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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
replacing mic connectors-what's ideal?
replacing mic connectors-what's ideal?
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toddlgreene
321 posts
Dec 31, 2009
8:14 AM
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Folks, I have two mics that I've recently pulled out of the closet where they've resided for eons and I have a renewed interest in:
1.)a Mexican 520d with white-label controlled magnetic element and a built in cord. No volume on this one, but I want to add one.
2.)a CAD HM50 with a Astatic mc-127-stamped element and a mc-151 sticker on it. Built-in volume control and XLR jack. Also, i think it's a rarity in that it's not black with a gold grille like most were, but turquoise with a chrome grill.
I want both to have the same connector. From a convenience and price standpoint, a 1/4" female jack on both seem reasonable since I could use a standard guitar cable, however, I can see the obvious issues with stepping on a cord and unplugging it. Also, not sure if this is doable on both mics. Additionally, I don't own any mics with the old-style Amphenol screw-on connector, and therefore also don't have the cables. Also add in the fact that I'm extremely cash-poor at the moment. So, I'm looking for the best bang for my buck and the best reliability I can afford. Suggestions? Thanks. Oh, and Happy New Year to all!
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~Todd L. Greene
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2009 8:18 AM
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barbequebob
274 posts
Dec 31, 2009
9:08 AM
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There is an adapter that goes from XLR to 1/4", but they are often confused with matching line transformers, which look very similar, but functions totally different. I've seen them at http://www.coast2coastmusic.com and a few other sites as well.
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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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toddlgreene
323 posts
Dec 31, 2009
9:25 AM
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@ bbqbob-yeah, that would be a quick fix for the hm50, but stowing the mic with all that crap hanging off of it isn't real stealthy...I would rather have a connector that's either built-in, or doesn't stick a foot out of the mic, but I'll consider it.
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~Todd L. Greene
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
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barbequebob
277 posts
Dec 31, 2009
11:57 AM
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There are some guys on the internet who do mic mods like Fritz the harp mic man, who has a monthly article on http://www.harmonicasessions.com. If you've got that CADHM50, which is basically an Astatic JT30, you may want to contact him, Mr. Microphone, or even Dennis Gurenling about actually modding the mic to either using the Amphenol connector or 1/4" phone plug. I have the pre-1984 JT30's, which all came with the Amphenol connector, plus some of the later stuff, including one that I had done by Rod Piazza, when he was still doing mods to the one that came with ther XLR connectors on them, and he put the screw on Amphenol connectors, and also included the screw on to 1/4" adapter with them. J. Stephen Edwards was doing the same thing for a while and I got one from him as well and some of his stuff sometimes shows up on Ebay under the name of Silvertone as the seller.
With Rod and a few others who've modded newer JT30's (meaning 1984 and later), not only do they put the Amphenol connector in, they also put a volume pot on the mic that is the CORRECT value (actuallly impedance) that works properly with crystals and ceramics, plus a low value capacitor behind the pot so that when you turn the pot down, the mids and highs don't get buried by the extreme lows and highs (but the cap doesn't work when the volume pot is turned all the way, and it's not supposed to anyway). If you do want that, the correct pot has to be a minimum of 1meg with a crystal or ceramic, ideally 5meg, and the JT30's/Blues Balsters/CAD HM50 usually has a 500k pot (tho some early Blues Blasters came with 250k pots), which is perfect for CM/CR cartridges, and is a common pot used on electric guitars, but it's way too low for crystals or ceramics.
For the Green Bullet, check out http://www.greenbulletmics.com and I think he can give you some help there. That guy ther knows his tuff about those mics.
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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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Greg Heumann
207 posts
Dec 31, 2009
1:08 PM
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I can install screw-on connectors in both mics for you. They're vintage-appropriate, still available and supported. Then you can adapt those to 1/4" if and when you want - although I prefer screw-on all the way. Bob is correct - the VC pot for each must be chosen to match the element.
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/Greg
BlowsMeAway Productions
BlueState - my band
Bluestate on iTunes
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toddlgreene
327 posts
Dec 31, 2009
1:30 PM
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Great info, guys. Greg, beleive me, if I could afford it right now, I'd save myself the trouble and send them to you, because your reputation precedes you as a perfectionist! While I'm at it, how can I tell which pot is installed on my CAD already? Not sure if there's a marking on it(not in front of me now).
Another one for you, Greg-my 520d had something done to it many years ago, and I believe it is now actually low-z, which I do NOT want. I say this because the black wire on the cable is soldered to the black connector on the element, and there's a resistor in between on the stiff wire coming from the element(why?). Is it as simple as breaking this solder and leaving the black wire unconnected?
p.s.-Saving my coins for an Ultimate 545 from you!
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~Todd L. Greene
crescentcityharmonicaclub@gmail.com
Last Edited by on Dec 31, 2009 1:30 PM
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barbequebob
279 posts
Dec 31, 2009
1:58 PM
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Well the CAD is made by Astatic and I know for a fact that the pot on it is a 500k pot.
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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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