TUL microphones

greetings · 2012-06-08T18:21:11+00:00

I'm a student at SAE Institute, and a while back we were treated to a microphone demonstration by Tully McCully, a South African local who makes TUL micropho...

TUL microphones

greetings

I haven't compared the Avantone to the TUL T12, but the T12 sounds amazing. It is not tube-based, I don't think. I would suggest that you contact Tully on their Facebook page, he will help you out. I'm sure you can even try them out, because me saying they're amazing won't mean much to you without seeing for yourself.

Here's a picture of the f47:

greetings

Mo Facta wrote: My question is, where did the Neve Genesys come from???

Cheers ?

Mo Facta,

SAE is a global college with campuses all around the world, so they have connections and financial support ?

They imported it. We also have the pleasure of using a Digidesign ICON D-Control in the other studio, with a selection of Focusrite, SPL, and Neve preamps ?.

Psean

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I've been hearing things about the TUL mics - there's a review in this month's Muse mag.

Tully is a SA music stalwart - guitarist of the McCully Workshop, recording engineer and owner of Spaced Out Sound here in CT. Anton Fig (the drummer you mention - a monster player) and Kevin Shirley are both old SA scene musos too.

Would this be the Kevin Shirley who's producing Joe Bonamassa?

AlanRatcliffe

Psean wrote: Would this be the Kevin Shirley who's producing Joe Bonamassa?

One and the same:

Born on 29 June 1960 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Shirley spent his early years producing and engineering records for South African artists including Robin Auld, Juluka, Jonathan Butler, Lesley Rae Dowling, Steve Louw and Sweatband as well as performing and recording with his own band the Council, whose singer was Brian Davidson.

He moved to Australia in 1987 where he continued working with Australian artists, such as The Hoodoo Gurus, The Angels, Cold Chisel, Girl Monstar, Tina Arena, The Screaming Jets, Baby Animals. After producing Silverchair's debut album Frogstomp, he moved to the U.S.A.

In the US, he produced work for Aerosmith, Dream Theater, Black Country Communion, Journey, The Black Crowes and then for international hard rockers like Iron Maiden, Rush, HIM, Slayer. He also worked on the retrospective Led Zeppelin DVD. He has produced several albums for American blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, the latest being Dust Bowl (released in the U.S. on 22 March 2011). Shirley produced the Mr. Big album What If....

Psean

What a C.V.! Great South African producer, great South African mics. That's the kind of thing I like to hear ?

DrGonzo

This thread got me very intrigued about these microphones!

So i emailed Tully and have arranged for him to send 1 of each of his mics up here to Emendy in Pretoria for a 3 month demo period! ? 8)

what a legend.

I will report back our findings once we get em.

arjunmenon

Frodo Baggins wrote: He also makes the T12 small diaphragm condenser (based on the almost unobtainable AKG C12 - this is great on toms, overheads, acoustic guitar, even vocals too), and the G12, simply the most amazing guitar amp mic I have ever been exposed to. It is currently being used by Steve Vai and Joe Bonamassa (Joe's latest record used only TUL G12's on the guitar amps). Other users include Kevin Shirley, and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

I've heard Neal Schon uses it too.
Very interesting thread this.

Malkav

I have also heard nothing but good words from friends of mine that have tried out these microphones ?

My suggestion is get them now while they're still reasonably priced ?

AlanRatcliffe

DrGonzo wrote: I will report back our findings once we get em.

And..? Any comments so far?

I'm hoping Tully steps up and brings out a U87 clone too, but I'm thinking an f47 will hold me over until he does. ?

DrGonzo

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
DrGonzo wrote: I will report back our findings once we get em.
And..? Any comments so far?

Well haven't had oodles of time to record with the miss, but from what I have heard so far I will say I am definitely impressed! (all 3)
The f47 is great, have had mixed results on vocals but that just goes to show that sometimes one mic is not always suitable for every different voice...
For the most part good tho...

Here is a quick test i threw together last night in my bedroom... comparing the TUL t12 to the f47 on classical/nylon string guitar.
I thin they both sound great but i lean towards the f47 for a more open and warmer sound.
(excuse the playing its just a random mix of improvised picking and strumming!)

TUL t12

TUL f47

What do you think? :-\

AlanRatcliffe

The t12 is quite revealing, very detailed and precise with a lovely low end. I really like it. Maybe wants to be a little further away from the source. Wouldn't be my first choice on nylon - bass was a bit too big for me and it is going to be too revealing for some players, but sounds gorgeous anyway. I'd love to hear this mic on low toms or Djembe and voices. I may just have to get one (and find something to record with it later ?).

The f47 definitely works better in the application - upper mids are maybe a little unrealistic compared to the t12, but they are nice anyway. I'd love to hear this on steel string, but can understand mixed results with that upper mid push. I know the U47 is a firm favourite on bass amps.

What nylon string are you playing, BTW? Sounds great.

DrGonzo

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: What nylon string are you playing, BTW? Sounds great.

Its a Miguel Almeria... They are importing them at Musica, from spain perhaps or not sure exactly. I just got yesterday and am so incredibly happy with it... its gorgeous and was very very well priced at R3.2k.... recommendations!

Ja the T12 really does sound great on toms, i can attest to that. on Djembe I'm sure its a winner as well...

Big-G

A friend of mine has also been using the f47, and another friend all three mics, and both of them are raving about their abilities and tonal warmth.

Now all I need to do is try them out myself, and sell a load of stuff to buy some!!! Anyone looking for fish tanks? Golf clubs? Mountain bike? Russian wife? ?

Keep the opinions coming in guys, really enjoying hearing about these gems!

Regards
G!

DrGonzo

Big G wrote: Now all I need to do is try them out myself, and sell a load of stuff to buy some!!! Anyone looking for fish tanks? Golf clubs? Mountain bike? Russian wife? ?
G!

Dibs on the Russian ?

Big-G

DrGonzo wrote: Dibs on the Russian ?

Sorry, had to send the Russian back.... She had a few factory fitted faults! ?

DrGonzo

So long story short, I think the TUL's kick some serious butt.

I think I'm gonna get the T12 (next month tho, broke as at the moment!) and then try and save up for the F47 later on....

I have had a trial SE Z5600 tube mic for a week now and have done a couple of tests and find it a bit too bright for my liking, there is like this very high presence lift going on... its nice and it will work for somethings but not for me hey...

here is a demo between the Z5600 and the f47 on male vocals...

I tried to EQ the TUL, but every eq adjustment made it sound worse, so I guess it was just perfectly balanced the way it was±!

and here is another recording of the T12 on a nylon string

let me know your opinions 8)

kayDUB

Have you tried the Audio Technica 4047? Supposedly their take on the 47 fet.

Interested to hear the comparison, but will have to wait til I'm on my other PC.

DrGonzo

Really> I had no idea? I guess thats where the 47 in 4047 comes from ?

I would love to get a chance to hear one of em

kayDUB

DrGonzo wrote: Really> I had no idea? I guess thats where the 47 in 4047 comes from ?

?

Ok, had a listen (samsung headphones!) and I must say I also prefer the f47 on that one. The Z5600 seemed to sound almost "hollow" or empty (bad terminology!) in comparison to me. Accentuated the sibilance too. I suppose it's not really a true comparison since it's 2 different takes.

Big-G

I haven't been able to listen to any of these samples yet, but I'll get to them soon...

I just had to share my 'kicking myself' moment.....

When I first heard of Tul mics, it was from gummail/junktree... A guy was selling a T12 for R1500!! I tried to do some research, and found very little on these mics, until I came across the SAE review of Tully's recent visit.....

By the time I decided to jump in, the mic was sold! A few days later, the person who bought it put it back on Junktree, and I immediately rang (or so I thought?), only to have the seller tell me that a buyer had literally just driven away with it! Gutting!!

I would have been rather happy to have landed a T12 for R1500! It just goes to show that if something comes up, you have to act fast!!

Thanks for listening to my little moan. I'll be quicker next time!

G!