How to change the tube in the at4060?

HIGHENDONLY · 14th June 2007, 07:11 AM

I bought a new tube for the 4060. Anyone can give me a little info on how to change the tube. Never did this before? Do i really need a tech for it or can i do it myself?

peeder · 14th June 2007, 07:59 AM

I have no idea of your level of hand-eye coordination or your access to jeweler's screwdrivers.

But if you have enough of those, you simply unscrew the three screws around the sides of the mic near the label (not the two screws in the base below the label). You do this after unplugging the mic and letting it cool a bit (tubes get hot). You then gently slide the entire case off without touching or damaging the capsule.

There are capacitors inside the microphone (fancy muse ones btw...) and capacitors can carry lethal voltage even long after the mic is unplugged. So you do this at your own risk; you could die if you short out a capacitor through your heart. Any competent service tech will swap this tube for you safely in five minutes.

The tube is simply seated in a base by its pins: do not twist it off, just gently but firmly rock it out of the base without bending the pins. The glass is much thicker than a lightbulb but don't pinch it too hard, and dont break the circuit board the base is mounted on...you might want to put a thumb on the circuit board to keep it from flexing. This is a learned range of force, and you might want to practice on old guitar amps or something that you are less worried about breaking until you get the feel of it.

Then place the new tube into the base (lining up the gap in the pins beforehand) and rock it in, not pressing too hard but firmly enough. Make sure the tube is straight in the base and no pins are bent before insertion (carefully flex them back if so). Backtrace your steps putting the case back on and putting the screws back in if you haven't lost them.

Try your mic out and marvel at how subtle the change is for all that fiddling. I just did this earlier today replacing a JAN Phillips with a JJ; I feel the JJ splits the difference nicely between the Phillips (brighter but thinner) and the stock Sovtek (scooped and a bit tubby) in terms of fullness without mud, but the mic is still the mic.

HIGHENDONLY · 14th June 2007, 08:12 AM

Thanks alot peeder. Yea i bought the jj tube. So the difference is very minor? Ahh maybe i'm better at just holding off for awile til the tube goes. I'm guessing the sovtek probs lasts a long time.

peeder · 14th June 2007, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HIGHENDONLY

Thanks alot peeder. Yea i bought the jj tube. So the difference is very minor? Ahh maybe i'm better at just holding off for awile til the tube goes. I'm guessing the sovtek probs lasts a long time.

Well I wanted to temper your expectations. I'm leaving the JJ in there "by default."

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14th June 2007, 07:11 AM	#1
HIGHENDONLY Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Middlebury CT Posts: 825	How to change the tube in the at4060? I bought a new tube for the 4060. Anyone can give me a little info on how to change the tube. Never did this before? Do i really need a tech for it or can i do it myself?

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14th June 2007, 07:59 AM	#2
peeder Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: No longer participating here. Posts: 6,742	I have no idea of your level of hand-eye coordination or your access to jeweler's screwdrivers. But if you have enough of those, you simply unscrew the three screws around the sides of the mic near the label (not the two screws in the base below the label). You do this after unplugging the mic and letting it cool a bit (tubes get hot). You then gently slide the entire case off without touching or damaging the capsule. There are capacitors inside the microphone (fancy muse ones btw...) and capacitors can carry lethal voltage even long after the mic is unplugged. So you do this at your own risk; you could die if you short out a capacitor through your heart. Any competent service tech will swap this tube for you safely in five minutes. The tube is simply seated in a base by its pins: do not twist it off, just gently but firmly rock it out of the base without bending the pins. The glass is much thicker than a lightbulb but don't pinch it too hard, and dont break the circuit board the base is mounted on...you might want to put a thumb on the circuit board to keep it from flexing. This is a learned range of force, and you might want to practice on old guitar amps or something that you are less worried about breaking until you get the feel of it. Then place the new tube into the base (lining up the gap in the pins beforehand) and rock it in, not pressing too hard but firmly enough. Make sure the tube is straight in the base and no pins are bent before insertion (carefully flex them back if so). Backtrace your steps putting the case back on and putting the screws back in if you haven't lost them. Try your mic out and marvel at how subtle the change is for all that fiddling. I just did this earlier today replacing a JAN Phillips with a JJ; I feel the JJ splits the difference nicely between the Phillips (brighter but thinner) and the stock Sovtek (scooped and a bit tubby) in terms of fullness without mud, but the mic is still the mic.

14th June 2007, 08:12 AM	#3
HIGHENDONLY Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Middlebury CT Posts: 825	Thanks alot peeder. Yea i bought the jj tube. So the difference is very minor? Ahh maybe i'm better at just holding off for awile til the tube goes. I'm guessing the sovtek probs lasts a long time.