| Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Can Anyone Do It? [message #454565] |
Fri, 13 November 2009 16:44  |
 JAZZ DAD
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2009
Location: KY |
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Hi, I looked in my manual and did not find any info on how to change the tube (model?) in my VM1(4-5 yrs old). I spoke with a tech once (Brauner referred) about it and the time turnaround was kinda lengthy (6-8 weeks),not that that is long, I'm just covered up.
Is there soldering involved? Easy or not? Diagrams anywhere? I have a great tech who can do the work, if I can get some info for him.
As always, any info I greatly appreciate.
My first post!
dwight
3d
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454582 is a reply to message #454565 ] |
Fri, 13 November 2009 18:22  |
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Klaus Heyne
Messages: 2974
Registered: April 2004 |
Platinum Member |
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There are two versions of the VM1; the earlier used a regular, plug-in miniature EF86 tube, more recent versions use a filament (soldered) sub-miniature EF732 or similar tube, which takes some experience and skill to install.
James Gangwer (james@jamesgangwer.com) was the authorised warranty service person for all things Brauner for many years. You may want to contact him.
Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454633 is a reply to message #454582 ] |
Sat, 14 November 2009 06:20 |
JAZZ DAD
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2009
Location: KY |
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Thanks for the info Klaus. Mine is a 2003. The specs for the tube in the manual say EF86, EF806, EF732 or Brauner CMVT1. Is this the plug in model ya think?
Any thoughts on a preference of these choices for a VM1?
Thank you,
dwight
3d
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454643 is a reply to message #454633 ] |
Sat, 14 November 2009 07:55 |
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| JAZZ DAD wrote on Sat, 14 November 2009 07:20 |
The specs for the tube in the manual say EF86, EF806, EF732 or Brauner CMVT1. Is this the plug in model ya think?
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That list has both "plug-in" and soldered/filament tubes. Can you look inside and see which you have?
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454679 is a reply to message #454652 ] |
Sat, 14 November 2009 12:37 |
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Klaus Heyne
Messages: 2974
Registered: April 2004 |
Platinum Member |
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The date 2003 mentioned might be close to or past the conversion to EF732 filament tube.
Open the mic up, as was suggested, and you will see whether you are in luck, and still have the user-replaceable EF86-type.
Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454716 is a reply to message #454565 ] |
Sat, 14 November 2009 17:23 |
mwurfl
Messages: 60
Registered: August 2004
Location: Santa Clara, CA |
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Klaus, do you know (& can you share) why they went to the EF732 instead of the EF86?
Thanks,
Mark Wurfl
"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted, counts."
-- Albert Einstein
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454731 is a reply to message #454716 ] |
Sat, 14 November 2009 20:24 |
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Klaus Heyne
Messages: 2974
Registered: April 2004 |
Platinum Member |
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A rather self-evident answer: old stock, quality-EF86 of the kind worthy to run in a high-quality mic are hard to find in quantities anymore.
During the KHE run, I had to go through quite a few NOS European EF86 before I would be satisfied that any single one of them would last a reasonable amount of time.
Also, rejection rate due to noise for such quiet mics as Brauner's tube mics is especially high.
Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454742 is a reply to message #454565 ] |
Sun, 15 November 2009 01:56 |
mwurfl
Messages: 60
Registered: August 2004
Location: Santa Clara, CA |
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Yes, I suspected as much, given my own recent experience with EF86 availability/suitability. But since I have no experience with the EF732, I was wondering if there might also have been a chance that sonic factors played a part in the changeover decision.
Thanks for the clarification/confirmation.
Mark W
"Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted, counts."
-- Albert Einstein
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454745 is a reply to message #454742 ] |
Sun, 15 November 2009 02:52 |
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Klaus Heyne
Messages: 2974
Registered: April 2004 |
Platinum Member |
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| mwurfl wrote on Sat, 14 November 2009 23:56 |
(...) I was wondering if there might also have been a chance that sonic factors played a part in the changeover decision.
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I doubt it. Nowadays most manufacturers use what obscure European or U.S. oddball-NOS they can find- something affordable, halfway reliable and decent-enough sounding, by no means ideal, but often a big floor above Russian dreck.
It's hard to imagine, but a 'real' EF86 or similar in a new condenser mic would probably be the costliest part of all in that mic for the manufacturer.
So, given the choice, few manufactures would use low quality tubes or tubes that were never meant to be used in condenser microphones; just as few guitar amp makers would use off-shore "KT90" or Eastern European EL84, if they only had higher quality alternatives
Not all tube choices for new mics these days are made along the lines, but most. But even Schoeps's M222, which started out with Telefunken AC701 has now switched to EF732.
Neumann, Brauner, Soundelux, Tele-USA, and a few other manufacturers also jumped on this military/institutional sub-miniature penthode that, a few years ago, was about a dollar a piece, easily fits into the smallest of housings, develops little heat, and, when well selected, lasts a few years.
Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454751 is a reply to message #454565 ] |
Sun, 15 November 2009 07:45 |
JAZZ DAD
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2009
Location: KY |
Member |
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I am a bit embarrassed to ask , but can any of you tell me the simplest way to get the to the tube to look at it. I can find no info on this anywhere and thought I would ask before I started my search.
Thanks so much for this help.
3d
3d
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454780 is a reply to message #454751 ] |
Sun, 15 November 2009 14:08 |
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Klaus Heyne
Messages: 2974
Registered: April 2004 |
Platinum Member |
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| JAZZ DAD wrote on Sun, 15 November 2009 05:45 |
(...) can any of you tell me the simplest way to get to the tube to look at it?
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To repeat: get a 1.5mm allen wrench, loosen three housing screws (look inside the holes: they are really in there!) counter-clockwise, five to six turns, until you can easily remove the whole outer shell of the mic that includes the head basket.
You will now see either what looks like a regular old pre-amp tube (it would be the EF86, same size as in a guitar preamp section) or you will find the EF732 tube that is about the size of a very small pinky. To replace the latter will require a skilled microphone technician.
Considering the hazard of potentially nicking the capsule in the process of removing the housing tube:
What's the reason you want to go through this? Do you have a tube failure?
Klaus Heyne
German Masterworks
www.GermanMasterworks.com
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Anyone Do It? [message #454803 is a reply to message #454780 ] |
Sun, 15 November 2009 17:28 |
Hank Alrich
Messages: 617
Registered: May 2007
Location: Northern California |
Gold Member |
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| Klaus Heyne wrote on Sun, 15 November 2009 12:08 |
Considering the hazard of potentially nicking the capsule in the process of removing the housing tube:
What's the reason you want to go through this? Do you have a tube failure?
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Bingo. Why does this seem necessary?
--
ha
http://www.armadillomusicproductions.com/CarryMeHome.html
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Can Anyone Do It? [message #454834 is a reply to message #454565 ] |
Mon, 16 November 2009 06:28 |
JAZZ DAD
Messages: 7
Registered: November 2009
Location: KY |
Member |
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Gustav, sorry I missed the directions you gave me, my bad...
I do not have tube failure, I don't think.
I do think you guys are correct, this mic should be evaluated by a tech.
Thanks, for helping me with that awareness.
I track with it all the time and wish I could get a rush turnaround, for a upcharge of course.
I like it alot and just want to feel confident it is correct.
Thank you all so much for your time, I feel very fortunate to have come here.
dwight
3d
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| Re: Brauner VM1 Tube Replacement / Can Anyone Do It? [message #454846 is a reply to message #454834 ] |
Mon, 16 November 2009 09:39 |
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J.J. Blair
Messages: 12680
Registered: May 2004
Location: by the sea & sand |
Diamond Member |
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If you like it, then it is correct.
studio info
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