Building a Vintage-style U87 Mic Is Easier and Cheaper Than You Think (Video) April 30, 2013 11:43 35 Comments

Good electronic
i will like to ask you to make one of the custom made u87 for me if possible.

Awesome video !! Thanks for doing this . I gotta build one .

Well done!
Btw: i own a vintage AKG D12 mic with a broken capsule: does somedy know how it s possible to replace this very-very-hard to find capsule?Does anothe type fit to this microphone typ with similar sound specifications?
Thank you for all suggestion…

Hello, I would so Love to build one of these U87,s you made it look so easy, but I must say, you explained it so awesome. you took your time explaining, and even with the small details. You Mention a guy by the name of Danny, I don’t think I caught his site.I wrote down a few sites you metion, but I wasn’t sure which was his. at the end, the calabration part of the build. I don’t know much about that. thank you Kindly, I sure hope you can help me with this project. take care

Original Rode NT2 body could be ideal, fairly identical looking too. I think it only has the 2 positions though.

http://medias.audiofanzine.com/images/normal/rode-nt2-259963.jpg

Hi Bill. It’s weird he’s referred to as “Dany.” His website is:
http://www.vintagemicrophonepcbkit.com/

Some important prerequisite mic knowledge is not even touched on in this video. Most importantly, the need to clean the high-impedance areas of the PCB (those that attach to the capsule) with isopropyl alcohol. Globs of flux between certain pads in this area will add a lot of noise.

Here’s an 87 page build thread, which I have not read. It may have some useful information:
http://www.groupdiy.com/microphones/neumann-vintage-u87-clone-build-thread/

Bill, Dany’s site is http://www.vintagemicrophonepcbkit.com/

There is a build thread associated with this project that I have not read. But it may fill in the details you need: http://www.groupdiy.com/microphones/neumann-vintage-u87-clone-build-thread/

Would a M – audio Nova work as a donor body ? something blew inside the mic, and i thinking of just rebuilding a new proper mic into it that fixing it

Would a pacific pro audio ld-1 work as a donor body?

Isn’t the total actualy around 500USD instead?…….

Totally depends on the components you choose. Matthew’s build happened to come to $342, but you could certainly spend more than $1,000 if you wanted.

Hi, I was just wondering why the Mouser BOM shows a much higher total then 20$… I mean, are there any optional components or is it just a matter of quality?

The inductors I see are marked 473. I think they are 47 MILLIhenry.
Shouldn’t they be 47 MICROhenry?

hi, i have only a cad glx 3000…can i use it?

Good eyes on you Ruud. You sussed the last digit (3) multiplier correctly. And if the units in question were µH, “473” would indeed indicate 47,000µH. These are marked in nH (nano-henries.) Some manufacturers stick to nH convention even when the inductor is up in the mH (millihenry) range, in which case a 47mH inductor might be marked 473k. (Here’s the datasheet for the inductors I used: http://www.mouser.com/ds/2/281/kmp_1100r-48592.pdf.)

That brings up an important point everyone should be aware of: the specs at Mouser and other retailers are sometimes incorrect. In rare cases even the manufacturers own datasheets will contain errors. The surest way to know a component’s value is to measure them yourself.

Thanks for keeping a sharp eye out and taking the time to alert me! Matthew

Hi Gabriele, It seems no two people will make a parts list exactly the same way. You’ll be happy to hear it’s not really a matter of quality in this case. One may argue the merits of a silver mica cap at C15. I personally don’t believe it’s an improvement. But others may be more comfortable with the higher voltage headroom of a 300v part in a spot that will see 46v max. Neither is wrong; just a matter of personal preference.

I built a new Mouser cart for you based on the parts I used, with substitutions for what’s available as of this moment.
https://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=1da9f2a856

You could increase the price slightly by adding in the quick disconnect headers. And if you don’t want to drill a larger hole in your PCB, you can change the isolation pin for the one in Dany’s parts list linked in the description. Other than those relatively minor changes, I can’t really account for the price difference. The discrepancy surprised me. You can choose a combination of parts that suits your proclivities.

Can I have a copy of your BOM? what is the difference of yours and Mouse’s. You spent around 20 and Mouse’s is around 64 dolars. But you said you used quality components…..?

Never mond!! COOL! I see the link below THANK YOU!!

hello
i want to build 87 tipe microphon
from how do i make the order

Hi Niv, please see the link to the different manufacturers in the post. I don’t sell anything related to this kit personally.

Hello my name is edgar I was wondering if you would be able to build me one the same as yours what woul you charge ?

hi my name jinnah i was thinking if u can make me one
i will pay the cast if is some u can do pise call 6172305392
or austincool297@yahoo.com

Thanks for your inquiry, Jinnah, but I don’t do custom work at this time.

hello, apparently you can find the K87 capsule and U87 body microphone on the site www.micandmod.com

I own a vintage D12 original capsule from the 60’s without the mic body. Interested?

Are you willing to sell your D12?

Hello! I am from brazil and i saw yor awesome video! congrats! But I have some question about building a neumann u87. I already have a Behringer B2 as a donor. Does the circuit board come with the components plugged on the board? Or I have to buy the components? Because I do not know the right places to put the components on the board.. And I do not know what components to buy.. I understand nothing about it.. hahaha… Please man.. help me to build that mic.. or if you send me what components to buy, I can find a guy here to put them on the right places.. thanks man! I will be waitign for your answer.

Fernando,

You can do a capsule switch but the focus of this mod is on replacing components and designing an entirely ‘new’ microphone. So Matth has modified the U87 circuit design to be replicated with the same capsule, transformer, and components. There is a component list located a few comments up—I will reintroduce the link here: https://www.mouser.com/ProjectManager/ProjectDetail.aspx?AccessID=1da9f2a856

Cheers.

I have the aurycle a460 already, can I use the capsule and the transformer that I already have and just get the PCB and components?

Is there any place where we can hear a demo of the end result?

Hi Matth, sorry to respond to such an old post, but I can’t help but notice that your list includes half the number of parts as the other BOM. Why is this? The other does seem to include an alternative 15-ish parts, but that still leaves 70-ish parts compared to your 41. Why is that? I don’t really see room for 70 different components on these boards, so I’m inclined to believe your BOM over the mouser one. The price certainly looks better!

Is the Behringer 2 Pro body compatible to Dany’s Large U87PCB or the taper one?

hello,the head basket& mount frame& body are not available from who you listed,can anyone tell me where to get these items,will nemann sell them new or used or where can I buy them,any help would be appreciated,dan,,

someone have already assembled this kit? http://micandmod.com/en/diy-kits/45-u87-diy-kit.html
very interested in opinions! =)

Hello do you sell this DIY U 87?, i’d like to get one of this but I am not good with electronics… can you do one for me so I can buy it?