between differing sounds and differing components).

Conclusion: I would reach for tskguy's U87 if I were recording a vocalist with overpronounced sibilance or if If I wanted a bit of a darker sound on an instrument or room mic. I would reach for Wave's if I wanted some sheen or airy detail in a vocal, cymbals, acoustic guitar, etc.

Lastly, Wave, nice singing. Your voice is not only nice, but very well suited for such a mic test. Full bodied, well balanced.

Great job, guys!

-DUDE GUY

 

[Edward]

Both sound really good, interesting to hear a a/b test like this so thanks for that. Amazed how good the hand made k87 capsule turned out.

Is the LA2A adding any of the sibilance we hear on Waves microphone?

Listened to Saxmonsters saxophone sound clip as well with the Peluso P-K87i capsule and I liked the "vintage" sound it had, warm and round.

 

[saxmonster]

Hello fellow Mic geeks,

So our good friend Wave and I have spent some time together to A/B our new Microphones. First I want to say what a very cool guy Dave aka Wave is, we had a great time! So some details regarding these clips. I used my SSL 9k pre my LA2A and then in to a crappy ada8000 converter at 24bit 44.1 khz.
Dave's mic had the la2a in but only compressing about 3 db max. After my la2a warmed up we noticed a bad tube so we bypassed it for my mic. Wave is singing and gives a nice intro detailing the caps. His mic is using a microphone parts rk87 and my mic is using my second and more accurate hand made k87 capsule.
Wink wink .  Please let us know what you think! One major difference is my mic has a cinemag and Wave's is using the t13.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/55530129/test87_ericmic3.wav
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/55530129/test87_Davemic.wav

Both mics do sound great.  But I agree with Dude Guy with the second one being a bit brighter it the extreme high end.  But its not bad, I just wouldn't use it on a bright sound source.  Very nice job guys.

-Scott

 

[tskguy]

Thanks for the great feedback guys. I dont think the La2a was adding the brighter sound on Daves mic, Im saying that just because i know my la2a and it normally doesnt do that. Dave and I wonder how much the tx has to do with the sound as well as the capsule.
I did let Dave borrow my first capsule it will be interesting to see how it sounds in his mic. Im really glad you guys like the sound of my capsule. I may make a few more of these things so let me know if anyone would be interested.

Eric

 

[HellfireStudios]

Thanks for the great feedback guys. I dont think the La2a was adding the brighter sound on Daves mic, Im saying that just because i know my la2a and it normally doesnt do that. Dave and I wonder how much the tx has to do with the sound as well as the capsule.
I did let Dave borrow my first capsule it will be interesting to see how it sounds in his mic. Im really glad you guys like the sound of my capsule. I may make a few more of these things so let me know if anyone would be interested.

Eric

As usual, it depends on the price... let us know.

 

[tskguy]

Thats hard part isnt it..... Let me hold off on saying how much for now, I want to make sure that everything works out getting some things made in terms of components.
So far the last and most difficult part is getting the mylar coated, I have a source but Im doing a bit of shopping around. I will say that the price will be competetive. And it willl be 100% machined and and tuned by me. 100% made in the USA. 

Eric

 

[saxmonster]

Anyone know what size screws are on the transformer housing area? 6 of them right?  i have a loose one and would like to have a couple on hand for the apex 460 project i am doing.  I wonder if all chinese mics are the same size screws..

 

[HellfireStudios]

Anyone know what size screws are on the transformer housing area? 6 of them right?  i have a loose one and would like to have a couple on hand for the apex 460 project i am doing.  I wonder if all chinese mics are the same size screws..

In my experience, they tend to use the same size screws in the same places.

 

[sr1200]

Finished my build.  Very nice sounding circuit and capsule.  Used an OSP body, the peluso caps and all the "original" components listed on the BOM.

Gear **** Here

 

[saxmonster]

So is there a screw chart online to compare these screws and to tell what the thread count is?

 

[kante1603]

Finished my build.  Very nice sounding circuit and capsule.  Used an OSP body, the peluso caps and all the "original" components listed on the BOM.

Gear **** Here

Could you please show the pics so everybody can see them,not only on facebook?
Personally I don't want to sign in there.

Cheers,

Udo.

 

[sr1200]

You shouldn't have to sign in there, its a public album.

edit: but it would help if i put up the public link to the pics... duhhhhhh

Try this link, should be no login needed sorry bout that

 

[HellfireStudios]

Good news from Peluso. I called today to get an update on my BV11P return. He told me, after I checked the dimensions of my donor mic, that he would send a BV8P-S in its place (the metal cover is going to need to be removed for it to fit). It has two taps on the primary for 5.5:1 or 11:1 and two secondary taps at 50 and 200 ohms. The larger size should translate to a fuller bass (this might explain the "tighter/faster" sound of Poctop's Peluso/Cinemag version). It's the transformer John Peluso said he would use. It should be shipped tommorrow. I can't wait.

 

[poctop]

Good news from Peluso. I called today to get an update on my BV11P return. He told me, after I checked the dimensions of my donor mic, that he would send a BV8PS in its place (the metal cover is going to need to be removed for it to fit). It has two taps on the primary for 5.5:1 or 11:1 and two secondary taps at 50 and 200 ohms. The larger size should translate to a fuller bass (this might explain the "tighter/faster" sound of Poctop's Peluso/Cinemag version). It's the transformer John Peluso said he would use. It should be shipped tommorrow. I can't wait.

Let me know if you like it , got an extra one for sale here , if That might interest anyone ,
This looks promising as you could make it selectable for even  more fun  ;D
Cheers
D

 

[DUDE GUY]

Hello builders,

I stumbled my way into mic building by first modding cheap chinese FET condensers. With these cheap mics, many people suggested dampning both the mic body and headbasket with some sort of absorptive material. Theoretically, as I'm sure many of you know already, this is supposed to greatly diminish standing waves and thus improve frequency response. Are any of you adding this kind of dampning to your U87 builds? Is this type of thing necessary or is resonance caused by standing waves addressed in the circuit design? Just curious. If anyone has tried this, was it beneficial? Pointless? Thanks everyone.

-DUDE GUY

 

[adeptusmajor]

Hello builders,

I stumbled my way into mic building by first modding cheap chinese FET condensers. With these cheap mics, many people suggested dampning both the mic body and headbasket with some sort of absorptive material. Theoretically, as I'm sure many of you know already, this is supposed to greatly diminish standing waves and thus improve frequency response. Are any of you adding this kind of dampning to your U87 builds? Is this type of thing necessary or is resonance caused by standing waves addressed in the circuit design? Just curious. If anyone has tried this, was it beneficial? Pointless? Thanks everyone.

-DUDE GUY

I hadn't even considered modding the headbasket (using Aurycle bodies). I think the mics sound pretty great as they are. Honestly, I haven't had enough battle time with them yet to get really familiar with them, but I'm not seeing headbasket resonance being a problem at this point. Time will tell.

But Fletcher over at gearslutz does seem to think that my mics must be complete garbage because the headbasket is not a perfect replica of the Neumann. Or maybe it's because he doesn't sell the PCBs... :

 

[poctop]

But Fletcher over at gearslutz does seem to think that my mics must be complete garbage because the headbasket is not a perfect replica of the Neumann. Or maybe it's because he doesn't sell the PCBs...

Just by Curiousity ,  Who is Flectcher ?  ???
Dan,
:-\

 

[wave]

I hadn't even considered modding the headbasket (using Aurycle bodies). I think the mics sound pretty great as they are. Honestly, I haven't had enough battle time with them yet to get really familiar with them, but I'm not seeing headbasket resonance being a problem at this point. Time will tell.

But Fletcher over at gearslutz does seem to think that my mics must be complete garbage because the headbasket is not a perfect replica of the Neumann. Or maybe it's because he doesn't sell the PCBs... :

Funny because I A/B'ed mine with a real Neumann U87AI and all of us thought my mic sounded better hands down so Fletcher can relax about all that.

Dave

 

[DUDE GUY]

Just by Curiousity ,  Who is Flectcher ?  ???
Dan,
:-\

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Fletcher is the owner of Mercenary Audio and a common voice in the gearslutz forum.

-DUDE GUY