Currently I have the DX....which is ok for practice and all.....but i find it to be quite heavy...but moreso than that.... my hands need a smaller diameter to cup properly(small hands).
Which vintage model Shure bullet has the smallest diameter?
Well, the 707a is probably the smallest(but not by much-maybe an 1/8" ich), but does it have to be a Shure bullet? The Astatic Jt30 or 200, or many different maker's shells, such as Turner, EV, etc. may fit your hands better. Another great alternative is one of Greg Heumann's Ultimate mics with the Bulletizer attached, which is a good deal smaller than any Shure bullet shell, and allows for good, tight cupping and effects.
Also, Rharley and TechnoBird(on Ebay)sell their own custom bullet-style mics with comfortable-sized shells. I think they are Harley mortorcycle tailight cases, actually, turned into mics. I have a Ruskin from the mid-90s that is super comfortable and easy to cup. ---------- Todd
Well, i'm not a fan of the JT30 myself.... and i do have an EV. I just personally like my sound out of my Shure bullet....but wanted something that fit me better.
I'll take a look at a 707a then. Thanks Todd. I appreciate it.
You can put a Shure CR/CM element into a smaller shell, even smaller(and lighter)than a 707a, if it's the sound of the element you're after. Don't let the size of the shell it's in stand in your way. ---------- Todd
just to point out- if you really like the sound of the Shure DX element than you may want to play through a vintage Shure mic before picking one up- the CMs and CRs are a big tonal difference than the dynamic elements in the modern Shure GBs. Like todd said, you can pick up any size shell you prefer and throw the element of your choice in. Dead mics on ebay go cheap and are perfect for that. If you like the DX sound than here's a link to pick one up and put into the shell of your choice.
You can get a JT30 for $50.00. http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Astatic-by-Hohner-JT30-Roadhouse-Harmonica-Microphone?sku=271320 I have one I practice with and its pretty nice. What I like is the adjustable volume. I use it as more of an on/off switch but it lets you get closer to the amp to make adjustments without feedback. Just lower it down and walk over to the amp and then turn it up again as you move away. Not the best mic in the world but one of the nicest cases in my opinion. And you can always upgrade it for a reasonable amount.
@ dusty_Pockets,. here are the diameters of the most popular Shure Bullets: 707 = 3-1/4" X 2-13/32" Dia. 520 = 3-1/4" X 2-15/32" Dia. 520D = 3-1/4" X 2-15/32" Dia. 520SLB = 3/14" X 2-15/32" Dia. 520DX = 3-1/4" X 2-1/2" Dia
As you can see the 707 is the smallest Dia. & the 520DX the largest Dia. Expect to pay a lot for the 707 shell as they are getting hard to find ,. There are other 707 style (small size)shells that Shure made,.the brown shell Model 822A specially designed for recording is one. also hard to find .
My Rharley Silver Bullet is 2-3/4" X 2-1/4" Dia. The smallest shell you'll find , I can build you one to you spec's ,.CM,VC,on-off switch,1/4'female Jack ,5/8 Switchcraft screw on connector ??/ Drop me an e-mail,. Check it out here:
The JT-30 is around the same Dia as the 707 except the screw ears that hold the grill on make it larger to hold,. Next I would say the Turner 454 is your next best bet to a smaller microphone as it's about a 1/16" smaller than the Shure 707,. I can build you a Turner to your specs also :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEKuu2mQrro
I'd also advise you to stay away from the Astatic 200-200S microphones as these are large Dia. microphone,. as you can see in the pictures ><
1st couple pics: A Shure Model 822A specially designed for recording inside the the 200S Then the Turner 545 inside the the 200S An pics all 3 mic shells >< An last 2 pics (Edited) of My Silver Bullet inside the the 200S ><
Hope this helps in your quest for the mic your looking for ><
Well, they are not cheap, but Blows Me Away production custom wood bullet mics are smaller, much lighter than an original green bullet and they sound fantastic!
My mic came in at a whopping 4.5 oz. compared to my green bullet that is easily 3 or 4 times that weight.
@ toddlgreene,. Man I didn't think anyone remembered Frank Ruskin an his mics,..only other guy I know that does remember him is Mr. Joe in Ohio,..Glad to hear his mic is still Kickin the Bluz for ya !! ---------- Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
Haha, well, unfortunately, I dropped it during a band rehearsal about 10 years ago...and it had a crystal-OUCH. I still have it, but it's been dead ever since, and I think the cover is glued on, and some sort of rivet also...I have it, but it's dead. I did like that shell.
rharley-You just proved what I thought was wrong, I think...that the 200 series are larger than the Shure bullets? Is it possible that there was more than one size used? I had read that they were slightly smaller than the JT shells, and super-light(aluminum?)castings. ---------- Todd
that's my go to mic for loud situations. it was painted and modded by dave kott w/ a sweet cr from mojokane. as far as number designations go, i think it's simply a 30. astatic liked the number 30 for some reason. i also have a plain brown biscuit with a brush crystal that i call the holy grail. you can look for years and never find out what someone really means by a good crystal(but i digress).
it vanishes in your cup save the 1/4 connector. i use a gregg heumann inline volume control in loud situs. ----------
MP doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
@rharley Thanks for the photos. Shows it like it is. I think the Turner fin mics are the perfect size for a bullet mic. The Biscuit is indeed a Model 30
@toddlgreene: SUKM can hook ya up with that shell & a CM ,.drop me a E-mail/ The Astatic 200 series are larger than the Shure bullet 707 style (small shell),.
The 520D,520,520SL & 520SLB's,. I have to say are the same Dia. as the Astatic 200-200S,.. Except that the Astatic holds this dimension 2-15/32" farther down the shell ,.making the Shure 520's much easier to hold ><
I'd put the 200's in a class with the Argonne 54 & the Calrad 400 model's size wise,.Just shorter ,.way shorter than the 54 & 400 !!
If you have big hands & want big Dia. mics,. The Astatic 200-200s,.Argonne 54's & Calrad 400's are they microphone you'll want to fill the bill ><
i have a ruskin mic and it's a winner in my book. maybe not much smaller than a shure bullet but lighter.
Dusty you may want to look at an e-v m43u military mic. ugly as sin but with a lo to hi z mod ala Greg Heumann, a connector swap, and a volume pot installed, it has all the balls of a cm powered bullet and it is at least 1/4 to 3/8" smaller diameter than a gb.
Lots of good info here. Keep in mind that although the difference in diameters doesn't sound like much, a change of X in diameter results in a pi(X) change in circumference, which is the key to your ability to hold it. FYI - Shure 707 shells came in BOTH the smaller size AND the "intermediate" size of the successor 520 shell. Not all 707's are the same.
My wood bullets are the same diameter as a JT30 which most people find ideal. However I eliminated all the bumps and ridges, and reduced the weight significantly, which makes them extremely comfortable to hold.
ps - i also have a ruskin mic - prob 20 years old bought it from my harp teacher - don't use it much but very cool looking. ---------- ~Banned in Boston!
I'd have to suggest one of the newer models by BlueXlab, a company out of Italy that has a miniature version of their ordinary mics. Another great microphone for closed practice space is the Eggstatic, which is basically microphone circuitry placed inside an aluminum metal shell.
@dusty_Pockets,. If your looking for a Nice affordable custom mic that looks an sounds great /w/ smaller diameter to cup properly(small hands). Check with Scott of Front and Center Mics. http://www.frontandcentermics.com/products.html
By the looks of some of those photos, it appears that you are BREEDING mic shells? I'm not sure of the anatomy, but I think some of those pictures might be pornographic.
But seriously...regarding the JT-30 Roadhouse, which can be found cheap (like $50) at times: Do I understand correctly that although the crystal element in there is questionable, and the volume control is not the right value for the existing crystal element, that replacing the crystal element with a CR/CM and using the existing volume control makes sense, for a relatively inexpensive but easy and awesome mic mod? (Assuming you like the JT-30 shape and size)?
to the OP - The whole idea of requiring large hands to properly cup a microphone and have huge tone is a truckload of folklore.
There are several really good players with solid tone that do not have huge hands that get great tone out of darn near any microphone.
Here are two smaller people that immediately spring to mind: Beth Kohnen and Annie Raines. They are both small women with tiny hands that have enormous tone. Think Big Walter Horton enormous.
I've seen Beth play through a variety of microphones, but one thing remains constant. Big, huge tone that is reminiscent of Big Walter Horton.
The last time that I saw Annie Raines, she was playing through an Astatic 200S and had huge tone that most players would kill to have.
@rharley interesting video demo on the front¢er wood mics- real difference in sound btween volume control & not. i've ordered one in a hard-to-find exotic wood for a very good price. ---------- ~Banned in Boston!
@ marcos,.. LOL,.Yea looks like a lil' inbreeding for sure,. The JT-30 Roadhouse is a great value just for the shell alone,. Hohner has been known to use what ever volume control they can buy bulk & cheap,..from 5Meg-500K-250K,. an use em in the Bluzblasters an JT-30 Roadhouse >< The 5 meg VC was the correct VC for the crystal element. But they used the 500K the most,.I've only seen One 250K VC.
If your Roadhouse came with the 250K VC your in luck an can use it with the CR/CM,. If it came with a 5M - 500K VC,. I'd look for a 250K VC to replace it,. The Roadhouse cable with XLR female connection designed to fit the threads of the JT30 and a 1/4" male adapter that plugs directly into a guitar amp should be ok >< Ohh,. an if your Roadhouse came with the element you see in the pic with the BIG OL'GASKET ,.take it out an STOMP on it >< LOL
@ Joe_L,. Annie Raines may well be a small women,.but she does not have tiny hands,. she has rather large hands for a women her size as seen in this video of her cupping that Astatic 200S >< She does have that huge tone!
