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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! > Stabilizing Green Bullet connector
Stabilizing Green Bullet connector
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Martin
1656 posts
May 29, 2020
9:17 AM
Three times now I´ve hade to seek help with my Green Bullet mic, when the cable going out from the shell has begun to crackle.
I have seen a sawed off part of a mic stand used as stabilizer, the cable attached to it with zap-straps, and that looked nice. But I don´t have a mic stand to sacrifice.

Also, a really big bolt could be an idea, but can´t for the life of me find one with the corresponding worms.

Next time that mic starts to give up on me I´m gonna throw it out -- never liked those GB´s in the first place -- but there are occasions when you need it and I´m looking for pointers.

Cheers /Martin
dougharps
2125 posts
May 29, 2020
10:08 AM
Long Green Bullet cables hard wired into the mic shell are a persistent problem. It sounds like a bad solder connection from wear and tear on the cable to mic spring connection. The spring helps some, but not enough. Twisting the cable when you wind it and sometimes stepping on it can damage the connection despite the spring.

The bad connection can be soldered to fix it, but with an attached cable it will go bad again. This happened to me. Many choose to get an Amphenol or Switchcraft Hi-Z panel connector installed in the mic and then either use a screw on cable or 1/4" adapter to be able to use a guitar cable.

Scroll down the page of my link to the Green Bullet mod to see the connector.

http://www.blowsmeaway.com/micmods.html

Unless you are really handy, this is not an easy mod, and not inexpensive. I was too cheap to pay for this and not skilled enough to take it on. I did install a connector myself in a Brown Biscuit mic shell when I put a GB gasket and element into it. That was a hassle, but not too bad.

Back when I used a Green Bullet mic shell I repaired the damaged solder connection. The next time I fixed it and cut off the attached wire to a 2 foot pigtail and attached a 1/4" female jack to the pigtail. I read about the pigtail mod solution on Harp-L. That way if I stepped on the cord it would unplug and not strain the connection. I could plug in any guitar cord and didn't need a special screw on cable or adapter. When I would wind up the cable to put it away I would disconnect it from the pigtail first so I didn't twist the cable connection at the mic and strain the solder joint.

I never had to fix it again.
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Doug S.
jbone
3220 posts
May 29, 2020
12:43 PM
Greg did a fine job of installing an Amphenol connector on one of my mics. The danger is still present that if you are walking or jumping around on stage you can step on the cable and jerk it out of the connector. I did that once at possibly a critical junction in my music career. Of course it was during a hot solo in front of a few hundred people, opening for someone who was SOMEONE.

For me personally it's not relevant these days. I'm in a duo and plan to stay that way, and we sit down while playing. At 65 and with neuropathy in my feet my dancing around the stage, let alone a dance floor, are pretty much over. Sitting in one place drastically cuts the odds a mic lead will be compromised even by a different party.
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SuperBee
6660 posts
May 29, 2020
5:56 PM
I have switchcraft connectors in all my bullet mics. I’ve had one develop a bad earth and another come slightly loose.
I stopped using the one with the earth problem. That’s a brown bullet aka the small shell shure bullet, and was my favorite. I dropped it and cracked it near the connector where it was obviously weakened by the installation. The first attempt at repair lasted about a month. I’ll find another way if I decide to try again.

The one which came loose is a JT30 I bought from a guy in Maine. It’s just noticeable if I have the BMA inline VC screwed on. I can feel it rocking and it’s off putting. Would be the same if I attached a phone plug adapter. I stopped using the VC with it and stopped worrying. Discovered a VC is not such a big deal for me anymore, which is a bonus.

The rest of my mics with switchcraft fittings are all good. Which is not to say that’s how it’s gonna remain. I think there are 5 others.

Cable can be a problem with those fittings. I bought 2 cables from a well known supplier and they failed very quickly. I learned how to repair them and by my 3rd repair I had it working so well that I’d forgotten how to do it by the time it failed again
In the meantime I’d purchased 2 cables from an eBay trader recommended by Ron Sunshine and those cables have continued to serve me for around 6 years now with zero problems.
I always carry a spare because it’s only prudent. I do that with all gear; harps, mics, leads. Even amps sometimes but not usually if I know the PA has a spare channel.

That ‘pigtail’ solution is familiar and seems generally successful.
John M G
364 posts
May 29, 2020
5:57 PM
I did the Switchcraft connector conversion to my GB but I have a mill, lathe and all the taps from my toolmaking days so no problems.
What I do have is a very low use original cable if anyone has issues with theirs.
I only changed mine because I didn't like the cable being permanently attached and taking up so much dedicated room in my kit bag. Make me an offer!
gmacleod15
332 posts
May 30, 2020
8:01 AM
If you decide to re-solder, put heat shrink wrap tubing where the cable and spring meet. It helps but is not a permanent solution.
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MBH member since 2009-03-24
snowman
568 posts
May 30, 2020
10:36 AM
DON'T THROW IT OUT-YOULL REGRET IT

solder joints will fail, after a lot of movement of cord.

Talk to John MG Get a switchcraft. this eliminates the "moving Solder connections"
Martin
1657 posts
Jun 03, 2020
5:34 AM
Thank you guys. I´m afraid that I can´t stress enough how incompetent I am in the handicraft department. It´s downright pitiful. Also sending a GB across half the planet for an adjustment might prove a tad too expensive for my humble means -- but I´m going to check out if there´s any connector help to be had here in Sweden.

As a matter of fact I had a studio session just this weekend, and I blew some really dirty harp (that was required) with various mics, including the GB. After some test runs the producer said, "I think that bicycle light thing is the best".
jbone
3226 posts
Jun 03, 2020
2:58 PM
Martin, possibly a ham radio aficionado can help with this. A lot of them like the old tube amps and CM powered mics. Just a thought.


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