Harmonica Lewinskey
1 post
Jul 09, 2015
8:26 AM
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Hello fellow Harp players!
This is my first post on here but I've been lurking for a month or so trying to figure out the answers to this new found Harmonica obsession of mine. I wanted to share with you guys this super easy and highly effective little hack that I figured out for my new (old) Shure 520D microphone I just scored off Ebay. It came in yesterday, and as I was sitting there trying to figure out for the first time how to get an airtight cup around the thing in a way that was not entirely uncomfortable, I found that no matter what I tried, there was always a tiny little "V" shaped gap between my hands right by where the cable comes out of the mic. It occurred to me that the volume knob i've seen on other mics might help in plugging that gap, but my 520-D doesn't have a knob, just a threaded hole where I think the stand goes. Now I am sure there is some kind of cupping technique that eliminates this problem, but I was impatient, and I am a tinkerer at heart, so of course I thought, "I can make this better!"
So I went to The Home Depot, and started blindly walking around looking for a piece of hardware to thread into that hole, and also provide a "V" shape that would plug that hole in my hands. What I ended up with was a tapered black rubber stopper (essentially a cork) that was the EXACT right size to just push into that hole without damaging the threads or mic (if anything it is actually probably preserving the threads), and left me with a perfect "V" shaped rubber seal at the bottom of the mic where my hands meet. Now my seal seems airtight as all hell, and the distorted crunchy sound i'm getting is lovely. If I can figure out how to post a picture I will.
So anyways, this is I'm sure just the first of many ideas/questions I will have as I keep playing, but hopefully this helps at least one other person to figure out how to get a nice seal on a 520-D, cause that was starting to get frustrating!
Cheers!
-Lewin$key
Last Edited by Harmonica Lewinskey on Jul 13, 2015 11:44 PM
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Harmonica Lewinskey
16 posts
Jul 13, 2015
11:42 PM
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Here is a picture of what I was talking about. Although my cupping technique is a lot better now I find this rubber piece still helps me a ton to get a truly airtight cup that has great distortion. Not to mention you get to customize it with an earring of your choosing. I'm rocking the Star Trek one right now, and looking for a turtle, but the possibilities are endless!! Just think, you could borrow a diamond stud from your significant other and have the pimpinist green bullet on the block!! I was also thinking one of those antique decorative furniture tacks could be nice too..
Anyways, I have found this silly little thing to be both functional and cool looking, and Home Depot sells them for like 79 cents..
-Lewin$key
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Last Edited by Harmonica Lewinskey on Jul 13, 2015 11:42 PM
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Harmonica Lewinskey
17 posts
Jul 14, 2015
12:16 AM
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The thumbtack version is super sleek and comfy too!!
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SuperBee
2732 posts
Jul 14, 2015
7:31 AM
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We-eelll...I dunno that it's entirely necessary...or desirable...that gap probably possibly may not necessarily absolutely be the issue one may think it could be. And...while I could say something to the effect that if it works for you there's no harm in it, I'm not actually sure if there might be harm in it but that's because I'm not really sure if it's costing you the opportunity to learn to hold the mic successfully without an aid and thus robbing you of a chance to learn some other techniques which go along with that. Just don't know. Might be fine. Couldn't say
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KingoBad
1651 posts
Jul 14, 2015
7:35 AM
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I have big hands, and there is no way I would hold a mic that deep...
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Danny
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SuperBee
2733 posts
Jul 14, 2015
7:36 AM
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But I wonder if you might be holding the mic a little too close to the harp and both denying yourself a vital space which you can control to get a wah effect, and not letting your hand wrap over that lower edge of the mic thus rendering any gap at the heel irrelevant. I'm just really not sure
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TetonJohn
252 posts
Jul 14, 2015
9:55 AM
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I was thinking the same thing when I saw the photo -- I would be trying to hold that mike with only my ring finger and pinky to have a chamber between harp and face of mike.
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Harmonica Lewinskey
18 posts
Jul 14, 2015
10:36 AM
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I was just holding it that way for the sake of the photo. It is still useful, for me at least, when holding it how you are saying. And the designer in me just loves that now I can add different decorations, haha.. Whatever works though.. Either way I don't think it makes it any HARDER to hold and cup, so i'm gonna keep it, lol
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Last Edited by Harmonica Lewinskey on Jul 14, 2015 10:37 AM
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Mirco
282 posts
Jul 14, 2015
1:56 PM
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Thanks for your tip, Harmonica Lewinskey! I appreciate it!
Since we're discussing repurposing Home Depot items, I find that using a Fence Post Cap is a great way for practicing your cup. It's about the size of a bullet mic, so you can practice your amplified cup without being amplified. The hollow concavity of the fence post also makes a really cool echoing effect.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/YARDGARD-1-5-8-in-Galvanized-Aluminum-Plain-Dome-Post-Cap-328560C/204510272
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Marc Graci
YouTube Channel
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Greg Heumann
3049 posts
Jul 14, 2015
5:24 PM
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I agree - first, that if it works for you great - but also that it might be creating a bad habit. For best tone you want space between harp and grill- your hands shouldn't be that far back. It IS HARD to learn to cup a bullet well, particularly one as large and heavy as a 520D - but your goal is to learn to hold it with only your pinkie and ring finger of the holding hand. The middle finger sits between the top of the grill and back of the harp providing space. 1st finger and thumb hold the harp.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
See my Customer Mics album on Facebook
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Rontana
142 posts
Jul 14, 2015
7:18 PM
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@Mirco
Cool! Thanks for the fencepost cap idea. Pretty sure I've got a few of those laying around the shed. Can't wait to give it a try tomorrow.
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Marr's Guitars
Over a decade's experience designing, building & playing Cigar Box Guitars
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