tookatooka
1066 posts
Jan 25, 2010
6:11 AM
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This is the latest mic I made over the weekend. I know I should have been in the woodshed practicing for HPC3 but I can only practice for so long before I get distracted.
The resulting mic has turned out better than I expected and was a doddle to make.
Anyone can do it, just so long as you have a degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate in astrophysics. I have both along with a certificate in cooking and a bronze star in sewing ;)
My base materials were:
1. An old roll-on deodorant bottle. The best type is a Unilever manufactured one where the ball is held into the bottle with a plastic cage. The plastic cage is used to hold the mic insert. Perfect fit for a standard mic insert held in place by a rubber gasket made of square section catapult elastic. Yes I do have catapults. I used the cap of the bottle for the main body of the mic, and didn’t need the bottle itself apart from the screw thread section of the bottle which I cut off at the shoulder of the bottle. I used this to hold the plastic ball cage (with the mic element fixed into it) into the bottle cap. Roll-on deodorant bottles come in a variety of colours but if you can find one for men, they will probably be black with a nice silver cap. You wouldn’t want a pink mic would you? Note. The Unilever caps tend to be made of a thicker plastic than some I’ve seen and are quite substantial. They do not crush easily.
2. Microphone insert from Maplin. 600 ohm Dynamic. £3.49. These inserts are of good quality and have nice heavy magnets in them. They are not cheap and cheerful, just cheap.
3. ¼ jack socket. Maplin £1.49
4. I bought a really cheap karaoke mic from a £1 shop and butchered it for the top domed gauze grill.
It took about an hour to make and all I needed was a craft knife, scissors to make the hole for the jack plug, soldering iron and glue to stick the domed grill on and superglue to stick the catapult elastic (gasket) around the mic insert.
The sound is good, it is light in weight and small enough to cup well plus it looks like a professional piece of kit.
All for £6.00.
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Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 6:13 AM
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Jim Rumbaugh
130 posts
Jan 25, 2010
6:18 AM
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It's a work of art. I tip my hat to you
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Bluzdude46
406 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:24 AM
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Nice job Tooka, they talk about American ingenuity all the time. Score Brits: 1 Yanks: 0
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Bluzdude46
407 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:25 AM
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Nice job Tooka, they talk about American ingenuity all the time. Score Brits: 1 Yanks: 0
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toddlgreene
565 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:35 AM
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Good work, Tooka, and just in time to play it for HPC3! Mine would have ended up looking much more abstact, which is why I don't make my own. Enjoy the fruits of your labors!
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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Oliver
130 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:36 AM
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Ha looks great, and even better for the price tag! Nice one.
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GermanHarpist
1056 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:38 AM
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Sweeet!
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germanharpist on YT. =;-) - Resonance is KEY!
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Kingley
687 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:41 AM
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Nice job Tooka. You'll have to do some clips so we can hear what it sounds like.
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Andrew
846 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:49 AM
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I've only got one word for that - beautiful!
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
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isaacullah
606 posts
Jan 25, 2010
7:57 AM
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very nice! Are british "catapults" what we would call "sling shots" here? In america, "catapult" is reserved for those very large medieval engines of siege warfare...
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The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
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Gwythion
70 posts
Jan 25, 2010
8:20 AM
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@ Tooka that's a very professional job I must say. Fantastic. Are you going to paint your name on as a logo?
@ Isaacullah. Yes, we call "slingshots" "catapults". I've used this elastic for a gasket, too, and it's perfect. If you cut diagonally with an Xacto knife, it makes a perfect airtight gasket.
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 8:21 AM
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tookatooka
1068 posts
Jan 25, 2010
8:56 AM
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Thanks fellas. Good feedback. I'd like to make a soundfile to demonstrate the mic but I'm not sure what would be best.
How can I demonstrate how it sounds?
Play each note cupped then half-cupped?
Anyone have any decent ideas because I could just play growling lower notes but it wouldn't really prove anything except I have an amplifier.
It does sound good though plus the weight and size makes it real easy to curl the little finger round to hold it whilst you uncup and fan with your free hand.
So, ideas for a decent demo soundfile would be good.
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Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 8:56 AM
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Ant138
285 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:13 AM
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@tooka
Very impressive, Great job!
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jawbone
239 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:16 AM
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Hey Tooka - too cool for gruel!!!!
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 10:17 AM
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toddlgreene
568 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:19 AM
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@ Tooka-straight in thru something clean, i.e. solid state, then, if you have it, thru a tube amp that's being oveverdriven would be some good demos.
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WHO DAT!
Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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tookatooka
1069 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:25 AM
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Thanks Nick,Ant,Jawbone.
@Toddlgreen, I only have a solid state microcube. I'll do a bit of Scarborough Fair nice and clean, then dirty up a few low note riffs but I'll have to do it tomorrow.
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toddlgreene
569 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:33 AM
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Cool, and your idea of cupped vs. uncupped would be a nice test. Man, you homemade microphone-building MacGyver types are an inspiration, indeed.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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jonsparrow
1883 posts
Jan 25, 2010
10:57 AM
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real nice work.
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Stickman
146 posts
Jan 25, 2010
11:42 AM
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Very nice.
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The Art Teacher Formally Known As scstrickland
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eharp
450 posts
Jan 25, 2010
3:04 PM
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it's got a hole in the bottom!!
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toddlgreene
579 posts
Jan 25, 2010
3:06 PM
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@ eharp-that hole is for the extra mojo to ooze out.
alternate smartass comment-what, and you DON'T have a hole in yours?;-)
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 25, 2010 3:06 PM
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eharp
455 posts
Jan 25, 2010
4:02 PM
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my bandmates said i didnt need one!
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tookatooka
1073 posts
Jan 26, 2010
4:38 AM
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@Toddlgeene requested a short Mic Demonstration soundfile to hear what this mic sounded like.
The first part is just clean notes, the second is lower end notes with the mic half cupped and the last is lower end notes fully cupped. (Quite nice and Honky)
I hope this gives you some idea of how it sounds. I played with a Special 20 in "A" through a Roland MicroCube with no effects and the tone set at half way and volume set at 1/4 and gain set at 1/4.
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Andrew
847 posts
Jan 26, 2010
5:15 AM
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Yeah, about that hole...although it looks incredibly neat and tidy, I'm a bit worried that the plug might pull out on stage accidentally.
Is it possible to get a socket with a screw collar so the plug won't pull out?
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Kinda hot in these rhinos!
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2010 5:17 AM
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tookatooka
1074 posts
Jan 26, 2010
5:24 AM
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Yes you can get (I think they are called) XLR male connector sockets. They are the three pin sockets, the female end going on the cable. I don't go on stage so it doesn't worry me but I see your point.
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jawbone
246 posts
Jan 26, 2010
5:28 AM
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I like the idea that the cord will pull out, saves strain on the cord and doesn't pull the whole mic out of your hands. Works like a shear bolt.
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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toddlgreene
585 posts
Jan 26, 2010
5:59 AM
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Tooka-I listened to the sound file of your mic-that sounds GREAT-especially considering it cost little to nothing! Now I've gotta start wearing deodorant so I can get me one of those tops...
I too like the 'shear bolt' premise of the 1/4" connector-I'd rather the cord pull out then slam the mic on the floor, which I've done a few times and ruined a couple mics because of.
p.s.-what's a 'doddle'?
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
Last Edited by on Jan 26, 2010 5:59 AM
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tookatooka
1075 posts
Jan 26, 2010
6:22 AM
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Doddle = english term for "piece of cake", "walk in the park", "easy-peasy" or just simply "dead easy".
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jawbone
247 posts
Jan 26, 2010
8:33 AM
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In my band - a "doodle" is an ending - either ascending or decending - you know, as in - doodle de do do de do do do!!!! OK, it loses a bit in the translation!! ;-)
I also had a pair of ducks - Dixie and Doodle - but now I'm off topic!!
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If it ain't got harp - it ain't really blues!!!!
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toddlgreene
592 posts
Jan 26, 2010
8:34 AM
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Not the same as 'diddle'? ;-)
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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isaacullah
614 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:08 AM
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What about a paradiddle-doodle? (now THERE'S some drummer's humor for ya)
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The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
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Greg Heumann
249 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:17 AM
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@Todd and Jawbone
Personally I HATE having my solo interrupted because I stepped on the cable and pulled the connector out. More importantly, I don't like the long rigid plug sticking out of the mic. Screw-on connectors are significantly shorter and won't pull off. Step on the cable - it just pulls your head, your hands and the mic down. I always throw the cable over my shoulder so I don't have it dangling in front of me anyway. The only part of the cable I step on is what's already laying on the floor.
@Tooka - XLR connectors are also secure, but big and bulky. Moreover they are the standard for low impedance mics, but high impedance XLR wiring is a) not the same and b) not standardized. In every case the mic's connector and the cable MUST match to work properly. There are combinations that work but not all that well and some folks don't know the difference. It confuses the hell out of everyone. I suggest leaving XLR for all your low impedance stuff and avoiding it like the plague on high impedance stuff.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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Kingley
704 posts
Jan 26, 2010
9:22 AM
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"I always throw the cable over my shoulder so I don't have it dangling in front of me anyway."
Yes that's what I do as well.
I use screw on cables (at the mic end) but always carry a screw on connector and jack to jack cable as well just in case.
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toddlgreene
604 posts
Jan 26, 2010
10:33 AM
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I do the over-the-shoulder thing when i think about it, but I prowl the stage like Howlin Wolf(I just don't look as cool or menacing when I do it), and that cable occasionally gets under my size 11s. My obvious solution is wireless.
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Todd L. Greene, V.P.
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harmonicanick
568 posts
Jan 26, 2010
11:29 AM
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tooka,
Have you considered going into production with your excellent mic's; you could ride the back of the UK coming out of recession with our 0.1% rise in GDP announced today
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lumpy wafflesquirt
153 posts
Jan 26, 2010
1:07 PM
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Tooka
that looks cool, but wait till you see the 'Lumpophone'. It's got the same Maplin 'guts' as yours but the casing, well that's a sight to behold. Mind you I have yet to build the thing as I'm a bit short of time at the moment.
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rharley5652
36 posts
Jan 27, 2010
12:19 AM
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Sweet build Tooka,..1/4" or 5/8 Switchcraft connector ,..Nice Job !
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congaron
463 posts
Jan 27, 2010
7:58 AM
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I want a catapult..just saying.
I went wireless. The 1/4 inch works as well as any of them when you are wireless. I even use a wireless rig i didn't like for vocals and it works great for harp....kind of like the old mics we are all trying to copy the sound of.
As we strive to replicate the old chicago sound, I am constantly reminded of the level of microphone technology back then and why we have so much trouble copying it with modern mics. I think tookatooka may have hit on that point with "cheap"...the old mics weren't such great mics really.
Oh! Good job on the mic! It really looks good. I have one with 1/4" in the bottom of a license plate light fixture..custom motorcycle one I never used. It has never pulled out at a gig..even wired. A high quality 1/4 jack holds pretty tight and draped over your shoulder helps.
Last Edited by on Jan 27, 2010 8:57 AM
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