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Post by watchtower on Nov 12, 2013 10:50:00 GMT -6
Ok, I'm starting this thread perhaps a little bit prematurely, but I am pumped so who cares. This is a thread for my DiY C12 build. I am still waiting for some parts, but I currently have the "hearts." An early 1960s NOS 6072 tube, and a Tim Campbell CT12 capsule. I will update as I acquire more parts/make progress. Ultimately I will have sound clips.   |
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Post by svart on Nov 12, 2013 12:08:59 GMT -6
Good start. I used an Apex 460 for the skeleton of my C12 build. Works pretty well.
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Post by watchtower on Nov 12, 2013 14:15:33 GMT -6
Good start. I used an Apex 460 for the skeleton of my C12 build. Works pretty well. Yes, I have purchased an unmarked chinese mic to use as my donor. It's the same as an Apex 460. Actually, it's the chunger/matador C12 project. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 12, 2013 15:00:21 GMT -6
oh yeah, you will love this thing, i think i was one of the first to build it...where did you get your tube? The TC capsule is to die for, i have 2 of those bad boys, i'm thinking of getting some more? how long is his wait list now?
good luck with it watchtower
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Post by winetree on Nov 12, 2013 20:52:02 GMT -6
I built these 3 awhile ago. Getting ready to install the newly arrived Tim Campbell capsules. Tim recomends 28 guage wire for hookup. The brass mounts will have to be drilled to fit the larger, stock rubber base, screw.  Attachments:
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 13, 2013 0:18:47 GMT -6
I built these 3 awhile ago. Getting ready to install the newly arrived Tim Campbell capsules. Tim recomends 28 guage wire for hookup. The brass mounts will have to be drilled to fit the larger, stock rubber base, screw. holy crud! 3 of them all for you? |
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Post by watchtower on Nov 13, 2013 8:12:35 GMT -6
oh yeah, you will love this thing, i think i was one of the first to build it...where did you get your tube? The TC capsule is to die for, i have 2 of those bad boys, i'm thinking of getting some more? how long is his wait list now? good luck with it watchtower I got the tube from Bowie. I'm not sure how long Tim's wait time/list is currently, but I waited over 5 months for mine. Maybe I finally got it because he's getting through the list and wait times will return to normal? That's my hope, but I have no idea. Do your 2 have the TC capsule? I built these 3 awhile ago. Getting ready to install the newly arrived Tim Campbell capsules. Tim recomends 28 guage wire for hookup. The brass mounts will have to be drilled to fit the larger, stock rubber base, screw. Yes, I have some 28 gauge wire in Chunger's Silver Teflon hookup wire bundle, but it is just for capsule connections, not entire internal connections. Your are drilling Tim's mounts? I was hoping drilling would not be necessary, as I do not have a drill haha. The walk-through on GroupDiY made no mention of that. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 13, 2013 11:57:22 GMT -6
oh yeah, you will love this thing, i think i was one of the first to build it...where did you get your tube? The TC capsule is to die for, i have 2 of those bad boys, i'm thinking of getting some more? how long is his wait list now? good luck with it watchtower Do your 2 have the TC capsule? I have 2 of them, 1 in the matachung C12 and 1 in my heavy modded rode K2, both mics are amazing
I built these 3 awhile ago. Getting ready to install the newly arrived Tim Campbell capsules. Tim recomends 28 guage wire for hookup. The brass mounts will have to be drilled to fit the larger, stock rubber base, screw. I do not have a drill haha. The walk-through on GroupDiY made no mention of that. |
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Post by winetree on Nov 13, 2013 13:00:06 GMT -6
Just the one hole on the bottom of the mount needs to be enlarged,
if you are using the stock rubber base that comes with the mic body.
The brass is soft but the finger thing is too tuff on your fingers.
you will need a drill or dremmel.
Make sure you clamp the mount cause it will twist when drilling.
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Post by Calvin on Nov 25, 2013 12:13:25 GMT -6
I look forward to following this thread. I, too, have plans to build a C12 one of these days. It's not at the top of the priority list just yet, but someday. Thanks for sharing your experiences with this build.
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Post by watchtower on Nov 26, 2013 12:35:12 GMT -6
I like to solder with the window open in my house so I don't breathe in too many fumes. Well, I started working on the PSU, and it got wayyy too cold witht he window open. I couldn't move my hands haha. I forgot that my last DiY project was in the comfortable summer haha. So all I got done was removing the stock PCB from the PSU. I am visiting my parents for Thanksgiving, but I'm bringing the mic with me and will probably finish it at their place this weekend.
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 26, 2013 13:56:01 GMT -6
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Post by winetree on Nov 26, 2013 14:52:17 GMT -6
Tony,
Looking at picture 2, You didn't bridge the back plates at the posts.
Did you bridge the backplates at the capsule? This was explained at Groupdiy.
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Post by tonycamphd on Nov 26, 2013 16:39:56 GMT -6
Tony, Looking at picture 2, You didn't bridge the back plates at the posts. Did you bridge the backplates at the capsule? This was explained at Groupdiy. hi winetree, indeed i bridged them on the capsule tabs, less capacitance may have been my reasoning?? cant remember..what are most guys doing? |
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Post by Guitar on Nov 30, 2013 22:45:37 GMT -6
I did a pair of Apex 460s. They slowly worked their way (not quite done, one last step,,) to exact C12 circuits on the stock PCBs and PSU which needs to be modded.
I'm slumming it with the Peluso CEK-12. If you add a 220 pF high filtering cap in the same place as the 100 pF in the ELA M 251 schematic, it tames the sharp HF boost of the Peluso cap and really does sound quite lovely in the C12 circuit.
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Post by watchtower on Dec 3, 2013 15:39:04 GMT -6
I meant to update this thread more gradually, but the build really didn't take that long. Everything fired up without issue on first attempts. Honestly, mounting the CT12 capsule was probably the most time-consuming single aspect. It was really difficult for me (such tiny screws), and I don't have the proper tools to easily strip 28 gauge wire, which wound up in me threading silver strands through my thumb skin. Anyway, this C12 sounds stunning. I did a very quick comparison with my (DiY) U47. It's the same level of "quality," and I actually prefer the C12 on my voice. It's like a scooped version of the 47.  |
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Post by Guitar on Dec 3, 2013 17:33:09 GMT -6
could you puh-leeze post the sound comparison samples? short, basic, it would all work for me, I am dying to hear one of these things!
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Post by Guitar on Dec 3, 2013 17:34:09 GMT -6
what value output coupling capacitor did you go with?
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Post by watchtower on Dec 3, 2013 22:37:24 GMT -6
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Post by Guitar on Dec 3, 2013 23:08:05 GMT -6
#1 U47
#2 C12
I recognize the C12 acoustic guitar sound and the .5 uF bass. sounds ready to mix, perfect actually. sounds like a big or booming guitar. lately I am so unsatisfied with my acoustic guitar sounds...I guess recording acoustic well is not so easy, I might say. or playing it well, for that matter
I think yours might sound better than mine but who knows. that's a great sounding mic, though. the other one sounds good too just a little woofy. I can't afford the Tim Campbell's, currently. Clips like these are making me a believer though. But in a way the CEK-12 Peluso has a nice sheen and cut to it, the Campbell more open and laid back. Would I be foolish to own 3 C12 clones and 2 251s? it could happen, yeah right. I love the size of the caps in the power supply, I bet it's a real quiet mic.
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 4, 2013 0:20:31 GMT -6
great looking build watchtower!! watch out for the resonance the C12 basket makes, i had to damp the u bar and ring pretty good to get rid of it, it is an amazing mic, i love mine.
i agree with monkey on the samples, the only thing is the mp3's are really robbing what should be a better top end on both mics imo. The top on the C12 sounds way more extended with my mic, that could only mean the top end is being eaten alive with the mp3, cause we have EXACTLY the same mic.., can you post a wave file?
btw, if your u47 clone is the mk47, and it's using a Thiersch blueline? we have the same mic there....my.. what good taste you have 8)
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 4, 2013 0:25:22 GMT -6
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Post by Guitar on Dec 4, 2013 0:54:12 GMT -6
wow I think I actually did hear a better sound in the last part of the clip after the duct seal. think I'll skip the matachung headbaskets. My Apex headbasket has a much lower "thud" when tapped
funny that's about the same frequency my AKG K702 earpieces are ringing at. I wonder if I should duct seal these headphones do you have a link to a post about this procedure?
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 4, 2013 1:22:45 GMT -6
wow I think I actually did hear a better sound in the last part of the clip after the duct seal. think I'll skip the matachung headbaskets. My Apex headbasket has a much lower "thud" when tapped funny that's about the same frequency my AKG K702 earpieces are ringing at. I wonder if I should duct seal these headphones do you have a link to a post about this procedure? You can get chungs c12 basket now, I'm pretty sure he resolved the issue, a bunch of us complained about that, i think i was the first to document sound files?? maybe?? I know i'm the first guy to have a problem with the build on the build thread, matador graciously pulled me through that whole trouble shooting thing, i learned a ton in the process. no link necessary monkey, it's really self explanatory, just roll it up between your hands like play dough, and press fit it to the areas that are susceptible to resonating... i use duct seal on tons of shit, including the hd 280 senheisers i modded, i did the inside of the outer ear cups, it really soaks up vibrations. I've also done most of my head baskets with it...maybe 95% of the mics i own... when you think about it, the mic capsules, ribbons, diaphragms are Soooo sensitive, of course they're going to pick up the head basket and body resonances, they're in extreme close proximity, the duct seal has made a VERY large difference in the quality of my mics. BTW, the reason for me maniacally laughing on the clip was because someone was saying the duct seal was toxic, i researched it, and i can assure you, it is NOT. |
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Post by Guitar on Dec 4, 2013 1:35:06 GMT -6
thanks I've got a pound on the way for $2.55 plus 15c NC sales tax. Going to give it a go on these headphones!
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