Mo-Facta
Don't wanna be a party pooper here but I have heard from a few of my colleagues who shall remain nameless that TUL mikes don't sound that great.
Just sayin'.
Cheers ?
AlanRatcliffe
Opinions from pros always welcome - opposing or otherwise. That's how we get to make informed opinions. ?
kayDUB
Agreed, but how about some more details from the pros?
Don't sound great compared to what? What's a better optionin the price range?
DrGonzo
Mo Facta wrote:
Don't wanna be a party pooper here but I have heard from a few of my colleagues who shall remain nameless that TUL mikes don't sound that great.
Just sayin'.
Cheers ?
have you heard them yourself greg?
Big-G
It would definitely be interesting to hear what they didn't like about the Tul's? A little more info would be of great help...
From my limited time with them, I could see why some would not like them, as the bass response is significantly more sensitive than other mics (particularly the f47's) and as a result can be a little more difficult to sit into a mix, but at the same time, I view this tonality to be an advantage, especially when this mic is used in combination with other mics?
I hope you will expand your comments?
Cheers
G!
Mo-Facta
Alan, no, haven't heard them myself but I will soon as I'm going try to review one. My plan is to put it up against a Miktek CV4 (a R20000 mike from Nashville), which is a quality microphone and if the TUL's are faithful recreations of classic designs, we shouldn't see that much of a margin of quality.
I'll post my results when I do the review.
Cheers ?
AlanRatcliffe
Mo Facta wrote:
Alan, no, haven't heard them myself but I will soon as I'm going try to review one. My plan is to put it up against a Miktek CV4 (a R20000 mike from Nashville)
That'd be cool, thanks.
I must admit, while I like what I've heard so far, the actual fit and finish of the mics themselves gives me pause:
Mo-Facta
Oh, sorry DrGonzo, I thought it was Alan that asked if I had heard them. My mistake.
Cheers ?
Big-G
Alan, I'm not sure if you've seen any Tul's up close? Before I saw them in real life, I also thought 'Oh my goodness! What's this put together with? Recycled exhausts?', but when I actually saw them, and held them, they are a lot more impressive! Having said that, they were of course relatively new ones.... It would be interesting to see how they fair after several years of studio 'abuse', er I mean use?
Cheers
G!
AlanRatcliffe
Big G wrote:
Alan, I'm not sure if you've seen any Tul's up close? Before I saw them in real life, I also thought 'Oh my goodness! What's this put together with? Recycled exhausts?', but when I actually saw them, and held them, they are a lot more impressive!
Exactly that, yes - I'm going on pics. Which is why I asked.
And while I happily go by the sound (and price - let's be honest), clients go on looks, so it's nice if a mic has both.
The original C12:
Big-G
Ja the original C12, and especially the Green and Gold version, are definitely winners in the 'looks' department! On looks alone, the Green and Gold C-12 would earn its place in any studio I was running, but thankfully offers so much more than just looks!! Unfortunately though, the price tag is stupendously hefty, IF you can even find one!
As mentioned, the Tul's look a lot more impressive in real life, partly due to their significant size and weight, which you obviously can't really gauge from a photograph. I have yet to see the G12 in the flesh though, but I personally prefer the Pencil version in the photo, rather than the production model which is effectively mounted in an SM58 body. Tully had none in stock when I was visiting, but was expecting a delivery a few days later.
As you noted though, I would be buying this mic for the sound and the 'value', rather than looks, but as with a nice looking guitar or bass, if it looks good, or at least 'funky', it inspires you to use it more..... I'm certain the f47's 'funky' look and size would encourage me to use it more, but I'm not so sure about the others yet?
Time is the teller I guess? Along with my wallet! If the wallet says no, no matter how good the mics are, I cannot partake in one, or two, or three!
And Mo-Facta, I look forward to your comparison! I don't expect the Tul to come out on top compared to the significantly more costly Miktek, but I don't think it'll be as large a gap as the price tags would suggest?
Cheers
G!
DrGonzo
Big G wrote:
Alan, I'm not sure if you've seen any Tul's up close? Before I saw them in real life, I also thought 'Oh my goodness! What's this put together with? Recycled exhausts?', but when I actually saw them, and held them, they are a lot more impressive! Having said that, they were of course relatively new ones.... It would be interesting to see how they fair after several years of studio 'abuse', er I mean use?
Cheers
G!
Yeah I was also quite taken aback when i first saw them... and what got me mostly is how ridiculously light they are as well!
After a while I have come to really dig the design, its quite porno 8)
Big-G
So last night, I got a call from a friend of mine, who needed a helping hand in his studio. He has access to all Tully's mics, and we recorded down some acoustics with the T12, and some electrics through a Vox, using the original prototype G12.
All I can say is that I am seriously impressed with what I heard. The T12 really captured the essence of the Martin acoustic he was using, and truly gave a very balanced tonal interpretation of the 'original', and most importantly, this was completely flat, with no additional EQ or 'editing'. When I originally heard the T12 on voice, I thought that perhaps the low end was a little under stated, but I had just heard the very revealing f47 just before it, which is anything but under stated! Hearing the T12 on acoustics showed me just how well suited to this instrument this mic is!
The G12 was also very impressive, offering a very pleasing response to the Vox tone. Plenty of high frequency information there, but not in a brittle or overbearing way. It would be interesting to know if the 'production' version (using a similar casing to an SM58) offers the same characteristics as the 'Pencil' type prototype, but if I was going to get a G12, I think I'd want it looking like the Prototype! It really gives the mic its own personality!
Alas, I didn't get to spend any time with the f47 last night, but I'm glad I got to work with the others! I'd still like another look at them in decent lighting to gauge the build quality once more, but I certainly think that I'll be partaking in some Tul mic's in the not too distant future! Hopefully!!
Having said that, a friend of mine has just started importing Pearl Mic's from Sweden... I'm awaiting more info, and hoping to get one t demo!
EDIT: I should have also mentioned that the sound of the T12 was very very open, and at times, myself and my friend kept thinking we'd left a second track unmuted, as the sound was so full, we thought more than one guitar was playing!
Cheers
G!
Mo-Facta
Well, off the record, I got to use the F47 on guitars, bass guitar, and bass drum and the overall impression is simply lackluster.
It's got a LOT of low end, but I found it dull and virtually devoid of a pleasant top end. I thought it would do pretty well on bass drum and bass guitar, but still, nothing special happened, IMO. For a R10000 mike, there are better options if you ask me. Maybe it's not working right, but I didn't like it.
That's my 2c.
Cheers ?
Big-G
Hmmmm... That is interesting. Do you mind if I ask what Preamp you ran it through?
Cheers
G!
DrGonzo
Big G wrote:
Hmmmm... That is interesting. Do you mind if I ask what Preamp you ran it through?
Cheers
G!
second that.. from what i have heard so far they sound lovely...
I guess it is all very subjective in the end.
singemonkey
Hijack warning:
I have an AKG C23. While it's criminal for an ignoramus like me to have a mic like this, I really would like to be able to use it. Unfortunately, I do not have the original power supply/controller thing for it. You microphone fundies have any idea of what I could do about that? I believe it's meant to be a similar small diaphragm tube condenser to the C12.
AlanRatcliffe
Extremely rare mic. You would probably have to contact AKG for a schematic and then pay someone to build it for you.
singemonkey
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Extremely rare mic. You would probably have to contact AKG for a schematic and then pay someone to build it for you.
Well, at least it's a plan. Thanks.
