Pearlman TM1 +10!

[Hamburg58]

So I just bought one of these mics. And I am extremely impressed. Having used a U48 before, the Pearlman is very impressive against that mic. It's a "huge" mic in it's sound! I'm extremely impressed....Saying that, I am happy with my signal chain for vocals as well

TM1>Vintech X73>Chandler TG1>Apogee Symphony Conversion

I always see U47 copies getting slammed on here, but unless I'm deaf, I'll have to say this one is unreal. I think I might buy another one~! They're so inexpensive....Well maybe a C12 Peluso first

[JMc]

Hey Hamburg - you're not deaf. I'm glad that you're thrilled. I am, also. I recently purchased one, and had a couple of mods done to suit my needs. Both internally and externally.



The silver suspension mount should be arriving today.

I'm a big fan of "best bang for the buck" and for the buck, the TM-1 is an explosion, IMHO.

[Killahurts]

Oh no, yet another Pearlman lovefest?

Ah, that's OK- it's such a great mic, it's worthy.

Plus I love TM-1 threads on Gearslutz because probably no one will come on and say it sounds like crap and we're all stupid for liking it.. unless they're just an idiot.

[Kyle Ashley]

The Pearlman sounds like crap. You're all stoopid for liking it.

























PS - I'm an idiot.
(actually I have a Pearlman and it's great...just couldn't resist the previous set up line!)

[Oroz]

Originally Posted by JMc

Hey Hamburg - you're not deaf. I'm glad that you're thrilled. I am, also. I recently purchased one, and had a couple of mods done to suit my needs. Both internally and externally.



The silver suspension mount should be arriving today.

I'm a big fan of "best bang for the buck" and for the buck, the TM-1 is an explosion, IMHO.

Awesome look thumbsup. I like this one better than the common black one. I think it looks more slutty.

[JMc]

More "slutty". Heh. Here's kind of a fun comparison shot showing the pimped Pearlman next to a screen shot of the mic when I received it. Got the silver suspension mount today, but I need some new elastic. These are a little stretched. Dave included a new set of gray elastic cords, but they popped at the clasp when I tried to install them. I need to find another source for these things and make up my own, I think...

[delcosmos]

Originally Posted by Oroz

Awesome look thumbsup. I like this one better than the common black one. I think it looks more slutty.

Really?
I like the common black better!

delcosmos!!!

[dan p]

+10 for the black tm1.I bought mine with a german tube in it.Luv this mic and the price is great too.My other mic i use when i want sumthin dif is a u87 ai.



P

[Killahurts]

Originally Posted by delcosmos

Really?
I like the common black better!

delcosmos!!!

So do I.

Nothing wrong with the silver at all, it's beautiful.. just that I'd rather have it look like it's own mic, and less like a vintage copy (this is the way I regard the sound of the mic as well).

[JMc]

I agree that the stock Pearlman TM-1 is a beautiful mic. I thought long and hard whether or not to mess with it. The reasons I finally opted to paint it were because:

a. I knew that I could.
b. I already had the PPG automotive paints in the garage.
c. I didn't care for the way the satin black finish picked up fingerprints
d. I didn't care for the way the black finish "disappeared" visually in my dark vocal booth. I want to be able to better see this mic to better admire it - even when I'm sitting at the console looking through the booth window.

But hey, different strokes for different folks, and so on and so on and shooby dooby dooby.

Incidentally, I was never trying to make it look "vintage". I would have looked for a nickel finish if that was the case. I kept the black basket and shock mount, and might fabricate some additional bodies out of brass tube stock unless Dave will sell me some spares, with the idea of being able to change the look of the mic whenever the mood strikes me. Maybe have a Crystal Red Tintcoat body that I pull out and swap in for the Holidays. Maybe another one that I'll have chromed for New Years. Whatever the "look", it will be something that I love - and that's all I'm concerning myself with. It's microphone art. And the beauty of art is always in the eye of the beholder.

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by JMc

... I need some new elastic. These are a little stretched. Dave included a new set of gray elastic cords, but they popped at the clasp when I tried to install them. I need to find another source for these things and make up my own, I think...

See this thread: http://tinyurl.com/ypp323

[MickeySmid]

I was not so impressed with my tm-1 with vintage tube. It was a bit too bright, nasty, "ugly distorted highs", even with the high switch on. So I emaild Dave Pearlman and asked him if something might be wrong with my mic... and he is sending me new tube! Really cool service. I am impressed.

I hope the tube will help.

thanks,
mickey

[JMc]

Originally Posted by Brent Hahn

See this thread: What to do when shockmounts start to sag too much? - Gearslutz.com

Thanks. It's funny that Crazy Glue was mentioned in that thread. Along with the fatigued bands, Dave also included some new tighter bands that promptly pulled free of the brass clip as I was trying to install them.



Late last night, I tried to repair them by opening up the clip on the end that let go, reinserted the cord after cutting off the excess material at the end and hit the new joint with a drop or two of crazy glue. Then I re-crimped that clip like a mofo in my bench vice and checked the strength of the bond an hour later. Seems to have done the trick. I've been nervous about the use of the Crazy Glue, so that reference in the link eased my mind somewhat. Thank you.

I did a google search for "cloth covered elastic cord" and came up with some gray material that looks to be an exact match. It's used to repair dolls.

[Oroz]

Originally Posted by Killahurts

just that I'd rather have it look like it's own mic, and less like a vintage copy (this is the way I regard the sound of the mic as well).

True. The silver one looks more like a vintage copy .

[Kris]

Dave must have had a bad batch. I had the same problem, and he sent out some good ones the next day...

[TOFT]

YouTube - NAMM 2008 Pearlman Audio, Dave Pearlman

[youngmain]

Originally Posted by JMc

I agree that the stock Pearlman TM-1 is a beautiful mic. I thought long and hard whether or not to mess with it. The reasons I finally opted to paint it were because:

a. I knew that I could.
b. I already had the PPG automotive paints in the garage.
c. I didn't care for the way the satin black finish picked up fingerprints
d. I didn't care for the way the black finish "disappeared" visually in my dark vocal booth. I want to be able to better see this mic to better admire it - even when I'm sitting at the console looking through the booth window.

But hey, different strokes for different folks, and so on and so on and shooby dooby dooby.

Incidentally, I was never trying to make it look "vintage". I would have looked for a nickel finish if that was the case. I kept the black basket and shock mount, and might fabricate some additional bodies out of brass tube stock unless Dave will sell me some spares, with the idea of being able to change the look of the mic whenever the mood strikes me. Maybe have a Crystal Red Tintcoat body that I pull out and swap in for the Holidays. Maybe another one that I'll have chromed for New Years. Whatever the "look", it will be something that I love - and that's all I'm concerning myself with. It's microphone art. And the beauty of art is always in the eye of the beholder.

Im getting one of these dark beauties and wanted to also paint for the fact that I have a Sony 800g. How did you paint the grill?

[insomnio]

Originally Posted by TOFT

YouTube - NAMM 2008 Pearlman Audio, Dave Pearlman

Thread resurrection!
Well, I didn't see that NAMM video before. As a happy TM-1 owner I always chime in every Pearlman thread. Anyway, what surprised me was listening Dave saying several times in the interview that it was "based in the U47" and that he "designed it to be very similar to the U47", and so on... I've read so many times GS members arguing that you should not see a TM-1 as another U47 clone and that Dave's intention wasn't that. Well, there it is, from the horse's mouth.

[JMc]

Originally Posted by youngmain

Im getting one of these dark beauties and wanted to also paint for the fact that I have a Sony 800g. How did you paint the grill?

I did not paint the grill. I cajoled Dave into selling me a silver one that he had left over from his early production run until he switched to the black baskets. I also got another silver shockmount from him to go with it.

BTW, I wasn't surprised to hear Dave Pearlman say that his TM-1 was "based" on the U47. I've heard that straight from him when I was in the process of buying the mic! That isn't the same as claiming it is a U47 clone or faithful reproduction (as it is clearly not). Based on, inspired by, etc. are fine to say, and really only refer to the general design principles and assembly method.

[jindrich]

This is totally unrelated ot the mics themselves, but I think the the Pearlmans look too vanilla. Dave should think a bit about developing some more his corporate identity and giving his products a more defined personality. Just a newer engraving would do.

I sent him this 2 years ago but never got a reply.

[Xestenz]

Originally Posted by TOFT

YouTube - NAMM 2008 Pearlman Audio, Dave Pearlman

How ironic that he is conducting the interview through an SM57????

[insomnio]

This is totally unrelated ot the mics themselves, but I think the the Pearlmans look too vanilla. Dave should think a bit about developing some more his corporate identity and giving his products a more defined personality. Just a newer engraving would do.

Well, what JMc did was a good sign of what you're saying. Maybe he's been shy/humble about his product. That could explain why he doesn't seem wanting to enter in the U47's clone war (just assuming, I'm not a psychiatrist ). But is true, when I got my mic I wasn't impressed at all by the looks. Of course, the sound is enormous, so I don't care that much.

Originally Posted by Xestenz

How ironic that he is conducting the interview through an SM57????

Is that Tony Shepperd interviewing?

[JMc]

I sent Dave a bunch of graphical ideas I had for his mics. I also let him know that I was modding mine and wanted to not necessarily get his approval, but I wanted to make sure he wasn't insulted by effort, either.

The design that he said he had been mulling over for awhile was just a simple

d
p

sort of thing. With the letters closer together than this formatting allows, naturally. He liked the idea that the "logo" which is simply his initials, would remain the same whether the mic was hanging upside down or right side up.

[Bounce]

Just got mine last week :-) Love the black actually. Looks cool and not so much like a "clone." Does have a bit of a Brauner vibe in black but I like that sleek stealth vibe. So cool.

[youngmain]

Its not a bad looking mic. Only thing, I have a black mic: 800g. I guess I might just keep it the way it looks but I might color the body of the mic white. You know, ying and yang.

[baloti]

I love this mike and as we all know his service is great, no even better excellent. I used it with a pendulum mic pre and my vocal sounds simply were delightful.

[jigsawlogic]

When I get goosebumps from watching vocalists get goosebumps tracking through my TM1, it's a little bit hard to really care about what color it is.

The silver is way cool, no 2 ways about it.

But I still place a higher premium on seeing the voice talent walk out as though they've just been through a religious experience.

[JSG]

Are most of you buying the stock mic for $ 1750, or, are you getting the Neuman upgraded capsule?

[JMc]

Standard capsule in mine. I felt that another grand was a little steep and probably too real an example of diminishing returns. But I may have Dave upgrade it in the future if I change my mind.