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[robft]

I've got a great old original C12 that I love. The person who had it previously got a bit overzealous and cleaned the capsule and rubbed gold off the diaphram from what it looks like. Now, the sound it started to go and I'm wondering if anyone still resputters gold onto an original diaphram?

I know Stephen Paul Audio used to sputter their own, and they worked on my U47 years ago. Are they still in business? I know Stephen Paul passed away unfortunately, but someone else wsa keeing it going several years ago.

Otherwise, does anyone else resputter? I want to keep EVERYTHING original in this C12, so it would be great to have the diaphram resputtered and not have to have it replaced. Otherwise, do people replace the diaphram while keeping the rest of the capsule original? I don't want to lose any of the character of the sound.

[Klaus Heyne]

You WILL lose the original sound of the capsule (and therefore, by extension, the mic) with any manipulation on the capsule components. There is no way around that. You may obtain from someone an original, complete diaphragm w/mounting ring. But chances are slim that the component you need to replace will be from the same series (and made to the same specs and tolerance) as the one that was in there. AKG had dozens of revisions and its stray from norm was e(norm)ous!

So, the first thing I would suggest is an attitude adjustment re: "keeping EVERYTHING original".

The most reasonable fix for your situation I can think of would not be a newly made, and sputtered, diaphragm (no one will sputter an existing diaphragm anyway) but to search for an original CK12 capsule with at least one good diaphragm, preferably from the same era and building spec as yours.

[compasspnt]

How is the other side?

[seedyunderbelly.com]

are you sure it needs anything?  sometimes they sound fine even with some gold rubbed off...

[J.J. Blair]

From what I understand, you can't simply reapply the gold to a diaphragm which has lost its gold.  I was hoping for a similar solution for one of my Sony capsules, and my understanding is that with all the contaminants on the surface of a used capsule, the gold will simply not adhere to it.  

[Dale Ulan]

The contaminants don't help much, and you'd have a very rough surface unless you removed all of the original gold (and contaminants). But even in cleaning the substrate (mylar or styroflex or PVC or glass), you will leave other contaminants on there, and if there's anywhere where contaminants are not wanted, it's in gold coating of those plastics. I have dozens of diaphragms with little fingerprints or other blemishes that were not visible when I put them in the chamber, but they sure make themselves visible when you hit the thing with gold.

Wait... there are even more complications. You would get deformation of the diaphragm while removing that original gold. The sputtering/deposition process also heats the mylar up substantially - enough that you see it deform slightly, and if you have a diaphragm ring on there already, the temperatures won't be even across it which would cause uneven tension and a sound that's pretty bad. Some capsule designs are pretty forgiving of that but the CK12 isn't one of them. You can't remove the diaphragm from the ring because you can't tension it without extra material that used to be there - it used to be clamped/glued/pressed into the tensioning jig/ring.

[Fletcher]

There are more than a couple companies that can re-skin original CK-12 capsules rather competently, I would think that would be the most effective avenue for exploration.

[seedyunderbelly.com]

And be sure that you even need to do anything sometimes they look bad sound fine...

How Does it sound to you?

[Oliver Archut]

There are more than a couple companies that can re-skin original CK-12 capsules rather competently


Hello Fletcher,

I do not know your definition of competently, but having evaluated samples of all companies and individuals that offer reskining, there is none of them that is identical to a pristine version of a great sounding AKG CK12.

I might agree with you that there are a lot of after market vendors/skinners that will produce nice sounding capsules, but none that I would call identical.

As you know I Do make microphones.

Also the great sounding AKG made CK12 capsule did not utilize gold evaporation, the rather thick gold film was deposit using a chemical reduction process.  
Later AKG CK12 used the gold evaporation method, but those ones do not fall in the domain of great sounding.

Best regards,

[Marik]

Oliver Archut wrote on Wed, 12 May 2010 18:25

I might agree with you that there are a lot of after market vendors that will produce nice sounding capsules, but none that I would call identical.

Oliver,

I am not sure what can be called identical in this case, as even out of factory it is quite hard to find two species one could call "identical". That was especially true for the earlier brass ring capsules, which were all over the map.

Best,

[Oliver Archut]

Hello Marik,

you are right and there were several discussion about the widespread sound qualities of an AKG CK12.

Let me clarify, a pristine good working example of what AKG was capable of manufacturing. The ones that have the special something.

Best regards,

[Klaus Heyne]

...and that special something is all I ask for.

Knowing the tremendous varieties of original CK12 capsules, they STILL all had that special something, unless the capsule was obviously deficient, or damaged.

Let's not use that wide spread of manufacturing tolerance in some of the desirable vintage products as an excuse to not deliver in the same class of magic when vendors are trying to reproduce these products.
It's an excuse that no one who has heard ample samples of originals will buy.

If there are ten different flavors of magic in an original CK12, I am quite alright in hearing an eleventh flavor of that magic in a capsule reproduction. I am not alright if that eleventh flavor is in a different, lower, league of excitement or emotional attractiveness, or otherwise deficient in the areas that make us say Ahhh!

I wish all parties the best, and will always make time to listen and test new capsule offerings.

[miics]

Oliver Archut wrote on Thu, 13 May 2010 03:25

There are more than a couple companies that can re-skin original CK-12 capsules rather competently (...) having evaluated samples of all companies and individuals that offer reskining, there is none of them that is identical to a pristine version of a great sounding AKG CK12.

You Haven't ried mine yet, so definitely not all.

cheers

[antoniosolo]

Well Ben, here is your opportunity.  You poked your head in and spoke up, now send Klaus a capsule. I ask in the most respectful tone and circumstance, so that we can partake of your magical  offerings.  Hope all is well Ben.  

[Klaus Heyne]

Ben just sent me two of his K47-style capsules (I am currently assembling a test battery of KK47s to make quick changes possible, for comparison.)

So be easy on him!