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Post by schmalzy on Oct 25, 2022 23:01:30 GMT -6
During my last tracking session I noticed my Apex 205 was sounding super weird. Thinking it through, I realized I don't know of anyone repairing ribbon mics right now aside from the original manufacturers.
This Apex 205 sounds awesome when it's working properly. I think I got an accidentally really great one a while back. But the ribbon is super slacked now so I need to get it sorted out and fixed up.
Does anyone know of anybody who is repairing ribbon mics and could sort that out for me? I'd much rather keep using it than replace it with another mic (though ADDING a new ribbon mic to the cabinet AND having the 205 repaired wouldn't be a terrible thing...)
I'd love it if you could let me know who you know! Ya' know?
Thanks!
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Post by tasteliketape on Oct 25, 2022 23:05:26 GMT -6
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Post by EmRR on Oct 26, 2022 5:54:00 GMT -6
Ulrigg. He hangs around here. Not so sure about the new kid at ENAK. Keep hearing bad service stories. Clarence is really just the face now, apparently. BigDMC is another expert. Then there’s Colepick’s (sp?), and Xaudia in the UK.
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Post by ehrenebbage on Oct 26, 2022 7:20:41 GMT -6
Jon Ulrigg worked on my 4038's recently. Did a good job and seems like a good guy. repair.ulrigg.com/ |
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Post by stratboy on Oct 26, 2022 7:27:09 GMT -6
A friend of mine had her vintage RCA repaired by ENAK last year. She had a good experience. No issues.
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Post by phdamage on Oct 26, 2022 8:09:27 GMT -6
ENAK do great work! dude re-ribboned my m500 twice. quick turnaround, great communication.
Coles Picks Vintage have a good rep also
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 26, 2022 8:49:46 GMT -6
Ulrigg. He hangs around here. Not so sure about the new kid at ENAK. Keep hearing bad service stories. Clarence is really just the face now, apparently. BigDMC is another expert. Then there’s Colepick’s (sp?), and Xaudia in the UK. Yeah for an Apex, I would probably send Uligg a PM before sending it in just so there were no surprises and if it was indeed a special one real expectations. I always prefer to hear the words “it might not sound the same “ before I send something in and give someone my money. |
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Post by schmalzy on Oct 26, 2022 9:27:18 GMT -6
Ulrigg. He hangs around here. Not so sure about the new kid at ENAK. Keep hearing bad service stories. Clarence is really just the face now, apparently. BigDMC is another expert. Then there’s Colepick’s (sp?), and Xaudia in the UK. Yeah for an Apex, I would probably send Uligg a PM before sending it in just so there were no surprises and if it was indeed a special one real expectations. I always prefer to hear the words “it might not sound the same “ before I send something in and give someone my money. Yeah, I have really no idea why it sounds the way it does (*ahem* did) but I really think it sounds great for my purposes (drums and guitars mostly). Simple mics, simple processes, simple techniques. I guess they just work sometimes! I'm 100% aware that it probably won't sound the same. I'm not that worried about it sounding the same to be honest. I'm most worried about making sure I can keep another (good-sounding) piece of garbage out of a landfill and making sure it continues to be an option around the studio. I'll see if I can hunt down this Ulrigg character (I bet that link above can help with that!) because I'm always down to work with the people in my community. Hopefully we can make it all work out! Thanks for the help, y'all! |
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Post by ulriggribbons on Oct 26, 2022 10:02:24 GMT -6
Hey shmalzy,
I just replied to your email, but thought I’d follow up here as well.
The Apex mics are real inexpensive, so it puts things in a weird spot.
Reribboning them certainly puts in a higher quality ribbon, but costs more than these mics originally sold for.
I’ve ribboned thousands of the ribbon motor that is in this mic, so am uniquely qualified in that regard, but only you can gauge whether repairing it is worth it
Regards
Jon
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 26, 2022 10:18:31 GMT -6
Hey shmalzy, I just replied to your email, but thought I’d follow up here as well. The Apex mics are real inexpensive, so it puts things in a weird spot. Reribboning them certainly puts in a higher quality ribbon, but costs more than these mics originally sold for. I’ve ribboned thousands of the ribbon motor that is in this mic, so am uniquely qualified in that regard, but only you can gauge whether repairing it is worth it Regards Jon Jon this is exactly why I stressed contacting you first. While schmalzy may be as concerned about keeping another inexpensive mic out of the land fill ( a noble thought), the next guy reading this may not be! |
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Post by schmalzy on Oct 26, 2022 10:33:23 GMT -6
Hey shmalzy, I just replied to your email, but thought I’d follow up here as well. The Apex mics are real inexpensive, so it puts things in a weird spot. Reribboning them certainly puts in a higher quality ribbon, but costs more than these mics originally sold for. I’ve ribboned thousands of the ribbon motor that is in this mic, so am uniquely qualified in that regard, but only you can gauge whether repairing it is worth it Regards Jon Hey, Jon! I'll also reply in my email back but say here: Thanks for getting back to me! |
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Post by schmalzy on Oct 26, 2022 10:40:50 GMT -6
Quick thought for everyone: The Apex 205 is inexpensive, definitely. But how many new/used ones do I have to buy (if I can even find one) to get a good one that shows up in good condition with a not-messed-up ribbon? Is there a ribbon mic out there that'll sound as good or better than this one for only the cost of the repair (I suppose it depends on the cost of repair but his site lists some costs that seem pretty low in comparison to buying something good)?
Any recommendations to a person looking for a sub-$500 ribbon mic that'll sound as good as this simple mic with a beautifully installed and tensioned ribbon?
The only ones I can think of are the ShinyBox stuff buuuuut...
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Post by ab101 on Oct 26, 2022 10:42:37 GMT -6
Samar AL95 only $399!
Super great manufacturer! (I have seen his shop here in Salt Lake City and this guy is a fanatic, in a good way, for making amazing ribbon mics!)
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Post by ericn on Oct 26, 2022 10:52:12 GMT -6
Quick thought for everyone: The Apex 205 is inexpensive, definitely. But how many new/used ones do I have to buy (if I can even find one) to get a good one that shows up in good condition with a not-messed-up ribbon? Is there a ribbon mic out there that'll sound as good or better than this one for only the cost of the repair (I suppose it depends on the cost of repair but his site lists some costs that seem pretty low in comparison to buying something good)? Any recommendations to a person looking for a sub-$500 ribbon mic that'll sound as good as this simple mic with a beautifully installed and tensioned ribbon? The only ones I can think of are the ShinyBox stuff buuuuut... The lower cost Samra, plus there are a couple of others. Used affordable mics of any type are always a crap shoot, some are treated like a rare jewel others are abused. On the lowend I would only shop locally so I can hear it before I buy, at this point I think I saw a used Nady for $50, but shipping was $59! If you stay away from the well known ribbons there are deals to be found on things like used AT’s Samra etc but you have to be patient and wait to find them and move fast when you do. |
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Post by ericn on Oct 26, 2022 10:55:10 GMT -6
Oh yeah some of the best used ribbon deals are on active ribbons that are considered “ not working “ because the seller has no idea it needs phantom. Scored an AT that way for $75. Flipped it for around $500 or $600.
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Post by drumsound on Oct 26, 2022 11:26:56 GMT -6
Quick thought for everyone: The Apex 205 is inexpensive, definitely. But how many new/used ones do I have to buy (if I can even find one) to get a good one that shows up in good condition with a not-messed-up ribbon? Is there a ribbon mic out there that'll sound as good or better than this one for only the cost of the repair (I suppose it depends on the cost of repair but his site lists some costs that seem pretty low in comparison to buying something good)? Any recommendations to a person looking for a sub-$500 ribbon mic that'll sound as good as this simple mic with a beautifully installed and tensioned ribbon? The only ones I can think of are the ShinyBox stuff buuuuut... The sE ribbons are very nice. Even the inexpensive X1R. The VooDoos are a bit nicer construction, and they offer a active versino if you don't have preamps that have the juice for a ribbon. They are also pretty small, which is a good thing. |
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Post by phdamage on Oct 26, 2022 12:00:03 GMT -6
as the owner of 5 Apex 205s, I cannot encourage you enough to get someone to pull out the extra mesh and stick a lundahl in there. worth every penny. I literally use them (at least 2 of them) on every session i do.
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Post by schmalzy on Oct 26, 2022 12:16:18 GMT -6
I'll have to check out the sE mics. I've wanted to get a V7 for a while and hearing that their ribbons are good makes me even more curious... as the owner of 5 Apex 205s, I cannot encourage you enough to get someone to pull out the extra mesh and stick a lundahl in there. worth every penny. I literally use them (at least 2 of them) on every session i do. Already done the mesh stuff. I haven't yet upgraded transformers. My plan had always been to get a second 205 and get transformers in both at the same time (and I expected to get both ribbons looked at/replaced at the same time to make sure they matched) but it all just hasn't gone that way. |
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Post by drbill on Oct 26, 2022 12:57:14 GMT -6
as the owner of 5 Apex 205s, I cannot encourage you enough to get someone to pull out the extra mesh and stick a lundahl in there. worth every penny. I literally use them (at least 2 of them) on every session i do. 3 205's here - all with Lundahl's and mesh removed and Joly ribbons. Excellent mics. I'm sure Jon's take would be great as well. I'd have Lundahl's put in while they were getting repaired. |
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Post by schmalzy on Oct 26, 2022 15:08:39 GMT -6
as the owner of 5 Apex 205s, I cannot encourage you enough to get someone to pull out the extra mesh and stick a lundahl in there. worth every penny. I literally use them (at least 2 of them) on every session i do. 3 205's here - all with Lundahl's and mesh removed and Joly ribbons. Excellent mics. I'm sure Jon's take would be great as well. I'd have Lundahl's put in while they were getting repaired. Now to find a second 205... |
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Post by Quint on Oct 26, 2022 17:17:50 GMT -6
Hmmm. I have four 205s that have been relegated to backup status. I haven't used them in a long time. Maybe I should look into getting mine re-ribboned with better ribbons and the trannys changed out for Lundahls.
I wonder what this would cost? I'm sure it would be cheaper than the pair of AEAs I was looking at.
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Post by phdamage on Oct 26, 2022 21:02:50 GMT -6
If those cheap (thanks, Liz Truss!) 4038s I bought ever show up, I might sell a pair of 205s.
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Post by reddirt on Oct 26, 2022 22:14:04 GMT -6
A great 205 is just that - great. I had a Michael Joly one which sounded terrific on fiddle which is a litmus for me.
It lost volume and tone so i sent it to OPR (who is posting here) and he told me that whist my ribbon element should have been high quality with the Joly mod , it was in fact a very cheap element and failed; make of that what you will but it did have a Lundahl etc and while working sounded really good so maybe a Lundahl and a new ribbon would do the job for the O.P. and save on landfill.
Cheers, Ross
p.S. for those interested , I did get the mic back from OPR in timely fashion with a new ribbon but can't honestly say it's any better on fiddle than pre - malfunction.
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Post by sirthought on Oct 27, 2022 0:56:58 GMT -6
I have never heard the Apex, so I'm not sure what I'm missing.
I do have more expense ribbons, but I've always been happy with my Fat Heads...the original without the Lundahl mod. I have a buddy who has them with the Lundahl and there was a difference but to me it was just two shades of the same color. I was mostly using these on electric guitar cab and have been very happy with the results.
The guy who started Cascade died and for some reason the people who are carrying on the business now call it Pinnacle Microphones. You can buy two Fat TOP mics from FrontEnd for $519. I bought mine used for much less but that still seems like a deal for two useful mics (if you need mics).
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Post by phdamage on Oct 27, 2022 5:17:51 GMT -6
A great 205 is just that - great. I had a Michael Joly one which sounded terrific on fiddle which is a litmus for me. It lost volume and tone so i sent it to OPR (who is posting here) and he told me that whist my ribbon element should have been high quality with the Joly mod , it was in fact a very cheap element and failed; make of that what you will but it did have a Lundahl etc and while working sounded really good so maybe a Lundahl and a new ribbon would do the job for the O.P. and save on landfill. Cheers, Ross p.S. for those interested , I did get the mic back from OPR in timely fashion with a new ribbon but can't honestly say it's any better on fiddle than pre - malfunction. I thought Michael’s service on these was the transformer swap, mesh removal and re-tensioning the existing ribbon? That’s what I remember the site saying |
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