tookatooka
546 posts
Sep 24, 2009
2:22 PM
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OK got my Roland MicroCube and a real cheapie £1 shop mike that I had laying around. The mic sounds OK to me but I realise I'm probably not getting the best out of the amp with such a cheap mic.
My question is, what should I look out for by way of a half decent not too expensive mic, and how do you think it would improve the amps volume/sound quality/sensitivity?
I also have concerns regarding holding the mic and cupping so I want something that is not too big and heavy.
Many thanks.
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congaron
143 posts
Sep 24, 2009
2:37 PM
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I am using a samson r21 vocal mic. I cut the body down to a little longer than what it takes to remount the xlr connector inside. I also flattened the steel mesh ball to within about 1/4 inch of the element using a three pound sledge on the dining room table with the ball off the mic and frequent checking for size. It looks like it came that way..perfectly square and flat on the top, still a ball underneath.
The resulting mic is squat, easy to cup because the ball is hand shaped on the back. The flat surface makes a nice harp interface and it sounds great. I run mine through a digitech rp80 using it for some EQ and slight delay. i use the expression pedal as my volume control. The vocal mic has great tone from clean to dirty depending on how you cup it. I used it friday at an outdoor gig with my valve junior and 2 twelve inch jensens. The lower jensen was mic'd to the PA. Sounds killer. I also heard Tim Gonzales and he was using a wireless vocal mic..not sure what model. His tone was awesome.
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fishbone
8 posts
Sep 24, 2009
3:24 PM
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I love to hear inexpensive sound 'killer'
I found one on fleabay for $16
3 pounder on the kitchen table? That's a technique I never heard before!!
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congaron
144 posts
Sep 24, 2009
9:38 PM
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Yeah, I think I paid 60 bucks for three of these a few years ago. A fourth one came with a real heavy mic stand i use all the time with my beta vocal mic. These four mics have seen a lot of use. Now this one has been butchered and reassembled to a new life. It really is comfortable to hold and good sounding. I can even use my mic/pedal straight into the PA via DI box and it's pretty darned good that way. I am going to use that as my jam night rig because it is all in my harp case. No amp and speaker cab to lug.
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Bluzdude46
207 posts
Sep 24, 2009
9:46 PM
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I have have 3 main mics that I find I use regularly.
1) Sonotone ceramic element stick mic. It used to be a tape recorder mic, I believe, small easy to cup not really a mic that overdrives the amp alot and no volume control(which is ok by me as I'm no stranger to dynamics) It's a great mic if your sitting in with friends for a few songs or going to a Jam and just plugging directly into the board. good warm sound easy to control within the boards limited controls. I also use it for practicing with my recorder.
2) Shure Brown bullet(smaller shell) with American white label CM 99B86 element. My workhorse stage mic Dark as hell and overdrives like nothing else. Vol control. Perfect Blues mic.
3) American D4 Salt shaker. Cleaner mic I use when I still want powerful input into an amp but a cleaner rock to country sound. This mic is good and has had a transformer put into it by my friend Dave (technobird) at The Harp Mic Shop. I bought this mic to replace the American D4T that was stolen along with all of my other mics 2 years ago when my gigbag was grabbed out of my car. A sound man once put it on a scope and said it was amazing as it put out a stronger signal then most keyboards he has plugged in. Had Dave add a volume control that just makes it look stranger. still small enough that it cups really easily.
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KingoBad
96 posts
Sep 24, 2009
10:15 PM
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I prefer my shure 520d with the CM element. However I think that the Shure 515 is a fantastic mic that you can pick up for under $20 with shipping off of ebay. It has great response up and down the harp. IT is a cleaner sound, but does do well cupping too.
Last Edited by on Sep 24, 2009 10:16 PM
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jonsparrow
1086 posts
Sep 24, 2009
10:21 PM
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"What do you look for in a mic?"
the sound i prefer.
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RyanMortos
328 posts
Sep 25, 2009
4:16 AM
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Haha, Jon lead by example dont fall into others' mistakes when posting.
When Im looking for a mic I borrow mics from other forum members :P .
Im after two things, something with a white CM element for blues like bluzdude & something clean & dynamic.
Btw,
I have a map of the entire country its actual size. It says 1 mile equals 1 mile.
Last summer I folded it.
Stephen Wright = King of the Deadpan
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~Ryan
Pennsylvania - H.A.R.P. (Harmonica Association 'Round Philly)
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tookatooka
549 posts
Sep 25, 2009
7:48 AM
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Thanks for all the advice and input. Think I've got some homework to do.
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