I have an opportunity to purchase one of these mics from a friend in good working order. I was wondering if anyone here had an idea of what these mics usually go for. The only price I could find was on eBay and that was for $100. I just don't want to get ripped off/rip my good friend off on the purchase. Any information anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
UPDATE: this one's mint, in the box with stand, $40 no bids yet. I'm tempted myself and I already got one. It kicks butt! ---------- MBH Webbrain - a GUI guide to Adam's Youtube vids FerretCat Webbrain - Jason Ricci's vids (by hair colour!)
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2012 9:22 AM
That's not the one I was talking about, but I just went back and checked and it turns out the one I was looking at isn't made by AIWA, it just happened to be another company that had a microphone called the DM-14. I guess I should have looked a little more carefully the first time.
Here's an aiwa dm-14 for $67(buy it now price), but it's from an international seller, and they want $23 for shipping. But at least it gives you an idea of how much people are asking for them online. Although people on ebay sometimmes have a habit of thinking that their possesions are way more valuable than they really are, like people who put the starting bid of their beat-up, dirty, used, old Marine Band(not even prewar) at over $100. I always think it's funny when I see that, I can't help but think that the person must be out of their damn mind.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aiwa-DM-14-Vintage-dynamic-microphone-Nice-bluesharp-/320818292837?pt=UK_Music_Instruments_Microphones_MJ&hash=item4ab242a865
Last Edited by on Jan 16, 2012 10:34 PM
I haven't tried the DM-14, but I bought a Aiwa DM-13 off Ebay for 14.95 and with the shipping it was less than $20. When I recieved it I found it was brand new and had been put back in it's box and wrapped with a news paper from 1969 and placed in a bigger box for safe keeping. I Emailed the person after the auction to thank them and found out it was a lady from South Carolina. Her husband had recently passed away. She said he was in Vietnam and had a bunch of things they hadn't used in a long time. Well a family friend told her to try to sell the stuff she didn't want on Ebay. I was the only person that bid on it! Moral of the story. No don't buy it! There is a resonable deal out there. You have to wait for it. Every time I have set out to buy a certain thing and felt that I need it now I have always paid to much!
Chromaticblues, are you sure you not talking about the AKAI DM-13? The Akai DM-13 itself is actually a pretty darn good harp mic(I have one myself), but akai and aiwa are two different companies.
I just checked, and AIWA does in fact make a mic called the DM-13, but it's kind of a strange looking mic and I don't think I've ever seen someone use one. Whereas a lot of people use and sell the AKAI DM-13 as a harp mic, which is why I'm thinking you(chromaticblues) might have gotten the two mixed up.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2012 5:48 AM
+1 on REM's synopsis of the Akai DM13. I'm getting ready to do some modifications to mine so I have a volume control on it and I'm no longer limited to the six-foot cord length. But you're right REM. For a cheap little Japanese-made tape recorder accessory, it's a really ballsy little stick mic!
I think the biggest contributing factor behind its ballsiness is that while it's rated as a low-Z mic of 50K ohms, it has a built in transformer that sends it into high-Z before the connection to the amplifier. Along with its light weight materials, good size for holding while playing harp, and rubberized coating for insulation, it's just another great feature that makes it a gem of a harp mic. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2012 6:51 AM
Yes REM your correct! I have an Aiwa also, but I don't remember the model #. The Akai DM-13 was so much better I'll never use Aiwa. The Aiwa I have looks similiar to the Akia.
I have an Aiwa like you are asking about. It is a fun little mic, but used in a live situation with other instruments it doesn't have enough output for e. It is also difficult to work on due to its size. If you like the shape of the Aiwa but want a bit more oomph, i would suggest the Calrad DM-9.
OK That is the Aiwa I have. So I have had all 3 of the mics discussed. Here is my take on these. The Aiwa DM-14 I have/or had is the closest mic I have ever heard that reminded me of an old black label Shure CR. The problem with the one I had is the transformer in the shell (just about where the mic is sticking out of MJ's hands) would hum when my hand got close to it. No hum when not holding it. Hum when holding it. Hmmmm! Thats a problem for a harmonica player! I took it apart I tried a bunch of different things to correct the grounding problem. The problem is the transformers in many of those cheap Jap reel to reel mics are very low quality and weren't designed to be held. I have had a number of cheap Japanese reel to reel mics that do this! I'm not saying they all do that, but I know alot of them hum because I have bought many and threw most in the garbage! I'm just trying to let everyone that doesn't know this that this problem exist!
Calrad DM-9 very low-fi! The high end roll off of this mic is just to great for me. Holes one through six were fine. After that though the higher you go the less you can hear! Not ideal!
The Akia-13 doesn't have the bite the Aiwa has, but it does respond well, has a nice smooth tone and doesn't cut out on the high end. The high end roll off is perfect for the harp!
What I mean by that is If you play high end bends on holes 9 and 10 on a C harp through a vocal mic through the PA. Woodland creatures will head for the hills with blood running out of thier ears!
If you do the same with the Calrad DM-9 nobody will be impressed because the volume will be half of your 4 hole bend!
The Akia Dm-13 is nicely in between those two. The frequence response just seems to be perfect for harmonica.
Atleast that was my experience with these mics.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2012 2:21 PM
Good take on the mics chromaticblues. I would like to ad that it is not me holding the mic in video. It is Ron Sunshine, the noted harp player and seller.
Oh sorry for the misunderstanding MJ. I wasn't trying to say you or he was wrong or anything like that! I was just trying to point out a few things with these mics and similiar mics that might help poeple from wasting thier money! I know alot about wasting money on harp stuff! So when ever I get the chance I try to throw my 2 cents in the ring I do. I should also state that I have bought batch's of mics for $9.99 a couple times. Most weren't useable for harp, but heay the Akia DM-13 was a reel to reel mic so there has to be other 60's Jap mics that were useable also! So I don't want to discourage anyone from trying these mics! Just don't spend much! To me that Aiwa is a good deal at $10 and not worth it at $20.
chromaticblues, no offense taken. I just wanted to give credit where it is due as far as the video goes. I myself have tried and gone through many mics. Fun to play with toys. Every amp and mic works differently with each other. Every ones ears searches for thew sound that sounds best. As a result we have variety. Tmannion87- Enjoy your new mic. sounds like a good deal.
chromaticblues, no offense taken. I just wanted to give credit where it is due as far as the video goes. I myself have tried and gone through many mics. Fun to play with toys. Every amp and mic works differently with each other. Every ones ears searches for thew sound that sounds best. As a result we have variety. Tmannion87- Enjoy your new mic. sounds like a good deal.
Here's a very short (thankfully), very impromptu demo of me on my Akai DM13. Keep in mind that this is the mic directly into the microphone port on my laptop when I was testing out my new lappy's webcam functions, and not into a proper harp amp.
