I just swapped out the tube with a Mullard.
Thanks to the warnings about the install, it was rather easy. Took a few minutes.

BIG difference in tone. I have two of these mics that sounded nearly identical before the tube change.
Now, the stock one sounds like it has a Low Pass Filter and De-Esser on it plus a wooly low end.

The Mullard has much clearer Top AND Bottom.
$25 well spent for sure!

jmp

I told ya

BUMMER....

Half way through tonight's session, the Mullard started hissing and spitting.

I pulled a GT 12aY7 (6072) out of an old tweed amp and put it in the mic. Sounds great!
The 12AY7 is lower gain than a 12AT7 and seems to work well. It might even have more headroom now but will need to experiment more to see.

jmp

quote:

Posted 10-26-07 03:48 AM Hide Post
BUMMER....

Half way through tonight's session, the Mullard started hissing and spitting.

It's pretty common to get a noisy tube of any brand unfortunately. Sometimes you have to try a couple to find a silent one. The slightly noisier ones can usually be used in the phase inverted slot in a guitar amp without a peep.

Brien,

That's exactly where I put it in my amp. WOrks fine there.
I think I am going to stick to 12AY7 in this mic for a while. It seems to clean up the tone without making it noticeably quieter.

I see that the Apex Mod people are using 6072 in the APex 460...

jmp

That interesting John.

When I was first considering swapping tubes in mine, someone recommended I use a 12AY7 instead of a 12AT7. He said that the output would be lower, but the tone would be better than the AT.

At the time, I needed higher output mics to work with my 2882, so I stuck with the AT.

Glad to hear the AY rocks.

James,

It isn't a really a difference in output Level...just a difference in Input gain if that makes sense.
The lower gain Tube sounds less "Pushed".

Tube Gain (from memory...):
12AX7 - 100
12AT7 - 60
12AY7 - 40
12AU7 - 20

A 6072a is an equivalent tube to 12AY7.
I talked to John Peluso today and it turns out he DESIGNED the MXL V69
He said he designed it for a 6072 but they aren't as cheap and available in China as the 12AT77 is.

I ordered a nice ($60) 6072a Tube from Tubedepot.com today.
I also ordered a CEK-12 Capsule from Peluso ($200)
He said it is an easy upgrade to install and it will be an excellent mic.

My fun V69 story of the day. I spent the day doing mic shoot out with the artist I am working with right now. out of about 9 mics the winners came down to a virtual tie between the MXL V69 and U47 with a v14 tube it. It was not a matter of better or worse, just different. We went with the U47 because it fit the vibe of the music a bit better.

Vocal shoot outs are always funny. Some singers the V69 does not work on and others its good enough to tie a U47.

Good to see the V69ME still gettin' the love it deserves.

Click this URL http://www.mxlmics.com/condenser_mic/mxlv69mogami/mxlv69.htm
Then click on "Latest Review." Whata' ya' see? My review and a shot of my pretty mug from 2003.

For a classic, vintage tube sound the MXL V69ME is the best mic under $1,000 we've tried.

An updated (2005) review was posted at http://www.studioreviews.com/v69me.htm

Having made our way through most of the budget mics on the market, for a classic, vintage tube sound the MXL V69ME is the best mic under $1,000 we've tested.

I gotta' say, now, in 2007; out of all the 200+ mics that have been used and tested at TLS over the last five years, the V69ME and a pair of GT44's are the only Chinese-made mics that have remained in regular use in our studios.

I just sold a my old Firebox and a couple of effects and bought a pair of V69's found on Ebay. I'm looking forward to trying them out. I don't know if I'll keep one, both, or neither, but theoretically they should fill a void in my microphone collection.

Ahhh...did you get the pair for $400?

I used my V69/CEK-12 Capsule/GE 6072a Triple mica tube today on a $4,000,000 dollar Cello

It sounded good
I Want to do another mic with a 47 style capsule now.

jmp

quote:

Ahhh...did you get the pair for $400?

Yes. I made him an offer Friday by email. Nice kid going to MTSU. I was in M'boro yesterday with a buddy who helped me get my dps going and the seller called me back to make the deal.

I had to go back and count the zero's on the end of that cello!

quote:

Originally posted by John Mark Painter:
$4,000,000 dollar Cello

How in the hell could anyone justify that purchase?!

Ahh....you should hear it
It is owned by a Foundation and the player is allowed to use it. It is a Gofriller...the Stradivarius of Cello. (Strad also made cellos but they aren't as revered as the Violins).

jmp

mullards are cool
Has anyone put a GE tube in their mic

Mikey,

I actually started with a Groove Tubes 12AY7 which was very good.
Then a Mullard which was better.

THEN a GE Triple Mica 6072a which was LUXURY.
It was actually a big difference...more Hi Fi, more everything. Not subtle.

Could have just been a case of a not-so-great Mullard and an extra-great GE.
I have another GE that I Haven't tried yet.

jmp

quote:

Could have just been a case of a not-so-great Mullard and an extra-great GE.
I have another GE that I Haven't tried yet.

Definitely keep us posted on how that theory pans out. I'm likely going to keep both these for jam session recordings.

i'm not an expert at all and the only tubes i switched out were on my preamps.i thought the mullards were a little warm but nice and the GE's have a clear sound i likes.Also like Telefunkens and amperex..i'll bet the RCA's are nice too
But i believe the old AGK C-12 mics had GE tubes in them..I would like to get a GE 6072 for my SP T-3 microphone..

i thought i read Aspen Pittman from Groove Tube bought up the GE tube facility...yea i found the article he bought the factory machines,material and processing formulas of the GE 6l6 and 6ca7 and started making tubes

quote:

Originally posted by John Mark Painter:
Ahh....you should hear it
It is owned by a Foundation and the player is allowed to use it. It is a Gofriller...the Stradivarius of Cello. (Strad also made cellos but they aren't as revered as the Violins).

jmp

Send is to me, I'll pay for shipping. I promise I will learn how to play a cello