Re: [Harp-L] MV1 - Harmonica Finger Mic by Microvox

["David M. Weeks" <dweeks@xxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry for picking up on this a bit late; I had a busy weekend!

On 17 May 2005, Chris Bates wrote:

 : Anyone have experience with this mic?

I've been using one for a couple of years.  I like it; it's a lot easier to 
hold than a bullet mike, and to my ears it sounds pretty decent, 
played through either the Blues Junior or the Blues Deville.  I get 
compliments on my tone, anyway.  I don't have much trouble with 
feedback, but then I don't usually play very loud.

The one thing I really dislike about the Microvox is that it's actually 
kind of unwieldy.  The clip on the power unit tends to pop off my 
belt a lot.  But the biggest hassle is the microphone part itself.  It's 
tiny and fragile, and sits at the end of a light, four-foot-long cord.  
That's exactly the right length to drag on the floor directly under 
my feet.  Because it's practically weightless, I tend to just drop it 
when I get distracted by something, forget it's there, and wind up 
stepping on it and shorting out the contacts.  I've already ruined 
one that way.  The company happily replaced it for free, but I can't 
keep asking them to do that.  I've tried repairing it, but the 
contacts on the condenser mic element are hardly big enough for 
me to see any more, let alone solder to!

Aside from the weak belt clip, the power supply unit that comes 
with it is nice; has a volume pot/switch on the top, and two inputs: 
one fixed-level and one internally adjustable.  This part is 
expensive but seems well made.  I'd be happier if I could find a 
ready source of replacement mic elements I could use with it.

-----
Dave Weeks
Pleasant Hill, Calif.