Finally the Bulldog mod printed circuit boards designed by Lucas Engineering are finished and becoming available. These are designed to mate with custom manufactured microphone transformers from AMI-Tab-Funkenwerk, designed and wound by Oliver Archut.

The goal is to use the body and capsule from the Chinese manufactured TNC 1200 (or 6802) microphone, to replace the electronics with a far superior printed circuit board, and to replace the transformer with a far superior transformer. There will be several different types of designs, each based upon/inspired by one of the classic vintage microphones. It should be absolutely understood that these microphones, when finished, will not sound exactly like any certain vintage microphone. But they will sound very, very good, and will be reminiscent of the sonic style evoked by the mic each is “based upon.”

There will be a “47” inspired version, a “49” inspired version, a “67” inspired version, and a “12” inspired version. Each of these microphones uses a different approach electronically, mated with the proper transformer, to achieve its final result. We are employing that related type of design in each of the circuits.

Right now the “47-like” and “49-like” transformers are finished and available for shipping. And since it has taken us longer than we (and you) had hoped, we are just going to include the printed circuit board (unstuffed) for no extra charge to the first 50 purchasers of each of these two types...pretty sweet.

What you will need to do is carefully read the supplied parts list for the type you get, buy the exact parts from Mouser (or other electronics supply houses), and wire up the pcb (hopefully you will have had some experience in wiring). Then there is a little bit of physical manipulation necessary to fit the new boards into the old bodies (see photos on Mod Pix page). Soon, voila, you have new and much better microphone, imminently more usable, and it was pretty inexpensive.

Note that the pcb's are the same layout for each circuit, but the parts list is not, and of course the transformers are very different, and are carefully matched to the proper circuit. (The boards may be used also in the 6802 microphone by cutting to a slightly different size.)

Bulldog Brand_Thumb


Here are the transformers:


AVAILABLE NOW:

*Model T47 ($85) Replacement transformer for ACM-1200 with U47-like transformer characteristics (BV8), but can only be coupled with the custom "47" electronics PC board upgrade (“unstuffed,” based on a simplified 47-inspired electronics circuit, included free of charge to the first 50 purchasers, normally $20).

*Model T49 ($85) Replacement transformer for ACM-1200 with BV11 M49-like transformer characteristics, but can only be coupled with the custom "49" electronics PC board upgrade (“unstuffed,” based on a simplified 49-inspired electronics circuit, included free of charge to the first 50 purchasers, normally $20).


AVAILABLE SOON:

*Model T67 ($95) Replacement transformer for ACM-1200 with BV12 U67-like transformer characteristics, but can only be coupled with the custom "67" electronics PC board upgrade (now in design by Lucas techs, based on a simplified 67-inspired electronics circuit).

The 47-49-67 transformers are based on a Neumann-inspired transformer. They come in the three different ratios of 6:1 for 47-styled electronics, 10:1 for 49-styled electronics, and 7:1 / with feedback winding for 67-styled electronics.

*Model T14-1200 ($95) Exact drop in replacement for stock ACM-1200. No electronics modifications necessary.

*Model T14-C12 ($95) Replacement transformer for ACM-1200, but can only be coupled with the custom C12-based electronics PC board upgrade (now in design by Lucas techs, but based on Oliver's original design parameters for the C12VR upgrade electronics).

The T14-1200 transformers are based on the Hiller T14-C12 transformer (which had a ratio of 12 to 1), as used in early C12 mics, but have the ratio of 9 to 1 as used in the stock ACM-1200.

And here are is the printed circuit board:

*Bulldog TNC mod-pcb ($20) Empty ("unstuffed") modification printed circuit board for the TNC 1200 and 6802 microphones. PLEASE NOTE there are NO PARTS included...just the bare, empty board. If you do not buy the electronic parts, and wire up the board, you will be pretty disappointed in the sound of your microphone...although the inherent noise level will be slightly improved. Use this same board for each of the various modifications, but do be aware that the schematic, parts list and transformer are different for each version.



Now check out the modification pix...


Also available: New Upgrade Transformers for RIBBON microphones!