gheumann
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A new mic designFor a long time I've wanted to try making one of my wood mics with an integrated "stealth" volume control using the tail end of the mic as the knob. I hadn't tried it because thinking about how to solve all the engineering problems in order to make it made my brain hurt. But recently a customer contacted me wanting just that, so I decided to go for it.
He also wanted the fattest, nastiest element he could get. I explained that the holy grail was a good Shure CR and that it would be expensive - he said "go for it." I sourced an excellent CR from Chuck Gurney - the price was astronomical but the customer knew in advance what it would cost.
Finally, he wanted the mic engraved with a treble clef symbol.
Here is the result:
When the volume is at full the grain lines up perfectly - here it is a notch below full. The wood on this mic is called "zebrawood".
It was a LOT of work - but this is one cool mic. And it does indeed have killer tone. I'm proud of it and well - I wanted to show it off.
/Greg
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Jaybird
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Really cool and classy Greg!! Do you have a pic of how you handled the plug? It is the nicest wooden mic I have seen, bar none!
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gheumann
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Not quite sure what you mean? Please clarify and I'll be happy to answer...
| Jaybird wrote: | | Really cool and classy Greg!! Do you have a pic of how you handled the plug? It is the nicest wooden mic I have seen, bar none! |
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Jaybird
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I guess what I meant to ask was, do you have a pic of the connection where you plug the cord into the mic?
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gheumann
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I am a big fan of screw-on connectors. Solid and compact. Here's a pic:
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Jaybird
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Nice, clean also. It looks like it is easy to hold. The grill shows up really good on the second photo, do you make your own grill? I will say again that the mic is top drawer and you ought to be pretty ding dang pleased.
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gheumann
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Thank you. I will post pictures soon of another I made that I think came out even better. I wanted to make several right away in order to cement the new processes in my cranium.
I do make my own grills. They start out as a solid chunk of aluminum. Lotta work!
Cheers
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gheumann
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here's the latest oneOK - here's the other. This is "Kingwood" - started with a long piece about 1 1/4" square, cut it into 1/4s and glued it. The result is that gorgeous grain repeating 4 times around the mic. There was a little white heartwood right in the center, so it only shows at the tail end as a kind of star. Also the volume knob fit is so close that the gap is barely noticeable even up close. This grill is a different design I call "maze". The element is a 99H86 white label. (The one above has a 99A86 black label CR.)
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Jaybird
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Works of Art!! It would be a nice art show to display your mics in a setting with the mics inside glass casesand have a switch or button that the viewer could push and hear a sound sample of the harp. Either from speakers or headphones. Great addition to any art showing.
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Jeffrey Spoor
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Schweet! I wanna see the guts!
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gheumann
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You wanna see the guts? You wanna see the guts? Wee don haf to chow you no steenking guts....
Ain't much to see - one has a CR, one has 99H86 white label, and there's a pot at the end of the shell.
Oh yeah, and perfect-fit gaskets made custom for me by some guy in Texas...... 
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Jeffrey Spoor
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Heh, silly gringo. I don' wanna see no blackie. I wan' see how you moun' dat pot!
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gheumann
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No tricks. The pot is mounted through the exact center of the rear of the shell, with a nut on the outside. The knob is trickier - it is relieved on the underside to clear the nut, and has an aluminum bushing to both exactly fit the shaft to keep it on center when tightened, and to ensure the threads for the allen screw are in metal, not wood.
/GH
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jlemko
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Yo Greg,
That one you brought to the Redwood City Blues Jam a couple of weeks ago? That one was beautiful and it sounded fabulous. I really liked how the wood grain lined up when it was at 100%.
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gheumann
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I brought the unengraved twin of the zebrawood one above. This one is even better - has about the best element I've ever heard. $250 CR from Chuck Gurney. Woof!
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Jeffrey Spoor
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The old-style Heuman special here:
I've had this shell for a good while now, after a nice trade with my old pal Greg. I bought a long-thred 250k pot from AllParts.com, along with a knurled chrome Tele knob. I wanted a smaller knob, but they were out. The CM element is courtesy JD Hoskins. Nice element, JD! Just got it up and running today. Hopefully soon I can take it out for a test drive!
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vibrolux56
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Hey Tim, that's a beauty,Greg is certainly a fine craftsman! I'm very pleased to hear that you like the element! J D
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