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#1
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Vintage Sony Mic Needs Repair C-38B
Any one on the group know where to get a vintage (not the recently
reissued) Sony C-38B repaired? I tried Korby but they said they don;t fix them anymore, Stephen Paul is sadly RIP, so where is one to go? ANy suggestions would be appreciated, thanks very much. BTW For those that are fans of these cool mics, you should know that contrary to popular opinion, Sony DOES still provide capsules for these mics (at least they did about two years ago when I got mine from them). Please email me at or post here. Many thanks. Kind Regards, Black Egg Studios, Boston |
#2
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James wrote:
Any one on the group know where to get a vintage (not the recently reissued) Sony C-38B repaired? I tried Korby but they said they don;t fix them anymore, Stephen Paul is sadly RIP, so where is one to go? ANy suggestions would be appreciated, thanks very much. BTW For those that are fans of these cool mics, you should know that contrary to popular opinion, Sony DOES still provide capsules for these mics (at least they did about two years ago when I got mine from them). Please email me at or post here. Many thanks. Check with Doug Walker. He is doing a lot of the old Neumann and AKG mics for people in North America. I don't know if he does Sony mics, but I don't see why not. Rob R. |
#3
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If the capsule is OK, what's the problem?
If the electronics need to be looked at, any good tech should be able to fix the mic, assuming he has access to the schematic. I don't remember the C38 being all that complicated when I saw the schemo... Is it OK? I don't know. Indeed that may be the case but I am not qualified to work on it and there is always the possibility it is the capsule even though its only a couple years old. It is rather bizarre symptoms, working perfectly and then it went "dark" sounding all of a sudden, lost its high end presence and also some output level. DOes that sound like a capsule or something else? There is no intermittence. Thanks for the recommendation on Doug Walker in CA. I had heard he was the guy on these old Sony mics and couldn't recall his name. Thanks very much for the help. Kind Regards, Black Egg Studios, Boston |
#4
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Actually that symptom sounds more like a problem with
the switch on the back. It's a really crappy '70's vintage Japanese hifi sort of thing in there. A little contact cleaner may take care of your problem. James wrote: If the capsule is OK, what's the problem? If the electronics need to be looked at, any good tech should be able to fix the mic, assuming he has access to the schematic. I don't remember the C38 being all that complicated when I saw the schemo... Is it OK? I don't know. Indeed that may be the case but I am not qualified to work on it and there is always the possibility it is the capsule even though its only a couple years old. It is rather bizarre symptoms, working perfectly and then it went "dark" sounding all of a sudden, lost its high end presence and also some output level. DOes that sound like a capsule or something else? There is no intermittence. Thanks for the recommendation on Doug Walker in CA. I had heard he was the guy on these old Sony mics and couldn't recall his name. Thanks very much for the help. Kind Regards, Black Egg Studios, Boston |
#5
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Which switch on the back is that? Are you thinking about a different
microphone the C48 possibly....? The pattern switch is mechanical not electrical on the C38 it closes the vent ports on the back of the capsule to make it Omni. The internal switch which goes from battery to phantom might be an issue.... have you tried it on battery supply instead of phantom? Rgds: Eric "Dan Kennedy" wrote in message ... Actually that symptom sounds more like a problem with the switch on the back. It's a really crappy '70's vintage Japanese hifi sort of thing in there. A little contact cleaner may take care of your problem. James wrote: If the capsule is OK, what's the problem? If the electronics need to be looked at, any good tech should be able to fix the mic, assuming he has access to the schematic. I don't remember the C38 being all that complicated when I saw the schemo... Is it OK? I don't know. Indeed that may be the case but I am not qualified to work on it and there is always the possibility it is the capsule even though its only a couple years old. It is rather bizarre symptoms, working perfectly and then it went "dark" sounding all of a sudden, lost its high end presence and also some output level. DOes that sound like a capsule or something else? There is no intermittence. Thanks for the recommendation on Doug Walker in CA. I had heard he was the guy on these old Sony mics and couldn't recall his name. Thanks very much for the help. Kind Regards, Black Egg Studios, Boston |
#6
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The C38A or B is roughly the same as the C37FET isn't it? It has that
rotary switch knob around the output cable, and it also has in internal low-pass filter switch, both of which can get iffy... A bit of difference in the powering circuits, but I think the main audio paths are very similar. But I've certainly been wrong before. Eric K. Weber wrote: Which switch on the back is that? Are you thinking about a different microphone the C48 possibly....? The pattern switch is mechanical not electrical on the C38 it closes the vent ports on the back of the capsule to make it Omni. The internal switch which goes from battery to phantom might be an issue.... have you tried it on battery supply instead of phantom? Rgds: Eric "Dan Kennedy" wrote in message ... Actually that symptom sounds more like a problem with the switch on the back. It's a really crappy '70's vintage Japanese hifi sort of thing in there. A little contact cleaner may take care of your problem. James wrote: If the capsule is OK, what's the problem? If the electronics need to be looked at, any good tech should be able to fix the mic, assuming he has access to the schematic. I don't remember the C38 being all that complicated when I saw the schemo... Is it OK? I don't know. Indeed that may be the case but I am not qualified to work on it and there is always the possibility it is the capsule even though its only a couple years old. It is rather bizarre symptoms, working perfectly and then it went "dark" sounding all of a sudden, lost its high end presence and also some output level. DOes that sound like a capsule or something else? There is no intermittence. Thanks for the recommendation on Doug Walker in CA. I had heard he was the guy on these old Sony mics and couldn't recall his name. Thanks very much for the help. Kind Regards, Black Egg Studios, Boston |
#7
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Dan look here for a picture....
http://homepage2.nifty.com/tac_yagi/...photo/c38b.jpg or http://www.ecat.sony.co.jp/business/...11971&KM=C-38B I did had a copy of the schematic for the C38 but cant seem to locate it now... no exotic parts... I have the tube versions C37A and C800 Rgds: Eric "Dan Kennedy" wrote in message ... The C38A or B is roughly the same as the C37FET isn't it? It has that rotary switch knob around the output cable, and it also has in internal low-pass filter switch, both of which can get iffy... A bit of difference in the powering circuits, but I think the main audio paths are very similar. But I've certainly been wrong before. Eric K. Weber wrote: Which switch on the back is that? Are you thinking about a different microphone the C48 possibly....? The pattern switch is mechanical not electrical on the C38 it closes the vent ports on the back of the capsule to make it Omni. The internal switch which goes from battery to phantom might be an issue.... have you tried it on battery supply instead of phantom? Rgds: Eric "Dan Kennedy" wrote in message ... Actually that symptom sounds more like a problem with the switch on the back. It's a really crappy '70's vintage Japanese hifi sort of thing in there. A little contact cleaner may take care of your problem. James wrote: If the capsule is OK, what's the problem? If the electronics need to be looked at, any good tech should be able to fix the mic, assuming he has access to the schematic. I don't remember the C38 being all that complicated when I saw the schemo... Is it OK? I don't know. Indeed that may be the case but I am not qualified to work on it and there is always the possibility it is the capsule even though its only a couple years old. It is rather bizarre symptoms, working perfectly and then it went "dark" sounding all of a sudden, lost its high end presence and also some output level. DOes that sound like a capsule or something else? There is no intermittence. Thanks for the recommendation on Doug Walker in CA. I had heard he was the guy on these old Sony mics and couldn't recall his name. Thanks very much for the help. Kind Regards, Black Egg Studios, Boston |
#8
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Dan appears to have been correct about the switches just not their
location.... looks like they are inside the case.... Look here for the schematics..... http://www.gyraf.dk/schematics/schematics.html Regards: Eric |
#9
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I should have been more clear I suppose. The switch activator is the
knurled knob around the output cable, it's geared to the switch located inside, the low pass is mounted on the circuit board. Another source of problems with these mics is the electrolytic in the dc to dc converter drying up. It's in the shielded case down at the bottom of the mic. Eric K. Weber wrote: Dan appears to have been correct about the switches just not their location.... looks like they are inside the case.... Look here for the schematics..... http://www.gyraf.dk/schematics/schematics.html Regards: Eric |
#11
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"James" wrote in message
om... Any one on the group know where to get a vintage (not the recently reissued) Sony C-38B repaired? How about Sony factory service? -- Bob Olhsson Audio Mastery, Nashville TN Mastering, Audio for Picture, Mix Evaluation and Quality Control Over 40 years making people sound better than they ever imagined! 615.385.8051 http://www.hyperback.com |
#12
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Subject: Vintage Sony Mic Needs Repair C-38B
From: (James) Date: 8/31/04 8:27 AM Mountain Daylight Time Message-id: Any one on the group know where to get a vintage (not the recently reissued) Sony C-38B repaired? I tried Korby but they said they don;t fix them anymore, Stephen Paul is sadly RIP, so where is one to go? Stephen Paul Audio is very much in business, but they are really backed up on their repairs. Tony Merrill has been doing the repairs for the last several years as Stephen's Health problems kept him from the actual repair. Richard H. Kuschel "I canna change the law of physics."-----Scotty |
#13
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Subject: Vintage Sony Mic Needs Repair C-38B
From: (James) Date: 8/31/04 8:27 AM Mountain Daylight Time Message-id: Any one on the group know where to get a vintage (not the recently reissued) Sony C-38B repaired? I tried Korby but they said they don;t fix them anymore, Stephen Paul is sadly RIP, so where is one to go? Stephen Paul Audio is very much in business, but they are really backed up on their repairs. Tony Merrill has been doing the repairs for the last several years as Stephen's Health problems kept him from the actual repair. Richard H. Kuschel "I canna change the law of physics."-----Scotty |
#14
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I have been away for a few days and haven't checked newsgroups.
Thanks to all for the very valuable suggestions. I had checked all the famous and funky sony switches before posting so i am hoping it is one of the simpler repairs mentioned by a few others, a cap or something. Just to clarify, indeed the C-38B has the funky mechanical pattern selector mounted behind the capsule, and the multi switch located at the base of the mic, plus the two switches "under the hood". Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried the reissues? do they rate? they certainly are pricey at $2200 although I guess they figure they are competing against the U87. BTW for those that are interested I think this is a fairly accurate history of the mic from a recent review of the reissue by Barry Rudolph: "...the genesis for this mic goes back to 1965 with the original C-38FET, the world's first Field Effect Transistor microphone and the successor to the famed C-37A tube mic. The C-38 was then updated in 1969 (C-38A) with a windscreen design change, and again in 1971 (C-38B) with phantom powering (9-volt internal battery or external DC 24V to 48V). The mic was 'reintroduced' to the US market at the 2003 AES Show even though there are over 65,000 in use today." kind regards and thanks again to all the rec.audio.pro gurus for all the advice. james |
#15
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I have been away for a few days and haven't checked newsgroups.
Thanks to all for the very valuable suggestions. I had checked all the famous and funky sony switches before posting so i am hoping it is one of the simpler repairs mentioned by a few others, a cap or something. Just to clarify, indeed the C-38B has the funky mechanical pattern selector mounted behind the capsule, and the multi switch located at the base of the mic, plus the two switches "under the hood". Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried the reissues? do they rate? they certainly are pricey at $2200 although I guess they figure they are competing against the U87. BTW for those that are interested I think this is a fairly accurate history of the mic from a recent review of the reissue by Barry Rudolph: "...the genesis for this mic goes back to 1965 with the original C-38FET, the world's first Field Effect Transistor microphone and the successor to the famed C-37A tube mic. The C-38 was then updated in 1969 (C-38A) with a windscreen design change, and again in 1971 (C-38B) with phantom powering (9-volt internal battery or external DC 24V to 48V). The mic was 'reintroduced' to the US market at the 2003 AES Show even though there are over 65,000 in use today." kind regards and thanks again to all the rec.audio.pro gurus for all the advice. james |
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#19
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#21
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#23
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James wrote:
(Mike Rivers) wrote in message news:znr1094554357k@trad... I guess that with the interest in high grade/priced mics in the US, they decided to ship some C-38Bs over here and send out a press release to see if its time has come around yet. ah... interesting info thanks mike, so they should be exactly the same mic, i wonder how they are selling? and no wonder the capsules are still available. i wonder how these differ from the c-48, which I find to be "very nice" but a little lack luster. Same/similar capsule? cheers, and thanks again for your repair advice. james Just to butt in for a moment... We have a C38B here and have been using it lately on kick drum much in the same way that lot of folks use a 47FET. It sounds really good in that application. Nice on bass amp and vocals also. A really nice all around microphone. However, not worth the 2K that they're asking for the new ones IMHO. As for repairing yours, my guess is that it's probably an electronic issue as opposed to a diaphram problem. Any decent tech could probably find the offending component. -- -- John Noll |
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