Martin
1253 posts
Sep 05, 2017
5:51 AM
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A while back I was given a vintage Beyer M160, ribbon mic. I´ll be careful here not to repeat any of the threads I´ve started recently, but for playing through a PA it was by far the best I´ve encountered: warm, loud, with just a touch of raspiness when you squeezed it. (Think "Lee Oskar with War.") A perfect allround tool.
I was warned that it was a bit delicate but that didn´t help and it died a while back: the "ribbon" broke.
A new one costs a fortune, and that´s not in the cards for me, but I wonder, are there any budget options for this type of mic, with harmonica friendliness?
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rogonzab
1033 posts
Sep 05, 2017
8:03 AM
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you can buy replacement for the ribbon. I bet that the metal sheet broke, not the magnets. They cost like $60 whit the tools. Search on ebay.
The MXL 144 is the cheapest ribbon arround. I own a Samson vr88 and acustic harp sounds amazing.
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
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Martin
1254 posts
Sep 05, 2017
4:00 PM
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Thank you, Rogonzab. What hade broken was that oblong metal "ribbon" (I guess that´s where the type got its name?). My microphone guy gave me very little hope, and I left it with him. (And no, he´s no con artist.) But I´ll talk to him again.
This model was from the mid 60´s and perhaps that complicates things a bit.
Your Samsom is not used for cupping, I take it, but acoustic playing from a distance?
The MXL seemed reasonably priced and I´ll check it out, looked like you could get a grip on it. (I never play completely acoustically.)
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rogonzab
1034 posts
Sep 05, 2017
4:52 PM
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Yes!! for acustic playing, if you cup a ribbon mic you blow out the ribbon for sure. Ribbons are fragil, because they are just a slim (really slim) sheet of aluminum between two magnets. That is it.
Maybe try a dynamic mic for acustic and slight cup, an sm57 is a safe bet. There is a Pyle Pro knock off for $10 on amazon that people swear that sound the same as the original sm57.
But, if you want ribbon, go for the MXL. A new sheet of that aluminum cost less than a new harp.
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Sorry for any misspell, english is not my first language.
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Martin
1255 posts
Sep 06, 2017
9:43 AM
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Hm, are you sure about that, blowing out the ribbon? Lee Oskar always cups, and always uses ribbon mics, as I understand it.
Now, Lee´s private financial situation is no doubt considerably more solid than most people´s, but one time when I asked him about his mic and what it cost he said "Very expensive" (I think he uses Beyer), and it would be strange if he blew them out on an industrial level.
I´m going to see if I can find a dealer where I can try out that MXL. Thanks for the tip.
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LSB
264 posts
Sep 06, 2017
11:47 AM
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Ribbon mics are indeed notoriously fragile, and typically come with warnings related to high pressure (singing, blowing) too close to the mic. I know LO stated in an interview that the M160 was "less fragile than you'd think" or something to that effect, and that he hadn't had one fail on stage, but keep in mind those ribbons (there are 2 in the M160) are only 0.002 mm thick. And well, you've already had one ribbon mic failure, so perhaps you shouldn't be too skeptical, lol.
Last Edited by LSB on Sep 06, 2017 2:31 PM
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LSB
265 posts
Sep 06, 2017
12:14 PM
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Interesting related thread on another forum: https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/prorecordingworkshop/beyerdynamic-m160-service-repair-t19407469.html
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1847
4427 posts
Sep 06, 2017
1:09 PM
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Shorted cables or poorly wired connectors can send phantom power current to the ribbon element, possibly resulting in a blown ribbon.
With ribbon microphones, wind is the enemy. Carrying the microphone around with the ribbon end uncovered can turn your ribbon into a “sail”, possibly stretching the ribbon.
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Last Edited by 1847 on Sep 06, 2017 1:14 PM
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Bilzharp
150 posts
Sep 06, 2017
8:42 PM
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"Shorted cables or poorly wired connectors can send phantom power current to the ribbon element, possibly resulting in a blown ribbon."
Or just accidentally pushing the phantom power button on the mixer. I love ribbon mics in the studio but I don't think I'd ever try cupping one or using one as my go-to acoustic mic for live setups for the reasons mentioned above. I was surprised to read that Lee Oskar uses the Beyer ribbon mic but I'd have to say that his experience is the exception to the rule. Maybe because he's using a $700.00 mic that's outside of the reach of many of us. Interesting though, learn something new every day.
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Martin
1257 posts
Sep 07, 2017
5:38 AM
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This was some years ago, but it looks like Lee´s been faithful to his Beyerdynamic for quite some time, with "occasional service":
http://www.hunterharp.com/loskars-favorite-harmonica-things/
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LSB
266 posts
Sep 07, 2017
6:54 AM
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Very expensive service, if you can get it, as noted in the link I posted.
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Martin
1258 posts
Sep 07, 2017
7:02 PM
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@LSB: Yes, I hear you. Sorry, missed reading.
Still, he was travelling around the world with War, and what have you. Sounded pretty much the same.
Certainly better in the studio, but the live material holds up well from the harmonica sound perspective, I think -- which, of course, is all that we´re interested in.
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