banjotuba
10 posts
Feb 27, 2012
5:43 PM
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I did a search on the site regarding the Hohner Bluesblaster mike, and it confirmed my suspicions that it's just not a very good mike. I bought mine about 10 years ago and the only way it would work satisfactorily was when I ran it through a pedal or preamp.
So now I've moved on and have a couple of decent mikes, but I'm thinking about turning this into a project that would turn it into a decent mike.
Could some forum members steer me to some "how to" sites? I don't know where to start.
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Greg Heumann
1505 posts
Feb 28, 2012
12:16 AM
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How to turn the BluesBlaster into a good mic:
1)Look at the back of the element. If it says "MC-151" - don't do a thing, its already a good mic. If it is a brass colored small cheap piece of crap, however, rip it out and stomp on it.
2) Find a suitable element. Good choices are an Astatic MC-151 crystal or MC-127 Ceramic - or Shure controlled magnetic (CM) or controlled reluctance (CR) element. Buy from a reputable source.
3) You will need a gasket to fit the above to the shell. Order from http://harpmicgaskets.com
4) Solder the 2 wires you took off the old element to the 2 terminals on the new element. It doesn't really matter which way you hook them up, I promise. (If your CM is a model 99S556 that's a dual impedance element and you DO need to know which 2 of the 3 terminals to use. Find out through experimentation. You can't hurt the element this way, I promise.)
Bada boom, bada bing, its a mic.
Optional: If you went with one of the Astatic elements, the volume pot is not optimal. Replace with 1M or 2.5Mohm pot. If you went with one of the Shure elements, the volume pot is not optimal. Replace with 100K or 250K ohm pot.
Optional: High impedance XLR connectors confuse everyone and the connector is in an uncomfortable place. Rip it out, rip the volume pot out, install a screw-on connector in the rear hole. Plug the old forward hole so it looks nice and doesn't leak air (feedback issue.) Now its like an older JT30. Much nicer.
All of the above are services I provide, as do others.
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/Greg
Last Edited by on Feb 28, 2012 12:18 AM
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timeistight
400 posts
Feb 28, 2012
1:22 AM
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Greg, can 99S556 elements be wired for balanced low impedance output?
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Greg Heumann
1507 posts
Feb 28, 2012
7:58 AM
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@timesight - yes they can. If memory serves, the single terminal (on the right when viewed from the back) is your ground/shield- goes to Pin 1 on an XLR connector. The lower of the two on the left is positive - wire to Pin 2, the upper left one goes to pin 3. (If you get those 2 wrong it simply changes the relative phase of the mic's output relative to the sound waves. Not a big deal)
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/Greg
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banjotuba
11 posts
Feb 29, 2012
2:49 PM
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I've pulled it apart. The back does NOT say MC-151, it does say "Japan." It is not brass either, but that doesn't mean it's not a piece of junk.
Interesting find: there was a 1/4" thick piece of fiberglass insulation between the grill and the element. I am wondering if that was part of the problem.
Thanks for the advice. I enjoy seeing the pics of your mikes on Facebook.
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HawkeyeKane
749 posts
Mar 01, 2012
7:26 AM
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@banjotuba
It's probably the same element that was in my JT30RH, which is pretty much identical to the Bluesblaster. It's a Japanese crystal like you describe, silver in color. Mine died 8 months ago, but before it did, it was a damn good sounding mic. It seems that it's luck of the draw on those Jap crystals. For the most part, they're not great elements. But several people I've conferred with have said they had one that sounded exceptional.
@Greg
I was a sucker and just recently bought a BB replacement element from Hohner. It was 12 bucks, so I'm not crying about it. But I've got my eye on a 70's era Johnson ceramic. Know anything about these?
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Hawkeye Kane
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Greg Heumann
1513 posts
Mar 01, 2012
9:15 AM
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Johnson ceramic? I haven't heard of that.....
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/Greg
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HawkeyeKane
750 posts
Mar 01, 2012
10:35 AM
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@Greg
Emailed you
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Hawkeye Kane
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arnenym
39 posts
Mar 01, 2012
12:49 PM
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The Johnson element is not as strong as astatic elements. A dark tone and they sound much better than the new BB elements. It's hard to get a gasket. I made one from a sort of foam tape. But it's much better to go for the real thing, a Astatic or shure, and not throw away money on a half good element..
Last Edited by on Mar 01, 2012 12:50 PM
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