U47-style bodies - who can make one?

[marktokach]

I want one or two. Good work! One question; is this going to be for the G7 or an actual u47 and if so will there be pcb and parts lists available? I know they are pretty similar but I am just good at soldering and not circuits yet.

 

[Skylar]

What brought all of this up was ioaudio's MK7 project.
I believe there are a few sets still available in the BM.

Of course, it's just a body, so you can put anything in it you like.

The design is really centered around the headbasket; this is the most critical part of the body for sound.

 

[e.oelberg]

I agree with Skylar I don't think mesh material will have any influence on the sound. Concerning the finish of the U47. I went to Gleier to get two mic bodies plated. I had the luck that a U47 was right at that time on their desk. I told them to give my mic body and grill the same treatment.

they sand the brass but not the Grill galvanize it with Nickel this is how it looks on my mic:
http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=31837.0

the surface is very rugged, I think it's not easy to damage

nicholas

 

[mad.ax]

Skylar,

yes I was thinking of high polished aluminium, as I've done rhis before and the result can be really impressive. People who prefer a mat finish could just have the aluminium sand blasted....

Though, if price doesn't rise too high, all brass would be my favourite too.

Let people pick out their own mesh seems a bad idea to me, because assembling precisely the 3 layers is not easy to diy... One would need to buy 3 big sheets of meshes, and the only way to solder them properly is either spot welding (like in the U87 video) or TIG welding.... Both techniques are not available to most diyers.... Then, with the 2 brass rings method, you need to solder the mesh on the bottom ring, before solder the upper ring..... Here again, diyers may not have the torch do do this, and finally, when all is done perfectly, you need to find a company to plate your favorite finish at a one-off price....


FerrariT,
we have seen that Neumann switched from steel on the "chrome" basket to brass on the matt finished ones (first type is magnetic, and not the last one), and I have never heard or read of anybody complaining that the matt basket sounded less good than the chromed one!
As long as the structure/dimension of the grill remains the same, so the sound, no matter what metal is used, because dimensions are too short to allow for metal resonance...

Axel

 

[Skylar]

Great points Axel.

 

[craptical]

+ we want to stand out from all the currently avaliable clones in chrome... Right? 8)

/Dave

 

[Skylar]

This Wednesday I should be receiving samples of the connectors I have spec'ed for the body.
(though the male inserts are on back-order--I won't see those for 2-3 weeks)
They are the Binder 691 series.


The mic body will use only the 7-pin male insert.
The group pricing they gave me is $10.96, but I may be able to work this pricing down...we'll see.

The female, cable-mount plug looks like this (ours will have 7 pins):

And you can put whatever you want on the other end of the cable
The group pricing they gave me for this is $14.92

Total connector cost=$25.88

 

[Whoops]

This Wednesday I should be receiving samples of the connectors I have spec'ed for the body.
(though the male inserts are on back-order--I won't see those for 2-3 weeks)
They are the Binder 691 series.


The mic body will use only the 7-pin male insert.
The group pricing they gave me is $10.96, but I may be able to work this pricing down...we'll see.

The female, cable-mount plug looks like this (ours will have 7 pins):

And you can put whatever you want on the other end of the cable
The group pricing they gave me for this is $14.92

Total connector cost=$25.88

BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[mad.ax]

Those Binder connectors looks very good.
But since they are really hard to find (most Binder sellers doesn't stock the 691 serie), it would be great if you could get a quotation for the male plug and the female pannel mount also.
I think it makes more sense to have the same quality all along the cable, rather than to have a good looking connector under the mic, and a 50V rated XLR at the other side!
Plus, a Neutrik XLR 7 pin male plug/female pannel mount couple cost more than 25$ at mouser, so I guess it won't be much more expensive to make a group buy for the real deal....

Axel

 

[Skylar]

I didn't realize that the neutrik 7-pins were that expensive.

I actually did get a quote for the female panel-mount/male cable.

female panel-mount = $13.61

male cable-mount = $14.64


Should be getting some quotes on the mic body here in the next couple of days.

 

[matta]

Skylar,

I appreciate all the hard work and would HATE to add more to it, but since you have gone/come this far would it be far fetched to suggest a PSU housing to match the mic? It seems alot of us here plan on using Max's MK7 kits and buying this body would mean we would need a PSU case and as suggested by him we build this power supply.

Do you think it worth it to investigate maybe offering this as part kit, so Mic Body, the Binder connectors (both male and female) and a suitable PSU housing?

Again, I REALLY appreciate your work thus far and would HATE to add more to it, but I for one have no idea HOW you even begin to model the stuff you have done!

Cheers

Matt

 

[bradb]

Don't let me put words into Skylar's mouth, but seems like a psu housing is kinda off-topic.

A rectangular enclosure is easy to find!  I'm looking for two at the moment because i've just finished prototyping Max's PSU.

The dimensions should be minimum about 6.5" x 10" x 2.5"

Hammond should make something, right?


just my opinion

 

[Skylar]

It's funny you mention that, Matt...

I was just suggesting to someone recently that I think there would be a demand for PSU enclosures...


It seems like these should be easy to find, right? I've spent hours & hours trying to find something with the right look, but have never been successful.
I don't really like any of the Hammond stuff, and it seems expensive for what you're getting.


I think I will go ahead and design something similar to the old Neumanns, and see where that goes.
I don't imagine that it would be too expensive.

Something like this:

 

[bradb]

well well...

in that case (no pun intended) put me down as interested in 2!

 

[matta]

It's funny you mention that, Matt...

I was just suggesting to someone recently that I think there would be a demand for PSU enclosures...


It seems like these should be easy to find, right? I've spent hours & hours trying to find something with the right look, but have never been successful.
I don't really like any of the Hammond stuff, and it seems expensive for what you're getting.


I think I will go ahead and design something similar to the old Neumanns, and see where that goes.
I don't imagine that it would be too expensive.

Something like this:

Yeah, for me it is the VISUAL appeal. I mean I would just buy the T.Bone Chinese 'cheapy' if I didn't care about the LOOKS and SOUND of this mic.

We are spending the time to get the MIC body looking and sounding cool, why not make a PSU that matches? (Hence my suggestion, glad you didn't flame me for it!!!! I'm sure you are under enough stress already with the body!).

I like Neumann style one but would suggest the inclusion of the 3 way rotary switch on the 7 and 3 pin connect side since these mics will feature remote switching unlike the originals.

I think the leather handle is great as well, very smooth  ;D

Cheers

Matt

 

[stitch-o]

freakin' wow...

 

[synthi]

Yeah! 

 

[matta]

Do you think it is expensive to go for the traditional Neumann 'Hammerite' finish, it looks so military and I love it  ;D

Cheers

Matt

 

[Skylar]

Yes, the "hammered" finish is the way.
This type of finish can be powder-coated for cheap.


Also, you're right, we'd need a cut-out for pattern select switch.

 

[bradb]

things to consider:

there's a choke in max's design along with a power transformer, each is roughly 3.5 x 3 x 3