Comments on: Ribbon mic mod – part 1 – Apex 205

By: Tez

Tez — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:15:02 +0000

Has anyone tried this mic mod recently? I did and discovered the Chinese manufacturer has completely rotated the internal components so that the transformer is now facing the front. It cannot be orientated the opposite way around as the two screws that locate the outer casing (the small one and the large knurled one) are different sizes. I recently modded a pair of 205s, including swapping in 2912 Lundahl transformers. I followed Lundahls instructions and my best knowledge for wire and pin connections and discovered these modded Apex’s had opposite polarity to all my other mics. My big question is: Were the 205s polarities inverted BEFORE the transformer mod? I had no reason to test them at that stage. When the mechanics were flipped by the manufacturer did the electronics follow, or are there loads of these Apex 205s being sold with inverted polarities? Can anyone check that?

I’ve documented this with photos, should anyone be interested.

By: Rich Sackett

Rich Sackett — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:08:43 +0000

I’d recommend silking inside the body screen. It’ll look cool, make the mic less wind sensitive and maintain its acoustic transparency.

By: Michael Joly

Michael Joly — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:23:21 +0000

Just added some Coles vs Mod’d Apex 205 sound samples:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3775298-post170.html

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:43:41 +0000

Thanks for your imput, I can’t wait to try this for my studio.

By: tommy martin

tommy martin — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:04:18 +0000

does any one know if the stellar rm-1 is as good a value as the apex 205?

By: Ribbon Mics: The Secret Weapon of the Mic Locker | The Stereo Bus Blog

Ribbon Mics: The Secret Weapon of the Mic Locker | The Stereo Bus Blog — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 03:44:07 +0000

[...] Ribbon microphones provide a natural kind of compression that is extremely flattering to drums. Ribbon microphones work very much like our ears and, as a result, often are the most natrual-sounding microphone choice. Their quick release and neutral high-end tame strident cymbals. One of my favorite applications for ribbon microphones is as room mics for drums. In my experience, nothing sounds quite like a pair of Coles 4038 mics eight feet in front of a kit. Because of the roundness of the tone and their lack of distortion, they maintain their composure even under heavy compression. The Coles are an expensive option. There are more recent, very inexpensive, Chinese-made microphones designed after the Coles that do a good job of achieving much the same type of sound such as the Apex 205 (that people are modding to good effect). Also very popular are the active Royer ribbon microphones, which have their own internal preamps to achieve the sensitivity of condenser mics. [...]

By: chris madl

chris madl — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 04:18:50 +0000

if I may ask, I’ve been searching for any details or pictures of a tranformer being replaced in a ribbon. I recently got 2 lundahl 2912’s to replace the stock transformers in my stereo fatheads. much thanks for any info.
best,
chris

By: vvv

vvv — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 18:43:05 +0000

My NOS R2 ribbon appears to have a lot of “sag”; how do you tighten it?

I know “carefully”, ;-D , but…

By: des

des — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 02:28:47 +0000

Thanks very much, Michael.

I wanted to include a picture of a sagging ribbon in the “part 3″ article I just posted, but I can’t find one! And I’m not about to leave one of my ribbons at gravity’s mercy for the sake of an example :-) (I’ll definitely expand on the wiring phase, though, when I get around to posting about the xfmr upgrade.)

Cheers.

By: Michael Joly

Michael Joly — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 17:38:39 +0000

Nicely detailed instructions and photos Des – especially helpful are your cautionary statements about potential ribbon damage.

The only minor details I would add would be a caveat to maintain the correct wiring phase if a new transformer is installed and to check and correct (if necessary) proper ribbon tension. 30% – 50% of the hundred or so Chinese ribbon mics I’ve seen have had ribbon so slack in the magnetic gap that about 80% of their length is sagging out of the magnet gap (reduces output level and introduces distortion and a mechanical “clanging”.

Best, Michael Joly – OktavaMod