Home » The PARIS Forums » PARIS: Main » U87 mods?? SPA???
| U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102458] |
Mon, 09 February 2009 10:10  |
Rod Lincoln
Messages: 883
Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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A friend of mine (no, really) bought a new U87 from sweetwater. He's a little
dissapointed in it. I told him about Stephen Paul audio. Was that good advice?
It looks like (on their webpage) they still do mic mods, even though Stephen
is dead.
Does anyone have a ballpark figure of what it will cost, and how long it
will take? Deej.......buehler.....anyone?
Thanks
Rod
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| Re: U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102466 is a reply to message #102463] |
Mon, 09 February 2009 13:47  |
TC
Messages: 327
Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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At one point I had a red type A with B6 cap and a U87AI here that I
a/b'd through various preamps. For vocals, they were pretty much on par.
The U87AI sounded decent, but didn't "wow" me on anything. I was able to
sell it without too much of a loss. I wouldn't but one again unless it
was used and was cheap $$, or perhaps an older non "AI" version (at a
good price).
I'm skeptical of SP mics, I used to have one (C3 I think, maybe it was a
different "C" version). Bright in not a good way, and lacked body
(sounded like it was only worth $300). Would much rather spend that
money on an SM7b.
These also might be worth checking out as well as the Sputnik:
http://www.beesneezmicrophones.com.au/Studio%20Series.htm
Cheers,
TC
Bill L wrote:
> I can't hang with the SP C3, myself, but I do agree he should return it,
> not spend even more to mod it. There are dozens of excellent mics to
> choose from and some cost a lot less. Have him try the M-Audio Sputnik.
> They're pretty cheap and supposedly sound excellent. The new 414s are
> nice. Shure and AT mics are good too. I wouldn't spend Neumann dollars
> myself. I did own a U87 for a long time, but I got it used.
>
> John wrote:
>> Just have him return it and get a Studio Projects C3 for $300. If he
>> can't
>> get good sound from that then one of these suck:
>>
>> 1. Guitar
>> 2. Guitar Player
>> 3. Singer
>> 4. A/D convertor
>> 5. His Ears.
>>
>> Enjoy. With the extra money he can go to Kiva and help some small
>> businesses.
>>
>> http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about &id=88111&_tpos=f&_tpg=h
>>
>>
>> John
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| Re: U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102476 is a reply to message #102474] |
Mon, 09 February 2009 22:27 |
Neil
Messages: 1645
Registered: April 2006
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Senior Member |
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It's new Neumann & he's thinking about modding it? No way....
not worth it. It's very expensive, and will take MONTHS to get
back from SPA. If he wants a really ass-kickin' non-tube LDC
that he doesn't have to spnd more money to mod, then he should
return it to SW, get a Kiwi, and keep the change.
If you're gonna mod an -87, get an older one for circa $1,500 &
THEN spend the extra money... whether it's an Innertube or SPA
mod or whatever.
BTW, Rod, you ready to work on another tune or two soon?
Neil
"Rod Lincoln" <rlincoln@nospam.kc.rr.com> wrote:
>
>Thanks guys. I will pass along your thoughts. Always helpful.
>Rod
>"Ted Gerber" <tedgerber@rogers.com> wrote:
>>
>>I have a Sputnik, and like it. I wouldn't say I love it, it has
>>a lot of "grain", not as smooth as the 2 U87s I have access to.
>>Others like the results tho...
>>
>>Ted
>>
>>Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>I can't hang with the SP C3, myself, but I do agree he should return it,
>>
>>>not spend even more to mod it. There are dozens of excellent mics to
>>>choose from and some cost a lot less. Have him try the M-Audio Sputnik.
>>
>>>They're pretty cheap and supposedly sound excellent. The new 414s are
>>>nice. Shure and AT mics are good too. I wouldn't spend Neumann dollars
>
>>>myself. I did own a U87 for a long time, but I got it used.
>>>
>>>John wrote:
>>>> Just have him return it and get a Studio Projects C3 for $300. If he
>>can't
>>>> get good sound from that then one of these suck:
>>>>
>>>> 1. Guitar
>>>> 2. Guitar Player
>>>> 3. Singer
>>>> 4. A/D convertor
>>>> 5. His Ears.
>>>>
>>>> Enjoy. With the extra money he can go to Kiva and help some small businesses.
>>>>
>>>> http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about &id=88111&_tpos=f&_tpg=h
>>>>
>>>> John
>>
>
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| Re: U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102480 is a reply to message #102466] |
Tue, 10 February 2009 04:27 |
Bill L
Messages: 766
Registered: August 2006
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Senior Member |
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I forgot about the BeesKnees. I'd love to hear one.
TC wrote:
> At one point I had a red type A with B6 cap and a U87AI here that I
> a/b'd through various preamps. For vocals, they were pretty much on par.
> The U87AI sounded decent, but didn't "wow" me on anything. I was able to
> sell it without too much of a loss. I wouldn't but one again unless it
> was used and was cheap $$, or perhaps an older non "AI" version (at a
> good price).
>
> I'm skeptical of SP mics, I used to have one (C3 I think, maybe it was a
> different "C" version). Bright in not a good way, and lacked body
> (sounded like it was only worth $300). Would much rather spend that
> money on an SM7b.
>
> These also might be worth checking out as well as the Sputnik:
> http://www.beesneezmicrophones.com.au/Studio%20Series.htm
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> TC
>
>
> Bill L wrote:
>> I can't hang with the SP C3, myself, but I do agree he should return
>> it, not spend even more to mod it. There are dozens of excellent mics
>> to choose from and some cost a lot less. Have him try the M-Audio
>> Sputnik. They're pretty cheap and supposedly sound excellent. The new
>> 414s are nice. Shure and AT mics are good too. I wouldn't spend
>> Neumann dollars myself. I did own a U87 for a long time, but I got it
>> used.
>>
>> John wrote:
>>> Just have him return it and get a Studio Projects C3 for $300. If he
>>> can't
>>> get good sound from that then one of these suck:
>>>
>>> 1. Guitar
>>> 2. Guitar Player
>>> 3. Singer
>>> 4. A/D convertor
>>> 5. His Ears.
>>>
>>> Enjoy. With the extra money he can go to Kiva and help some small
>>> businesses.
>>>
>>> http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about &id=88111&_tpos=f&_tpg=h
>>>
>>>
>>> John
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| Re: U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102484 is a reply to message #102476] |
Tue, 10 February 2009 09:01 |
Rod Lincoln
Messages: 883
Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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Hey Neil....yes I am.
Rod
"Neil" <OIUOI@OI.com> wrote:
>
>It's new Neumann & he's thinking about modding it? No way....
>not worth it. It's very expensive, and will take MONTHS to get
>back from SPA. If he wants a really ass-kickin' non-tube LDC
>that he doesn't have to spnd more money to mod, then he should
>return it to SW, get a Kiwi, and keep the change.
>
>If you're gonna mod an -87, get an older one for circa $1,500 &
>THEN spend the extra money... whether it's an Innertube or SPA
>mod or whatever.
>
>BTW, Rod, you ready to work on another tune or two soon?
>
>Neil
>
>
>"Rod Lincoln" <rlincoln@nospam.kc.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>>Thanks guys. I will pass along your thoughts. Always helpful.
>>Rod
>>"Ted Gerber" <tedgerber@rogers.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>I have a Sputnik, and like it. I wouldn't say I love it, it has
>>>a lot of "grain", not as smooth as the 2 U87s I have access to.
>>>Others like the results tho...
>>>
>>>Ted
>>>
>>>Bill L <bill@billlorentzen.com> wrote:
>>>>I can't hang with the SP C3, myself, but I do agree he should return
it,
>>>
>>>>not spend even more to mod it. There are dozens of excellent mics to
>>>>choose from and some cost a lot less. Have him try the M-Audio Sputnik.
>>>
>>>>They're pretty cheap and supposedly sound excellent. The new 414s are
>
>>>>nice. Shure and AT mics are good too. I wouldn't spend Neumann dollars
>>
>>>>myself. I did own a U87 for a long time, but I got it used.
>>>>
>>>>John wrote:
>>>>> Just have him return it and get a Studio Projects C3 for $300. If
he
>>>can't
>>>>> get good sound from that then one of these suck:
>>>>>
>>>>> 1. Guitar
>>>>> 2. Guitar Player
>>>>> 3. Singer
>>>>> 4. A/D convertor
>>>>> 5. His Ears.
>>>>>
>>>>> Enjoy. With the extra money he can go to Kiva and help some small
businesses.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about &id=88111&_tpos=f&_tpg=h
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>
>>
>
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| Re: U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102486 is a reply to message #102483] |
Tue, 10 February 2009 09:42 |
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The SP stuff had QC issues so there's pretty wide variation in quality
between the mics. I have a C1 as well and while it's pretty good value for
the price I certainly would never call it equal in sweetness, richness and
detail to the 87's it was once compared to. I still think it was a good
purchase, but I don't expect the much-hyped four-digit performance from it.
I may tear it down and mod it some day just to see what happens.
- K
On 2/10/09 8:59 AM, in article 4991a478$1@linux, "Rod Lincoln"
<rlincoln@nospam.kc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> John, I have a C1 and I really don't care that much for it. It seems pretty
> brittle on the top end.
> Rod
> "John" <no@no.com> wrote:
>>
>> Also if you don't need figure 8 or omni patterns and just cardiod then the
>> C1 sounds exactly the same and costs about $200 !
>
"... being bitter is like swallowing poison and waiting for the other guy to die..." - anon
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| Re: U87 mods?? SPA??? [message #102487 is a reply to message #102481] |
Tue, 10 February 2009 10:39 |
TC
Messages: 327
Registered: September 2005
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Senior Member |
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Could be..
This was probably almost 10 years ago, so it was when they first came
out. Could have been a C1.. It wasn't terrible, but I do remember it
having that brighter spitty sound of the Chinese mics of the day. I did
get some decent tracks from it, but the AT 40 series mics were almost
always used over the SP.
Maybe you just got a great one? There's often differences between
individual mics of the same make/model, and probably QC issues back
then. I'd love to be wrong on that, maybe they've tightened that up and
the newer ones sound great.. I dunno.
I'm a bit spoiled now with the condensers I have, so I'm pretty picky on
what I like.
Cheers,
TC
John wrote:
> Bright in not a good way? man we must have very different ears and or mics.
> My C3 is freaking wonderful to me. natural, open full with air, detailed,
> even picks up the clock ticking on my wall. I love it.
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