toddlgreene
142 posts
Nov 16, 2009
8:46 AM
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After a big festival gig Saturday, where I stepped on my harp mic's cable for the last time, causing my sound to go silent unless I held the wire 'just so', I realized it's time to once again go wireless. Years ago I had a Nady system, I believe, but I'm not up on such things. I'm looking for the best bang for my buck here. Is there a system that hooks up via xlr WITHOUT buying a mic I don't want? I remember such terms as 'true diversity' but forget what they even meant. I think it meant that I wouldn't hear truck drivers talking on CB radios while I played or something to that effect. I don't want to break the bank. Thanks in advance!
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 16, 2009 8:50 AM
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congaron
258 posts
Nov 16, 2009
9:46 AM
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if you are so-inclined..I have a video here somewhere on a home- brew one that is gig-tested and very effective.
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toddlgreene
143 posts
Nov 16, 2009
9:50 AM
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Yeah, I saw that-and kinda hoped you chimed in. No, I'm not the one to do it personally, but I have some super-techie friends whom I can share that idea with, so thanks!
Now, in the event I CAN'T find a McGyver to build me one, what's out there off the shelf?
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 16, 2009 9:50 AM
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congaron
261 posts
Nov 16, 2009
10:03 AM
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My guitar playe just bought a line 6...not sure which one..I'll ask him. You'd have to use a line transformer with it, but it sounds really good and he is a TONE FREAK! He wouldn't tolerate any detectable tone sucking from a wireless unit. it may even have a low-Z input..not sure, some of the more pricey ones do. Bang for the buck, i think there's a 3 way audio technica unit that can handle high or low Z for around 150 bucks at musician's friend. It is a lower line, but probably sounds good with harp, like the radio shack unit I made. Stay out of the 700mhz band, BTW..there is potential trouble there with cell phone companies and the FCC.
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JimInMO
24 posts
Nov 16, 2009
12:00 PM
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What congaron said about 700mhz band. I occasionally see used gear on craigslist or ebay. Do a little research and lo and behold they operate in that band. The sellers neglect to point that out in their glowing descriptions.
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toddlgreene
145 posts
Nov 16, 2009
12:07 PM
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@ JimInMo, hence the 'for sale', haha...Always a potential hazard when buying used gear/cars, etc-inheriting someone else's headaches for a price. I do appreciate the heads-up on the 700mhz band-i didn't know that.
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
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congaron
268 posts
Nov 16, 2009
12:11 PM
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I think the best-case scenario for 700 mhz would be...you don't get fined, but your performance is severely degraded due to g3 networks or g4 or whatever is in that band. I wouldn't want to even deal with it on any level.
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Bluzdude46
277 posts
Nov 16, 2009
1:37 PM
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I like the Samson Airline They come up used on Ebay now & then. The Fender version works pretty well I have no complaints.
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HarpNinja
21 posts
Nov 16, 2009
7:16 PM
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I have a Samson AR1 wireless. It operates on ch u4...a google search was no luck for what mhz it works on. It is the old snap on xlr that Jason Ricci used years ago. I have no idea how long until it is useless.
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Mike Fugazzi
http://www.myspace.com/niterailband
http://www.youtube.com/user/NiteRail
http://www.twitter.com/NiteRail
http://www.facebook.com/mike.fugazzi
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HarpNinja
26 posts
Nov 18, 2009
12:16 PM
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I emailed Samson about my AR1...I have the old unit...there is a new one that lets you pic a frequency below 700mhz...here was their quote about the old AR1 that is on Ch U4, which is in the 800mhz range.
"The system you currently have (which actually isn't really discontinued) will not be obsolete following the FCC Changeover. What the FCC has done, is reallocate those frequencies to "Future Technologies". Well the simple fact is these technologies do not yet exist, and may not for a number of years. If anything, your system will get better reception than they previously did.
I imagine that you won't have a problem with that system at all. You can continue to use this system, and I suggest doing so. If at any point the system gets interference that is completely stopping the usage of this unit, call Customer Support for a repair. At that time, we will likely be able to change it to another frequency for you."
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Mike Fugazzi
http://www.myspace.com/niterailband
http://www.youtube.com/user/NiteRail
http://www.twitter.com/NiteRail
http://www.facebook.com/mike.fugazzi
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Bluzdude46
278 posts
Nov 18, 2009
12:35 PM
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Go ahead Mike! I love it when others do the research for me!!
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toddlgreene
154 posts
Nov 18, 2009
12:37 PM
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Interesting..."Future Technologies'...So, a few years from now, you may be playing a gig and inadvertently start WWIII when your harp mic triggers the 700mhz Star Wars satellites to take aim and fire on the Playboy channel satellites...
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
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Bluzdude46
281 posts
Nov 18, 2009
12:46 PM
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Or we could do a positive spin... While blowing a rather spirited rendition of Put On your Lovelight thru the Wireless a screamin lick shut down all the Military electronics of the world People everywhere decided that instead of going back to spears and clubs we could actually all try to get along for a change. Oh and the Playboy channel became a Free service to everyone.....Amen
Last Edited by on Nov 18, 2009 12:46 PM
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JimInMO
26 posts
Nov 18, 2009
1:29 PM
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yous guys are making my sides hurt....
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joshnat
17 posts
Nov 19, 2009
6:53 AM
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FWIW, I used the Samson Airline for a while, and it really affected my tone. I picked up an older AKG guitar bug system from Craigslist and it also affects tone, but less so. It's unfortunate, because I really like the size and design of the Samson better than the AKG. Maybe I'll give it another try!
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barbequebob
105 posts
Nov 19, 2009
7:57 AM
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They all do to some degree, some with highs and some with the lows and you may have to alter the tone settings as needed, plus you also need to take into account the acoustics of the room because it also affects how wireless units work as well.
Since the changeover to digital TV, it makes me wonder if I can still use my 1995 Nady Wireless 3D, which was one of the last units that I could actually go as far as 1500 feet in the line of sight without a dropout.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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congaron
272 posts
Nov 19, 2009
11:08 AM
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My homemade one will go at least the length of a basketball court...plenty far for me. I haven't even tested it outside yet. It works well with my guitar player's line 6..no interference....since mine is vhf and his is uhf. It will be interesting to see if it works in a real city...lol.
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toddlgreene
163 posts
Nov 19, 2009
11:52 AM
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@ congaron-I went into one of my employer's hi-tech conference rooms today, and noticed their wireless setup-very compact xlr plugins into Audix OM-2 mics, so I priced them. THAT part's not too outlandish but the receivers I saw were well over 1000 bucks...your setup is sounding better all the time!
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GO SAINTS!
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Nov 19, 2009 11:53 AM
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Bluzdude46
282 posts
Nov 19, 2009
11:55 AM
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The samson wireless adds a little compression. If you play Blues and depending if you use a bigger 4-10 amp this is not a bad thing. I imagine it could make a 5 watter a little crunchy. My Epi Vjr sounds ok with it. But it really sounds smoother with the Bassman
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Bluzdude46
283 posts
Nov 19, 2009
11:57 AM
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yea Ron it would be a shame to be in the middle of Good Mornin Lil Schoolgirl and police band starts coming thru your amp!!
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congaron
273 posts
Nov 19, 2009
1:34 PM
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lol...I always carry a mic cable and impedance transformer, just in case!
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