AKG SOLID TUBE

[snedley]

ANYONE USING THESE? There's one available at a reasonable price.

[James Lehmann]

Originally posted by snedley
ANYONE USING THESE?

What for dude?

More than most other mics I've tried the Solid Tube has a very distinctive sound that's only gonna work on certain sources (if at all) for you.

[Rab]

dfegad

I honestly believe you'd be better off with one of the myriad of cheap Chinese mics or similar currently flooding the market... SE Electronics, Groove Tubes & Oktava immediately spring to mind. If you're hung up on a valve mic, maybe look at a Rode NTK or K2.

[snedley]

I have a GT66 and U195 and AT4050 and MK319 so if it's not markedly better, warmer or more suitable for a specific source I think I'll pass. I'm not hearing rave reviews here. Thanks
What about Senn 409s? Probably for toms and guitar cabs.

[not_so_new]

You mean "The Solid Tube of Brown Stuff" also known as sh*t?? Yeah I have used one...












once......







and only once......





... and never again.

Save your cash for groceries, that is about all the mic is worth and at least you will get something that is useful before it turns to brown stuff also know as sh*t.

[snedley]

ah come on...tell us what you really think.

[bloodstone]

Originally posted by snedley
ah come on...tell us what you really think.

The fellas are being a little severe, I think. I've owned one for about 3 years. It used to be my "go to" vocal mic (but the only viable option I had was an AKG 414 BULS). I also found on occasion I would capture some very impressive acoustic guitar or electric guitar amp takes with it. I've also captured some excellent vocal takes with it. Ultimately, I think there are more affordable mics that do a better job, e.g. CAD M-9. I don't regret buying the Solid Tube, and still use it on occasion.

[mardyk]

I've had one for years. I used to like it quite a lot.
Doesn't get much use nowadays, but I've gotten some amazing vocal, and acoustic guitar takes with it over the years. Not even remotely in the same league as my SD U99, but somehow I think that some singers might sound better with the AKG.
I've also used it as a room mic for electric guitars with good results.
Might works as an outside mic for bassdrum aswell.
All in all it has served me well.

[Randy Moore]

The solid tube is not a bad mic. I use one pretty often on male vocals and upright bass. The mic sounds big and dark and if you use the wrong preamp / compressor, it's too dull. You need to try an open / bright preamp with this mic. I use a FOCUSRITE Red 7 mic preamp / comp and it works well with male singers that need the low mid help and some female singers. Most female singers will sound better with something with a litte more top and less low mid. If you can spend $2000 to $3000 on a vocal mic buy something else. But the solid tube will give you that tube sound for a little money which might fit your needs. Best of luck!



Randy Moore
www.sunsetrecordingstudio.com

[not_so_new]

I don't go around diss'n much gear. I think everything has a place in the studio, even if only for an effect but the Solid Tube is something that I never liked from the first time I put one up. I am not much into the sound of a singer with a wet blanket around their head...



That said I only have heard one and that was years ago, could have been a bad mic or the wrong application. I will say that I would much rather stick with the 4050 that the original poster said they had.

The Solid Tube is alot like the C12vr to me only cheaper, I would get one but well after I had a bunch of cool mics in my locker and even then I am not sure it would get much use.

[bloodstone]

Originally posted by not_so_new
I don't go around diss'n much gear. I think everything has a place in the studio, even if only for an effect but the Solid Tube is something that I never liked from the first time I put one up. I am not much into the sound of a singer with a wet blanket around their head...



That said I only have heard one and that was years ago, could have been a bad mic or the wrong application. I will say that I would much rather stick with the 4050 that the original poster said they had.

The Solid Tube is alot like the C12vr to me only cheaper, I would get one but well after I had a bunch of cool mics in my locker and even then I am not sure it would get much use.

When I bought mine, I A/B/C'd it against a Rode NTV and a Neumann TLM103. Of course testing three mics in a store through headphones is a pretty lame way to assess something, but on my voice that day, the Solidtube was the obvious choice. It can sound really good through a Langevein DVC. I've since learned that the only real way to judge a vocal mic is by tracking with it and trying to get the results to fit/stand out enough in a mix, unless of course all you do is voiceovers or something.

I'm not saying you should rush out and buy the thing, but depending on your budget, the price of the one you found, it might be worth at least consideration.

[entropy]

Originally posted by Randy Moore
The solid tube is not a bad mic.

your right. It's not bad, it ****ing terrible! And yes, it is similar to the C12VR, they're both shit.

Like those before them, once AKG was "Harmonised", great sounding kit was a thing of the past.

There is better out there: Studio Projects, Rode Oktava, Audio Technica...

There's one available at a reasonable price.

mmmm, I wonder why?

[Wiggy Neve Slut]

i hope ppls keep flaming them out.. cos there is a guy in town here who replaces everything except the capsule and body and shit PSU.. its amusical mic that sounds VERY DAMN good.. even in the company of a VF14 U47.. so keep on baggin them so they get cheaer and i can get a nice kit of them going for nix! e

Entropy.. ur SO RIGHT about HARMON.. once they touc anyhting they tunr good gear to shit.. inverse midas effect!!

Wiggy

[Jules]

You can open them up and take out the (surpisingly) very thick foam pop shield inside to make it brighter.

[Jam]

Another one in the "haters" camp FWIW

Jam

[mardyk]

Originally posted by bloodstone
When I bought mine, I A/B/C'd it against a Rode NTV and a Neumann TLM103.

Yeah, when I bought mine 7 years ago, I brought six mics to the studio. Among others a Neumann tlm 103. I think there was an oktava and and SM7, and a few others that I can't remember.
Well, the Neumann was the best, Solidtube and SM7 tied at a close second. The Neumann was a lot more expensive, and I wanted a TOOB mic. So I settled on the AKG.

[SergioS]

Originally Posted by Jules

You can open them up and take out the (surpisingly) very thick foam pop shield inside to make it brighter.

This is really coincidence. I did that few hours ago and bumped on this stone age thread while trying to find something about C12vr. Just had to agree with Mr.Jules on this.