Ant138
348 posts
Mar 02, 2010
1:51 AM
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I'm just wondering if anyone on here has tried the Seydel Groove Mic?
I've got a Superlux Bullet style mic which is ok but i really dont like holding them, same with the JT-30's i find they really hurt my hands and are generally uncomfortale to hold(which is a shame cos they look so cool).
I'm a big Seydel fan so i thought the Groove mic might be an option as it looks really small. I'm not technical minded at all and i dont understand all the technical jargon, It says it is a Medium impedence mic, will this give me a fatish tone or more of a clear sound?
I've copy and pasted some technical info below, can anyone translate this and tell me what type of sound i might get from this mic? I would be using it through an Epiphone Valve Jr amp, i'm looking for a fatish tone rather than a clear sound.
Technical data:
Capsule: Omnidirectional, ferrite magnet, 600 ohms, medium impedance (Med-Z)
Sensitivity: -78dB +/-3db
Frequency range: 100-10.000 Hz, with anti-feedback cloth
Cap: Turned solid steel, chromed; screen made of stainless steel
Housing: German domestic maple, coated with extra solid lacquer
Jack: 6.3mm socket (mono) for standard guitar cables
Weight: 170 grams (6 Oz)
Dimensions: Diameter (1.57 in), lenth 110 mm (4.33 in)
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 1:52 AM
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Nastyolddog
347 posts
Mar 02, 2010
2:11 AM
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Hi Brother ant bejeezuses there dear mate i can't say but iv'e never tryed one impedence bares no factor over tone just out put for the amp you are useing it would be fine save ya self a few Bucks check out my SK9 LITTLE HONKER in the new for sale section it's a great mic for your amp or check me out in ebayland just search sk9 little honker it should come in ebay or just goole search sk9 little honker it should come up go into my Feedbacks see whatthe Brothers and Sisters have to say it's all Good..
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Ant138
349 posts
Mar 02, 2010
2:35 AM
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Thanks Nasty ,i have seen the little honker before and it looks like a great little mic. I need to make a decision soon as i don't play enough amplified harp. My amp just sits there for months at a time unless i'm jamming with a couple of buddies. Again its the size of the bullet mics that puts me off playing amplified.
My hands are big so i don't know why i have so many problems holding a bullet style mic, it really cramps my hands up then i cant be bothered playing through the mic.
I would be interested to know if anyone else has this problem whilst holding bullet mic's.
I've noticed Adam and Jason dont use bullet style mics.
I'm not sure if thats a tone issue or a comfort one.
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Nastyolddog
348 posts
Mar 02, 2010
3:10 AM
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Hi Ant Bro i have no problems holding my Little Honker,but Funny though i can Hold a Green bullet all night but as soon as i get a smaller bullet in my hands like my JT-30 my hands start to cramp after some time,i think it's because of my XL hands my natural open hand is large so i guess it's a natural fit to my open hand when cupping the GB,but when i hold the JT-30 or smaller bullet iv'e got to close my hands futher causeing blood flow restrictions cramping my hands well i guess thats what happens..
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toddlgreene
942 posts
Mar 02, 2010
5:04 AM
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ant, I recently scored a gem of a mic-an EV 631B. Check out your UK Ebay. Similar or same element as an re10, and it's shorter and lighter. Very easy to cup, and sounds awesome. I scored one for 20 bucks last week, and it absolutely rocks. Make sure you get one that does NOT have the goofy one-pin connector unless it also comes with the matching cord. I also have the Epi, and this little mic is FAT. Slightly better bass response than the re10, too. Mine is set up for high impedence(you want hi-z), and it's easy to change if you found one that isn't.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 5:13 AM
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toddlgreene
946 posts
Mar 02, 2010
5:47 AM
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The only issue with most stick mics, such as the 57 and the 545, as that there's no head to hold onto, and that in itself will cause hand cramps. Greg Heumann recently began selling a little slip-on thing that solves this.
I like the RE10(and now my 631)because it does have the bulbous head, but it's not a big round obtrusive one like a sm58.
The vocal mics such as the ones I've listed, and many others, get dirty when you cup them, but provide more of a full-spectrum sound than the 'harp-specific' bullets and JT30 elements will. It really depends on what sound you desire. I am REALLY liking this 631!
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 5:47 AM
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Ant138
350 posts
Mar 02, 2010
6:37 AM
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Thanks Todd,i think i might check one out at that price. There is also a few mics with duel impedance on ebay aswell, one of those is listed as a harmonica mic(as long as you set it to hi-z). I've just found some really cheap ones at £14.99 on Maplins web site (UK's electonic store)which i might look into getting.
Thanks again.
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toddlgreene
949 posts
Mar 02, 2010
6:42 AM
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That EV element is sweet, but yes, many different mics can be good for harp-it's a very personal thing, plus, remember that some mics will sound great with one amp, and quite possibly sound like total crap with another! For instance, my white-label Shure 520D doesn't shine with the Epi as much as the Jt with the Mc151 does, but that's my taste. I'll see if I can shoot a vid with the Epi and the 631b this weekend. I just wish my camera's audio would do it justice!
Also, Ant-don't limit yourself to just one mic. I have several, and they all have their place. Ask Jon about that! ;-)
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 6:47 AM
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harpdude61
17 posts
Mar 02, 2010
8:54 AM
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Would love to hear someone answer his question rather than promoting what they do...didn't know Seydel made a mic?
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congaron
599 posts
Mar 02, 2010
8:55 AM
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sorry...deleting post. thought he might care since I use a valve junior, have no comfort issues with my small hands and also like a fat tone.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 8:58 AM
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toddlgreene
952 posts
Mar 02, 2010
8:57 AM
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Duly noted, harpdude. I saw it on the Seydel site, and it's intriguing. Just trying to offer Ant some more affordable, tried-and-true options.
He didn't seem to have a problem with me doing so, however.
Is that mic even available anywhere? I do like the looks of it.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 9:43 AM
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Joch230
5 posts
Mar 02, 2010
9:23 AM
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Guess I'll delete my post as well. I'll just answer the question from now on. I think I heard a judge say that once.
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Ant138
351 posts
Mar 02, 2010
10:40 AM
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Hey guy's i value everyones opinion on here, i don't mind people telling me what mic's their using. I thought the Seydel mic question might be a bit of a long shot.
I really dont know much about microphones so any basic info would be good regarding maybe a vocal mic to try and which mic's they like for comfort?
(Note: im not having a go at Bullet style mic's i really do love them but just find them very uncomfortable to hold)
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Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 10:43 AM
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toddlgreene
954 posts
Mar 02, 2010
10:46 AM
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Ant, I haven't found anyone online carrying that Seydel mic yet, but what was the price in Pounds or whatever it was? Seemed pricey, even without converting to dollars!
I'll maintain my posts above as an answer to your new question, but there are MANY answers. Comfort is a real personal thing as is the tone of a mic, but most folks would probably agree that holding onto a long stick mic does cramp the hands after a while. A bulb on top, either a windscreen or Greg's doohickie, make a big difference. I would recommend borrowing some mics before buying to try them out. Remember than most vocal mics are low impedance, so you will need a impedance transformer. Most soundmen will have Shure sm57s or Audix mics. Try as many as you can thru your amp.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 10:47 AM
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Ant138
352 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:07 AM
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Thanks Todd i will. Looks like i could be in for a long and expensive ride with this one, thanks again.
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congaron
600 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:12 AM
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Not really. Get a samson r21, an impedance transformer from radio shack and have at it. If you don't quite like it, take the ball off, flatten the top of it to get the harp closer to the element. You will be shocked at the different tones you can make with this mic. It's a decent vocal mic and instrument mic..a cut below the sm57, but that may be what makes it work for harp. Tim Gonzales told me he likes the tone of mine and my wireless rig. That's good enough for me. Investement of around $60 for three mics and $20 for the transformer..you can mic your cabinet with one of the other mics..dirt cheap gear that works. Remember, tone comes from you first..the mic grabs it. The cheap route may not work for you, but it has for me.
I use a Valve junior with 1 or 2 12 inch jensens, and sometimes a digitech pedal...not always.
Last Edited by on Mar 02, 2010 11:14 AM
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toddlgreene
955 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:12 AM
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Ant, maybe not...you might really like the first mic you play thru, especially if it's a sm57 or RE10 or other tried-and-true. There might be some places near you that rent sound equipment. Call and tell them you really just want to try a few vocal mics thru your amp. You might even get a freebie.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
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isaacullah
776 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:21 AM
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Hey Ant,
I have not used that mic before, but I do sometimes use a "stick mic", and find that it works really well for me. I absolutely have to change my grip style to use my bullet (my DIY one) properly. It really all depends on the way you hold your harp and mic. I hold my harps "Adam style", rather than "sandwich style", so I find that a stick mic works better for me in many applications. I use kind of a rarish mic (Shure PE57), but I'd think I could comfortably use any stick mic without having to change my grip style.
I've looked at that Seydel one many times. It's certainly quite striking, and potentially would be more comfortable to hold. I've even considered carving out a similar body to replace the plastic "stick" body of my PE57... The specs of the mic look good (actually they are VERY similar to my PE57), and it probably has good tone. You will NOT be able to use it in the same way as a typicla High-Z mic (bullet), however, because it is medium impedance (jus tlike my own PE57). This means that the typical "tube swaps" people do to their amps to make them more "harp friendly" will actually not work for you. You will WANT to keep the higher gain preamp tube (12ax7). There is a thread about this somewhere in the archives where Adam mentions this. With lower impedance mics, the mic doesn't drive the input of the amp as much, and you need the higher gain in the preamp to get your tone dirty enough. Personally, I've used my PE57 in both solid state and tube amps, and I've even tried it though a Valve Junior. It sounded REALLY good through the Valve Junior. People in the music shop were coming around to comment on the tone I was getting. Probably the Seydel mic will sound just as good...
There are MANY options out there for you to try. I would heartily suggest that you TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! You NEED to hold it in your hands and try it with your amp. It has to work well, hold well, and sound good, or else you ain't gonna use it! Good luck brother!
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The magnificent YouTube channel of the internet user known as "isaacullah"
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MP
25 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:24 AM
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nobody mentioned the astatic biscuit. i use one with a black CR and another with a killer crystal. being as finding good crystals is hard i'd suggest the former. or a biscuit with a CM. also a bicuit with a chrome grille looks every bit as cool as a JT-30.
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toddlgreene
962 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:46 AM
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Remember in your quest that how you cup with any mic will make a big difference in the sound. Don't just hold the mic up to the harp with a free hand and think,'that's it'. You'll want to experiment with a loose cup, and a tight cup, and fluttering your fingers, moving the heel of one hand away from the other, etc.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
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barbequebob
556 posts
Mar 02, 2010
12:50 PM
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Todd is right about that and I really learned a lot about that from the many times I used to see Big Walter Horton.
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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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9000
6 posts
Mar 02, 2010
7:55 PM
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Wow...can't believe how much I had to read to find that nobody has tried the subject mic. No offense. Just sayin'.....
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Nastyolddog
359 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:21 PM
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Hi Ant138 it sounds like your ready to splash some cash have i got a deal for you Just joking Bro.
Mate the Epiphone VJ is a great amp'
getting the right mic for that amp is hard most of the HI-z mics Shure Bullets JT-30s Voice of Music stick mics are not realy suited to this amp,with or with out a volume control they are lets say to Powerfull very high output,
say you got a Green Bullet HI-z mic and you can only turn the volume up to 3 befor you get feedback,
with a mid-z mic you will be able to push the volume further say 6 on the dial
if you belive what you hear this is where these amps start to get there rich deep overdriven tone so i would suggest a mid Z microphone.
if youre are looking for a cool looking mic HAVE I GOT A DEAL FOR YOU BRO!!!!
Just muckin round mate check out Youtube look for a mic Called the Loud Bark microphone it is suited to your amp or other smaller amps it is small but not to small it's medium-z..
78db is is how loud it is in decibels 600ohms is a fair output rate for medium-z 78Db will get you booted out of your rental flate.
there are some cheaper Harp mics in the Harmonica section in Ebayland but keep away from the 2 crystal models they are to Hi-z for your mic..
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Ant138
353 posts
Mar 02, 2010
11:53 PM
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Thanks for all the ideas guy's, it's given me alot to think about. I will start my quest and let you know how i get on.
Thanks again.
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harmonicanick
645 posts
Mar 03, 2010
1:16 AM
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Ant I have a green bullet and I too find it uncomfortable and heavy.
I have an old one with screw thread for a mic stand and no volume control on it.
I got a Peavey stand with a heavy base and now use it on the stand at gigs etc
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HawkeyeKane
301 posts
Oct 19, 2011
2:10 PM
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I just remembered seeing this a while back and thought it looked interesting myself. If anyone still cares...
I researched this a bit cause I kinda wanted one. The Groove Mic never really made it beyond the
development stages. It was sold for a very short while, but the guy who designed it didn't have the means to produce them on a marketable scale. Shame...I bet they woulda been fun to tinker with and rod.
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Hawkeye Kane
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