Topic: Any experience with Michael Joly mic mods?

[notlance]

Has anybody here own/used/heard mics modded by Michael Joly?  In the past he has modded Oktava mics only, but now he is branching out to mod cheap Chinese mics like the MXL 603S.

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_48&products_id=119

I have a few 603S mics lying around that I got for next to nothing, so I was thinking of sending in a pair.  Do y'all think it would be worth it?  Thanks for your opinion.

[raymonda]

I've done the physical and electrical mods myself, actually exceeded his mods, and can say that they turn a cow's ear into a silk purse. It is well worth having him do your mods. He is extremely experienced and does a great job.

You'll end up with a really nice pair of mics that can stand up to any, "yes" any mics out there recording PA systems.

I recently used a pair of the for an ambient tracks on a multi-track Vignola/Pizzerelli show and they work fantastic. I had a pair of 84's, CCM4, SM69 sitting in a case and used these instead. They did a fantastic job.

I've also used them on OH and they work really well, too.

[dactylus]

Has anybody here own/used/heard mics modded by Michael Joly?  In the past he has modded Oktava mics only, but now he is branching out to mod cheap Chinese mics like the MXL 603S.

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_48&products_id=119

I have a few 603S mics lying around that I got for next to nothing, so I was thinking of sending in a pair.  Do y'all think it would be worth it?  Thanks for your opinion.

Yep, I am interested in checking out this mod of his too:

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_48&products_id=119

[OOK]

Has anybody here own/used/heard mics modded by Michael Joly?  In the past he has modded Oktava mics only, but now he is branching out to mod cheap Chinese mics like the MXL 603S.

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_48&products_id=119

I have a few 603S mics lying around that I got for next to nothing, so I was thinking of sending in a pair.  Do y'all think it would be worth it?  Thanks for your opinion.

Yep, I am interested in checking out this mod of his too:

http://www.oktavamodshop.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_48&products_id=119

Me too...

[notlance]

OK, maybe I'll be the "test dummy".  I'll send in a couple of MXL603 mics for modding, make some modded vs unmodded vs "known good mic" recordings, and post samples here.  As for a "know good mic" I don't have a KM84 or KM184 mic for comparison, but I do have a Sennheiser MKH800 which will have to do.

Mr. Joly has emailed me saying the turnaround time for my mods would be about 3 weeks, so it's going to be mid September before I get these samples posted.  BTW, Mr. Joly responded very quickly and completely to my emailed questions.

[dactylus]

OK, maybe I'll be the "test dummy".  I'll send in a couple of MXL603 mics for modding, make some modded vs unmodded vs "known good mic" recordings, and post samples here.  As for a "know good mic" I don't have a KM84 or KM184 mic for comparison, but I do have a Sennheiser MKH800 which will have to do.

Mr. Joly has emailed me saying the turnaround time for my mods would be about 3 weeks, so it's going to be mid September before I get these samples posted.  BTW, Mr. Joly responded very quickly and completely to my emailed questions.

Super - where did you purchase your original MXL603 mics? 


MXL 603s Studio Condenser Instrument Microphone

http://www.amazon.com/MXL-Studio-Condenser-Instrument-Microphone/dp/B0009TD5X6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1251212309&sr=1-1



List Price: $129.95 
Price: $99.95 & eligible for free shipping with Amazon Prime 
You Save: $30.00 (23%) 
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In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com



http://www.amazon.com/s.html/ref=bl_sr_musical-instruments?ie=UTF8&node=11965861&brand=MXL

[notlance]

I bought four 603s mics from Musicians Friend about a year ago for $40 each.  I teach a class in audio & recording at the HS level, so I wanted to have some cheap SDC cards for them to play with.  I tested all four and two of them matched pretty closely.  Now if these mods turn out as nice as I hope they will, I may need to find some other mics for my students to drop.

[bugg100]

I got a pair of Apex 185 for $109 from frontendaudio.com with shockmounts and omni caps.  Waiting on my order from mouser to mod the electronics. $4 worth of parts..... and will send the card caps off for the remachining at $68 each.

Nice stock though.

[setboy]

Very interesting!

[jbell]

Need music samples  of these mods!!   

[notlance]

I've mailed off my 603's to be modded.  Mr. Joly says they will be done mid September.  Give me a week or so to record something worthwhile.  I'm guessing I'll have some samples the last week in Sept.

[jbell]

Sounds good!  Look forward to hearing how they will sound. 

[rowjimmy]

I've reviewed his site a few times and often wondered what, if anything he could do with my cheap-ass superlux mics.

[bugg100]

http://www.frontendaudio.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=9999-04358

This is the same mic rebranded as the mxl 604, which is the same as the 603, but with a rolloff and 10dB pad. Also the 990/991 by mxl are the same circuit as are the nady cm90/cm95, apex 180/185, etc...

What makes this the candidate for the mod is that the capsule diaphragm is mounted to a ring and therefore the capsule can be disassembled and reassembled without retensioning the diaphragm.

There is another person doing different mods to the same mic, Marik.  He does a mod to the backplate of the capsule, and is working apparently on a transformer mod as a kit.  They (M. Joly , Marik) both do an upgrade to the capacitors in the mic body in the audio path.

FWIW, MXL have recently come out with a transformer coupled version as well.

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/388431-mxl-v67n-transformer-out-sdc-first-look-listen.html

I have found the stock Apex 185 to give me a real improvement in the HF response over my Tascam pe-120 (nak 300 clone) set and be more closely matched.  Makes me happy now, but I will mod the capacitors this weekend and then wait to send off the capsule for modding.  I might actually get another pair to use while the first is out of commission. I tape several times a week normally and don't want to step backwards.

I hope this helps,
Joe



The following are all the threads I have found with info on this mic to mod:

http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=4587.60
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=21266.0%3Bwap2
http://www.sdiy.org/oid/mics/MXL-603S.gif
http://www.sdiy.org/oid/mics/APEX180.jpg
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=5156.0
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/47339-6-603s-schematics
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=5156&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=1155
http://www.prodigy-pro.com/diy/index.php?topic=2603&start=105
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/134506-low-end-mic-mods-2.html
http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?p=3061156
http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopic.php?t=50288&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0

[michaeljoly]

Hiya Notlance!

If I had known you're were doing a shoot out I would have loaned you my pair of KM-184 mics for reference. I don't know who you are btw ; )

best, M