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Mics you / I own, what's good?


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It would be fun to have a thread where we could talk about microphones that we actually own.

That's what this is.

 

Some of this was in another thread, hopefully this title draws more participation. I am especially interested in obscure or 'secret' mics that are somehow more interesting than expected. I mention a couple below, not because you should all hunt one down but life may offer opportunities and we all want to know what those might be.

 

This is my intial comparison of all of my standard XLR plug microphones. Others wait in the wings.

I'll be back with more results on the mics below after my Furman power conditioner/noise eliminator arrives and is hooked up.

 

I set that up and did a brief test of each microphone running through my Fishman Loudbox Performer. The EQ was set to noon and left there, the anti-feedback was off, no effects. The tweeter attenuator was turned down a bit, it is more natural sounding that way. We set it and left it for live work. The only setting that was changed for each microphone was the Gain, some mics require phantom power, the Fishman supplies 24 volts at high current.

 

The random element is that I turned the mics up to a reasonable volume, where I could hear them well. This was not calibrated, just by guess and by gosh. So, sue me!!! :- D

I intend to get closer using the meters in the DAW when I record the mics.

 

I used a Blue pop filter placed about 1.5' away from the business end of the mic. I positioned my pie hole about 2' away from the pop filter. I have two side address mics with inexpensive but effective pop filters that strap onto the mics with rubber bands. Mine were 'branded' as Mudder but you can get them all day long on ebay under different 'brands'.

There were no problems with plosives or sibilence under normal singing (for me) conditions. I can make anything pop or spit if I put my mind to it.

 

For what it is worth, I am very open-minded regarding what mic goes where and what combinations might be 'interesting.' Since I feel vocals are paramount to my songwriting projects I decided to give these a comparison run first. Where possible, I will link manufacturer specs â you may need to copy and paste some of the links.

 

Here are my first impressions.

 

Heil PR40

https://heilsound.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PR-40.pdf

This mic was the reason I changed the intial test, it was very noisy in the convenient location I began testing mics in my studio space. My studio rig is simple, very few components. Apparently it radiates considerable EMI. I've had some noise issues with EMG guitar pickups, which are very quiet in other contexts (gigging all over the place).

With the Fishman, the Heil was silent. It is a great sounding mic for vocals. The bottom end was huge but smooth and clear. The high frequencies were extended for what I am used to with a dynamic mic and not 'peaky' to any annoying degree. I like it very much, it makes me feel good about singing and the sound I make.

 

Peavey 520i

https://assets.peavey.com/literature/manuals/80301951.pdf

One of the great under-rated mics. This mic is another large diaphragm dynamic with a neodymium magnet structure. It is more 'hyped' in the mids but still has a natural sound for vocals. The output is lower than the Heil, I turned the gain up more to get the same volume. No noise.

 

CAD D82

https://cadaudio.com/products/cad-live/d82#specs

This is a side address ribbon mic, I used the attachable pop filter described above. Pattern is Figure 8 so I turned this mic sideways to point the null at the speaker. This mic has a huge, glorious low frequency response. The highs are there but attenuated somewhat. Overall it sounds clear to me, not muddy or boomy. This will make a thin voice sound full and rich. I plan on testing with other mics to bring the highs up without EQ.

 

 

CAD Equitek E100 (2)

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1016977/Cad-Equitek-E100-2.html

Medium diaphragm hypercardioid condensor mic. Attached pop filter described above. The pattern makes it more important to stay centered and sing to the element than with some of the other mics. The mids and highs are noticeably more present than with dynamic or ribbon mics. The output is higher as well. A full, clear sounding mic, probably good on all sorts of things. A good choice for vocals but I would advise caution if somebody has a thinner sounding voice.

 

Audio Technica MB4000C

https://www.audio-technica.com/cms/resource_library/literature/466fb537601283f5/mb4000c.pdf

Small diaphragm cardioid condensor mic. The low frequencies are attenuated. The high frequencies are very smooth and clear. I didn't feel the need for a pop filter with this mic unless the singer tends to get very close. I'm thinking this mic would combine very well with the CAD D82 and intend to try that as one configuration. It sounds very good if a bit thin. In practice we may not want too much low frequency information in the vocals so it could sit very well in a mix. I would not use this for recording bass or kick.

 

Part 2

 

Fender D1

Review - http://www.muzines.co.uk/articles/fender-microphones/2856

I found no spec sheet online. Not surprising, this is not a famous microphone. It was given to me. It is made in Japan and has a high quality feel and look to the build (Audio Technica?). It sounds fine, think Shure SM58 and you won't be too far off. I have an evil plan for this mic.

 

Electro-Voice EV PL95

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/43531/Electro-Voice-Pl95.html#manual (spec sheet is visible at the link, no download needed.

This did duty as my guitar amp mic for many gigs. I've also used this mic for live vocals a few times. It sounds good and is easy to work with. Output is fairly low, Cloudlifter CL-1 fixed that nicely. Another gift. It has never sounded bad, it will get used here.

 

Shure Beta 87a

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/beta_87a A link to download the spec sheet is a bit over ¾ of the way down this page. It will appear on your computer, not on your browser.

I used this as my primarly vocal mic for many years and many gigs. For recording I found putting a simple foam windscreen on it allows you to benefit from the well-controlled proximity effect and somewhat exaggerated high mid/treble boost without excessive plosives or sibilence. I've gotten clear, clean vocal takes with this mic and the windscreen. I plan on testing it in combination with the CAD D82 to bring up the highs without EQ.

 

Shure KSM8

https://pubs-api.shure.com/file/259934

Pop filter recommended for recording vocals. The proximity effect is very well controlled and the sweet spot is large. Backing up a little does not thin out a voice the way it will with many mics designed for live work. Shure has charts of the cardiod pattern at many different frequencies (instead of just the standard 1,000 hz) and every frequency chart overlay is remarkably close to identical with the others (there are a few notable discrepencies). This means somewhat off axis singing will not have significant tone shifts. That could be great for two singers sharing a mic on stage. This is a great mic, my favorite dynamic mic at this point.

 

Peavey PVM 48

https://assets.peavey.com/literature/manuals/80300302.pdf

These are cardiod condenser mics and require phantom power. Hence the 48 I suppose. I got a pair of these on ebay on the cheap. The foam under the windscreen was rotted, I removed it.

A foam windscreen works well. Solid build and attractive. I think they are worth pursuing further tests, I'm sure I'll find a use for them. If not, wouldn't take much to break even. Sounded good on the Fishman (with the windscreen).

 

Azden SGM 1X

https://www.azden.com/products/microphones/shotgun-microphones/sgm-1x/

Thrift store find - $14. Windscreen and padded bag included. Very high output, super cardiod pattern will pick up directly behind. I haven't used this as intended. As not intended it is very bright and thin sounding, yet harsh. I will experiment with it and see if I can find a use for it. Maybe a 3rd acoustic guitar mic off yonder a bit or treble enhancer for ribbon mics.

 

Electro-Voice EV N/D767a

https://www.electrovoice.com/binary/NDYM767a_EDS.pdf

http://microphonegeeks.com/electro-voice-nd767a-dynamic-vocal-microphone-review/

Picked up a new one when Guitar Center cleared them out for $50. It has it's own sound, aggresively bright but distance, a pop filter or a windscreen can bring that back to a smoother sound that is still very clear. I think it will have an interesting sound for many things.

 

Audix OM2

https://audixusa.com/docs_12/specs_pdf/OM2_v3_0516.pdf

https://audixusa.com/docs_12/units/OM2.shtml

Pawn shop, like new in the box with bag and mount - $25.

This is my current gigging vocal mic. I find it very easy to work with, a pleasantly clear and full sounding mic with no extreme behaviors (boring, I know). I'll try recording with it. It's more than paid for itself already. I'd like to try an OM5, I've heard they are really good too.

 

OK, these are first comparison/impressions of my current mic stash. I know it sounds like I really like all of them and in my and their own way, I do. Some of them don't sound right to me, that's got to be useful somehow. I've a long history of doing things 'wrong' to see what comes of it.

 

I plan on updating this mic by mic as I try things with them. Currently waiting for a power conditioner/noise suppressor I can plug everything into. I've been having noise problems â EMI and such. Sharing a wall in a condo, who knows what they have plugged in and/or how well the wiring was done. Cheers, Kuru

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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My mic locker is very specialized for the work I do, and while some of my choices will be familiar, others will not. In no particular order:

 

Lauten LS-208

https://www.lautenaudio.com/ls-208

An absolutely brilliant end-address vocal mic that is one of my go-to mics for voiceover work on my weekly radio show. It's plosive resistant without an extra screen and sounds great on my voice. $599

 

Roswell Audio Mini K47

https://roswellproaudio.com/products/mini-k47

This mic should cost twice what it does ($349) and would be worth every penny. Seriously, I have no clue why every serious small-studio owner doesn't have one (or a pair!) of these. While you can find another mic that will be better than the Mini K47 on this or that particular application, they do almost everything very well and are true workhorses. I especially love them on vocals and acoustic guitar.

 

Lauten Torch (pair)

http://recordinghacks.com/microphones/Lauten/Torch

(No longer made -- the above link is to the RecordingHacks page about it. Originally sold for $1299/pair.)

These are exquisite-sounding tube-based small-diaphragm condenser mics that work beautifully on everything from drum overheads and stereo rooms to dual-miked guitars. Everyone should have a pair of pencil condensers of SOME kind in their locker; the very inexpensive RØDE pairs are a good option, the Black Series Lautens and the Josephson Series Four are streets ahead while not being that much more costly... but I have the Torches and love them. Sue me.

 

Placid Audio Copperphone Mini

https://www.placidaudio.com/products/copperphone-mini/

Remember that funky old-style retro mic that the Polyphonic Spree used for some vocals, the one that looked like a pipe bomb? This is the smaller version. It's band-limited, distorted, and nasty, in a really sweet vintage way, and I love it to pieces for vocals and special percussion effects, not to mention sampling. It can be dismounted and used as a handheld mic; someday I need to try it on harmonica, I'll bet it would be awesome.

 

Shure SM57 with A2WS windscreen

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm57

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/accessories/a2ws

The first mic I ever owned. It was given to me as a gift many years ago, when I stepped in to volunteer as a DJ/MC at a festival I was playing but had to borrow a mic because I hadn't packed one. For whatever reason, that grubby old mic sounded great on my voice, and I still use it to this day. Sounds great on its own, but absolutely soars when teamed with a Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter Zi (which is also fun on the Copperphone Mini). Seriously, just get one (still only $99) and have it handy. Just do it. (But be sure you're not getting a cheap Chinese fake, there are a lot out there.) And for $18, throw in the windscreen too...

 

Sorry this took so long for me to post. Anyone else like to chime in? Even if you don't list everything, if there's a secret sauce in your mic pantry, please share it!

 

mike

 

 

Dr. Mike Metlay (PhD in nuclear physics, golly gosh) :D

Musician, Author, Editor, Educator, Impresario, Online Radio Guy, Cut-Rate Polymath, and Kindly Pedant

Editor-in-Chief, Bjooks ~ Author of SYNTH GEMS 1

 

clicky!:  more about me ~ my radio station (and my fam) ~ my local tribe ~ my day job ~ my bookmy music

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My mic locker is very specialized for the work I do, and while some of my choices will be familiar, others will not. In no particular order:

 

Roswell Audio Mini K47

https://roswellproaudio.com/products/mini-k47

This mic should cost twice what it does ($349) and would be worth every penny. Seriously, I have no clue why every serious small-studio owner doesn't have one (or a pair!) of these. While you can find another mic that will be better than the Mini K47 on this or that particular application, they do almost everything very well and are true workhorses. I especially love them on vocals and acoustic guitar.

 

Lauten Torch (pair)

http://recordinghacks.com/microphones/Lauten/Torch

(No longer made -- the above link is to the RecordingHacks page about it. Originally sold for $1299/pair.)

These are exquisite-sounding tube-based small-diaphragm condenser mics that work beautifully on everything from drum overheads and stereo rooms to dual-miked guitars. Everyone should have a pair of pencil condensers of SOME kind in their locker; the very inexpensive RØDE pairs are a good option, the Black Series Lautens and the Josephson Series Four are streets ahead while not being that much more costly... but I have the Torches and love them. Sue me.

 

 

Shure SM57 with A2WS windscreen

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm57

https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/accessories/a2ws

The first mic I ever owned. It was given to me as a gift many years ago, when I stepped in to volunteer as a DJ/MC at a festival I was playing but had to borrow a mic because I hadn't packed one. For whatever reason, that grubby old mic sounded great on my voice, and I still use it to this day. Sounds great on its own, but absolutely soars when teamed with a Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter Zi (which is also fun on the Copperphone Mini). Seriously, just get one (still only $99) and have it handy. Just do it. (But be sure you're not getting a cheap Chinese fake, there are a lot out there.) And for $18, throw in the windscreen too...

 

Sorry this took so long for me to post. Anyone else like to chime in? Even if you don't list everything, if there's a secret sauce in your mic pantry, please share it!

 

mike

 

 

I've been looking at the Roswell mics, they recently had a sale on getting both the Mini K47 and Mini K87 that took all of my will power to keep away from my credit card!!!!

 

A pair of SDC is on my short list. Long ago I had a pair of Peavey 480 SCD. The mics in my Tascam DR40 are pretty nice and can be set AB or XY which is handy. I like the idea of capsule swapping from cardiod to omni even though I'd hardly ever be able to use the omni here with the ambient noise. Could be useful for location gigs. With the 8 space rack i just picked up, I should be able to put my laptop, headphones and a bag of mics in there and would only need a cable bag and mic stands (golf cart!!!) to go mobile. Not sure what the opportunities are but I'll be ready.

 

I have no idea why I don't own an SM57 but I don't. I had a pair of SM58s about 40 years ago. Classics, pretty easy to find a use for them...

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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I don't have a huge mic locker. The star of the show is the Cloud Ribbon, but you guys probably already know about that.

 

But, I do have a tip. Neat Mics didn't get traction with Gibson, and there was a ton of mics in inventory just sitting there. The people who started Neat were able to buy back the inventory, and the mics are going for insane prices on Amazon. I use the King Bee large-diaphragm condenser for narration and vocals, the Worker Bee small diaphragm for acoustic guitar and some vocals.

 

The King Bee is going for $99 (used to be $349 IIRC) and the Worker Bee for $89.99. It's not just me, check out the Amazon user reviews for the King Bee.

 

Also FYI - the Beecaster is an incredible USB mic, I use it for all my conference calls, Skype, etc. and the four switchable polar patterns are a big deal. Best USB mic I've tried. It's going for $99.99.

 

My understanding is that when this inventory is depleted, there won't be any more. I picked up a couple extras of each, just in case. At this price, I couldn't go wrong.

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Sweet, will check out the Bees!!!

 

OK, I surfed for reviews and took a look.

It is easy to understand the marketing failure, these are hideous mics!

At the current prices they are also huge bang for the buck. Makin' my credit card twitch!!!!

 

TapeOp review

https://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/117/king-bee-worker-bee-condenser-mics/

 

Sound on Sound review

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/neat-king-bee-worker-bee

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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Went for the King Bee, Sweetwater has them. I used Paypal credit so I've got 6 months to pay it off with zero interest.

 

After reading the reviews I decide to pass on the Worker Bee, I have a medium diameter condensor mic that I like and no large diaphragm one.

 

If I was rolling in it right now I'd have grabbed two of each. So it goes...

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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It is easy to understand the marketing failure, these are hideous mics!
You can take off the yellow rubber bands. There were only two reactions to the look:

 

"Omigod, these are awesome! Very cool!"

"I think I'm going to throw up"

 

As to me, hey, they sound good. I don't care if they look like Jar Jar Binks.

 

Well, maybe I do. Never mind.

 

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Yeah I figured the bands would come off.

And I don't care about the appearance much either.

But many people do, and it had to be a factor. Add in that Gibson was struggling in a pool of it's own cess and things didn't go well for Neat.

Mayve they will try again.

 

The reviews indicated that $99 is stupid cheap for a mic of that audio quality. Both Tape Op and Sound On Sound said they thought it was an excellent mic for $349.

I'm looking forward to having one!

 

Thanks again for the tip!!

 

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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We purchased one of the original Roswell Delphos condensers for recording at work (we mostly do language teaching materials and podcasting) -- we wanted something with a switchable polar pattern and it's far and away the best quality-to-price ratio we could find.

 

Haven't been disappointed, it's a great mic to work with. It's found its way into some of my, shall we say, extracurricular recording projects as well, to my great satisfaction. A pair of the Mini K47s is on my home studio wish list, for sure.

Samuel B. Lupowitz

Musician. Songwriter. Food Enthusiast. Bad Pun Aficionado.

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We purchased one of the original Roswell Delphos condensers for recording at work (we mostly do language teaching materials and podcasting) -- we wanted something with a switchable polar pattern and it's far and away the best quality-to-price ratio we could find.

 

Haven't been disappointed, it's a great mic to work with. It's found its way into some of my, shall we say, extracurricular recording projects as well, to my great satisfaction. A pair of the Mini K47s is on my home studio wish list, for sure.

 

Good to know, Roswell founder Matt McGlynn also runs MicParts, where some nifty mic kits are available for those who are handy with a soldering iron.

https://microphone-parts.com

 

One of my go-to pages for microphone lust, I've successfully built a kit or two and have soldered up LOTS of wiring harnesses for guitars and other things.

 

Also, after reading reviews of both the K47 and the K87 I think I might want a pair of K87 since they have less "personality" and would be good for pretty much everything. Would love at least one K47 too! You're right, the bang for the buck is pretty unbeatable.

Cheers, Kuru

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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A second on the Bee mics from NEAT! I had a Beecaster in the office for a long time and really liked it. For that cost, I might grab a Worker Bee and/or a King Bee...

 

Dr. Mike Metlay (PhD in nuclear physics, golly gosh) :D

Musician, Author, Editor, Educator, Impresario, Online Radio Guy, Cut-Rate Polymath, and Kindly Pedant

Editor-in-Chief, Bjooks ~ Author of SYNTH GEMS 1

 

clicky!:  more about me ~ my radio station (and my fam) ~ my local tribe ~ my day job ~ my bookmy music

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I did end up purchasing a pair of King Bees 2 days ago, should be arriving shortly. Found an online retailer whom I have done business with before that offered free shipping and 6 payments on my credit card with no credit check. Couldn't turn that deal down.
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Add in that Gibson was struggling in a pool of it's own cess and things didn't go well for Neat.
Gibson struggled with pro audio in general. I think part of that was, paradoxically, owing to the guitars. Any store could sell Gibson guitars, so why put effort into something selling in a different category, which brought in a lot less money?

 

Maybe they will try again.
Well, the people who were behind Blue and then Neat are up to something... It remains to be seen exactly what, but I know they had several new mic designs just about ready to launch when the issues with Gibson went down. I wouldn't be surprised if they hit the world before too long. They also had a particularly super-creative and interesting idea that hadn't reached fruition yet, I hope that at some point it gets out into the world.
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Add in that Gibson was struggling in a pool of it's own cess and things didn't go well for Neat.
Gibson struggled with pro audio in general. I think part of that was, paradoxically, owing to the guitars. Any store could sell Gibson guitars, so why put effort into something selling in a different category, which brought in a lot less money?

 

Maybe they will try again.
Well, the people who were behind Blue and then Neat are up to something... It remains to be seen exactly what, but I know they had several new mic designs just about ready to launch when the issues with Gibson went down. I wouldn't be surprised if they hit the world before too long. They also had a particularly super-creative and interesting idea that hadn't reached fruition yet, I hope that at some point it gets out into the world.

 

 

Gibson has had a ton of problems, diversifying was certainly one of them. I'v seen a litany of issues with the guitars too, poor QC, horrible finishes on the less expensive models, Henry J's understandable phobia about using ebony - which led to $5,000 Les Paul Customs having plastic fingerboards and people wanting to buy earlier used guitars (1987 to 1995 are known as "the good wood era").

They went bankrupt and have new owners, that is a culmination of a long, slow decline. Neat got snarled up in the middle of it which is too bad because the provenance of having two of the founders of Blue microphones should have given them a leg up instead of a tail between the legs.

 

So, I hope Neat does make a comeback and is successful, they deserve it. Gibson deserves to succeed too, they are iconic. I've owned (and mostly sold) quite a few Gibson guitars over the years. I still have an 86 ES335 Studio and a 59-61-ish massively boogered single cut Melody Maker and those are both keepers for certain.

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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Henry J's understandable phobia about using ebony - which led to $5,000 Les Paul Customs having plastic fingerboards...

 

It wasn't plastic, it was Richlite and frankly, in many ways it's way superior to ebony. It doesn't change with climate and temperature, and when you need to refret a Richlite fingerboard, you can do so without destroying or chipping it. It also has a consistent density which is better acoustically, and of course, the materials are sustainable.

 

The reaction against using Richlite on forums was virulent, to say the least. When experienced luthiers posted their findings about how people had it all wrong and it was superior, they were drowned out by the noise. Ebony is a beautiful wood, no doubt about that. But if I'm going to be playing a guitar for the next several years, I'd prefer a Richlite fingerboard...if I was going to resell it, though, I'd want ebony!

 

It's like when people asked me "are the 59 re-issues really as good as the originals? Which would you prefer?" I always said I'd want the re-issue, so people assumed that meant I thought it was better...at which point I said "because then I could sell it and buy two of the re-issues, along with dozens of other cool guitars."

 

Sorry to get off the topic of mics. Note: I am not a paid endorsee of Richlite :)

 

 

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Henry J's understandable phobia about using ebony - which led to $5,000 Les Paul Customs having plastic fingerboards...

 

It wasn't plastic, it was Richlite and frankly, in many ways it's way superior to ebony. It doesn't change with climate and temperature, and when you need to refret a Richlite fingerboard, you can do so without destroying or chipping it. It also has a consistent density which is better acoustically, and of course, the materials are sustainable.

 

The reaction against using Richlite on forums was virulent, to say the least. When experienced luthiers posted their findings about how people had it all wrong and it was superior, they were drowned out by the noise. Ebony is a beautiful wood, no doubt about that. But if I'm going to be playing a guitar for the next several years, I'd prefer a Richlite fingerboard...if I was going to resell it, though, I'd want ebony!

 

It's like when people asked me "are the 59 re-issues really as good as the originals? Which would you prefer?" I always said I'd want the re-issue, so people assumed that meant I thought it was better...at which point I said "because then I could sell it and buy two of the re-issues, along with dozens of other cool guitars."

 

Sorry to get off the topic of mics. Note: I am not a paid endorsee of Richlite :)

 

 

Don't worry, I'll get us back on topic after a brief detour. FWIW, I have two Rainsong guitars, an OM-1000 and a WS-3000. They are plastic too. If there is a mic in the room and you strum one of them, it will sound like an Emmylou Harris record. So I am not dissing plastic at all, I own two wonderful plastic guitars. I sold a sweet old Martin D-35 to get the OM and I don't miss it at all.

 

First up - a definition.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plastic

"specifically : any of numerous organic synthetic or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight and that can be made into objects, films, or filaments."

The "mostly" could be questioned I suppose, possibly depending on whether weight or volume are used as a definitive measurement. I cannot say that Richlite is plastic-free, that's a given.

 

https://www.ecosupplycenter.com/brands/richlite/

"Richlite is an FSC® certified product, made from post-consumer recycled paper. Sheets of paper are stacked up and saturated with a phenolic resin, then heat and pressure are applied. The resin then thermosets permanently with zero off-gassing."

 

You've mentioned one reason why ebony is better than Richlite and that is certainly true - resale value. I've refretted both, no argument there. In a blindfold test you'd have a 50% chance of guessing which was which but truly, no way to actually know. They'll both play and sound more or less the same.

 

There is another "factor" ( I hesitate to call it a reason but it won't go away ). Gibson is iconic, their vintage instruments are revered. A visit or two to the Les Paul forum will cause one to discover that the completely non-functional plastic binding that is contoured to the ends of the frets is referred to as "nibs" and "nibs" are revered because that's how Gibson made guitars. You will also find that many "cork-sniffers" will only find a one piece Honduras Mahogany neck to be acceptable. Diapers are moistened over these topics. :- D

 

Put simply, Gibson is stuck because a significant customer base is stuck. They don't want better or different guitars, they want exact copies of stupid, worthless nibs or of lovely ebony fretboards. They won't pay $5,000 for a new Les Paul Custom with a plastic fingerboard and often they are the only segment of the market that could or would buy one. So it is a marketing issue more than a "this is better or just as good" issue.

I am certain many more would have been sold if Gibson had made them with ebony boards (and nibs, which they stopped doing on new non-reissue guitars a few years ago to considerable protest)

 

To return to mics, it is similar to Neumann reissuing the U47fet, a revered studio mic. Sweetwater wants $4k for one.

Is it the best 4k mic Neumann could possibly make with 30 years of experience since the orginal came out? I doubt it.

But it doesn't matter because it is a great mic, and reportedly an exact duplicate ( studio rats have a cork-sniffer population too!!!) and they will sell all of them.

It will sure look good on a mic list for a studio that is taking clients, that is one of many great reasons to get one. Hard to go wrong with a good product backing good marketing.

 

See, we are back to mics!!!! Just my opinons for the sake of argument. Cheers, Kuru

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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I also got a King Bee on blowout. I like it a lot better than I thought. I used it for my podcast appearance with David Holloway.

 

dB

 

curious why you chose the King Bee over the Beecaster, just to try something new, maybe?

Actually, it is a Beecaster. :hider:

 

dB

:snax:

 

:keys:==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <==:rawk:

 

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Just a quick update.

 

Over the weekend I put a new studio rack together, with a Furman P-8 PRO C power conditioner and noise eliminator.

Up and running, I tested the Heil PR40 in the same signal chain that I found to be noisy. I put it in the same position. I can't guarantee I used all the same cables in the same place so there are variables.

 

For all that, EVERYTHING is much quieter now. I don't consider the Heil to have a noise problem when compared to other mics. I still have a noise floor but signal to noise is improved.

 

I suspect it will improve a bit more when I get to shortening the cable runs. I want to make sure this is a good layout first. So far I like it.

 

I'll post anything interesting I learn about my mics as I progress. I do want to give a quick and dirty report on the Neat King Bee when it arrives.

Cheers, Kuru

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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Careful, brother Kuru - next thing you know, you"ll be looking into expensive power cables. :shudder::duck::hugegrin:

 

dB

 

First I want to line all the walls with lead. :- D

 

I think I'm good for power now. The Furman is rated for 20 amps. That is absurdly more than I should need. The cord on that is stupid thick.

I shouldn't need to get another one, ever. It looks very solid.

 

Dressing the cables is more than enough for now. I can keep using the gear if I just do a couple at a time.

There's not a single cord that isn't too long, some of them are WAY too long. Not that many of them, I want to stay simple.

Photos are pre-hookup. Just image a mess of long cables hanging out all over cuz that's what it is right now.

590.thumb.jpg.497f260ebcb11dd731eb129e6ab85b83.jpg

591.thumb.jpg.5342c2c746d1b9661c4c6888a85b04cb.jpg

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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First I want to line all the walls with lead. :- D

 

Lead-lined walls will give you some good isolation, but if you want to keep hums and buzzes out, you need to build a Faraday cage. Line the walls with copper screen wire, and be sure to solder all the joints so it's electrically conductive all around. We'll un-solder the door and let you out when you finally get the guitar solo right. ;)

 

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First I want to line all the walls with lead. :- D

 

Lead-lined walls will give you some good isolation, but if you want to keep hums and buzzes out, you need to build a Faraday cage. Line the walls with copper screen wire, and be sure to solder all the joints so it's electrically conductive all around. We'll un-solder the door and let you out when you finally get the guitar solo right. ;)

 

Thanks, I have improved my idea. 6" walls, lead on the outside, filled with sand and copper sheeting on the inside, soldered at all joints. Military surplus submarine pressure hatch for entry and exit. All installed inside a surplus stainless steel wine tank 30 feet underground in a remote area (you can get these surprisingly cheap).

 

All my guitar solos are right, the rest of the song may need to be modified to compliment my inspiration!!!!

 

It took a chunk of my life to get here and I am still not sure where "here" is.
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First I want to line all the walls with lead. :- D

 

Lead-lined walls will give you some good isolation, but if you want to keep hums and buzzes out, you need to build a Faraday cage. Line the walls with copper screen wire, and be sure to solder all the joints so it's electrically conductive all around. We'll un-solder the door and let you out when you finally get the guitar solo right. ;)

 

Thanks, I have improved my idea. 6" walls, lead on the outside, filled with sand and copper sheeting on the inside, soldered at all joints. Military surplus submarine pressure hatch for entry and exit. All installed inside a surplus stainless steel wine tank 30 feet underground in a remote area (you can get these surprisingly cheap).

And we lower your food and water on a rope?

 

Dr. Mike Metlay (PhD in nuclear physics, golly gosh) :D

Musician, Author, Editor, Educator, Impresario, Online Radio Guy, Cut-Rate Polymath, and Kindly Pedant

Editor-in-Chief, Bjooks ~ Author of SYNTH GEMS 1

 

clicky!:  more about me ~ my radio station (and my fam) ~ my local tribe ~ my day job ~ my bookmy music

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