Fifty dollar mics

  • Thread starter Thread starter hairylarry
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Ev Ds35

Hi,

Apparently the economic downturn is a great boon for purchasers of under appreciated vintage microphones. At least it seems that way to me from my very small pocketbook.

This thread is all about mics that can be had for $50 or less. Lately I've been trying to buy all my fifty dollar mics for $25 - $30. And surprisingly enough I've been getting some of them.

The EV DS35 is a vintage professional mic. A cardiod dynamic for vocals and acoustic instruments with proximity effect. (Unlike the RE15 series that has reduced proximity effect.)

Here's a link to some great info, tech specs, and sound clips.

http://www.coutant.org/evds35/index.html

The acoustic guitar clip is wonderful. Just a few chords but very clean and natural sounding.

I got this mic for $26.50 shipped so I guess it qualifies for this thread. Of course I haven't got it yet so I may be prematurely patting myself on the back but I have had great luck with the vintage EV mics I have purchased in the past. They are very well made and extremely durable.

If anyone has used this mic let us know what you think. After I use mine for a while I will post a review.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
Anybody know of anywhere that you can pick up the k-micro $5 mics in person? Because I'd love to get some, but I'd want to see them first.
 
eternalpayn said:
Anybody know of anywhere that you can pick up the k-micro $5 mics in person? Because I'd love to get some, but I'd want to see them first.
Click to expand...

I don't think you can get them for $5 any more. According to their site, they're $13 each if you buy two, or $11.42 each if you buy 7.

Either way, if you live in or near Cupertino CA, I think you may be able to go straight to their warehouse and buy in person. There's a phone number, email, and physical address listed on their contact page.

Perhaps another lead for you: I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that a few years ago the guy who ran Karma also ran Halo guitars. Whether or not that's still the case, I don't know, but they have a shop in Houston TX, apparently. There's also a ton of Halo dealers listed on this page that you might be able to get Karma stuff through.

Again, I may be mistaken, but I was under the impression that Karma mics and Halo guitars are somehow connected, so I'd say it's at least worth a phonecall or two to find out.



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Cool, thanks. 13 bucks still isn't bad. Has anybody purchased from that site though? (I hate to give out paypal info to unreputable sites. :/)
 
There's a really long thread on gearslutz with a lot of people ordering from that site. Nobody ever got ripped off, that I'm aware of... Also of interest in that thread is Geoff_T's thoughts on the mics, and Karma in general (he's an ex-Neve something-or-other).

I've also seen them selling their mics on ebay (and usually for a little less than on their main site). I've only ever seen the tube and ribbon mics on ebay, though, I think...and some funky-lookin' double-windscreen device they make.




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eternalpayn said:
Awesome, thanks!
Click to expand...

no prob. I just found their ebay page, and they are actually selling the 7-pack of K-Micros on there. At least... I assume that's what the top link is, anyway (the pic is broken, it seems...but what else could it be?). Prices are now the same as their site, though...hmmmmm.

edit: Reading over my last few posts, I feel like a spammer, lol. I only know about Karma because Mack Damon recommended them to me, and his advice is kinda hard to ignore. I looked into them quite a bit, but I have never actually bought any of their mics because...well, I just haven't seen a need/use that I think any of them would fill.




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Last edited:
AKG D120E on stage

Hi,

I went to the opening of Vikki's Delta Club in Brinkley, Arkansas this weekend. I played some music and I listened to some music. Had a great time and met some good people.

The soundman was a mic short so we put the AKG D120E on my Silvertone Twin guitar amp and it worked pretty good although the amp wouldn't be my first choice for acoustic guitar. It was what it took so I used it. The country band playing that night had a steel guitar and the soundman just moved the AKG over onto his amp so he must have liked the sound ok. And it worked good there too.

So there's an under $50 ebay bargain working well in a professional application.

I did record my set but I haven't done post yet. First impressions are it came out pretty good. I'll post a link when I get it on the internet.

Thanks,

Hairy Larry
 
I only have 1 50 dollar mic recomendation

Audio-Technica ATR35s Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Mic
$29.99

great mic for acoustics violins etc I just tape it where I want it and go no phantom power either its pretty sweet
 
TyphoidHippo said:
Either way, if you live in or near Cupertino CA, I think you may be able to go straight to their warehouse and buy in person. There's a phone number, email, and physical address listed on their contact page.
Click to expand...

It's not a warehouse. It's a custom guitar shop. They do custom guitar paint jobs (airbrush work, etc.)---some pretty amazing work, too. I got to see some of their finished guitars and a few works in progress when I was out there a few years back. Pretty cool.
 
I just ordered a set of Karma K10's and I had absolutely no problems with the company, even with them shipping it to me in South Africa. I had my mics within 10 days.

I'm very, very happy with the mics btw.
 
And you can get it at Radio Shack

doulos24 said:
I only have 1 50 dollar mic recomendation

Audio-Technica ATR35s Omnidirectional Condenser Lavalier Mic
$29.99

great mic for acoustics violins etc I just tape it where I want it and go no phantom power either its pretty sweet
Click to expand...

Here's a link to the spec on Audio Technica's website.

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/742fb06dd066b3ec/index.html

It's an omni. Really cool. I have an Audio Technica 831b cardiod condenser lav mic that uses phantom power or a battery pack. I love it on acoustic guitar. If this is anything close to that in sound quality it's an extreme bargain.

Thanks for the recommendation.

Hairy Larry
 
I just picked up another solid mic for roughly $50 used.
Audix i5
 
hairylarry said:
killer_deep,

The K-Micros were $.99. Then they were $5. Now improved with higher SPL before distortion they are $26 for a stereo pair in a blister pack. What a trip.

Has anyone risked a quarter on these?
Click to expand...

OK...resisting the smart-ass comment to say that we're sure SOMEONE has used them...

I'd love to know what they sound like as overheads. I just got an Audix Fusion 4-piece. I plan to put my 57 on the snare, and the 3 tom mics on...er, the three toms, and the kick mic...um, on the kick. :P

Would love to add a pair of overheads, and plug the whole deal into a 6-channel mixer at the stage, then kick it out to the house mix either as stereo or maybe a mono mix.

I know the Behringer C-2 pairs have been royally panned here. (Of course, Behringers are universally panned around here, and I still like my B-2. :P )

The Karmas are cheaper, and if they at all sound decent for $26 for a pair...(vs. $40 for the pair of Behringers...)
 
great mics under $50

If you're willing to do a little work, you can often find good batch deals on eBay. I bought a dozen Shure Unisphere B 588SDs on ebay, not knowing what the heck i was really going to get for my $60. Out of the dozen, I got 8 good ones. The Unisphere B was kind of a 58 predecessor. Not a GREAT mic, but a good one to have around just in case I need to throw a couple extra BGVs into the mix.
 
hairylarry said:
If I like a mic I really want to have two of them.

But a dozen? What do you use a dozen GLS mics for anyway?
Click to expand...

one place my live sound and my recording sound and my computer geek threads all overlap..."backup, backup, backup!"

this is the reason I have 8 Unispheres...I'd gladly take a dozen 57s if I could find 'em at the right price. :D

someone else asked...any luck with the GLS 57 clones??

josh
 
T.Bone EM700 / Behringer C2 SDC pairs. Both can be had for 48 ? a pair. Dirt cheap and work well on a lot of things.
 
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