Radio Shack 33-3032 Works for me!!!

[mikeh]

I recently picked up 3- Radio Shack 33-3032 "instrument mics". Darrin h2000 had posted that they were on sale ($29.99) and Harvey Gerst had given them a thumbs up.

I've got several SM57's and SM58's (mostly for stage applications) but I need low profile mics for my percussion set up ( not much room between the congas and bongos) - and the 33-3032's are very small mics.

I just completed an A/B/C with the 33-3032, a CAD NDM10 (low cost but decent drum mic) and an old standard SM57.

Useing each mic I recorded congas, bongos, a 3"x13" maple snare, a 6"x14" birch snare and 10", 12" & 14" birch toms (fusion sizes) using traditional close mic technique.

The mics ran though a Focusrite pre into Layla (no special reason for the Focusrite, I just happened to have it patched into Layla at the time.

The $30 Radio Shack mic held it's own very well indeed - although it was slightly brighter than the other two mics. It sounded good on the congas & bongos and on the 10" and 12" toms. I did not like it on the 14" tom (it seemd to lack low end) and I doubt it would be the best mic for larger toms or for a kick drum. I did not like it on the small snare (it was better on the large snare - but not good enough) - perhaps the brightness of the mic doesn't work well with the sharp attack of a snare drum.

The 33-3032 does seem a little frail and although in a studio it may be OK, I have some concern about stage application (I'll find out this weekend). Also the drum rim clip looks like it could wear out pretty fast.

So for a tom/percussion mic in a safe studio environment it could be a great value (but leave it clipped on the drum). I was pleasantly surprised - and if I trash them on stage this weekend, I plan to buy more for the studio (at $30 I may buy several for stage even if I do trash them).

Thanks Darrin h2000 - and as always thanks to Harvey!!!

 

[stevieb]

Zombie thread alert.

I just came across 5 of these, very cheap, and did some internet searching. Interesting.

 

[Xdrummer]

I just saw that my old post came up.

I still use the Radio Shack mics I bought in 2002 for my bongos and congas - I use them in the stuido all the time and just used them on a gig a week ago - I've gooten a lot of use from those $30 mics!!!!

stevieb - where did you find them recently - are they "new" or used" - are there any more avaiable?

 

[stevieb]

I am inventorying a medium/small warehouse chock FULL of gear- a friend/business associate amassed all this gear and used to rent it out and/or run sound for shows and such 'round here, but got away from it when his main sound guy got hired for a cushy, full-time gig, and my friend got busy with other things. I am working on taking over that part of the business, and gotta figure out what I have at my disposal. Overall, he's probably got about 150 microphones. Eventually, we might sell some stuff off, but for now, I want to have enough depth of gear to cover three shows at once, so these are not for sale at the moment. Keep in touch, though.

Do you find the non-adjustable tension, clip-on mounts keep the mics in place well? Seems to me like drum vibration would lead to them dropping off the drum.

 

[Xdrummer]

I did not have faith in the clip on mounts (and they would not wrk on the more rounded rims of my congas) - so I replaced them with Miceze mounts.

Good luck with your business pursuit