Good place to get mics serviced?

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Phobos
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Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by Phobos » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:06 am

I recently bought a (non matched) used pair of AKG C414 B-ULS mics. One sounds great with no issues. The other has a noticeably weaker output and is noisier. It doesn't sound bad -- I recorded a couple of backing vocal tracks with it after upping the preamp gain -- but it isn't in the same league as its sister. Any thoughts as to what the issue might be, and/or where I could send it for diagnosis/service?

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A.David.MacKinnon
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:39 am

Very often it's dirt in the switch. I'd be hesitant to blast de-oxit anywhere near the capsule but exercising the switch may clear up the issue.

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Recycled_Brains
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by Recycled_Brains » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:42 am

A.David.MacKinnon wrote:
Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:39 am
Very often it's dirt in the switch. I'd be hesitant to blast de-oxit anywhere near the capsule but exercising the switch may clear up the issue.
Always the first move. I just went through 16 channels of PM1000 that were dodgy and 100% of them work fine now after exercising every switch, pot and fader a million times.

You could put some deoxit on a toothpick or q-tip and apply a bit like that.
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drumsound
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by drumsound » Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:57 am

You can get "eyedropper" type bottles if DeOxit.

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Nick Sevilla
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by Nick Sevilla » Mon Jun 14, 2021 10:28 am

Um... from the manufacturer?

https://www.akg.com/support.html
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by vvv » Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:10 am

Do check the XLR, also.
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Recycled_Brains
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by Recycled_Brains » Mon Jun 14, 2021 11:49 am

drumsound wrote:
Mon Jun 14, 2021 9:57 am
You can get "eyedropper" type bottles if DeOxit.
That's good to know!

I've found myself wanting that quite a few times.
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jimjazzdad
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by jimjazzdad » Tue Jun 15, 2021 4:00 am

That area around the switches in a 414 is very high impedance - getting deoxit in there may actually make things worse. Best AKG service in USA is Land Audio Service in TN. Richard Land is an AKG-trained tech and absolutely recommended. https://www.akgmicrepair.com/
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Scodiddly
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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by Scodiddly » Tue Jun 15, 2021 5:17 am

jimjazzdad wrote:
Tue Jun 15, 2021 4:00 am
That area around the switches in a 414 is very high impedance - getting deoxit in there may actually make things worse. Best AKG service in USA is Land Audio Service in TN. Richard Land is an AKG-trained tech and absolutely recommended. https://www.akgmicrepair.com/
Land Audio is who we use too. Definitely recommend them.

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Re: Good place to get mics serviced?

Post by cgarges » Sat Jun 26, 2021 8:33 pm

Richard Land is great! He's actually (or at least used to be) who AKG sends their east cost repairs to, but I had some really sketchy stuff happen with AKG that way. Richard was great, though. Next time, I'm just gonna send my mics straight to him and avoid the AKG mess.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

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