Just heard a Sinsay capsule

Shannon recently modded my M-Audio Sputnik with a new capsule and whatever other magic he might have worked and it's incredible.
I liked the mic before but now......... awesome.

Yeah man - please do. Probably not gonna push any of those vintage mama's out the door, but damn - it sounded good just singing and listening through headphones.

What's fun, is when I'm working with Shannon on something and I'm dialing a voltage in for the capsule or whatever, it's amazing how those changes become exponentially smaller because the sensitivity of the microphone is so much higher. I recently sold a Bock that Shannon did the capsule on, I went through it before he did the capsule and checked around the voltages, just small tweaks..... very small improvements. But when I got it back and went around it I mean just the slightest bump in plate voltage and drop in heater was like having an EQ in the PSU or something. The material and how precise Shannon is when sputtering these capsule's is why this happens.

When I had the idea for the JeRhoades 251, (wasn't called that then of course) everyone was wanting me to get these pre built capsules or OG capsules and to me that was just boring, same thing. Shannon goes above and beyond. You can so easily dial in good sounding saturation or silk after he gets done with the capsule... it responds to it far beyond any other capsule.

It's taking a stock car, then dropping a 700HP engine in it, but then because of so much power those little adjustments you can make all of a sudden start to actually effect that car now.... how it grips, how much traction is has etc. It's almost unrealistic to buy extremely high dollar mics anymore, because you can buy a low priced good design and then Shannon makes it smoke anything in it's path.

Having heard BradDs old Korby Cat stat I can say this If I ever build a U67 Shannon is the only place I would ever think of building that Capsule!

Sorry for the delay in my comments re: the mic shootout with Shannon's mod on my MXL/Mojave tube mic.

I listened to 2 mics in the short but fun 'shootout'. A 'select' Telefunken ELA M251 and the MXL 2001 modded to a tube mic by me about 10 years ago with the limited release Mojave hybrid kit that was available from David Royer's company back then. That consisted of keeping the original MXL capsule but stripping the guts and replacing it with a self built (from the kit) card with tube electronics and connecting it to the existing capsule. The kit also came with the components I assembled for the PSU in a supplied pre-drilled artillery box. This Mojave design was to be the predecessor to the very successful MA200 fixed cardioid and turned out to be a pretty incredible mic for a lot of projects in my home record space. At that time the mic had the full bodied character of a U67 and the 'roundness' of a U47. I was pleased with it and used it for voice over, vocal tracks, acoustic guitar, room mic and a few other basic applications. An absolutely great utility do all mic for sure. Always with great success and very little if ever, EQ or compression, treatment needed since I am a firm believer in mic placement. Then years later Shannon and I spoke about it and he offered to 'take a look at it' to see what it was made of and if he had any suggestions.

He made an offer to do what he does; we agreed to the deal and off he went. I had plenty of confidence that he would at least return with the mic sounding as good as it already did after my butchering/mod with the Mojave kit, because he's revived several classic mics in our collection. Mics we thought might have seen their last days. He always returned with a mic that sounded as good and often better than it did before they died. And his work was consistent. A C12 sounded like the C12 it was. Same with the U47 mics he tweaked. I can not say what he all did to each one, but as I mentioned before, they were all back to the wonderful mics they had been before and on many occasions, much better, considering he went completely through everything. Even if there was only an issue with the capsule, he made sure the PSU and everything else was good to go. His work was honest too, since he could have easily told us the capsule needed to be replaced when all it needed was a thorough cleaning to get the years of gunk off of the capsule and grill.

The Shootout: While I have a half decent singing and controlled yelling voice, I am by no means a Caruso! , going back and forth between the 2 mics I was so impressed how right on Shannon's work is these days.

In short, the range of the mic rehab mod is stunning. It's tight, dry and very full sounding. To my ear, it is the U67/U47 hybrid I had loved before but so over the top from what it was. The mic is high and bright, not harsh, but more that silky musical Neve-ish high end that everyone strives for in eq alone. Mids and lows are completely natural sounding and no glaring mid blast that so many mics can have that even through placement you can't stop unless you notch it out, and I hate that. This is a completely natural sounding beautiful mic that even though Shannon offered to tweak if it wasn't right, I'd say the job is done. As for the 251 I shot it out with, it is undeniably a stellar mic and I honestly can not say that it lost or won, because the character is somewhat different. If I could say the Mic Rehab mod won anything, it would be that it is kind of a wider sound, if that makes sense. Not really in EQ but in the body of the track. I think I would have a hard time choosing blind or wide eyed what mic was the winner. I promise, Mic Rehab's mic mod on this and the other mics we have had done here at the studio are exactly what I would want when I am seeking 'rehabbing' a vintage or modding a current modern mic and it is money very well spent with no regret. Shannon's attention to detail is almost scary. He nailed it! Thank you!!!

It's hard to imagine its the same mic I had before because of how much better it sounds. I am looking forward to working with this mic for a long time to come and I can assure you, I'll be checking in with Shannon again since his service is worth every dollar you spend in comparison to finding that elusive $1200 U47...and never really finding it.

> For the record, this is one of my personal mics and it currently is not available for rent although there could be a day where it might happen. :-) TBA

Man am I dumb? I can't figure out how to get one of Shannon's mics. I've even been to his site.
I'm dumb right?
Help...

I get all that...like I understand that he mods and builds mics. I just can't find the portal to his world!
I can't figure out how to become a customer.

Like I said...I'm dumb.

No portal, your not as dumb as you think. He actually wants to communicate so email or call!
Can't emphasize this enough the best way to get the best deal period in the audio biz is to use the phone!

Noah I pm you

The black art and voodoo exists in the making of tubes, transformers, and without a doubt, most importantly, the capsule, if u build a clone mic, just use uncompromising, top notch components, set the voltages properly, and u have the 251 circuit to the letter, then the tranny, tube selcetion matters, the capsule is the brain of the Frankenstein beast!
Shan= 
Dr. Shannkenstein, it's alive! It's alive!!!

Was in Big Dudes the local MI shop today and there's this used Rode K2 I think tube mic and I kept thinking

Gee wonder what Shannon could do with this ?

You're probably right!