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[strangeandbouncy]

Hi Guys,

I may have got my hands on a bargain C12 - but it is without its capsule!

Any suggestion as to where I might find one would be most welcome!

Who might re-skin a dead one these days? Failing finding the real deal, does anyone make anything even close to the original? I believe that Haun is similar, but is it any good? Where do all the clones source theirs? Surely they can't all be NOS?

In a pinch, I could always chuck something cheap in (i.e. Peluso [?]), or perhaps my spare Gefell M7 or homemade Debenham, Stebbings, and Robinson capsule just to get it running, and wait for a real one to come along.

Just how different is a "new" CK12? I know from regular and long-time experience that, for instance, C12VR is a piece of unmitigated, staggering boredom compared to C12, but I would still say that it is quite a good mic, if acquired for a song! Would it be possible to fit any of these (physically) in real C12?

Any advice would be most gratefully appreciated, as ever!

Kindest regards,
ANdyP

[J.J. Blair]

You do not want an M7 in there.  You are rather unlikely to find a spare NOS CK12.  If you do a search, there are many threads about this topic.  I don't see the point of putting a Haun or a Peluso in a real C12, personally.

[Klaus Heyne]

The state of CK12 copies is still pretty dismal, speaking from personal experience. This may be at least partially due to its complicated construction, which not even AKG was confident enough to undertake, after some serious contemplation a few years ago.

The usual sources for CK12: dilapidated or scavenged C12A, and all kinds of C412, C414 comb and C414 EB up to the series when the bodies turned from silver to black.

Yes, you could try the C12VR capsule (which is identical to the 414 TLII capsule in your mic. You will need another mount (easy to obtain) and you will not quite get the fabulous CK12 sound, but it may indeed limp you through nicely until you find a genuine CK12.

[strangeandbouncy]

Thanks very much for your replies. If anyone does come across a genuine CK12, and doesn't need it themselves( as if!), you know who, to contact!

All the best, ANdyP

[Tim Campbell]

Unfortunately, after some manufacturers began buying up old 414EB's, etc for 2,000 dollars and up to scavenge old "brass" capsules the availibility of these old mics seems to have dried up.

I disagree that all copies or remembraned versions of this capsule sound dismal. People manufacturing versions of this capsule would include myself, MBHO, Red, Josephson, Flea and I'm sure others that aren't on the tip of my tongue right now. All of these companies, including myself and a long list of others , repair these capsules.

I've heard, and others on this forum have stated that they've encountered copies or repairs that sound as good as original versions they own.

I'm afraid, given the state of availibilty of these capsules, that if you're waiting for someone to offer one for sale (that hasn't been repaired)for a reasonable price you'll be waiting quite a long time.

[J.J. Blair]

I'm dying to hear Tim's CK12 copy.  When do we get to play with one?

[Tim Campbell]

J.J.,
Anyone is free to contact me outside this forum but I try to do my best to not solicit business here.

[Klaus Heyne]

Tim Campbell wrote on Fri, 28 November 2008 06:10

I disagree that all copies or remembraned versions of this capsule sound dismal. People manufacturing versions of this capsule would include myself, MBHO, Red, Josephson, Flea and I'm sure others that aren't on the tip of my tongue right now.

Tim,
Let's go through your list of vendors, because I am curious and eager to update my knowledge:

* Josephson. As far as I know, he exclusively delivers CK12-style capsules to a small mic manufacturer in L.A. I am not aware that you can send him your CK12 and he will reskin it (David?)

* MBHO makes variations, not exact copies, of the CK12 for another small manufacturer in L.A. I am not aware that he takes in original CK12 repairs for re-diaphragming.

* Flea manufactures and (re)diaphragms complete capsules? I was under the impression that he uses Thiersch's CK12 skinning (not quite there in CK-12 sound autheticity, as far as I am concerned.)

* I have not yet heard of RED CK12 diaphragming jobs.

Please enlighten us!

[Tim Campbell]

Klaus,
You're right about the re-diaphraming. I mention these manufacturers  and too hastily included them in my list of repairers.

In a long ago conversation with David Josephson he mentioned he could re-diaphram a capsule for me. These days I'm sure he's much too busy with his own products.

The same is true for MBHO. Many years ago Norbert Sobol mentioned that Haun had re-diaphramed some capsules for AKG but I know for a fact that they're much too busy these days to do this sort of work.

A direct quote from Flea's website states that their C12 clone is "equipped with an FK12 capsule which is our own exact replica of a CK12 capsule." They don't however mention re-membraning capsules.

There does seem to be , however, a long growing list of people that purport to re-diaphram these capsules to "original spec". I have no idea what kind of quality service they provide.

I only know that if I believed that it was impossible to manufacture a new version of a capsule or  remembrane one to sound as good as it was originally manufactured I wouldn't spend any more of my time doing it.

[Klaus Heyne]

Tim Campbell wrote on Fri, 28 November 2008 12:23

I only know that if I believed that it was impossible to manufacture a new version of a capsule or remembrane one to sound as good as it was originally manufactured I wouldn't spend any more of my time doing it.

Looking forward to receiving and testing your CK12 version and sharing my findings!

[nob turner]

tim--

klaus is not the only guy who would like to know that your ck12's sound great.  if you are confident of them, i think it would be worth your while to let klaus, or jj, or someone else of repute try one out.  the resulting P.R. would undoubtedly help you out, if you are looking for work/sales.

james gangwer told me that the ck12's from 414EB's don't mount in a C12/C24 properly.  is this not so?  

(Maybe James can post his difficulties? I had not encountered problems so far. K.H.)

[J.J. Blair]

And let's get something straight: I am not of repute.  We'll leave that to others.

[Barry Hufker]

A few years ago I scoured the earth to find a CK12 (without a microphone)for a microphone I was having built.  There are some in existence but none to be had.  One person told me he wouldn't be selling any before he died.  I offered to kill him if it would speed things along...

I finally ended up with two - or should I say one and a half.  In any event, it is not a process I'd happily go through again.

Barry

[MagnetoSound]

Barry Hufker wrote on Sat, 29 November 2008 08:39

One person told me he wouldn't be selling any before he died.  I offered to kill him if it would speed things along...

Hmm, things are getting grisly out there!

[Donn Halliburton]

So can someone explain the history of the different CK12 variations.  I see ones with a red coating on them, which many proport to be from later model mics (414 EB's and such).  Then I see the ones with the black around them, which are usually identified as older versions, and then I heard of an older version that was clear around the edge.  Is this true?  what variations and time frames exist on these capsules?

Donn