micparts V-251 tube microphone build

Complete build and test of a V-251 from micparts (microphone-parts.com).

This mic kit is modeled off the Telefunken ElaM 251, a multi-pattern tube mic designed and built by AKG for Telefunken around 1960. It’s a complete kit and has a lot of parts. The instructions were easy to follow, and although it was a long build, it was not difficult.

The mic body included in the kit is heavy. The threaded base, body tube, and inner rails fit together tightly and smoothly. The headbasket mesh looks to be 3-layers, and on mine a small section at the top was pulling away from the headbasket frame. Both the body and headbasket more closely match an AKG C12 than a Telefunken 251, with a long narrow body and a flat mesh top.

The included shockmount is maybe my favourite part of the kit. It’s not spring loaded, but has two thumb screws to tighten clamps that firmly hold onto the mic.

The PCB is thick, well laid out, and with easy to solder pads. All the parts accurately matched the full-color manual. Something to watch out for: R20 is positioned very close to the outer edge, and initially it was shorted against the inside body.

Another tricky part was getting the tube into the tube socket - it is a very tight fit. I had to hold the center of the socket against the corner of a desk while pushing down on the tube.

The capsule arrived packed securely in a plastic case. The hardware kit was missing a saddle screw (to attach the saddle to the mic base). micparts was quick to offer to send one out, but luckily I had a screw that worked.

This is the first full kit I've built from micparts, and I’m quite happy with the mic. Previously I've modded an MXL990 with their upgrade kit, modded a couple Oktava 319s, and built a Neumann u87 clone. Now for this build I had a lot more building/modding experience than those previous projects, but regardless it was my cleanest build. I’ve ran it through a few minor test recordings, and it sounded full and rich. I’m looking forward to using it in some upcoming sessions.