U47-style bodies - who can make one?

[bradb]

point taken skylar...

but how about this..

the tube he's getting for the head is slightly larger diameter than the body, what if the manufacturer gets some 60mm body tube, cuts it into the proper width and then attaches it INSIDE of the 63mm tube to create these shelves?

 

[Moby]

the tube he's getting for the head is slightly larger diameter than the body

The head basket tube is exact internal diameter of the body tube. That's the standard dimension.

what if the manufacturer gets some 60mm body tube, cuts it into the proper width and then attaches it INSIDE of the 63mm tube to create these shelves?

Much simpler than cutting from one piece... it must be simple to be cheap. No problem with complicated solution but I really doubt it can be 80EUR 

 

[ioaudio]

skylar, moby et all,

check the how its made video if you have not already. some details about the headbasket, even if its just a u87, but there are some hints for manufacturing them:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_dAbQVpHQ_M

-max

 

[Moby]

Yes, I saw that  ;D

 

[Skylar]

So, apparently the original U47 bodies were aluminum tube.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

If so, we should be able to use aluminum tube--that greatly reduces cost.

We would need approx. 50 feet of aluminum, that's less than $1.50 per tube.


If we use brass rodstock for the headbasket rings, we're talking about 8 feet of brass.
If you use prices at McMaster as a reference, we get about $7 worth of brass per head basket in quantities of 100.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#8953k67/=cxn4b

The end cap can be aluminum as well, lathed from aluminum rod stock. We need about 14 feet of this, that's $3.25 of material per part.


These are the expensive bits, totaling less than $12 per mic body.
OF COURSE, this is material only!

But, I have a hard time thinking that the labor will account for more than $100 (67EUR) on top of the material cost!


I know of a shop local to me that would kill the 80EUR price!
Give me some time to work out the details with them.

 

[bradb]

as my boss says... "I love it when a plan comes together"

;D

 

[Moby]

So, apparently the original U47 bodies were aluminum tube.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

As far I know body is brass made. I don't have a problem with aluminium but it can't be nickel-plated. Interesting part of the "how it's made" is using solder paste for head basket. That's the way to go, and yes in that case shelves are must.

If so, we should be able to use aluminum tube--that greatly reduces cost.

We would need approx. 50 feet of aluminum, that's less than $1.50 per tube.


If we use brass rodstock for the headbasket rings, we're talking about 8 feet of brass.
If you use prices at McMaster as a reference, we get about $7 worth of brass per head basket in quantities of 100.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#8953k67/=cxn4b

The end cap can be aluminum as well, lathed from aluminum rod stock. We need about 14 feet of this, that's $3.25 of material per part.


These are the expensive bits, totaling less than $12 per mic body.
OF COURSE, this is material only!

But, I have a hard time thinking that the labor will account for more than $100 (67EUR) on top of the material cost!

Yes labor is expensive. That's why I yell for simplicity.

I know of a shop local to me that would kill the 80EUR price!
Give me some time to work out the details with them.

If you can please tell me because you will save me a lot of time. BTW, I wanted to talk about price again but after prototype.

 

[mad.ax]

Hello,
if you have a look here: http://www.jogis-roehrenbude.de/Roehren-Geschichtliches/Neumann-Mikro/U47/U47.htm
there are pictures of an old U47, s/n 186. It has scratches and dents, and definitely looks like aluminium.

One other thing to ponder, Flea use aluminium too, and at 1200€ for just the body, I don't believe they would have made a 10€ saving by using aluminium instead of brass if it was not historically accurate...

Axel

 

[Moby]

Cool, than to forget about Brass body  ;D

 

[Buttercup]

Hi

The origial U47 body tube was aluminium - I bought an old pitted one may years ago and only a few places did the electroless nickel plating whenI restored it.
The internal discs are aluminium and the end bell is aluminium.
The three internal struts are steel and the head is brass.
As far as shielding goes, alu works just fine and goes someway to helping what is aready quite a heavy mic not become too overpowering for boom mic stands.................

 

[bradb]

true, im always amazed at how light they are in real life

 

[Skylar]

skylar, moby et all,

check the how its made video if you have not already. some details about the headbasket, even if its just a u87, but there are some hints for manufacturing them:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_dAbQVpHQ_M

-max

Thank you, max. Big help!

 

[Whoops]

As far as shielding goes, alu works just fine and goes someway to helping what is aready quite a heavy mic not become too overpowering for boom mic stands.................

The Voice of reason!!

 

[JW]

I guess this has been expressed before by a couple folks, but I'm hoping it won't go so far as to have the Neumann logo on it.
I suppose I could get behind an exact replica without the logo, but what I personally would prefer is a replica of the head-basket for sonic purposes, and maybe even a slightly off color body or even a brass body, something more industrial and less finished looking so it's obvious it's not a U47, but more of well built 'in the style of the classic german . . . ' DIY thing.

I don't know how many people share these sentiments but I rather prefer to have a really cool looking DIY thing to an almost exact copy of the original, knowing it's not really the same thing. At the same time, like everyone else, I would like the original sonic properties of the head basket to remain a high priority.

Just my preferences. Keep up the good work guys!

 

[seavote]

headbasket replica for sonic charactoristics is what i want. aluminum is fine with me. not worried if it resembles a 47 . its not going to be one so why spend the energy on it. then again we have the specs and should be just as easy to get it the same, than not.  bang for my buck is what im looking for. whatever those designing and contracting their constrution, decide, is ok with me. 

 

[Skylar]

JW,

I think your desires are right in line with mine.

Most people should understand that this is not a U47, rather a design inspired by...

So, no neumann badges or anything crazy like that. But we are trying to get the headbasket as close as we can in dimensions/materials.

 

[Moby]

I agree  Sonic at first, of course no "Neumn" marks on it 

 

[Ian]

This is really exciting stuff, this will end up being the one of the coolest DIY projects I've seen. Is there a waiting list somewhere for the mic bodies or will it be first come first serve when they are finally made?

 

[bradb]

this shouldn't be a limited thing.  we should have as many people interested in these as possible to lower unit costs.

hang tight for now, looks like we're getting close.

 

[Skylar]

IF my machinists can do this project for a reasonable price,
I will want to set up a simple web store for purchases through paypal / MO / Cashier's Check / whatever.
(similar to edanderson's store when he did the 1176 xformer groupbuys)

The number that are made will likely equal the number of orders through the web store + a few extra.

Of course, this is all pending my machinists' quotes & prototypes.

As I've mentioned before, I do not have the capital to pay for these up front, so I would expect buyers
to pay upfront and wait until the bodies are done to get theirs. Lead-times and everything are TBD.

If there are a lot of orders for these (100+), I can see my machinists delivering finished bodies in waves of
25-50 or so. At that point, DELIVERY would be on a first come, first served basis.
I will keep track of who bought what in chronological order.
This way, if you are one of the first to purchase, and I get a set of 25 after the first 2-3 weeks,
you would get your body/bodies first.