HawkeyeKane
1777 posts
Jun 17, 2013
2:22 PM
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Yesterday I played outdoors at a car show. Under a gazebo, which was a first. My rig gave me problems the whole afternoon. Main issue was my Peavey H5-C. It kept cutting out and making popping noises when I had a tight cup going. It was a pretty muggy day, and we were all pretty much soaked from the thickness of the air and our own sweat. That's really the only thing that comes quickly to mind on it. It worked fine the night before. Has anyone else ever encountered problems with a dynamic bullet element on they're H5, 520DX, Superlux, etc of this nature in high humidity?
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Hawkeye Kane
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HawkeyeKane
1784 posts
Jun 18, 2013
2:01 PM
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Really? No one?
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Hawkeye Kane
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dougharps
405 posts
Jun 18, 2013
8:24 PM
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I never had a mic problem like this associated with humidity.
For troubleshooting I would start with checking the solder and grounding connections for the element and the shell for a crack or a connection that breaks or flexes and disconnects when you grip tightly. Or possibly the cable?
If it is the humidity alone, the mic should work OK in dry settings. If that is the case, only use it in dry settings. I have heard of crystal elements having humidity issues, but not dynamics(unless you dropped it in a puddle).
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Doug S.
Last Edited by dougharps on Jun 18, 2013 8:25 PM
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didjcripey
563 posts
Jun 18, 2013
8:48 PM
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I live in the wet tropics, high temps, very high humidity and constant rain in the wet season.
Never had a problem with a dynamic element that wasn't caused by faulty wiring.
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Lucky Lester
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Greg Heumann
2210 posts
Jun 18, 2013
8:59 PM
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I rarely encounter high humidity although I've played in 103 degree temps. No issues.
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***************************************************
/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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chromaticblues
1408 posts
Jun 19, 2013
6:43 AM
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I don't believe humidity will affect the componants of dynamic mic. It did affect old crystal mics. Years ago that was a big selling point of the dynamic mic.
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HawkeyeKane
1786 posts
Jun 19, 2013
7:19 AM
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Hmmmmm.....I just thought maybe the diaphragm didn't take kindly to the humidity and air pressure of the tight cup in combination. My Akai DM13 has that problem when you cup it to tight and make a heavy draw bend.
This isn't the first time that mic has failed on me, but every other time, it's been because of the damned mini-XLR connector cable on it. I've been wanting to get that connection retrofitted to a 2501MP for a long while. Only thing that prevented me is trying to keep the warranty intact. But it expires in August anyways. So maybe it's time I sent it to a rodder for a better element and connector. Greg...didn't you tell me one time that you'd worked on one of these before?
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jun 19, 2013 7:24 AM
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chromaticblues
1409 posts
Jun 19, 2013
9:22 AM
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Hawk it sounds to me like you have something else going on. I'm a little bewildered by your statement about the DM-13. I would try playing your DM-13 thru a few different things. If it does what your saying then you have something wrong with yours. I don't believe you can cup it to tight! I might not play as hard as you, but my harps are loud. So I don't think it would happen to you and not me (but I don't know)?
Maybe your driving a pedal to hard and it's cutting out? Did you try going striaght into a few different amps? At the moment I have 7 Akia mics and none of them do that. Might be a loose connection? Hmmmm!
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barbequebob
2294 posts
Jun 19, 2013
9:39 AM
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About the only thing that I've ever had trouble with dynamic elements were either the cable, sometimes the wiring, and when the mike is turned up into the feedback threshold, handling noise and that's about it, so it definitely has to be something else entirely.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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HawkeyeKane
1793 posts
Jun 19, 2013
10:28 AM
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I dunno, Kevin. I recently sent it to Technobird because I thought the 1/4" jack I had him install was loose because it kept cutting out on me. But as it turned out when he looked inside, nothing was wrong with it. But he did say that when he cupped it tightly, and blew or drew hard, he could hear the diaphragm pop back and forth. When I got it back, I noticed the same thing. I really hope there isn't something wrong with the Akai. It's my most ballsy and versatile mic. I was planning to use either it or the H5 at a county fair gig tonight...but with the Cherry Bomb acting up and my Alamo on the fritz, looks like I'll either try using the Akai or my JT30 into my 'Zoo. Maybe my 630, but I've found it can be overbearing without a volume control installed on it.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jun 19, 2013 10:29 AM
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Rick Davis
1981 posts
Jun 19, 2013
11:03 AM
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Tim, I owned a Peavey Cherry Bomb mic modified by Greg Heumann. It was my main gig mic for a couple years, but it was almost totally modded. The only things original were the shell and the on-off switch. Greg installed a good Shure CM element, a good volume control, and a screw-on connector. I've played the original Peavey mic as well, and mine had zero tonal similarity to it. The original Peavey mic is pretty, um, marginal. Is that the dreaded Kobitone element in those? That is what it sounded like.
One good thing about the Peavey Cherry Bomb shell is that it is big and has a large cavity inside. My theory is that this gives a nice low end to the Shure CM element. The downside is that it is big and heavy, and the volume control knob is in a place where it will rub against the heel of your hands as you handle the mic, changing the setting.
If you are in love with the Cherry Bomb I highly recommend you send it to Greg for retrofit and upgrade. It will come back a totally different mic that sounds great.
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-Little Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
The Mile High Blues Society
Tip Jar
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chromaticblues
1412 posts
Jun 19, 2013
11:31 AM
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Yeah Hawk that just doesn't sound right (pun intended).
I would know playing thru it in a heart beat, but cyber diagnostics if tough.
I hard wire all my mics.
If you want some help Email me.
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bloozefish
106 posts
Jun 19, 2013
12:28 PM
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while not directly related, for years I used a Shure 533 stick mic. I took a long break from playing and left the mic in my garage (in Florida.) Grabbed it up one day after a couple of years, and it was totally useless.
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HawkeyeKane
1795 posts
Jun 19, 2013
12:54 PM
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@Rick
I don't believe the element is a Kobitone. It might be though. Isn't the crystal that comes in the BluesBlaster and JT30RH made by Kobitone? I'd like to get a good element in it in the near future. A CM will probably be the winner. I've never been head over heels in love with the H5, but I've always found it preferable to a 520DX, and the on/off switch has been a lifesaver.
@chromatic
I actually had Dave take the hardwire out for a reason. It was too short. Had him mount a v/c in it while he was at it so I had some dynamic control over it in hand. I still have the original cord from it. Old-style ballpoint plug.
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Hawkeye Kane
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chromaticblues
1413 posts
Jun 20, 2013
4:09 AM
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@ Hawk Yeah they surely need a new/longer cord. I always install new chords from 10 to 16 feet. I like to hard wire them. It just removes one more thing that can go wrong. Connectors get loose, wear out. I have seen a few people step on there own chord and pull the chord out of 1/4" jack they had installed.
How it's wired isn't really important as long as it's done well!
Unfortunetly it sounds like your mic isn't worth useing! I had a Music Man mic that had a nasty cool distortion. It was a little tinny so it forced me to cup it tightly and when I did it made this metallic clicking noise! That bother the crap out of me and I finally took it apart to find the element was made of tin foil with no protective cover.
The DM-13 isn't built the same way, but maybe the same sort of thing is happening to your mic.
It sucks when something sounds good, but has one little glitch that renders it useless!
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HawkeyeKane
1798 posts
Jun 20, 2013
7:36 AM
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Well, last night I alternated between the DM13 and the JT30. I didn't have any problems with the Akai last night at all. Weird. It was a really good gig and I haven't felt on top of my game to that extent in a long time. I should have a board tape from the sound guy coming. I'll try and post clips.
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Hawkeye Kane
Last Edited by HawkeyeKane on Jun 20, 2013 8:44 AM
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chromaticblues
1416 posts
Jun 20, 2013
8:42 AM
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@Hawk did you remove the little metal cover that goes over the element. If not do so. Yours might have gotten bent and is touching the element when get the element moving really hard?
Heay maybe talking about it helped?
That would nice huh!
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HawkeyeKane
1803 posts
Jun 20, 2013
10:07 AM
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I don't believe mine had that metal piece when I bought it. But it's been awhile since I took a peek at it. I'll crack it open and let you know what I find.
As for the jack that's in it now, I've never before encountered one that's so snug and secure. You really have to pull the plug to get it out, and apply a bit a pressure to snap it back in. When Dave and I were discussing my mods in the pre-surgical consultation, I'd had my reservations about a 1/4" jack. XLR was out of the question because the butt end is too narrow. So I asked for a 5/8" screw on barrel. He really recommended the jacks he used, and I trust him, so I told him to go ahead. It really is a darn good match for this mic.
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Hawkeye Kane
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