Topic: AKG C422

[bhtoque]

I got a new screen for mine direct from AKG parts a few years ago. Can't seem to find a phone number though.

JAson

[SmokinJoe]

On windscreens, I would check the measurements of the 422 against other stereo LD's like the LSD2, Busman, etc.  I haven't seen any of these in person for a long time, but my gut feeling is the headbaskets are pretty similar in size.  Then you buy (for instance) an LSD2 windscreen at moderate cost.

[OOK]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970S-AKG-C422-VINTAGE-STEREO-MICROPHONE-MIC-C426-C424-C414EB-C414-CK12-/110930229117?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19d3f4f77d#ht_11651wt_1398.

Did anyone elese take notice that the serial number is #2  !  Could it be this was the second one ever made?  If that is the case it is a steal at that price.... a piece of history!

OOK

[DSatz]

Condenser microphones (at least high-quality ones) aren't produced serially, like on a Henry Ford assembly line. Rather, capsules are typically built in one part of the factory by one set of people with one set of skills, circuit boards are stuffed in another area by different people with different skills, and exteriors (housings, screened covers for the capsule heads, etc.) in a third.

These subassemblies are prepared, then a batch of complete capsule heads is assembled and tested, as well as a batch of microphone amplifiers (with the two components not necessarily being built in identical quantities, since relatively more capsules are rejected, and relatively more amplifiers can simply be tweaked or have individual parts replaced to bring them into spec).

Then, finally, capsule heads and amplifiers are brought together and tested for the first time as complete microphones. At that point, sure, one of the amplifiers has been marked number 001 and another one has been marked number 002, etc.--but you can hardly say that microphone number 001 was built first and then number 002 second, etc.; it just isn't done that way.

--best regards

[Gutbucket]

On windscreens, I would check the measurements of the 422 against other stereo LD's

If it helps I've a Peluso P-Stereo sitting across the room and the interior dimensions of the foam windscreen are 1-3/4" across by 5-1/2" deep.

[OOK]

Condenser microphones (at least high-quality ones) aren't produced serially, like on a Henry Ford assembly line. Rather, capsules are typically built in one part of the factory by one set of people with one set of skills, circuit boards are stuffed in another area by different people with different skills, and exteriors (housings, screened covers for the capsule heads, etc.) in a third.

These subassemblies are prepared, then a batch of complete capsule heads is assembled and tested, as well as a batch of microphone amplifiers (with the two components not necessarily being built in identical quantities, since relatively more capsules are rejected, and relatively more amplifiers can simply be tweaked or have individual parts replaced to bring them into spec).

Then, finally, capsule heads and amplifiers are brought together and tested for the first time as complete microphones. At that point, sure, one of the amplifiers has been marked number 001 and another one has been marked number 002, etc.--but you can hardly say that microphone number 001 was built first and then number 002 second, etc.; it just isn't done that way.

--best regards

I get that.... would make more sense if the number was much higher, but 2...  Ok so it might have been made in the first batch of 100...  still low.   But I think it is cool, its 2!

[bhtoque]

The c422 screen fits right inside the LSD2 screen. The Peluso is closer, but still bigger.

JAson

[bhtoque]

Hey, try this for the 422 screen

Spare parts
Frank Rodriguez
Phone: +1 818 920 3279

JAson

[macdaddy]

will give a call mañana. thx.

[DSatz]

OOK, I definitely get that; a single-digit serial number, or number 69, or any kind of pattern such as 123 or (especially for some people) 666 would definitely be fun to have, if it's on a good microphone.

--best regards

[Colin Liston]

On windscreens, I would check the measurements of the 422 against other stereo LD's

If it helps I've a Peluso P-Stereo sitting across the room and the interior dimensions of the foam windscreen are 1-3/4" across by 5-1/2" deep.

What?  Since when?!

[spyder9]

Condenser microphones (at least high-quality ones) aren't produced serially, like on a Henry Ford assembly line. Rather, capsules are typically built in one part of the factory by one set of people with one set of skills, circuit boards are stuffed in another area by different people with different skills, and exteriors (housings, screened covers for the capsule heads, etc.) in a third.

These subassemblies are prepared, then a batch of complete capsule heads is assembled and tested, as well as a batch of microphone amplifiers (with the two components not necessarily being built in identical quantities, since relatively more capsules are rejected, and relatively more amplifiers can simply be tweaked or have individual parts replaced to bring them into spec).

Then, finally, capsule heads and amplifiers are brought together and tested for the first time as complete microphones. At that point, sure, one of the amplifiers has been marked number 001 and another one has been marked number 002, etc.--but you can hardly say that microphone number 001 was built first and then number 002 second, etc.; it just isn't done that way.

--best regards

You just described the Ford Motor Company.......  think about it.    

[Gutbucket]

On windscreens, I would check the measurements of the 422 against other stereo LD's

If it helps I've a Peluso P-Stereo sitting across the room and the interior dimensions of the foam windscreen are 1-3/4" across by 5-1/2" deep.

What?  Since when?!

Which when?

It's been sitting across the room since I last used it in June.
It's been with me since I bought it in the YS 4 years ago.
It's had those dimensions longer than that.
 

[grrrayson]

Ha! I've been watching that one too...

...but with hesitance. I had a 426 for a while and found it really uninspiring. I know some people really love them but it had a blustery, plastic-y midrangey sound that I found rather boring and uninspiring. I'm a professional audio engineer rather than a taper so my typical uses may be a little different compared to most of you here but a significant part of what I do is wacky non-studio location recording utilizing natural ambience and I'm quite a connoisseur of tone and I've heard a lot of great microphones so the comparisons are valid.

So, I sold the 426 at a profit. The buyer is still crazy about this model as far as I know.

However, I'm wondering if the difference between the 426 and the 422 is akin to a modern 414 and an old 414EB P48. If this is the case, the sound might not be so uninspiring and the functionality of the 422 might be intriguing, but you can still get a good old 414 pair for as little as $1200 so why pay hundreds extra for a little extra functionality and slightly easier setup balanced by being stuck with a dubious non-standard cable?

Gearslut-ism at it's finest, I suppose. (I confess I still find the 422 to have a certain intrigue.)

[Colin Liston]

On windscreens, I would check the measurements of the 422 against other stereo LD's

If it helps I've a Peluso P-Stereo sitting across the room and the interior dimensions of the foam windscreen are 1-3/4" across by 5-1/2" deep.

What?  Since when?!

Which when?

It's been sitting across the room since I last used it in June.
It's been with me since I bought it in the YS 4 years ago.
It's had those dimensions longer than that.

Not to thread jack, but how come I've never seen this at Mag or Spring fest?