Re: Shaker Dynamic mic

[Spschndr@xxxxxxx]

I don't really understand why the Shaker Dynamic is described as "can be
used either High-Z or Low-Z",I don't think there is a switch on the Dynamic
that one can choose between High-Z or Low-Z?


So far as I can tell, no switch is necessary for a very simple reason: the 
Shaker Dynamic is actually a low-impedance element wired in high-impedance 
fashion but without an impedance transformer.  It has just enough output in this 
mode to be usable with high-gain modern guitar amps, but its sensitivity in this 
mode is so low as to resist feedback very well.  Apparently there are a few 
mic elements that will do this (such as some vintage Shure controlled 
reluctance ones).  

I realized this the first time I played a 1/4" Shaker Dynamic into a PA that 
happened to have a Lo-Z 1/4" input--there was an amazing difference in the 
output and fullness of tone.  (Mark Korpi said it sounded good, if you want 
independent evaluation.)  When you plug that mic into a guitar amp, the amp has to 
do the work; the mic requires a lot of gain from the amp due to its weak 
signal, as I said, and that's the reason why Shaker Dynamics tend not to work well 
with real harp amps--too little gain in the amp circuit, maybe too much input 
impedance too.  Plug a Dynamic directly into a solid-state PA and it will be 
quite happy and sound like a different mic, because even the Hi-Z inputs on 
most modern PAs are not that high an impedance.

I believe G. experienced a version of this several years back when he managed 
to get an inline impedance transformer hooked up to his Shaker Dynamic; I'm 
fuzzy on the details, but I think he said the output became much more robust 
when he did that, though he didn't keep the mic.

I've always used the 1/4" "Hi-Z" Shakers because I use them in the two 
situations described above: to tame unruly contemporary guitar amps or to go 
straight into a 1/4" jack on a PA.  It strikes me now that getting an XLR jack model 
would simplify using an inline transformer if you wanted to try that sometime. 
 It also strikes me that I have managed to complicate your choices rather 
than clarify them ;-).  But I hope the above is informative.

Once again, this individual message is being purged of HTML by hitting Edit: 
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Stephen Schneider