Ken Byron
9 posts
Feb 05, 2015
12:11 AM
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Gents. What are your preferences, recommendations on microphones? I currently have a Green Bullet 520DX.
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2chops
342 posts
Feb 05, 2015
3:59 AM
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And here we go.... My main gov to is a Share SM57 with a Bulletizer. I also use a "bullet" that I made from an early '60s telephone receiver ear piece.
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I'm workin on it. I'm workin on it.
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jbone
1875 posts
Feb 05, 2015
4:41 AM
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I'm guessing you plug into a tube amp with the GB. Which says high impedance. If that's so, you will want other high impedance mics. An inexpensive crystal mic I've found is the Astatic 332, which reproduces sound in a clear and warm way. Plus they are kind of arty looking and very light.
I have found the Shure 585 to be a good dynamic mic, solid with good lows, mids, and highs, and the added feature of sticking it on a mic stand. Price is reasonable for a 35-40 year old working mic. The version with the volume pot- James Cotton used one for a time- is pretty rare but the on-off switch model seems to be more available.
For straight into a p.a., an Sm57 is a good choice. Can be cupped for a good bark but mostly repros very clean and clear.
If you like projects I got hold of a low impedance EV m43u military issue mic a few years back, and had Greg Heuman install a transformer inside the case to up the impedance, a volume pot, and a screw-on to 1/4 inch jack setup. It's a small solid beautifully working tool and was worth the money spent to get a great result. Ugly as sin but I don't mind! Olive drab paint was never a fashion statement. It was made by Electrovoice the year I was born, 1955, and was stored by the military until bought at auction some 6 or 8 years ago, so I got a brand new vintage mic. I am still debating a paint job.
That's my current arsenal!
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http://www.reverbnation.com/jawboneandjolene
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000386839482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbTwvU-EN1Q
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KingoBad
1601 posts
Feb 05, 2015
4:44 AM
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No good answer here. It depends on what you are playing it through.
My suggestion is to have a really good clean mic - like an Ultimate Heumann mic and a nice bullet with a good crystal or cm/cr element.
I prefer a cm/cr because of the fragility of the crystal, but a hot crystal mic can sound sooooo good...
The clean mic can always serve double duty as a vocal or amp mic.
Your 520dx is a perfectly serviceable mic. It just has the disadvantages of having a modern dynamic element.
I mostly play acoustically, so my vocal mic is my most important (I use an ev 767 - my preference) - but I have a custom wood mic from Greg Heumann which is like riding on a rocket. If I were in an electric band - I would use it almost exclusively.
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Danny
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MN
383 posts
Feb 05, 2015
6:58 AM
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If I lost all my mics and could only buy two to have and use, I'd get a BlowsMeAway wood bullet and a Shure SM-58. That'd cover me for gritty blues stuff and clean as well.
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Popculture Chameleon
17 posts
Feb 05, 2015
9:25 AM
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I don't have any kind of vocal mic yet though when I do get one Ill end up getting a Shure 57 vocal mic
My amp is a Spider 4 line 6 30 watt- I do have a green bullet mic that I started out with but due to the weight of it I began to look for other options- I wound up choosing a Shaker Mad Dog Mic because I'm a big fan of Paul Butterfield and his tone and the Mad Dog has that kind of buttery tone that I'm looking for. Check out Amazon and type is Shaker Microphones and you will come across the microphone that I just mentioned. They make a few other different lightweight microphones as well. The shaker Mad Cat is basically a smaller version of the Mad Dog with a different kind of tone. Check you tube for some reviews. If your looking for some good lightweight microphones for your harp I suggest looking into the Shaker line. I have also seen reviews of a mic called the Fireball that is made for harp that sounded good. There are a handful of people in the US that make custom bullet microphones- Mr. Microphone-Dennis Oellig can customize your mic to make it lighter- there are also other companies like bluexlab and copperhead customs that have also gotten some good reviews.
However once I get the money I plan to get a Shure 545 bullitized microphone from Blows Me Away Productions.
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Barley Nectar
627 posts
Feb 05, 2015
11:08 AM
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Any mic that sounds good to you is a good mic, as long as it is durable. There are a lot of unknown mics that you may like. Look for a mic that is comfortable and fits your hands. I prefer the Turner shell due to it's smaller diameter which gives me a better cup. Many elements will fit in this shell. Try every mic you find. Low impedance mics will work into a guitar amp with the use of an impedance matching transformer. Low to High. These can be placed at the amp or can be hardwired into the mic shell. Medium impedance mics may work better with a high gain amp. Lots of variables here. Some folks believe they need the hottest element out there, only to find that they then need to reduce the amps gain thru tube swaps. This does not make sense to me. Good luck...BN
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dougharps
837 posts
Feb 05, 2015
2:36 PM
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There are many good choices depending upon what kind of music you want to perform and depending upon your choices in amplification. The combination of mic and amp makes a big difference. Sometimes I have spent hours mixing and matching old mics with amps. I have some mics I prefer with some amps. The Shure 585AV is one of my all around favorites. I like my Biscuit with a 520 element, too. But you don't have to spend a lot of money buying vintage mics. They cost much more now than they used to.
I have explored and purchased a lot of vintage mics over the years, and several new ones. I have played through other great mics, such as one of Greg's wooden bullets, as well as various JT30s and different Green Bullets, and EV630s. I have an Ultimate SM58 I use for vocals and harp through the PA.
There is one well known reliable Low-Z mic that can be used effectively through amps or effects units with an impedance matching transformer, straight through the PA for clean harp or vocals, and to mic amps through the PA. It is the SM57. You can use it through an amp w/transformer without a Bulletizer (or with one, if you like). I have never regretted buying my SM57. It is useful for so many different situations. I would suggest the SM57 as your next mic, along with an impedance matching transformer. You can even add one of Greg Heumann's in-line XLR volume controls if you want. It is a mic you will always find a use for, unlike some of my vintage EV630s.
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Feb 05, 2015 2:39 PM
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TmickyD1
17 posts
Feb 05, 2015
4:57 PM
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I'm with 2 chops. I love my bulletized SM57.
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root
32 posts
Feb 06, 2015
7:14 AM
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I have a Shure 420 Commanmdo modded with a volume pot and screw-on connector by Dave Wren. It has a cm element and is my go-to mic for blues. I also have a Heumann Ultimate 545 with a bulletizer that I like quite a lot.-Greg
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shakeylee
81 posts
Feb 06, 2015
10:33 AM
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I like to have at least one of each.
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A440
331 posts
Feb 06, 2015
12:18 PM
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I agree with Doug. The SM57 is a Swiss army knife - it will do a lot of different things well for you, and will last a lifetime. They also work well for singing. Everyone should have one in the gig bag, and an impedance transformer.
Last Edited by A440 on Feb 06, 2015 12:19 PM
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Ken Byron
11 posts
Feb 06, 2015
4:09 PM
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Thanks guys.Very informative. Oz Ken
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mastercaster
113 posts
Feb 06, 2015
5:31 PM
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fwiw , I have been using Gregg's Ultimate 545 Sure with the bullitizer , for blues and blues rock for the last 2 years or so .. through an amp or mixing board .. it definitely does the job as an all around mic .. get's great tone imo.
I'm not in the states, so the choice to invest in one mic I could carry anywhere, and still get good tone through a amp or PA , is important to me .
I'm not disappointed ..
There are 4 bands in my area . I sit in with all of them for a set each time I venture out .. 1-4 nite's per week ... the mic does get some use ...
Last Edited by mastercaster on Feb 06, 2015 7:28 PM
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rogonzab
658 posts
Feb 06, 2015
5:50 PM
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99.9% of the times, the band turns up the volume (or they just are playing harder)
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
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SuperBee
2393 posts
Feb 06, 2015
6:24 PM
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i'm not surprised to see the sm57 love, but i struggled to love it. i wasn't prepared to commit to it i suppose. had i committed i think it would have been fine, but i'd try it for a while, not enjoy it, and return to what i knew. the sm57 is noisy if you handle it sloppily, and i found it hard to hold. i did head to head comparisons and somewhat preferred the sm58. with stick mics i definitely like a ball on top.
in bullets i like a small-shell shure. i have various jt30 types and larger shure bullets, also some of the EV potato shells, theyre all ok, but i like the small shure best.
i stick with the cm/cr elements. crystals are too prone to failure for my wallet. i have 2 cr elements i like a lot and it took a while to find them. i've stopped looking now. there is a lot of variation in elements and it takes a while to find/appreciate their special skills sometimes
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Harmonicatunes
11 posts
Feb 06, 2015
7:37 PM
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I've been using the Audix Fireball V for some years, with the Audix impedance converter. It's designed from the ground up as a harmonica mic, works fine as a vocal mic.
If you're after the classic Chicago blues sound, through a valve amp, then the a classic mic is the way to go: a Green Bullet, an Astatic or one of the custom modern variants.
I'm after a cleaner sound, so the Audix Fireball suit me fine.
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Tony Eyers
Australia
www.HarmonicaAcademy.com
everyone plays...
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Barley Nectar
629 posts
Feb 06, 2015
11:30 PM
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Again I'm with Supe on the 57. I find them bright and hard to hold. I like the SM 58 better. Warmer tone and easy to hold. Both w/imp transformer of corse.
Would love to try Greg's ultimate w/bulletizer. Might change my mind.
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Larrystick
89 posts
Feb 07, 2015
4:53 AM
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As a mic builder I'm, of course, biased, but another option you have is to simply replace the element in your Shure 520DX with a better cartridge. I can recommend any of the Shure controlled-magnetic or controlled reluctance elements. When I started exploring mics, I switched out my own 520DX element, and I was really surprised with the tonal change. Fattened up the sound significantly.
The bonus of replacing your element is that the cost is pretty low. (About $95 total.) You only need the element, a gasket, and to solder the new one in. The 520DX already has a volume control and cable. (Though the built-in cable can sometimes fail over time, mine lasted 18 years without a problem.)
The downside of putting in a new element is weight. The 520 is pretty heavy all by itself, and the older Shure elements add a couple of ounces to the shell. (Although it then becomes quite handy in a bar fight.)
I've also played the Heumann Element from BlowsMeAway.com, and it compares favorably to my 1950's Shure Black Labels.
The other guys are right. You have to experiment to get the best mic for your unique playing style. If you have the luxury to try a bunch before you commit, that's great. I'm in the Boston, MA area if you're nearby. I'm happy to let you try a variety.
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 For questions mail james@simplemics.com
Stickman from walkthatwalk.org
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atty1chgo
1222 posts
Feb 07, 2015
10:37 AM
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I use Electrovoice RE-10 and Electrovoice 631A stick mics (both Low Z). For a bullet, I use an Electrovoice 638 (Hi Z).
Last Edited by atty1chgo on Feb 07, 2015 10:37 AM
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Danny Starwars
54 posts
Feb 07, 2015
2:30 PM
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I have a Shure SM57 mostly for acoustic (some cupping) and the Green Bullet 50DX.
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My YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2_8CnjaiNLcPke4gWQ65A
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blueswannabe
540 posts
Feb 07, 2015
7:39 PM
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You can't go wrong with any of the folllowing: SM57, SM545, EV RE10, CM/CR, ceramic or crystal.
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Philosofy
660 posts
Feb 07, 2015
8:37 PM
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I once met a guy with an unusual rig. He had a lavaliere mic, the kind you give a speech with. He epoxies the small mic to a piece of steel he bent in the shape of a C, and wore the mic on two fingers like a ring. The cord went up his sleeve then down to the transmitter on his belt. He got great cupping effects with that tiny mic, and could wander around with no problem. Now, with Radio Shack going out of business, I was thinking of picking one up, but I have no idea what to look for. Any advice?
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Harpaholic
602 posts
Feb 07, 2015
9:23 PM
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Phil, pretty much every mic company that built the most popular harp mics made lavilere mic's.
There easy to find on Ebay.
Electro Voice and Shure are real popular.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Feb 07, 2015 9:54 PM
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Destin
101 posts
Feb 08, 2015
5:37 PM
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So I'm using a sm58 with a 4x10 harpgear and I have done a shoot out with a 57 and really didn't see to much difference at the time, but when I did the shoot out I was a lot less experienced. I am currently looking for something with more balls, more low end to go with my harpgear. Any suggestions?
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Harpaholic
603 posts
Feb 08, 2015
5:55 PM
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Destin, have you tried a Shure Spher O Dyne? Model 533SA or PE53? I have two mint ones, would be willing to let one go if your in the U.S.
Most bottom end of any harp mic that I know of except a Shure R7. Another one of my favorites is Electro Voice 635A Low Z mic. I only have one of those so its not for sale.
Last Edited by Harpaholic on Feb 08, 2015 5:57 PM
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Destin
102 posts
Feb 08, 2015
7:06 PM
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No I haven't harpoholic
Send me your email I'll do some research on them and let u know
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garry
561 posts
Feb 08, 2015
9:09 PM
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I've got an SM57 and an Audix Fireball V that I don't use much anymore. Mostly use my Ultimate 545 or a 60's CM bullet, through Samson wireless into Squeal Killer.
The bullet's kinda heavy, but I like the sound. The 545 is more controllable when things get loud. Hope to get one of Greg's custom wood mics someday.
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