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Post by jeromemason on Oct 6, 2014 21:33:55 GMT -6
Ok, so here's the progress so far, as I get further I'll update the OP. At tonycamphd request, an acoustic in my control room. BTW I haven't played a guitar in a while, no calluses, don't judge 8) Update: Ok, so now we've got everything done except the capsule which is currently brewing with Shannon at the helm 8) (gonna be 180 proof boys) but the circuit is done, and the Mic sounds amazing, even with the chinese stock capsule. The link has been updated with sound files to everything I have done thus far. All that is left is the capsule, and for those files I've got some really cool ideas in mind, I've just got to reach out to a couple of people and see if they are cool with it, and they're def cool people 8) Update 12/4/14: The mic has been converted from a C12 circuit to a Ela M 251 Circuit. In this particular case, I chose to keep all the polar patterns functional, which is very simple to do and is documented on GroupDiy. The Ouput cap has also been changed to a 2.2uf and also has a bypass cap of 220pf. Nothing fancy there, just a ceramic, but I do have polystyrenes in all sizes if needed during the tuning and capsule install. Stay tuned, this thread is about to get real fella's  www.dropbox.com/sh/ifl7ywqjxnb8ich/AACpXLdbPGOCqwsAoiHZhzqca?dl=0 |
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Post by svart on Oct 7, 2014 6:53:39 GMT -6
You can certainly hear a tonal change between the non-mod version and the mini mod. I heard it too when I modded mine. You'll hear another jump when you change the capsule out.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 7, 2014 7:21:25 GMT -6
Really smoothed out the top end. The original Apex file sounded thin on top. The modded track seems to take out some of that added top and give a little more push in the chest. Sounds more like a guitar in front of me than a guitar through a cheap mic. I'm impressed so far.
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Post by jeromemason on Oct 7, 2014 11:27:04 GMT -6
I felt the same way you guys did, really like what it did, very impressed. I guess I must have gotten one with a good capsule well, as good as an Apex would have I suppose. I was worried I'd get one with a bad capsule in it.
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Post by svart on Oct 7, 2014 11:33:57 GMT -6
I felt the same way you guys did, really like what it did, very impressed. I guess I must have gotten one with a good capsule well, as good as an Apex would have I suppose. I was worried I'd get one with a bad capsule in it. When I built mine, I was building another for a friend and I bought a handful of the cheap CK12 clone capsules. We spent some time listening and found two that sounded the best, and then chose the best side of the capsule for the primary side for each mic. I still came out much cheaper than buying a peluso (only one available to DIY folks at the time) and I think it sounds just as good. Some of the others capsules sounded pretty bad. I kept the next best one and sold the rest. I think some of the chinese capsules sound very good. The biggest problem with the chinese capsules is the membrane tension. Backplate dimensions are much easier to get right with decent CNC machines. Having to do the tension by hand makes for a very wide variation, especially for assembly line workers who couldn't care less about the product. A one-off builder or a company who has a name to uphold (Gefell, Neumann, etc) would certainly take a lot more time and care in this aspect. However, I still wonder how some of the replacement capsules sound, but I haven't been compelled to spend the extra money yet. |
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Post by thesoundmotel on Oct 13, 2014 0:31:09 GMT -6
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Post by jeromemason on Oct 17, 2014 16:56:31 GMT -6
My Matchung parts will be in tomorrow, so I'll start populating and begin the overhaul process hopefully late tomorrow and through Sunday. All that will be left after that will be the capsule design and build, so moving right a long.
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Post by jeromemason on Oct 18, 2014 14:15:28 GMT -6
Shannon and I..... let me just say seriously changing the way things are done. Right now it's Rhoades Skunkworx and the mic is called an S-71XXX that's all I'm sayin. 
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Post by jeromemason on Oct 22, 2014 0:49:59 GMT -6
Matchung kit has been installed and all I can say is WOW. Even with the stock capsule there is no plastic sound, nothing at all sounds bad, just sounds perfect. I can't imagine what it's like when Shannon and I get done with the capsule we are custom building for it. I made a sample, too tired to put it up now, but it's smooth as silk and extremely open sounding. Couldn't be happier.
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Post by jeromemason on Nov 1, 2014 16:37:02 GMT -6
Continuing to move to the Ela M style. Body is now painted. I have to say it looks factory My uncle owned a body shop and taught me pretty well I suppose.  |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 1, 2014 18:14:16 GMT -6
Continuing to move to the Ela M style. Body is now painted. I have to say it looks factory My uncle owned a body shop and taught me pretty well I suppose. This is what I'm talking about. |
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Post by jeromemason on Nov 1, 2014 21:36:43 GMT -6
Why not... lol.... I need a better head basket but I did pull some mesh out and painting the back black, might as well right 8)  |
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 1, 2014 21:53:40 GMT -6
How'd you get the rustic copper headbasket? Nice cream color also, what is it and where'd u get it? rattle can?
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Post by jeromemason on Nov 1, 2014 22:15:51 GMT -6
How'd you get the rustic copper headbasket? Nice cream color also, what is it and where'd u get it? rattle can? That's just the stock Apex head basket, the light I guess is doing that, damn that'd look freaking cool though huh? The paint was a rattle can that I got from an auto parts store down the road, I just went in with pics of littlesicily's mic (because I was so damn envious, god that thing of his is beautiful) and went up and down and side and cross ways until me and one of the guys was able to match it up, I can give you the color code if ya want. First I hit it with 160 sandpaper, really roughing the hell out of it so I could get the paint to penetrate and get that coating off, also using that surface cleaner they use in body shops in between sandings. I hit it with a solid coat of base after that, filling up what the 160 did, then I went over it with 800, cleaned, then hit it with a tack, then a solid base. Then after that dried up pretty good I went over it with 1500 and cleaned the hell out of it. Then I went 4 more coats of base, waited about 30 mins for it to tack and put about 5 coats of acrylic gloss. After the gloss it really creamed up, and took on a powder coat look. I was really impressed the body took the paint as well as it did. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Nov 1, 2014 22:30:12 GMT -6
How'd you get the rustic copper headbasket? Nice cream color also, what is it and where'd u get it? rattle can? That's just the stock Apex head basket, the light I guess is doing that, damn that'd look freaking cool though huh? The paint was a rattle can that I got from an auto parts store down the road, I just went in with pics of littlesicily's mic (because I was so damn envious, god that thing of his is beautiful) and went up and down and side and cross ways until me and one of the guys was able to match it up, I can give you the color code if ya want. First I hit it with 160 sandpaper, really roughing the hell out of it so I could get the paint to penetrate and get that coating off, also using that surface cleaner they use in body shops in between sandings. I hit it with a solid coat of base after that, filling up what the 160 did, then I went over it with 800, cleaned, then hit it with a tack, then a solid base. Then after that dried up pretty good I went over it with 1500 and cleaned the hell out of it. Then I went 4 more coats of base, waited about 30 mins for it to tack and put about 5 coats of acrylic gloss. After the gloss it really creamed up, and took on a powder coat look. I was really impressed the body took the paint as well as it did. How much cash ya in for so far on this puppy? |
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Post by jeromemason on Nov 1, 2014 22:46:33 GMT -6
Well let's see.... jcoutu1Donor: $200 Tube: $89 PCB: $30 Parts Kit: $80 Silver Wire: $6.50 Paint: $15 Total so far $420.50 |
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Post by jeromemason on Dec 3, 2014 15:13:50 GMT -6
Today begins the capsule. I'm up at Shannon's watching him work like a mad scientist. I know we all appreciate his work, but until you see Shannons love and dedication to this you have yet to be truly amazed. This is just on another level guys, it's truly amazing. Updates ah comin!!! |
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Post by kidvybes on Dec 3, 2014 15:42:16 GMT -6
...one of my MataChung C12 builds... Attachments:
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 3, 2014 16:15:06 GMT -6
...one of my MataChung C12 builds... that looks sweet! do you always leave it on the floor? 8) |
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 3, 2014 16:15:55 GMT -6
Today begins the capsule. I'm up at Shannon's watching him work like a mad scientist. I know we all appreciate his work, but until you see Shannons love and dedication to this you have yet to be truly amazed. This is just on another level guys, it's truly amazing. Updates ah comin!!! lucky sob! |
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Post by kidvybes on Dec 3, 2014 16:51:12 GMT -6
...one of my MataChung C12 builds... that looks sweet! do you always leave it on the floor? 8) Ha!...that's a cutting board in my kitchen...I saute my mics with onions and peppers...  |
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 3, 2014 18:54:49 GMT -6
cuttin vox on the floor worked for lennon what's TC on about anyway ?
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