Topic: oktava mc012 mods

[dr.ph0b]

altho im own a nifty schoeps rig, im still a closet oktava fan. but unless u have a matched stereo pair, you might really benefeit from a mod.  If you have a pair, open em up and compare the parts, like in this pic. the arrows point to a few of the parts that commonly need to be replaced, and as you can see, are often different. some older ones may also need the large blue caps replaced, cause they leak.

Anyway, ive done a few mods already and will do them for anyone needing it, for $100 plus parts and postage.  there are a few mandatory caps, and resistors that will need to be swapped, as well as the FET. and there are some optional parts too that can be swapped.   here is a before shot of the most recent pair i did for someone. ill send the after shot also.

PEACE

[dr.ph0b]

heres the after shot

[jpschust]

can i request a better description of the sound before and after

[Sterling]

Yes a sound comparison would be good. Also, what would the parts run in cost (or does it depend on what is there and not there?) Would these be considered "matched" afterward?  Very tempting...

[Chanher]

I'm getting my dorsey mods in the mail today or tomorrow.  they are from guitar center.  I also have an un modded pair from gc.  I'd love to do a comp, but what's the best way to do it with my setup? (see below).  I don't like doing first set with one, second set with the other, I like the ability to do a-b comparisons.  I can run at a jazz quartet tomorrow night...

ps, I still have the dorsey mod comparison that calico did, he recorded finger snapping, his playback system, and pink noise if I'm not mistaken. I can hook anyone up.

[Cooker]

i'll agree, if you can provide a clear description of the sound improvements and a total cost you will probably have more work than you can handle

[dr.ph0b]

hey i did those mods for you chris  i shoulda done sample recordings with them before and after but i didnt. I can post those comparisons calico did on my server if u want to send em. I made comparisons of a a sound-room matched set before and after, but the difference was very subtle. overall slightly smoother. the bass was a tiny bit tighter and high-mids were a little less harsh. Its the guitar center pair that really benfeits from the mods tho, since they most likely dont even have matched components in them like you see. having matched components is reason enuf to get this done imo.

this is kind of a rerun of a thread actually. Im not here to make a case that you *should* get it done, that was already done by scott dorsey in the recording magazine article. im just offering to do them for ppl who wanted it done.  like chris! i took a while to get off my rear and do his, but it renewed my interest in it.  

as to the person who asked about parts cost.. for the pair its like $10 at most. probbaly less.

[Chanher]

hey todd! ok so anyone in Colorado have a wmod and a jb3 I could borrow tomorrow night?    I'd love to get a comparison tape before I send my original gc's back to todd...

[dr.ph0b]

yes, they turn into the bodies, and the fit might be a little tight. It might help to connect the xlr cable to give you more torque to twist. dont twist too much, cause its probbaly the plastic ring at the top were the caps fit on, thats real tight. so, u might try pushing down on that with your thumb while lightly twisting from the bottom. careful, cause that board inside is very brittle.

[jpschust]

im pretty sure no one matches their bodies- its always the caps.  

[jk labs]

The _need_ for matching ("matching" as in dB out vs frequency) the oktava bodies is miniscule relative that of the capsules themselves.  

As far as I know the bodies, there are some variation in the top and bottom wrt to roll off points but not something to worry about (assuming we are working with functional bodies).        

But has anyone actually measured the output level of the capsule+body for the very highest frequencies, before and after the Dorsey mod?  I'd very much like to know the results!! :-)

Jon

[Sterling]

Anyone ever do any comparisons of these? Also, this is actually seperate from the dorsey mod right?