V69me owners. Help me replace the tube. Pic included.

[redddog]

I was thinking of sending my V69 me off to John Peluso to mod the thing. I think it was around 3 bills for a new tube and diaphram. The thing is, for a little more than 3 bills, I could get a pair of those Cascade Fat head IIs (they look like pretty sweet ribbon mics). Hello Blumlein pair.

I wanted to send the V69 in because it has this scratchy grumble to it now. Makes it totally unusable. I think I remember hearing some v69 owners complain about this problem and changing out the tube cured it. So I thought, "hell, give that a shot and if it doesn't work out, then send it to Mr. Peluso."

Here's my problem.

I don't think that MY v69 is the same as YOUR v69. Mine doesn't seem to have a socket. Furthermore, the tube that you guys mention as a good replacement makes the tube that's in mine look like a wee tiny little itsy-bitsy model of the tube you guys put in. There's no way it's interchangable.

Here's a pic. Tell me what you think.

If I could get someone who has made the change to post a shot, I'd be forever in your debt.

Thanks boys

[drBill]

No pic attached red. I know Idlylldon has done this and rebuilt the mic. You might try PMing him.

[redddog]

There you go, Doc. What do you think?

Is it possible to replace this mofo?

[idylldon]

Well, that's nothing like the circuit board inside the V69ME I modded. Mine had a 12AT7 in it, which is a 9-pin tube, and it was mounted in a socket. Any numbers on that tube? It appears to be soldered in, and while you can desolder it and install another one, it makes it a bit more work, though it's not that hard if you have a bit of experience.

Once you get the number off the tube, you can find a suitable replacement and, most likely, and upgrade.

Cheers,
--
Don

[redddog]

shit.

[drBill]

I don't have mine in my hand right now, but it doesn't look like how I remember it either. Must be one of the early models. Good luck.

Oh.....hi Don!

[redddog]

Yeah...just talked to MXL and they confirmed my worst fear. The asshole who sold me the "new" V69me lied. It's the very first batch(5 years old). Well out of warrantee. $100 to replace the tube, $150 to exchange for a new one. So the great deal I was getting on e-ripoff-bay ($240 shipped) will now cost me $390.

What a jerk I am.

[redddog]

That's good advice, Dude. I'm doing it. This is the most expensive $300 mic I've ever bought.

[kedbear]

I have an ADK CE and Z5600a with nos GE6072A, mullard 1960 M8137 (probably the best 12AX7 ever), Ge 5751, NOS TESLA ECC803s. These are some of the best tubes you can buy and i can tell you they don't make that much difference. It's subtle, you could recreate the larger portion of the difference with EQ. Seriously, sell the mic and spend the $150 you'd spend on a tube on a different mic, or recent model M69. Unless you've got cash to throw away don't bother. You're sound will be upgraded much more by getting a new mic. If you can, test some tubes by recording a vocal through a speaker with the mic exactly the same distance away and in exactly the same place but swap the tubes and you'll see what i mean.
You're hum problem could well be the tube (does it kick in later on in the gain stage, like 30/40db? is it a constant scratchy white noise type of sound?). Does tapping the tube make a difference? If it is the tube it's worth swapping. If you paid with paypal though i'd suggest claiming it as not as described and getting a refund.

[redddog]

Originally Posted by kedbear

I have an ADK CE and Z5600a with nos GE6072A, mullard 1960 M8137 (probably the best 12AX7 ever), Ge 5751, NOS TESLA ECC803s. These are some of the best tubes you can buy and i can tell you they don't make that much difference. It's subtle, you could recreate the larger portion of the difference with EQ. Seriously, sell the mic and spend the $150 you'd spend on a tube on a different mic, or recent model M69. Unless you've got cash to throw away don't bother. You're sound will be upgraded much more by getting a new mic. If you can, test some tubes by recording a vocal through a speaker with the mic exactly the same distance away and in exactly the same place but swap the tubes and you'll see what i mean.
You're hum problem could well be the tube (does it kick in later on in the gain stage, like 30/40db? is it a constant scratchy white noise type of sound?). Does tapping the tube make a difference? If it is the tube it's worth swapping. If you paid with paypal though i'd suggest claiming it as not as described and getting a refund.

Constant scratchy noise. I couldn't, in good faith, pass on my misfortune to another person. My choices are to spend $100 to have the thing fixed - then sell it, or spend $150 to get a new one and then sell it. Either way, I'm out some dough. This is just another example of me trying to save a couple of bucks by going cheap through e-bay and getting screwed for it. It seems like it happens a lot. I'm easily out $500 with shipping crap back and forth and repair costs. If I did the right thing and just bought new from reputable companies in the first place, I'd have $500 more. Well, $500 more worth of gear. It's my own stupidity. It does bum me out how willing people are to knowingly fvck someone over. It's almost 50/50. Now that is a condemnation on our society if I've ever seen one.

Any ideas on a different one?

[redddog]

I am a little surprised at MXLs exchange policy, I gotta say. The guy said that the original design was so sketchy that they only had a short run before changing them. So if it was so sketchy, why would they make me pay to change it. Or even fix it.

I understand that it's just business, but it seems like crappy business to me. On the flip side, I had a problem with my ADK Hamburg(I know...my luck is ridiculous)and not only was I dealing with the president of the company - Larry(great guy) - but they bent over backwards to get me going. Paid expedited shipping, great contact, no questions, just answers..etc. I'll definitely buy from them. MXL? I'm a seller.

[kedbear]

hi,
The key with ebay is just to fully research your product first, and make sure you're getting what you're thinking. Always pay paypal so you're covered. I've bought loads of stuff and been fairly problem free. I don't mean to rub it in.

Maybe best to source the tube then do it yourself, shouldn't be too difficult with some research. Can get decent second hand tubes off ebay, it's where i got all mine!

Will work out alot cheaper that way. Maybe the mic company can give you some advice on the soldering.

Best of luck

[kedbear]

We're talking about the V69 here, and when you use a 12AT7 like you're supposed to and not experiment with changing the gain, the difference is anything but subtle.

Well, i've changed tubes that are same gain in the same mic with subtle differences. I thought i heard big differences at first, but then i did a scientific test (same mic,exact same position recording same vocal direct through speaker) and there was very little in it. There are differences, i'm just questioning the spending of $150 on a tube as the best way to 'upgrade' or get a 'better' sound.

I've also changed through different gains with subtle differences. Putting a NOS mullard 12AX7 M8137 in my ADK CE (normally 6072A which is much less gain) left a subtle difference. I do prefer the fuller mids of the mullard, but i could easily do that with eq. I do love tubes tho

[slum-beats]

COOL !

[ricknroll]

I used to own a V69ME, and its sound was also characterized by a low background rumbling. I bought an inexpensive NOS Jan-Phillips 12AT7 and that eliminated the noise. Although in good conscience I cannot recommend this mic to anyone...I think it has a cheap, harsh sound to it, and even with the replacement tube, it was still a noisy mic. Maybe not noisy compared to other <$300 "tube" mics, but compared to good mics, definitely noisy. The tube thing is kinda gimmicky anyway...it's not unlike the new Neumanns that use a tube/solid state hybrid design. I used to have an MXL V67 and thought it sounded better than the V69ME...at least it's got a transformer in it.

My advice would be to avoid this mic altogether and spend the amount of the mic + the Peluso mod on a better mic to start off with.

Rick

[BOWIE]

Sorry guys but there's a lot of bad tube advice on here. Worst of all is putting a Mullard (let alone a 60's Mullard) in a mic. Mullards are great (in amps) but I always talk my customers into taking their Mullards out of their mics and every one has been thankful for the advice.
Sell the mic (at worst you'll lose a few bucks in ebay fees) and get something with a tube that can be replaced inexpensively. ECC88/6922 are some of the best sounding tubes ever. 12AY7/6072 is nice and you can get a killer 5 Star GE for under $60. 12AT7 is generally a crappy tube unless you spend some major bread on an early GEC Genalex. Do not spend $150 on some obscure tube you'll never be able to sell. You'll outgrow that mic so don't put too much effort into this whole ordeal...

ProAudioTubes@aol.com

[redddog]

Just heard the final word from MXL. "You're fvcked" if I may paraphrase. They did say that they would look for one of those little tubes so that I could replace it myself.

I'm surprised. I figured someone at the level I got to would have just replaced the thing. They are no ADK. ADK and Larry would have replaced the mic no questions asked. I'm fixing and selling. Maybe I can recoup $150 or something. I can't sell it as a normal v69me though.

[Mondo]

what do you expect them to do? replace every mic that this bozo sells on ebay?

[redddog]

honor the original replacement policy. They pulled these mics because of poor engineering. Now they're telling me that they can't even service them. They said there's a five year warantee and these were manufactured 6 years ago. It was a very short run - something like 60 micrphones. Replacing each of those isn't gonna put them out of business.

I dunno. Am I being a jerk?

[minus-sounds.com]

Originally Posted by redddog

Yeah...just talked to MXL and they confirmed my worst fear. The asshole who sold me the "new" V69me lied. It's the very first batch(5 years old). Well out of warrantee. $100 to replace the tube, $150 to exchange for a new one. So the great deal I was getting on e-ripoff-bay ($240 shipped) will now cost me $390.

What a jerk I am.

My sympathy to your ordeal.

ok. Who is this ebayer?
You are burned.
Don't let others have it too!

[BOWIE]

The stupid thing here is the $150 tube. They obviously did not put a valuable tube in that mic (even $3,000 mics only come with $40 tubes). That $150 business is a real screwjob.

[audioboffin]

Originally Posted by kedbear

I've also changed through different gains with subtle differences. Putting a NOS mullard 12AX7 M8137 in my ADK CE (normally 6072A which is much less gain) left a subtle difference. I do prefer the fuller mids of the mullard, but i could easily do that with eq. I do love tubes tho

Interesting.. I have found that replacing the Chinese tube that usually comes in these mics with an older European tube usually results in both tonal and dynamic changes.. how the mic reacts to dynamics for example in the role of overheads is a dramatic difference when the tube is changed. Try your testing again but using a percussive source.. I found the old Mullards to compress things like cymbals where the Chinese tubes stay gnarly... same preamp, same drummer same everything, just tube swapping.

Typically, I'm in favour of lower gain tubes.. just prefer the sound of things not being pushed so hard in the chain.

[kedbear]

Interesting.. I have found that replacing the Chinese tube that usually comes in these mics with an older European tube usually results in both tonal and dynamic changes.. how the mic reacts to dynamics for example in the role of overheads is a dramatic difference when the tube is changed. Try your testing again but using a percussive source.. I found the old Mullards to compress things like cymbals where the Chinese tubes stay gnarly... same preamp, same drummer same everything, just tube swapping.

Typically, I'm in favour of lower gain tubes.. just prefer the sound of things not being pushed so hard in the chain.

Actually the ADK CE comes with a NOS GE 6072A. When i did some tests i recorded different sources through a speaker so the mic placement and sound being recorded was exactly the same. Couldn't hear alot of difference. Have you tried recording the sound of a pre recorded cymbal coming through speakers, so mic and sound are exactly the same?

I haven't tested my tubes against a cheap chinese one, all my tubes are premium NOS stuff, but your test sounds very interesting.

Sorry guys but there's a lot of bad tube advice on here. Worst of all is putting a Mullard (let alone a 60's Mullard) in a mic. Mullards are great (in amps) but I always talk my customers into taking their Mullards out of their mics and every one has been thankful for the advice.

Does this not depend on which mullard? I have tried a M8137 CV4004 which sounded great to my ears.

[audioboffin]

Originally Posted by kedbear

Actually the ADK CE comes with a NOS GE 6072A. When i did some tests i recorded different sources through a speaker so the mic placement and sound being recorded was exactly the same. Couldn't hear alot of difference. Have you tried recording the sound of a pre recorded cymbal coming through speakers, so mic and sound are exactly the same?

I haven't tested my tubes against a cheap chinese one, all my tubes are premium NOS stuff, but your test sounds very interesting.



Does this not depend on which mullard? I have tried a M8137 CV4004 which sounded great to my ears.

To be honest I haven't listened to different tubes where the source is a recording played through a speaker, only two mics side by side over a crash cymbal, which to my way of thinking is a more realistic test as it deals with the actual level the mic is going to encounter, as well as the full dynamic range of the source. The microphones I was listening to were MXL 69's. I tried quite a few different tubes and settled on a pair of Mullard 12 AT7's in my application as overheads.

I was quite surprised with the variance in tonalities from different tubes, to the point that I am now going through all my tube mics and matching tubes to the application they will be used in.

[Janesaid2me]

Man that uber sucks about the whole tube thing....i remember seeing a picture of one like this and I thought to myself there is no way you can change that tube because it didnt have a socket....but other people kept saying you could change them....now I know if I ever buy one to make sure its not a first batcher like that one you got...we all learn from each others mistakes...right!