MXL 960 Tube Condenser Microphone, Good or Bad

[jazzed]

Has anyone ever used this mic? If so, what applications and how good or bad was it?

[jefflaur1]

One of the better mics that Marshall makes. It has a more robust capsule cage (screen is of higher gauge) and does not have that "ring" you can sometimes hear.

We re-tubed it with a Telefunken 12AT7 (ECC21) and it really is a great mic!


Hard to find except for Musician's Freind.

[Harvey Gerst]

I love it for vocals.

[3rd&4thT]

As shipped, it has a much cleaner top than usual for a Chinese mic, but flat and distant in the other registers. Pop in a Mullard, for example, and the top stays comparatively clean but suddenly you get thunderous bass! A much more interesting mic.

[David@MVS]

Originally Posted by Harvey Gerst

I love it for vocals.

I have never re-tubed any mics I own (the debate may rage on as to whether there is an audible difference) but I am not a source of reference.

Harvey, do you usually re-tube your tube mics? (or tube equipment for that matter?)

Regards,
David

[Harvey Gerst]

Originally Posted by David@MVS

I have never re-tubed any mics I own (the debate may rage on as to whether there is an audible difference) but I am not a source of reference.

Harvey, do you usually re-tube your tube mics? (or tube equipment for that matter?)

Regards,
David

Nope, every tube piece of gear I own is stock from the factory. I do have a pair of Telefunken tubes sitting here for the Millenia Media SST-1, but I've never used them.

[3rd&4thT]

I was really happy with my 960 with the Mullard tube, revelling in the clean, natural top and Jurassic bass.

After a few weeks it suddenly developed continual popping sounds, like chestnuts roasting on an open fire without Johnny Mathis.

A quick check of Musicians Fiend reveals that another customer's 960 developed the same crackling sound the second time out of the box.

So for a startlingly good mic for less than $200, be prepared for some heartbreak.

[sarrcford]

I purchased an MXL 960 from Musician's Friend a couple of weeks ago based upon positive comments I have read here at GS and elsewhere. While I have only used it on male vocal and acoustic guitar, it really has a nice, warm tone. I left it on for several hours today to see if there were any popping noises, etc. No issues, very quiet for a tube. I think it offers great value for $180 shipped.

Rob