shockmount broke--need advice

[canadave]

Hi all,

I bought an MXL 2006 mic and shockmount kit from an online retailer about seven months ago. I was just sitting in my studio and heard a crash, and saw the mic, still in its shockmount, lying on the floor. On closer inspection, I saw that the shockmount threaded part, where it attached to the mic stand, was broken (!). A section of the metal had simply snapped off, leaving a tooth-like gouge in the threaded section. Thank goodness my studio floor is padded rubber...the mic bounced off it and, miraculously, still works.

Now I'm not sure what to do about the mount though. Should I contact MXL for a replacement shockmount? Not sure that makes sense, even if they'll grant my request, because if they ship me the same one or similar (it was one of those "spider" mount ones like Samson makes), what's to prevent a similar accident from happening again, right?

But then again, would any other shockmount be any better? I mean, this piece that snapped off wasn't plastic...it was metal (although I guess it must not have been the strongest metal, to break off like that).

Confused and sad

--Dave

 

[Treeline]

Now I'm not sure what to do about the mount though. Should I contact MXL for a replacement shockmount?--Dave

Yep. They'll probably send you a new one.

I don't know why it would have broken there; I have a bunch of those and that's the only thing I feel really comfortable with about them. Maybe you overtightened it and there was a flaw.

I doubt you will find that happens again, but maybe you can limit the chances of it by putting a cushion in the threaded socket so it can never be overtightened. Just a dab of silicone in there and let it dry to a rubbery consistency.