Today I finally got hold of an EV RE10. First impressions are it sounds great with lots of bottom end. I never realised how small these mics really are. It makes them so easy to cup.
For years I played JT30's and T3's with MC151 elements, then changed to JT30's and T3's all with CM elements.
Then a while ago I started using Shure 545's. That for me was a real turning point. I started to enjoy the stick mics more and more.
I found that I much prefer the tonality of the 545 and now the RE10 over the old Shure CM elements.
I'm not saying I won't use a bullet mic ever again. But for me it's no longer the first mic I grab.
It all got me to wondering what various types of mics people on here are playing through.
Last Edited by on Jul 17, 2009 7:26 AM
Right now I have I'm using an awesome Shure 585SA High Imp mic like James Cotton use to play with.
I also thought I'd try out the "Green Bullet" so I picked one up from Musiciansfriend for a discount (Called them and told them it's only $99.99 at US DJ supply and they matched it with free shipping). I know the older ones are "better" but I'm not looking to sound exactly little Walter.
I've been at this for awhile,so I've managed to accumulate quite a few mics on my quest.The most I've spent was for a new BluesBlaster(wasted money). They've either been given to me-JT-30,Shure Commando. or I bought them at yard sales etc.I was never happy with my bullet mics,but had been told: all harp players use bullets. That's true if you're looking for that dirty bullet sound. For my tastes they are too muddy and cover up little details. OK for certain songs but not everything. I was using a Superlux,which is a dynamic. Now I'm using a Shure 5585S,.a unisphere dynamic. It really cuts through the band and is very feedback resistant. Lots of bass from proximity effect-I have to turn amp bass control way down. I love that mic. I think mics will sound different in different amps. You never know 'til you try a mic into your own amp weather it will work well. Yow, that was way longer than I intended.
Hey Kingley that's an excellent question. I made that same switch, I used to play exclusively bullet mics and always loved that dirty sound but I then used another guys (John O'Leary's) 545 at a jam one night and was converted to that cleaner sound. I still use the Green bullet but I also now use a 585 like Mg and tuckster and also a 515. They were dirt cheap on ebay (both less than £20) and the 585 especially gives a great sound and is much easier to cup. You can still get a growl out of both of them by altering the cup. I also have a really old bakerlite crystal mic I bought for about £3 on eaby about 2 years ago and it sounds beautiful. However I need to get it re-wired as it's cable is only about 5' long and has a cloth covering. Like yourself I have about a dozen or so mics and they do sound different in different amps.
The very first mic I owned was a Shaker dynamic but I stopped playing it after I got the GB. However the other day I tried it out on my Fender 600 as I was getting pissed off with the feedback using the other mics I had and for the first time I could turn the 600 up full with out it screaming....and a very nice sound it made too. I could talk bollocks about mics all night man....
It's amazing how certain mics can just be a revelation! For example, I just got me an older Shure PE57 (it's branded as made for the Western Electric company, but it's a PE57). It's a real turning point for me. None of the mics I've made have ever sounded close to this. Not even close. It's all about the element. I'm 100% sure I could rehouse it, and it would still sound great (as long as I did it correctly!). I also just picked up an old Turner +2 bullet mic. It also sounds good, but not better than some of the mics I made myself, and not even close to the PE57. Check out the harmonica masterclass list for some info on the PE57 (http://www.harmonicamasterclass.com/vintage_collection.htm).
