Skip to main content

Vintage AKG 414's - cleaning questions

Hey guys...
As some of you know, I have 2 Vintage AKG C-414's with the original Telefunken CK12 Brass Capsules.
These were the capsules that were used in the Telefunken ELAM and the AKG C12 mics. The C-414's also used this capsule until around 1980 or so, at which point they changed to a mylar diaphragm.

AKG C414 XLS vs. Shure KSM44a Apollo preamp

I am looking for a reliable workhorse microphone that will be used for 90% vocals. There will be both male and female vocalists focusing on pop and EDM. I will be running the mic through an apollo rack 8 and the room is nicely treated by gik acoustics. The problem is, I haven't been able to DECIDE which microphone to buy...and I can not afford both.

Vocal Test with an AKG SolidTube

Forums

I recently replaced the stock 12AX7 tube in this mic to a 12AT7. The original reason I changed the tube wasn't to get a tonal difference, it was just that the old tube was causing noise, and the only spare tube I had lying around was a 12AT... but I think it did change the tonal characteristics of the mic, not dramatically, but a bit.