bazzzzou
51 posts
Jan 13, 2011
7:14 PM
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wich is your favourite?? (I talk about the "new ones" on the market.. because I dont have the warm sound that I want.. And it is not because of my technique.. And if I change the El34 for an 6L6jc.. does it change the tone..(I have a litle peavey windsor and a green bullet.. but i dont have the sound that I want..
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OzarkRich
337 posts
Jan 13, 2011
8:31 PM
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I have both.
The Blues Blaster is smaller/lighter in weight, easier to hang onto because of the "tabs" on the sides, grittier sounding and has more feedback.
The Green Bullet is bigger/heavier, smooth and harder to hang onto, warmer in tone, and has less feedback.
I like them both but tend to use the GB more simply because of the practicality of less feedback.
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Ozark Rich
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Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2011 8:31 PM
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rharley5652
361 posts
Jan 13, 2011
8:46 PM
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@ bazzzzou,.
If your talkin 520DX you'll never get the warm sound your lookin for with that element,..
Either way,. 520 DX or Bluesblaster / JT-30 Roadhouse ,..you will need to buy a SHURE CM - CR element ,.
Best bet is to buy the Roadhouse from musiciansfriend.com
@50 Bucks it's a deal just for the shell!
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
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Zhin
619 posts
Jan 13, 2011
8:53 PM
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rharley is absolutely right.
But if you had to pick one of the 2 I would say go with the Green Bullet. It does overall have a better tone than the reissued JT-30's that Hohner is putting out.
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http://www.youtube.com/harmonicazhin
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rharley5652
362 posts
Jan 13, 2011
9:00 PM
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Zhin,.
I should have said:
"Best bet is to buy the Roadhouse from musiciansfriend.com & put the CM-CR in to it<>
Unless ya have the Green Bullet already ,.still needs an element swap??
As Ozark pointed out JT-30 shells are lighter <>
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
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Greg Heumann
988 posts
Jan 13, 2011
9:37 PM
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The discussion needs clarification. WHICH Green Bullet and WHICH BluesBlaster. The BluesBlaster originally came with an Astatic MC-151 crystal. Good mics, still around but risky to buy unless the seller guarantees that the element is still strong, and you know enough to know whether it is or isn't. The later Blues Blaster came with a cheap Japanese element which ain't very good.
The Green Bullet started as the 520 (excellent element), then came the 520D (Still a CM, but dual impedance, brighter, not as fat, less bottom end) and then the current 520DX (built in volume control, dynamic element - more high frequency response which is generally NOT good for harp, less bottom and crunch yet. Also the biggest diameter (hard to cup) and heaviest (hard to hold) of any bullet shell out there.
If you will replace the element, as suggested above, with a good CR or CM, use the BluesBlaster or Roadhouse shell as it is smaller and lighter than the 520DX by a significant margin.
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/Greg
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OzarkRich
338 posts
Jan 13, 2011
9:46 PM
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@Greg: my BB is from the early 2000's (?). I bought it when they claimed it was being dis-continued. The GB is a 520DX from 6-8 years ago. I'm assuming that they haven't changed much in that time and that my comments would also apply to the current mics.
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Ozark Rich
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rharley5652
363 posts
Jan 13, 2011
10:31 PM
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bazzzzou said
"I talk about the "new ones" on the market."
"I have a litle peavey windsor and a green bullet.. but i dont have the sound that I want.."
Thats why I asked if he's talking about the 520 DX also ,..as he did not say what green bullet he has?
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2011 10:34 PM
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Greg Heumann
990 posts
Jan 13, 2011
11:02 PM
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@Ozark - I wasn't responding to you, I was responding to the original post. Didn't mean to confuse anyone. But At least now we know Ozark's frame of reference on the GB. Ozark, does your mic have the Astatic crystal (cast metal, almost as big in diameter as the mic) or the Kobitone (gold stamped metal, much smaller, large gasket)
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/Greg
Last Edited by on Jan 13, 2011 11:03 PM
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OzarkRich
339 posts
Jan 14, 2011
7:03 AM
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@Greg: I was just clarifying what I had since you brought it up. My BB has an element with raised letters "Astatic MC-127" and a white sticker with black letters "MC-151".
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Ozark Rich
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htownfess
247 posts
Jan 14, 2011
10:29 AM
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@OzarkRich: You need to get a 5 Megohm volume pot into that BB, replacing the stock 500K, if you want to hear the actual bottom end and overall output that MC-151 element has, assuming that the element is healthy. It adds more output in a lower range that doesn't feed back as easily, possibly enought to revise your view of that mic re: feedback. Be sure to store that mic in a cool, dry place.
If you got a vintage one, you might as well optimize it and take care of it--
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LittleBubba
18 posts
Jan 14, 2011
11:17 AM
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@Greg: I get a good-hearted laugh every time you refer to the size and weight of the the 520 shells; this is meant with no rancor. I appreciate what you do-- and sell-- alot, and also the even temper of your contributions. BUT, I must be some kind of sicko, 'cuz I like the heavy feel of the big green shell. I've got a bluesblaster as well as my 520dx and I have a hard time adjusting to the light weight of the mic and its lighter cable.
This post is just meant to be a humorous observation, and not a comparison between my "hobbyist level" stock mics and your wonderfully thought out creations.
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MrVerylongusername
1489 posts
Jan 14, 2011
11:21 AM
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@Ozark - You have an MC151, as I understand it, some time in the 70s (?) Astatic literally broke the mould and starting using the MC127 tooling to make MC151 cartridges.
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Hobostubs Ashlock
1352 posts
Jan 14, 2011
11:25 AM
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About 2 years ago I bought a 520dx I got it allmost new for 65$,I was really likeing the deal I got. I went to jam with a drummer friend of mine that runs a old what not shop and he,showed me something he found that day in the shop ,it was a green bullet, a old green bullet that had a hole in it for a little stand, it was a dispatcher bullet,He said Ill sell,this for 30$ I was broke,he even pluged it in and showed me it worked,but to tell the truth I had only been playing a couple months and I couldnt tell much difference,I said No thanks I just got my mic,He turns around and sells it on ebay for about $200,Looking back I probelly should have come up with THE $30;-)
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Hobostubs
Last Edited by on Jan 14, 2011 11:27 AM
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OzarkRich
342 posts
Jan 14, 2011
1:13 PM
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@rharley and MrV: Thanks for the info.
About a year after I got my BB I bought a JT-30 shell and, not really knowing what I was doing, ordered a volume pot, 1/4 inch jack and a Japanese element, all from Mouser electronics. I didn't know to put a gasket around the element but the jack internals held it in place. It actually turned out really good but definitely doesn't have the tone of the BB.
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Ozark Rich
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strawwoodclaw
187 posts
Jan 14, 2011
2:38 PM
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Both Green Bullet & Blues Blasters are great harp mics but they need to be the older models the older Blues Blasters had MC 151 crystal elements in them & the older Green Bullets have good CM elements. I wouldn't recommend buying a brand new Blues Blaster or Green Bullet as they are expensive but cheaply made with cheap Chinese parts. If it is built in the USA & its HI Z it is good . greed affects the quality
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rharley5652
365 posts
Jan 14, 2011
2:56 PM
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strawwoodclaw,.
"Best bet is to buy the Roadhouse from musiciansfriend.com & put the CM-CR in to it<>with a new VC,.
This mic is not expensive @ 50 bucks,..
Shure Bills it's 520 DX as a harmonica mic,. I agree it's no where close to the sound of their CM's ,.
Cost will stop a company from making a great product an only making a good product,.
Shure tried to make it (Their CM's) cheaper by sending them to Mexico,.maybe sending their dies to China ??
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
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MN
36 posts
Jan 14, 2011
3:36 PM
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I can't remember all the mics I've owned but it's been a ton ..... 520D, modern JT-30, 545S, EV RE10, vintage JT-30, Shure Commando, EV630, Shaker, Shure 585 and on and on. Currently my 2 go-to mics are a vintage 520 with a white CR element and a 545S. Anyway ..... if someone stole all my gear tomorrow, I wouldn't replace the vintage bullet with another oldie - prices have climbed too damn high. And I wouldn't buy the modern JT30 or 520dx - they sound like crap. Without question, I'd go pick up a Shure SM57.
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bluemozark
18 posts
Jan 14, 2011
4:08 PM
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>>if someone stole all my gear tomorrow, I wouldn't replace the vintage bullet with another oldie - prices have climbed too damn high. And I wouldn't buy the modern JT30 or 520dx - they sound like crap. Without question, I'd go pick up a Shure SM57.<<
That's interesting. You'd pick an SM57 over a 545?
I know they're close, but not identical.
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MN
37 posts
Jan 15, 2011
5:03 AM
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I haven't tried a modern 545, but I HAVE used an SM57 and it's a great harp mic. But, yeah, maybe a 545.
To be clear .... I'm not saying the 57 is the best harp mic on the planet. But for the same (sometimes less) cash, in my opinion, it's head and shoulders above the new "green bullets" or "JT-30" mics, which basically stink.
If budget is really a concern, I'd get a GLS Audio ES-57 mic, which get great reviews and run about $30 on that big auction site.
If I really wanted a bullet-style mic, before I bought one of those harsh- jagged-sounding new ones, I'd scrimp and save and come up with the $200 or so needed to get a good one (meaning, one with a screw-on connector and kick-ass vintage element) put together by a skilled harp mic tech.
I have a 520 shell with a white-label CR element that Dave Kott put together for me. Later, Fritz H. added a screw-on connector. I use this mic all the time lately along with a volume control from Greg H. .... it's outstanding. I also have a JT-30 shell that Dave K. painted and loaded with a white CR element - also a great bullet-style mic. Recently I sat in with a band and their harp player was playing a 520dx into a Fender Blues Junior. Of course I didn't bitch and moan (he's a cool guy and it was very nice of him to let me sit in), but compared to what I'm used to, his mic just sounds like garbage ripened in the summer sun. And I'll bet dollars to donuts that in time the "permanently" affixed cord will work loose. Anyway .... rant over.
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bluemozark
19 posts
Jan 15, 2011
9:05 AM
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ok, GLS Audio ES-57...I looked it up and it has the frequency response of an SM58. might work really well.
Last Edited by on Jan 15, 2011 9:31 AM
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Joe_L
984 posts
Jan 15, 2011
10:30 AM
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If you bitched and moaned, that would not be cool!
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Littoral
252 posts
Jan 15, 2011
11:04 AM
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Early 90's William Clarke said he was using the Blues Blaster shell with a vintage Shure element.
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rharley5652
370 posts
Jan 16, 2011
11:47 PM
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@littoral,.
"Blues Blaster shell with a vintage Shure element."
The way to go,..also Roadhouse shell with CM <>
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Simply Unique Kustom Mic's By Rharley
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