Re: [Harp-L] Slide Man Slim youtube post/Finger Mic

["Vern Smith" <jevern@xxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "James Sterett" <jsterett@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 5:46 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Slide Man Slim youtube post/Finger Mic


> ......................................................  Anyone know of any 
> other lavalier type condensor mics that work well with harmonica that are 
> less expensive than the countryman?

Yes.  The little Radio Shack Model: 33-3013  for $25 is hard to beat. 
Anyone interested in a miniature mic should try this one to compare with 
anything more expensive.  The response curve is fine for harmonica.

I use two of them on my harmonica holder, one just behind the harp and one 
above the harp close to my mouth for vocals.  If you want distortion 
effects, you have to introduce them down the line with a box, pedal, or amp. 
You will also need a 1/8 Female to 1/4 Male jack-plug adapter to connect to 
your amp.  I connect them to a Baggs "Mixpro" on-the-belt, 2-channel mixer 
(about $65 at Guitar Center) that provides the "phantom" power.  That 
enables me to discard the 33-3013's battery holder. I can't say enough good 
things about that combination of mixer and mics.

There is a button battery and on/off switch in a lump in the cable.  The 
battery is very long-lived IF you remember to turn it off!

On a regular condenser mic, the "phanton" 40 volts is to charge the 
condenser diaphragm.  On an electret, the diaphragm is very much smaller.  A 
few soft volts (from a button battery in the Model: 33-3013  ) is required 
to power the integral field-effect-transister that is used to lower the 
impedance of the tiny condenser.

I could be wrong, but my impression is that all electret mics perform about 
the same.  I'm guessing that the elements are mass-produced by a few OEM 
factories and then packaged differently for different prices by the 
equipment manufacturers. Electrets are commonly used in videocams, pocket 
recorders, etc.

There is a lot of information about electrets on the net.  You can buy them 
for a few dollars each in large quantities and provide your own enclosure 
and wiring.

Vern