U87 to U67 Conversion?

ToneBender67 · 30th March 2007

I have the chance to buy a non working U87 very reasonably. Since it's going to need a fair amount of work (and I already own a U87), I'm curious to know if it's possible to be modded/converted into a U67.

Thanks in advance.

seaneldon · 30th March 2007

if the capsule is in good working order, it might pay to invest in an InnerTUBE Audio "Tube 87" kit.

not quite a U67, but still turns your U87 into an excellent tube mic. You pretty much pop and swap the insides of the mic now with the mod kit. Takes seconds. comes with a very good power supply.

Mike Caffrey · 1st April 2007

Have you used one and if so, did you like it?

I thought it sounded pretty good through headphones at the tape op conference last year, but I haven't had a chance to try one in a proper monitoring setting.

seaneldon · 1st April 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Caffrey

Have you used one and if so, did you like it?

I thought it sounded pretty good through headphones at the tape op conference last year, but I haven't had a chance to try one in a proper monitoring setting.

indeedy. vocals ("rough" male rock voice), clean tele through AC15, and bari sax. on vocals especially it brought it rather hard. wunder peq1 was the mic amp on all sources. i did about 6dB of GR with an MC77 at 8:1 for the vocal. had a certain ballsy quality that excelled on all three sources.

Mike Caffrey · 1st April 2007

Did it still sound like an 87 or something different?

seaneldon · 1st April 2007

the innertube mod gives it a nice HF lift and turns the midrange honk into midrange chunk. it was a rather drastic change, actually.

Berolzheimer · 1st April 2007

I've done a few sessions- vocals acoustic guitars mostly- with an 87 that was modded by David Royer with a tube circuit. Really great mic. I don't know if the Innerubes mod is similar but if so It's well worth it.

popmann · 1st April 2007

I like the Innertube mod a lot. But, it IS a big change...in seemingly the opposite direction of a 67.

Tracy Korby advertises a 87 to 67 conversion on his webiste. Never talked to him about it, though.

Have you used a 67 and want one? Or just know they have similar capsules?

Mike Caffrey · 1st April 2007

A 67 is brighter and more open that an 87, right?

popmann · 2nd April 2007

It depends on how your ear hears "bright".

I think the top of the 67s are more open but less bright. Meaning, I hear no artificial cutoff, but it ain't boosted at all. 87s to me have a great big boost say 8-11k, then falls fast above it.

If you want brighter (more top) than an 87...you definately want the Innertube and not mess with anything 67ish.

kats · 2nd April 2007

Quote:

A 67 is brighter and more open that an 87, right?

That's never been my impression. I don't think either mic is that bright. Some say the 87 is bright...but I think it's actually a bit veiled. The 67 OTOH (IME) isn't a very open mic, but it has a certain richness that I can't put into words.

I like the tube 87 better than both of the above TBH. More open in both directions, but never harsh. Alot more weight in sound as well. It doesn't have the weight of a nice u47 though, but it has that richness that I can't describe - I just know it when I hear it.

On O/H I always chuckle cause it reminds me of the drum sound from The Doors "Riders on the Storm"

ToneBender67 · 2nd April 2007

Thanks for the replies. I have the U87 "on hold" as I'm gonna pick it up this weekend. Since it would need to go to Korby for work anyway (mod or restore), I think I'm gonna have him do the U67 mod. I'd rather have something in the U67 vein over a tube-hotrodded-U87.

Thanks again!

Mike Caffrey · 2nd April 2007

So the inner tube audio mod is likely to make the 87 brighter?

ricknroll · 2nd April 2007

I recently auditioned an InnerTube U87 body. The U87 I have was modified by Klaus Heyne, so my experience is based on the Klaus U87 vs. the InnerTube body. Judging from the comments I've read in this thread and in others, the stock U87 must sound relatively dark, because my U87 definitely sounded brighter than the InnerTube, although at the same time I would not call my U87 overly bright - it has a nice high end, but it's a good sounding high end (unlike on the Chinese mics I've tried, for example). I also prefered the midrange of my U87 to the InnerTube, so in the end, the InnerTube mic wasn't for me. But Stayne is a good guy and if I can ever afford an Atomic Squeeze Box, I'd love to audition one.

If you're considering the InnerTube mic, I would also consider a Klaus-modded U87. I don't know if you can easily audition one, however. It is my understanding that Klaus removes most, if not all, of the negative feedback in the amplifer which results in more high end and reduces the otherwise-sounding pinched midrange. One advantage of the InnerTube version is the improved headroom, but in the end I decided I would rather sacrifice headroom and keep the tone of the Klaus version than get the InnerTube mic.

Rick

30th March 2007	#1
ToneBender67 Gear nut Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 148 Thread Starter	U87 to U67 Conversion? I have the chance to buy a non working U87 very reasonably. Since it's going to need a fair amount of work (and I already own a U87), I'm curious to know if it's possible to be modded/converted into a U67. Thanks in advance.

1st April 2007	#7
Berolzheimer Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: El Lay Posts: 2,207	I've done a few sessions- vocals acoustic guitars mostly- with an 87 that was modded by David Royer with a tube circuit. Really great mic. I don't know if the Innerubes mod is similar but if so It's well worth it. __________________ Purveyor of fine sounds since 1961. My very incomplete IMDB list: My very incomplete IMDB list I'm all ears.

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30th March 2007	#2
seaneldon Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bahstahn, MA Posts: 2,669	if the capsule is in good working order, it might pay to invest in an InnerTUBE Audio "Tube 87" kit. not quite a U67, but still turns your U87 into an excellent tube mic. You pretty much pop and swap the insides of the mic now with the mod kit. Takes seconds. comes with a very good power supply.

1st April 2007	#3
Mike Caffrey Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: New York City Posts: 4,088	Have you used one and if so, did you like it? I thought it sounded pretty good through headphones at the tape op conference last year, but I haven't had a chance to try one in a proper monitoring setting.

1st April 2007	#8
popmann Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 2,701	I like the Innertube mod a lot. But, it IS a big change...in seemingly the opposite direction of a 67. Tracy Korby advertises a 87 to 67 conversion on his webiste. Never talked to him about it, though. Have you used a 67 and want one? Or just know they have similar capsules?

2nd April 2007	#10
popmann Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Nashville Posts: 2,701	It depends on how your ear hears "bright". I think the top of the 67s are more open but less bright. Meaning, I hear no artificial cutoff, but it ain't boosted at all. 87s to me have a great big boost say 8-11k, then falls fast above it. If you want brighter (more top) than an 87...you definately want the Innertube and not mess with anything 67ish.

2nd April 2007	#14
ricknroll Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 209	I recently auditioned an InnerTube U87 body. The U87 I have was modified by Klaus Heyne, so my experience is based on the Klaus U87 vs. the InnerTube body. Judging from the comments I've read in this thread and in others, the stock U87 must sound relatively dark, because my U87 definitely sounded brighter than the InnerTube, although at the same time I would not call my U87 overly bright - it has a nice high end, but it's a good sounding high end (unlike on the Chinese mics I've tried, for example). I also prefered the midrange of my U87 to the InnerTube, so in the end, the InnerTube mic wasn't for me. But Stayne is a good guy and if I can ever afford an Atomic Squeeze Box, I'd love to audition one. If you're considering the InnerTube mic, I would also consider a Klaus-modded U87. I don't know if you can easily audition one, however. It is my understanding that Klaus removes most, if not all, of the negative feedback in the amplifer which results in more high end and reduces the otherwise-sounding pinched midrange. One advantage of the InnerTube version is the improved headroom, but in the end I decided I would rather sacrifice headroom and keep the tone of the Klaus version than get the InnerTube mic. Rick