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Anyone have any experience with mics modded by Michael Joly? I'm particularly interested in the Apex 205 ribbon mic if anyone has per chance tried that one out.
Thanks!

eo

eeoo wrote:Anyone have any experience with mics modded by Michael Joly? I'm particularly interested in the Apex 205 ribbon mic if anyone has per chance tried that one out.
Thanks!

eo

No But I want one!!

I have a cascade vin-jet stock transformer, which is supposedly the same mic as the apex 205. I am happy with it. Since ribbons in general are considered to take kindly to eq, and because I didn't think I needed a little extra output from the transformer, I decided I would try the stock unit and not spend a fortune on transformers and upgrades, and felt it would probably be a little more vintage flavored with the stock transformer. I think the mod is basically to get a slightly hotter output and to correct a "ringing" basket, but I never noticed any ringing or anything off in mine.

I think forumite Mark Kaufman has and uses a Joly-modded mic; I'll see if I can raise him. Any case, his mods are very well-regarded by folks who should know.

Thanks guys, I've been looking at the Apex, the Fathead and the Golden Age, I'd like the Joly modded Apex but it is significantly more expensive, a familiar story, I know...

eo

Mic mods...so unglamorous. So much better to simply own a U47 and announce it...suddenly everyone who's heard of a U47 thinks, damn, wish I had that! And how nice to say, yeah, I got that sound using my U47. (Ooo! Ahhh!) But us poor modded mic guys, we have to keep explaining ourselves. "Yeah, it's a pretty good mic that's been modded to sound great..." and everyone's eyes glaze over. Plus, you can't sell the damn thing for any more than the original was worth, unless you get lucky.

Luckily for me, I love my modded mic too much to sell it. I started out with a Gauge ECM-87, and I liked it quite a bit. KILLER on acoustic guitar, and an excellent vocal mic for the price. But I found the voicing a bit sharp in the upper range...part of its charm, but I wanted a different sound, and when it was modded by Michael Joly, there it was--more roundness and clarity in the upper range (no sense of distortion and a lot less de-essing necessary), more sense of depth to the mids and lows without boominess, and a certain "openness" to the overall sound. That was with the MJE-K47 capsule mod. I love this mic.

The Apex mod looks very promising as well. But in the end, you'll have to be the judge, because modded mics can only sing for themselves...they have no particular reputation that precedes them. But if you know the sound you want, a mod is often the least expensive way to get there...and the least glamorous. Joly is an honest man who you can reach by phone, and he'll help you find what you want to hear if you know what it is. If he can't, he won't. One of the good guys. Haven't heard the ribbon mod personally, but it's one he's been doing for quite awhile to lots of good reviews. I say go for it! Good luck.

Mark Kaufman wrote:.......... I started out with a Gauge ECM-87, and I liked it quite a bit. KILLER on acoustic guitar, and an excellent vocal mic for the price. But I found the voicing a bit sharp in the upper range....

That is why I did not buy one. I was afraid of that.

I use a Peluso P12 for guitar and vocals allot. I have use many C12's and for sure it is the same. Can't beat it!!

After trying many china mics to no avail I just spent the money and got a great ole American made mic!! Now I have mics that I never worry about or try to hide with EQ.

I owned a Fathead for a while and loved it but found that it soaked up too much of my bad room to be useful so I sold it. Now that I have moved and treated my room I wish I had held on to it, what a nice warm BIG sound!

I researched a lot on the Joly mods when I was thinking about getting him to mod my original Rode NT1 and I found nothing negative, in fact very much the opposite. I don't know much about what the mod involves with the ribbon mic you're referring to but I too have heard that it's the same mic as the Cascade Vin-Jet. The Cascade mic has an upgraded transformer option which might make it close to the Joly mod . . . but then if you already have the other mic the Joly Mod would be the way to go.

Also, I found the sound of the EV-RE20 and Shure Sm7 to have a lot in common with the ribbon mics I've tried. All of those worn out terms . . . fat, round, warm, etc. The advantage with those is that they are so directional they will pretty much eliminate any room issues. I think that for your voice the RE-20 would be cool because it has almost no proximity effect . . . you can get right on the grille for that "intimate" vocal sound. Borrow one first though . . . that's sort of a love it or hate it mic.

Thanks guys, I have a friend/engineer who is going to record my band and he has some Royers and some Fatheads that I will have him bring. I've used Fatheads in the past so it will be interesting to hear the difference between a the more high end Royer and the budget Fathead.

Bill I've always been tempted by the sm7, largely based on your enthusiasm for them and i suspect I'll get some experience with that mic as well during our session.

Thanks again!

eo