HawkeyeKane
2 posts
Aug 19, 2011
7:51 AM
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The element in my JT30RH reissue went out not long ago. Getting it rebuilt the way I want is just proving too costly right now. So I just bought a couple new mics instead.
Most recently, I bought a Peavey H5C Cherry Bomb from an ebay store. I'd read mixed reviews on this thing, so at first I was leary of getting one. But I've always been a fan of Peavey products, so I thought I'd take a chance.
First thing I noticed about it was how similar it was to a Shure 520. Size and shape are almost identical, with the primary exception being a set of recessed contours on top for finger placement to get a better grip on it. Bright red housing with a charcoal black grille. Volume knob is the same as a Green Bullet's with the midway catch. 20K pot with a dynamic element. The thing I love most about it is it has an on/off switch on the upper right side of the housing, allowing me to cut it off without losing my volume setting.
The one thing I don't like is the connection. It's a mini-XLR. I've yet to hear of anyone having good luck with that setup, with the possible exception of lavalier pack mics. I may have this swapped out later for a 5/8" screw-on connection. I tried it out for the first time at a gig at the Illinois State Fair on Wednesday. Ran in through my Peavey Vypyr 15 amp.
The tone was great! It was dirty, but not too dirty for the stuff my band plays. I can always dirty it up more with the help of my amp if I want. It's the first Chinese-made harp mic I've found that really delivers what a harp player needs. Overall, it's like it's a hybrid between a GB and a Superlux, but a really good bang for the buck.
Anybody else used one? I'm anxious to see what mods anyone may have done to this mic.
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HawkeyeKane
4 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:16 AM
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Most definitely. I kinda wish the housing had a rubberized finish to it, mainly due to my getting bitten by the Beta vocal mics we use due to differing polarities. The mic still feels solidly built overall though. Almost like you could slam it on the ground and it'd still work perfectly.
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bharper
37 posts
Aug 19, 2011
8:57 AM
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The Peavey Cherry Bomb is exactly the same as the Digital Reference Red Howler and the SuperLux D112/C. They have cheap elements and sound raspy and bright, similar to the newer Shure Green Bullet 520DX. I prefer the warmer tones of microphones with the vintage Shure CM elements.
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HawkeyeKane
6 posts
Aug 19, 2011
9:15 AM
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bharper - I agree with you on the CM elements. Warm is good for a lot of things. But for what I play, the dirty raspy sound fits in perfectly. Before I got this thing, I woulda said "The only thing cheaper than a Mexican element is a Chinese one." When I get my JT30 rebuilt, I'll prolly put either a CM, CR, or 99S556 in it.
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