Another Mic Mod

Same cheap Chinese condenser (MXL 990), this time I used a different capsule, an Rk-7, also purchased from Microphone-Parts.com.  It's supposed to give a more vintage 47 type sound.  I'm looking forward to trying it out on the ole doghizzle (through a tube preamp).



Lots of pics this time.  Here's the guts of the unmodded 990:

Stock guts: front

Stock guts: back

Step 1: Remove the board by desoldering the leads from the capsule and the connection to the xlr-plug:

Board ready for modding

Step 2: Replace D3, C3, C4.  Remove coupling capacitor and R8.

Modded board re-connected to stock capsule for testing

Back side post mod

Here's a photo of the stock  capsule.  It's actually a small diaphragm condenser placed in a side address large body to give the illusion of a large diaphragm condenser mic.

Stock 990 capsule

The mic passes sound with the mod and old capsule, so all that's left is installing the new capsule and some clean up.

Mod Complete

How does it sound?  I'll post some files when I get a minute.