I stubled onto a mod for this mic a few days ago. It is real easy to do and makes a huge difference in the overall quality of this mic! The chrome part (grill) on top twist off. Once that is off you will notice a screen take that off. Then an aluminum protective piece over the element. Remove the aluminum piece and put the screen back on. That's it! I cut a round piece out of an old red table cloth and put it up into the chrome grill (the first part you screwed off). I did that just to protect it from the elements. Then screwed the grill back on. The mic has more power and seems to be more focused! It isn't as dull and low fi sounding to me.
Hmmmm.....I'll hafta take a look inside mine tonight and see if mine matches up to what you're describing here. But if it does, maybe I'll give that a whirl. I like the way mine sounds as is right now. In fact it's probably my ballsiest mic. But there's always room for more balls IMHO. :-) ----------
Is it just the top grill part with the holes in it or the 1" solid metal part as well? How much convincing did it take to get the grill to un-screw? Hand pressure or pliers or something? ---------- MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
The grill on mine screws off quite easily by hand. No tools necessary for me. And yes, it's the entire aluminum cap piece that unscrews from the body of the mic, and not just the grill screen. ----------
@bluemoose Mine came off pretty easy, but Hawkeye had a good idea with the jar opener. Remember righty tighty, lefty loosy! In other words make sure you twist it counter clockwise to take it off.
still no luck getting the thing to budge. (You know those jar openers are a scam right? All you have to do is firmly bang the jar upside down on the lid on a counter surface and it will open easily. :)
@Libertad I thought it made mine a little more powerful with better attack. It sounded slightly less fuzzy, more focused I don't know how to describe it really? It seemed to respond to what I was doing better with better note definition.
I had mine done by Technobird at theharpmicshop.com. Very reasonably priced service too. I've always loved this mic, but it was something of a risk to use onstage with my band without a v/c. The pot he installed is detented, and the best tones and volumes are achieved anywhere between 7 and 10 on the knob. He also refitted the connection with a VERY tight 1/4" female jack so I'm not limited to the 6' wired-in cord that it had originally. Dave also returned the old cable and plug at my request since it's hard to find those old ballpoint specimens anymore these days.
I don't really know what exact pot he installed. But you can email him from his site and ask him. ----------
Couple of them selling on eBay here in the States for cheap, but no international shipping. :-/ 3 days left on both of them. I'd be willing to help you on this if you want. Shoot me an email.
I used to have one of these mikes,dropped it into a lake one day(don't ask) Kaput. Fantastic mike like a SM 57 on steroids. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat if'n it comes up on our version of E bay, Paid 10$ for the other one on a crapshoot and was amazed at its tone and power.
Last Edited by on Sep 27, 2012 10:32 PM
I have just managed to buy two, as new and boxed for £40 on eBay! It was a bit complicated, the guy was new to eBay so made a few mistakes.....we got there in the end. I will report back when they arrive. Thanks to everyone for their help. @rharley, I will try that.
Don't you just love this forum! Thank you!
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2012 6:50 AM
look what the postman just delivered! Sounds great through my modded VHT.
Edit: Can't seem to unscrew the heads though. Really tight!
Now been trying for an hour. Tried jar openers, something called a boa. Mmm any ideas. I have wondered about WD 40 but was worried about damaging what's inside.
Last Edited by on Sep 29, 2012 9:37 AM
@Libertad,. what a find !! Brand New & in the box !!! Yes you can try WD-40 just don't over do it,.I'd spray a lil where the two meet ,grill an base,.hold the mic upside down so the WD-40 works it's way down the thread,. If that does not work,. try rubber straps the kind used for sinks .
heres a Video of one I built a couple yrs ago ,. I call em Black Satan for a reason >< lol
@Libertad Very nice purchase! The boxes and stands are different on those mics compared to mine. Probably a differnet year or something. I don't know how long they were made. Is there a date on the box? I'll look at mine to see if there is. As far as the top coming off. Try it and if you like it. Don't worry about it!
Mine has that kind of stand as well, though I've seen ones with metallic wire-frame stands. Very good find Libertad! You're lucky you still have your boxes. ----------
Yeah Hawkeye mine has the metal round stock stand with a chrome finish. I also have the original box that I think is black and white. Not nearly as pretty as that one. Mine is probably an older version. I wonder if the insides are idenical?
@rharley - No, wouldn't dare touch the "Prince". It's still my go to mic. It's actually a AKAI ADM-8 or 14. It's half the diameter and an inch shorter than a DM-13 (but has twice the bite and bark). I picked up a AKAI DM-13 to compare. The head/grill ain't budging. ---------- MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
This is becoming a bit of an obsession, I have just found two more on eBay and bought them too! Sill having a problem with getting the heads off the first pair. This isn't to try the mod, I would also like to add volume controls. If I can get them sorted I may sell a couple modded. The tone is lovely!
I am planning on adding volume and quarter inch jacks.
I found a stiff rubber gasket about 2" long,sorta like an egg cup with hole in and hole out, at the local plumbers depot that fitted the Akai perfectly and made it into a poors mans bullet. Rubber shops and plumbers depots have all sorts of can be useful thingies. There is one type of gasket ring shaped thing that fits perfectly into a bullet shell.
@bluemoose What rharley is refering to is called a strap wrench. They have two main purposes. Oil filter removal and plumbers use them alot. So auto parts or plumber supply stores will have them. @Hawkeye Yeah I've been thinking about that also. That's the draw back and I'm sure the reason more harp players don't use this mic. I'm going to look into what jehosaphat said about the gasket.
The element of the Akai is damn similar to the old Calrad hi-Z dynamic elements, and those can be found fairly easily. Technobird's got some for sale I believe. They can be put in a bullet shell pretty easily with the help of an appropriate gasket. I'm considering getting one to replace the element in my Cherry Bomb. ----------
@Hawkeye & Roconzab I don't think thay are similiar! I believe the Akia DM 13 has a flater frequence response than ANY bullet type mic. The Calrad your talking about is very bass heavy and lower midrange. Great if you only play the first 6 holes of the harp! Like jehosaphat said ,"It's like a 57 on steriods" He's right! It picks the highs better than the Calrad IMHO.
I sold my NOS Calrad because it had no high end. Plus I'm over that distorted fuzzy sound. The Calrad is a poor man's Shure CM IMHO. I just don't like mics with huge spikes in the frquence response. I have bought about 2 dozen cheap japanese reel to reel mics looking for the diamond in the rough. IT's the Akia DM 13! I'm sure there are others! That's the one that I like the best! Once and awhile someone is selling a batch of cheap mics on Ebay for $9.99 or something like that. I'm a sucker for those deals!
I agree. My DM13 is probably my best sounding mic. They are a well kept secret among harp playing users and that's why they tend to go for fairly cheap on the bay.
Another one that doesn't get much publicity is the American made Ampex Model 1101. Great tone from that baby, and the art deco design makes it very easy to hold, albeit somewhat heavy due to the die-cast metal body. ----------
@ chromaticblues,. I second that ! Those Vintage Japanese Hi-Z Dynamic Microphone Elements don't come close to the AKIA's Tone,. Any Hi Z Model AKIA makes for a great harp mic ,.
Just ask Bluemoose,. I built his Prince of Darkness > "@rharley - No, wouldn't dare touch the "Prince". It's still my go to mic. It's actually a AKAI ADM-8 or 14. It's half the diameter and an inch shorter than a DM-13 (but has twice the bite and bark)." ----------
@rharley I already had a couple of strap wrenches, but I couldn't get the head to budge. I ordered the one you pointed out and success, I can now unscrew both. A good lesson in having the right tool for the job.
Next question does the volume control go between the transformer and the element or below the transformer? and on which wire? Thanks!
@Libertad I would be carful putting the element face down like that! I would never do that!! It's just safer to always place them face up. Don't ruin your nice new mic.
Agreed with chro. Element diaphraghms can be VERY fragile things. I accidentally ruined my vintage Turner ceramic the other day in fact, trying to get it into a gasket to fit my JT-30. The whole edge of the diaphraghm sunk down into the element body. So now I'm gonna have to consider my options all over again. ----------
Libertad's picture makes it obvious what part I was refering to. The aluminum piece between the grill and the screen. I'm just curious does anyone else hear a difference or was I just expecting one and heard what I wanted? My wife says I do that!
@Chromaticblues, that was another reason why I posted the picture. I have to agree with you about the difference in sound it is there. However in the light of everyones comments about how fragile the element is, I would be worried about leaving it off. It is another layer between the element and the grill.
@Libertad Your right! That's why they put there. I have only had mine out for about two weeks and have played it 4 or 5 times. I can't say what long term effects it will have? The screen seems sturdy enough to me and I put a piece of cloth up inside the grill for dust protection. I think that will be enough. It sure works great like that for now! Should be fine. You have 4 of them! Roll the dice with one and see what happens. I only have one and I'm not putting it back in after knowing what it sounds like without it!
@Libertad, leave the WirlyBird off (What I call The aluminum piece as it looks like a toy kids played with in the late 50's early 60's) I don't keep it in my builds I throw em away,.Just make sure to use the screen an a piece of thin cloth to stop moisture from the element,. ---------- Yellow (Hot) wire goes to VC ,.Black wire to VC - 1/4 jack ground ,.Center lug of VC goes to 1/4 jack Hot This is if your wiring in a 1/4 Jack >< if not white lead of cable goes to center lug of VC. ------------click Link Below -----------
@ Libertad,. As I said Just ask Bluemoose how bad azz the AKIA ADM 8 is,.He's had his about 2-3 yrs now ,.it's his go to mic. You can't go wrong with the AkIA's. I do see that the prices of them on ebay are being driven up,.soon as more Harp players find out about their tone it'll be like buying a Shure CR,.hold on to em. ----------
Last Edited by on Oct 03, 2012 8:50 AM
