DIY "1979" Vintage U87 Clone with Genuine Neumann K87 Capsule 

It’s like a 44 year old single malt scotch.

Thanks! Enjoy those Baifei Li mics when you get them. You’ll have some fun with them for sure.

And I cherish it knowing it’ll probably never happen again. LOL.

You can see a really good breakdown of the entire build here: vintagemicrophonepcbkit.com/Neumann%20U87%20Build.htm

Thanks Jeff. This may be the one. At least until next week.

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Hahaha! Yeah. Well, the BCM-104 is still gnawing at me. I mean, you’d think I’d be satisfied with a U87 ai and a 416, but last night I was walking the pups thinking, “Man, maybe give the 103 another shot, or get a TLM-67, and you never got the 017 or the Sphere…” It’s almost a form of self-torture. Or it certainly is, but it’s too good and powerful to stop.

@@liquidvelvetliterature So what is it about the sound of either of those mics that you are looking for? There is nothing like that feel of getting a new mic, but now I ask myself what it is that this mic does that I need, that I don't already have. I spent years aiming at a moving target, which is why I could never find "the" mic. I had to first define what "my sound" should be and then drill down from there with intent based upon that criteria. It's not easy, but I realized it's why I'm at this juncture with this 1979 mic that may indeed be my "it".

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff That’s a good question. I don’t think I need a mic, well, not like I used to buy them, left and right. But every time I do, I always revert back to the 416. Even from the U87, which I’ve yet to try in a pro space. But the transistor-less large condensers, well, the few I had, were bright and kind of weird sounding, where the U87 is darker, smoother, but to my ear a bit less open than the 103, but I hated the 103 when I had it, after a few months. I guess had I used the U87 as long as I’d used the 416, I’d be used to it, and the 416 would sound off to me. Ah… I don’t know. Could also be I like the hunt for sound. But, like you said once, it’s chasing the dragon. It might be time to stop and focus on the tools I have here. I mean, they’re not chopped liver. Two years ago, I would dream of owning a Twin X, a U87, and a 416. I think I have issues… hahaha

I think a lot of us can relate. We all kind of laugh at Gear Acquisition Syndrome as this made up, first world “problem” without truly understanding the impact of it on our productivity. I’m all for the new, shiny, shiny, but more than ever I want to run what I have through the ringer to make sure I’m not missing out on something magical I haven’t discovered yet.

3u Audio GZT-87. I've tried a number of different 87 transformers and this is the one I like best on my voice.

It’s the cinemag cm13113 in the 1979. Haven’t tried Arienne’s capsule with Danys circuit yet. I’m sure it bangs.

@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff you rock, Mark! Thanks a lot

Thanks Oscar. I never like win raffles or contests, so I figure this is the universe making it all even.

I think I used up all my Ebay luck on that one, so it had to count.

It’s these US $24.44 52％ Off | KINGLUCKY 2022 Cardioid Microphone, Metal Body, Condenser, Recording, For Notebook, Studio, For Vocal, Music, Link, Sound Card a.aliexpress.com/_mPNhSQc It’s like 7/8th size of a real 87, but the headbasket is the right kind of meshing.

You are absolutely correct on all counts. A goodly amount of that graininess, I have since come to realize, especially in the low mids was caused by UAD’s Console’s attempt at analog cosplay, and I’ve kicked it to the curb.

No kidding. And I never have luck finding stuff or winning raffles or in gambling. Never. This makes up for a lifetime of that.

Yeah man, she's a beauty.