Maxine
Joined: 22/07/09
Posts: 36
|
Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
#994751 - 26/06/12 08:01 AM
|
|
|
Hi guys - I have a Rode NTK mic which I love, but trawling the net I realise the high end
'sizzle' that I always have to EQ out may well be to do with the tube. Ive been looking
for somewhere in the UK to get an upgrade tube - the IEC Mullard 6922 / E88CC Gold Pin is
recommended - but cant find a stockist anywhere. Could anyone give me any clues? The mic also needs a new 7 pin cable - my soldering skills are not great, and again I
cant find a source in the UK.. Thank you! x 
|
James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9706
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#994786 - 26/06/12 10:19 AM
|
|
|
High end sizzle is part of the Rode large diaphragm condenser sound. It is more likely to
be caused by the capsule than by the valve. Rode originally sourced their mics from China
and most Chinese LDC's that I've tried share that characteristic zing to the sound which,
apparently, is caused by issues with the capsule tensioning. James.
-------------------- JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
|
Maxine
Joined: 22/07/09
Posts: 36
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: James Perrett]
#994789 - 26/06/12 10:23 AM
|
|
|
Thank you for getting back - I appreciate the high end is part of the mics
characteristics, but those characteristics do not really suit my vocal approach, and Ive
heard from various places that replacing the valve gives a marked improvement - Im just
after somewhere to buy one! - as well
as a 7 pin xlr lead....
|
James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9706
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#994907 - 26/06/12 09:59 PM
|
|
|
While the Mullard TV tube factory in Blackburn made some types of valves under the
Techtube name a few years ago, as far as I know, the only way to get hold of a real
Mullard E88CC is to buy one secondhand. So keep an eye out on Ebay and other sites.
James.
-------------------- JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
Edited by James Perrett (26/06/12 10:06 PM)
|
ef37a
Joined: 29/05/06
Posts: 5669
Loc: northampton uk
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#994933 - 27/06/12 05:18 AM
|
|
|
|
In his Valve Amplifiers, Morgan Jones cites the E88CC as the only really good valve for
the cascode configuration stating that it was designed for this purpose (for RF, not audio
tweaks I suspect!). The nearest common valve is perhaps the ECC81 but unfortunately this
has the centre tapped heater arrangement and would need 12.6V on pins 4&5 as does the
even less similar but "tryable" ECC82.
The valve is AKA ECC88/E188CC and the
common equivalents are 6DJ8, ECC868. You might find a PCC88 from the antique radio/tv
boys? This has a 7volt heater but close enough for jazz!
Beware of the second
hand NOS market. Awful lot of tired old **** being peddled I understand.
Dave.
|
scw
member
Joined: 22/05/02
Posts: 81
Loc: Scotland
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#995077 - 27/06/12 10:57 PM
|
|
|
you could try Watford Valves http://www.watfordvalves.com/products.asp?id=1&man=13I
use them for Amp valves and they are very helpful - they may have a replacement for the
mic
|
Exalted Wombat
Joined: 06/02/10
Posts: 4315
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: scw]
#995082 - 27/06/12 11:22 PM
|
|
|
Thomann do a cheap 7-pin mic cable
http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_xlr_ersatzkabel.htm
For better quality, and without spending a mint, I suggest you buy a new plug (I imagine
you've mangled the pins?) and take it to someone who DOES have great soldering skills.
I suspect you'll be disappointed by a valve swap. Why not just continue to eq
out the frequencies you don't like, leaving those which cause you to "love" the mic? But
please yourself!
|
Taxman
Joined: 17/02/06
Posts: 85
Loc: Melbourne, Austraaalia.
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#995103 - 28/06/12 07:28 AM
|
|
|
I've had nothing but joy from these guys. Pleasure to deal with. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/COLOMOR-VALVES-TUBES-COMPONENTS
|
ef37a
Joined: 29/05/06
Posts: 5669
Loc: northampton uk
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#995105 - 28/06/12 07:41 AM
|
|
|
And.. http://www.langrex.co.uk/stocklist.htmlThey have got E88CC
various grades and ECC88/6DJ8. Dave.
|
James Perrett
Joined: 10/09/01
Posts: 9706
Loc: The wilds of Hampshire
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Taxman]
#995120 - 28/06/12 09:04 AM
|
|
|
Quote Taxman:
I've had nothing
but joy from these guys. Pleasure to deal with.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/COLOMOR-VALVES-TUBES-COMPONENTS
I'm amazed to see that they're still
going - I remember their ads in Practical Wireless in the seventies.
James.
--------------------
JRP Music - Audio Mastering and Restoration.
http://www.jrpmusic.net
|
Richie Royale
Joined: 12/09/06
Posts: 3453
Loc: Bristol, England.
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: Maxine]
#995144 - 28/06/12 10:15 AM
|
|
|
Quote Maxine:
Thank you for
getting back - I appreciate the high end is part of the mics characteristics, but those
characteristics do not really suit my vocal approach
Have you considered trying another mic? Might be more beneficial
than replacing the valve.
--------------------
http://soundcloud.com/richie-royale
http://www.mixcrate.com/richieroyale
|
Taxman
Joined: 17/02/06
Posts: 85
Loc: Melbourne, Austraaalia.
|
Re: Replacement/Upgrade tubes and cable for NTK
[Re: James Perrett]
#995175 - 28/06/12 11:46 AM
|
|
|
Quote James Perrett:
Quote Taxman:
I've had nothing
but joy from these guys. Pleasure to deal with.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/COLOMOR-VALVES-TUBES-COMPONENTS
I'm amazed to see that they're still
going - I remember their ads in Practical Wireless in the seventies.
James.
That long eh? Wowsers. Can't say
I'm surprised though, They've always been great to me!
|
Previous
Topics
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
