Anyone know of an internet or mail supplier of cheap dynamic and crystal mic capsules/cartridges (whatever they're called!) in the UK. Can't find one for love nor money!
Tony check this guy out on ebay his reviews are great !! HARMONICA MICROPHONE ELEMENT BULLET MIC HI Z CRYSTAL Ebay Item number: 260552117216
Hers one of his reviews: I just installed the one in a JT30 and am most pleased with the result. I compared it with an Astatic NOS ceramic element (which cost 25 bucks) and the output of the crystal was much louder, though the ceramic has a cleaner tone. I also compared it with a Shure CM (60 bucks); these elements are prized for their gritty distortion and big output; the output of your crystal would have been about 90% of the shure and the distortion when overdriven was to my ear very much the same. Of course this is only my opinion, but I reckon these elements when properly installed are excellent for use in bullet mics for blues harps and represent excellent value (please don't put your price up though!).
If you don't want a dedicated harp element, electronics stores (Tandy etc - not sure what you've got in UK) sell dynamic elements pretty cheap. And if you're really tight, get an old telephone handset. The speaker (ear end) usually works better as an element than the mouthpiece element (not sure why). Add a 10k pot (its all Lo Z so thats all you need - get one at the electronics store for a couple of quid) and a 1/4" jack to a shell of your choice (I use a roll-on deodorant bottle) and you've got a mic with volume control. Based on i-Mic at Planet Harmonica.
Hi Bro's if it's parts ya looking for check out these parts from Mouser Dynamic element #25LM-032...volume pot #313-4000F...Mini Transformers to boost low z elements from low-z To Hi-z #42TM.117-RC 50K..#42TM.017 25K,,These mini transformers are used by most every Harp Builder to Boost low-Z Shure Controlled Magnetic elements to Hi-Z,,or any other Low-Z elements the Dynamic Element is used in a Blues Harp mic being sold on Ebay thats it i say no more on that one,,so Bro's with all this info get out the Garage and start tinkering Good Luck..
