Re: [Harp-L] Getting a Good CR/CM Element

["steve warner" <10reedsbent@xxxxxxxxx>]

Glen,

Here's the straight dope as I've built them all several hundred times.

About 99% of the time it depends on what country the element was made in and
if it's high Z and the amp you're using.

If you have the following model # CM then it's probably about as good as it
gets without spilling a few compression tone secrets I use:  99A86, 99B86,
99C86 and the 99S556.... if they're all the USA made CM's that are high
impedence then you should have a nice element and it isn't  gonna get much
 better than that.  Now, some will try and tell you that the ohm value on
the element is what decipher's the hot (bite) the element has to offer and
that's usually a bunch of hooey that's spread around on EBAY to make a
sale.   Case in point: the Mexican made CM with the 99S556 and 99C86 will
have an ohm rating of 1.4 or so and I had one at 1.9K and they flat out
suck!
The good USA CM will have an ohm rating from about 1.02K to 1.4K and some
are hotter at 1.02K ohms  than the 1.4K ohm, however!, I have one 1.34K
that's  hotter than  my personal select 99H86 White Label CR GB and still
yet I have an odd USA Made  99H561 1H that is hotter than any element I've
ever heard, bar none!  Yes, I"m even talking R7 Crystals too!  Of course
it isn't as thick as the R7, though.   I've had several Black Labels and
they're usually very feable when it comes to quality control in loudness and
so I don't take the chance on them.

Now, some CM's, no matter the ohm rating, will have more crunch than the
hot sounding ones, but then the finely tuned ear of the owner/player will
decide which one he wants to use with that certain amp.  I have mic's that I
use only with certain amps.

It all boils down to THE EAR!!!!   WHAT DOES YOUR EAR HEAR?    Hot?
Crunch?  Hot/Crunch?  Brightness?   Brightness/Crunch?   Just AB the mic,
you'll know.

Hope that helps.
On 4/10/08, GLENN and DEBBIE WOODHOUSE <gwoodhouse40@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Recently I assembled my first attempt at a harp mic.  I found a good deal
> on a chopped Turner shell, bought a $50 Shure CM element on e-bay, got the
> right gasket and put her together.  I was pretty happy with the
> result.  This has quickly become my favorite mic over my 520DX with its
> cheapo dynamic element and my MicroVox finger mic (my previous
> favorite).  The result got me thinking if this CM sounded this good what
> would a hot higher dollar CR/CM do for me.
>
> So, I'm willing to make the investment but would prefer not to make the
> "leap-of-faith" on E-Bay or with somebody I don't know.
>
> I am looking for input from the group on reputable suppliers of quality
> premium elements.
>
> Thanks, Glenn Woodhouse.
> www.ColdRail.com_______________________________________________
> Harp-L is sponsored by SPAH, http://www.spah.org
> Harp-L@xxxxxxxxxx
> http://harp-l.org/mailman/listinfo/harp-l
>



-- 
steve
www.thunderharpmics.com
fattest tone on earth!