Rikus
29 posts
May 27, 2010
5:05 AM
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Hey there,
How risky is it to buy a used Shure 545 off of ebay? There a few at the moment that I'm keeping an eye on that seem like bargains at the moment and I'm contemplating bidding on them, as they are the proverbial hens teeth over here.
It's going to be travelling a fair bit of distance to get to me, so I don't want to buy a dud or have it die in transit or something.
From what I've found they seem to be pretty solid mics, but I thought I'd ask here just in case.
Cheers,
R.
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toddlgreene
1375 posts
May 27, 2010
5:45 AM
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Does the seller guarantee it to work? Has he tested it? Don't buy an untested one for sure. Have him ship it with insurance as well, in case something happens in transit.
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Todd L Greene. V.P.
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5F6H
155 posts
May 27, 2010
5:45 AM
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They're pretty solid mics, but like any mic they can fail, get confirmation that it works before it gets shipped. Make sure you get a cable/connector for a 4 pin version.
I was told recently that the company that makes the current MC4M connector had been taken over & future supplies might be in doubt...perhaps others that frequent this board might have more insight on this matter?
You can still buy the Mexican made 545SD new from Shure, I have one of these & 2 vintage 545s (one with a 2nd hand, replaced element)...all are good mics, but each sound a little different. The Mexican mic is probably the best sounding "harp" mic made today.
Last Edited by on May 27, 2010 5:46 AM
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Rikus
30 posts
May 27, 2010
6:04 AM
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Thanks for the feedback and tips.
The seller is selling 2 identical mics. He states he bought them new mid 70's and has hardly used them. Both look to be in very good condition and come with cables. He states he has tested them and they work.
I can't get them new or used her. I'm just trying to see if I can save a few bucks by getting a good 2nd hand one. I can't really justify spending massive amount of money on a mic at my current skill level (Not for a lack of trying though, I've tried convincing myself on several occasions that I *need* an ultimate 545), I just want something solid to get me going in amplified playing.
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sonvolt13
40 posts
May 27, 2010
6:17 AM
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I think they are great mics (especially the vintage ones). Ask the seller if they are currently wired for high impedance. If they are not, there is some kind of internal wire switching that has to be done.
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5F6H
156 posts
May 27, 2010
6:40 AM
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@ Sonvolt: "I think they are great mics (especially the vintage ones). Ask the seller if they are currently wired for high impedance. If they are not, there is some kind of internal wire switching that has to be done."
The new Mexican mics have a solderless connection internally on the XLR plug, you just undo the grub screw, pull out the male XLR & switch over the connection & reinstall...vintage 4 pin types are either lo-z or hi-z depending on how the connector/cable is wired - Hi-z = pin 2 hot, pin 1 (maybe also 3 & 4) tied to ground.
Last Edited by on May 27, 2010 6:42 AM
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Rikus
31 posts
May 27, 2010
6:43 AM
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Thanks Sonvolt, I'm handy enough with a soldering iron that I think I'll be able to switch it to hi-z without too much trouble. :D
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Tryharp
325 posts
May 27, 2010
6:53 AM
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I recon go for it, I think its pretty low risk given they are a robust mic and if he says it works it probably does. Heres a link with a lot of info on the different models, also PE54's is essentially a 545 wired HI-Z as stock.
http://www.angelfire.com/music/harmonica/shure545.html#545fourpin
I bought one of ebay with a four pin connector. It was wired low imp, and I had to rewire the four pin so it was high imp.
I only the other night fitted a switchcraft to it, which I have one of Gregs volume controls on. Its probably my favorite mic I'd say, there is a picture of it in the thread show us your mics the other day.
Expect to pay $60 - $80 bucks for one off ebay, I'd say.
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Rikus
32 posts
May 27, 2010
7:16 AM
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Thanks for the link.
I saw your mic in the thread. It looks good!
I checked the ad again and he doesn't state whether it's hi- or lo-z. He does however state that they're currently wired unbalanced. After a quick google I get the basics of balanced/unbalanced, but what is the best for use as a harp mic?
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Tryharp
326 posts
May 27, 2010
7:25 AM
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You want Hi-z unbalanced.
Be careful that some 545 models are only low-Z and cant be changed. I looked into it when I bought mine, but forget all the particulars now.
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sonvolt13
41 posts
May 27, 2010
7:31 AM
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Thanks for the info 5F6H. I have never owned a new 545 (don't think I want to) only a 4 pin vintage model.
Shure has schematics of some of their vintage models online that explain how they work.
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Nastyolddog
794 posts
May 27, 2010
7:48 AM
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Bro check it, out check the feedbacks,
a great entry into Amplifiyed Bluesand,
when you decide hay i want more of this amped up Blues, you can justify buying a Dearer Harp mic,
keep Honkin then sit back and save up for one of them fancy GH UlTimizers:)
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300431290276&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
Last Edited by on May 27, 2010 7:48 AM
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earlounge
79 posts
May 27, 2010
8:15 AM
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I agree with everyone else, do not buy anything that doesn't say it has been tested and is in working condition. I'm a dummy and didn't think I'd get burned and I ended up with a mic that didn't work from Ebay. Sellers that say "I have no way of testing" or "I'm not a musician" really mean "This crap doesn't work".
Last Edited by on May 27, 2010 10:11 AM
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Nastyolddog
796 posts
May 27, 2010
8:40 AM
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Bro check it out save some seriouse money:)
then make the decision when you know what you want from a Microphone:)
(scruffyk9).
this message originated from eBay. Learn more.
Buyer has responded to your question about this item
Dear scruffyk9,
hi scruffy,ive been throwin my bullet around at gigs for years its a heavy sonofabitch glad to see the end of it,totally stoked with the sk9 little honker,
have finally got the sound i want thru my valve amp,i will tell u one thing,that dogs got balls..cheers ..adrian
doghouse2010adrian
SK9 Little Honker Harp Mic
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300431290276&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT
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Greg Heumann
487 posts
May 27, 2010
8:40 AM
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Agree with all that's been said. They are very rugged mics, though and most of them work great. The older ones produce more grit in their sound, and every once in a while you get one with extra mojo - those will stand up to any Bullet for tone. The only "low impedance only" model was the 545L and those are both rare and look different than the others. They have a fatter, shorter barrel. The good news is that there is room inside that barrel for an impedance matching transformer if you want to go that way.. I have worked on SO many 545's - remember you have the option to Ultimatize it or add a Bulletizer to make it easier to hold.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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strawwoodclaw
40 posts
May 27, 2010
9:53 AM
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Iv bought lots of used mics off ebay 99% of them have worked - you could always ask them to test it before they post it
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ol'bosey
5 posts
May 27, 2010
11:07 AM
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Make sure it comes with the cable if Your planning on keeping it stock...those puppies are hard to find (unless Your planning on sending it to Greg). I bought 2 or 3 off ebay in the 90's and had pretty good luck. One thing that I've found is that sometimes the on-off switch is bad. 545's are beasts as far as pure volume. I'm actually not too partial to the tone...really heavy as well. I tend to use one when I'm playing with a loud band. They deffinately have alot of punch.
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Joe_L
290 posts
May 27, 2010
11:20 AM
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The four pin connectors can be a pain in the ass to find. If you don't solder, getting one with a cable can be a pricey exercise.
Your risk is of getting a broken microphone like a 545 is low, since it doesn't have an attached cable or an element that has a fragile reputation.
I like 545's, but I rarely play them. I keep breaking the cables. I'll probably send one to Greg in the near future.
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Rikus
33 posts
May 28, 2010
1:50 AM
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Thanks again for all the feedback! I think I'll give it a go!
@Greg, If I get the mic, chances are pretty good that we'll be talking somewhere down the line! Those ultimate's are just too sexy!
@Nasty, thanks for the link, if this auction doesn't pan out I'll be considering that little honker... it looks sweet!
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5F6H
159 posts
May 28, 2010
2:47 AM
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Oak Tree Enterprises have the Amphenol 91 MC4M connectors at $38.99 each...may be able to find them cheaper than that.
Once you get the connector (2 part with screw on strain relief, I last bought a whole cable to get one - not the one piece body Shure connector) you can wire pin 2 to the centre of a regular concentric screw-on & make a hybrid 4pin/1/4" screw-on that takes regular 1/4" jacks.
The stock Shure 4-pin, 4 conductor leads look cool but sound crap, still worth getting for the connector, but then I'd graft that on to a decent instrument cable.
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earlounge
81 posts
May 28, 2010
11:26 AM
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Greg I have a 545L that I got from a flea market. I was a little disappointed when I found out what the "L" meant. You say it is rare?
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Greg Heumann
490 posts
May 28, 2010
1:25 PM
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@earlounge - Well, its rare in terms of the number there are compared to the total number of 545's - but they're not rare in the sense of "collectible" as far as I'm concerned.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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blueswannabe
51 posts
May 28, 2010
3:40 PM
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I would find out what equipment they tested the mic on, for example what type of amp, the volume setting on the amp before feedback, possibly a sound clip, the ohms reading on a tester. There are weak elements being sold out there. Even though it "works," it doesn't necessarily mean it works to your liking. That's happened at least twice to me. Also, the seller can sometimes be quick to say harp mic even though they have never played harp, but by using the label "harp" mic, it generally brings a higher price.
Last Edited by on May 28, 2010 3:43 PM
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Joe_L
292 posts
May 28, 2010
3:56 PM
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545L's show up on ebay quite regularly.
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rharley5652
149 posts
May 29, 2010
12:21 AM
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@ earlounge ,.545L is as good as any 545 ,.as Greg says
"The good news is that there is room inside that barrel for an impedance matching transformer if you want to go that way"
The element is the same as the 545 hi Z'z,.just need to drop in a tran's <>
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
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Rikus
34 posts
May 30, 2010
11:35 PM
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So the auction got sniped... or rather I was outsniped. I kept on refreshing every 10 seconds of the final minute. With less than 10 seconds on the clock some guy tops me by a dollar... I frantically try and get a final bid in, but miss it by like a second...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110537217964&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
I really wanted that mic...
Oh well... back to the search!
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Tryharp
329 posts
May 31, 2010
2:03 AM
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Next time use a site called Gixen (http://www.gixen.com/index.php). Its a sniper site, it takes away the problems you had.
Basically enter your ebay login details, paste in the item number and the amount you are prepared to pay, and Gixen will put the bid in with about 6 secs to go.
Its free, safe, and it doesnt fail. Ive bought stacks of stuff using it. The best part is you just set and forget, doesnt matter if it ends while you are busy or at work etc. You can also group bid on a number of same items, and when it wins one it will not bid on the rest.
Give it a go!!
Tryharp
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MP
363 posts
May 31, 2010
12:16 PM
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re- the 545L.
actually, there is also another low z shure with a fat barrel, on/off, and 3 pin screw on amphenol cable. it's the DY45.
at first glance it is almost identical to a non pistol grip 545.
lots of bottom end on this puppy.
Last Edited by on May 31, 2010 3:24 PM
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