Shure 330 Ribbon Mic

[Csb@12]

I have recently acquired a Shure 330 ribbon microphone. I love the sound of it for voice, and acoustic instruments. However, when I tried using it to mic my guitar amp, I get a very strange lower octave buzz when playing on the high E string from the 10th fret to the 14th fret. Now it’s probably the same on other notes, but it’s really noticeable there. It doesn’t matter which of my amps I use, or guitars. It will vary some, but is still there. If I move it back from the amp, it makes very little difference. I am playing at bedroom levels so it’s not over driving the mic.
Does anyone have any ideas? Does anyone else use a Shure 330 mic?

 

[rob aylestone]

I don't think I have ever seen one of these in the UK? Any chance of a short clip? 10 seconds would probably be enough to see if we recognise the sound?

 

[Csb@12]

I don't think I have ever seen one of these in the UK? Any chance of a short clip? 10 seconds would probably be enough to see if we recognise the sound?

You bet. It will be later this evening. Great idea.

 

[Papanate]

I have recently acquired a Shure 330 ribbon microphone. I love the sound of it for voice, and acoustic instruments. However, when I tried using it to mic my guitar amp, I get a very strange lower octave buzz when playing on the high E string from the 10th fret to the 14th fret. Now it’s probably the same on other notes, but it’s really noticeable there. It doesn’t matter which of my amps I use, or guitars. It will vary some, but is still there. If I move it back from the amp, it makes very little difference. I am playing at bedroom levels so it’s not over driving the mic.
Does anyone have any ideas? Does anyone else use a Shure 330 mic?

I had one a while back - interesting mic specially for the low money - although I think they are much more expensive these days - regarding the buzz - I’m thinking you can’t hear what it’s picking up - it’s not likely the Ribbon - on the outside chance it is - it may be the body of the mic resonating - can’t remember how to disassemble these - but quick fix would be semi rigid foam below the Ribbon.

 

[RRuskin]

My guess is that the ribbon isn't up to snuff anymore. They can sag or get stretched out with age or from too much direct sound pressure. It doesn't take all that much to damage a longish ribbon like that mic uses. That being said, try turning the mic a few degrees so that the sound doesn't go directly at the ribbon to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Csb@12]

I had one a while back - interesting mic specially for the low money - although I think they are much more expensive these days - regarding the buzz - I’m thinking you can’t hear what it’s picking up - it’s not likely the Ribbon - on the outside chance it is - it may be the body of the mic resonating - can’t remember how to disassemble these - but quick fix would be semi rigid foam below the Ribbon.

I would agree i wasn’t hearing what it was picking up if i had heard it from other mics, or it was only from one amplifier. I am going to record the noise this evening and post it.

 

[Csb@12]

My guess is that the ribbon isn't up to snuff anymore. They can sag or get stretched out with age or from too much direct sound pressure. It doesn't take all that much to damage a longish ribbon like that mic uses. That being said, try turning the mic a few degrees so that the sound doesn't go directly at the ribbon to see if it makes a difference.

The ribbon on this mic is actually a shorter one. However it doesn’t mean it isn’t bad, but man does it sound good on most everything else. There is a guy in the US that works on these. He doesn’t feel it’s the ribbon, but without it being in his hands, he cannot say for sure.

 

[RRuskin]

The ribbon on this mic is actually a shorter one. However it doesn’t mean it isn’t bad, but man does it sound good on most everything else. There is a guy in the US that works on these. He doesn’t feel it’s the ribbon, but without it being in his hands, he cannot say for sure.

Right. I was thinking about the 315 bidirectional mic. I have a 330 but don't use it all that much.

 

[Csb@12]

I don't think I have ever seen one of these in the UK? Any chance of a short clip? 10 seconds would probably be enough to see if we recognise the sound?

 

[Csb@12]

How do I attach a wav file?

I don't think I have ever seen one of these in the UK? Any chance of a short clip? 10 seconds would probably be enough to see if we recognise the sound?

See if you can hear what I am hearing. Its not on every note

 

[Csb@12]

Myhttps://homerecording.com/bbs/attachments/shure-330_1-wav-zip.149524/ guess is that the ribbon isn't up to snuff anymore. They can sag or get stretched out with age or from too much direct sound pressure. It doesn't take all that much to damage a longish ribbon like that mic uses. That being said, try turning the mic a few degrees so that the sound doesn't go directly at the ribbon to see if it makes a difference.

 

[Csb@12]

Here is a quick few notes so you can hear what its doing. Notice it doesnt do it on every note. I will try changing the angle of the mic again to see if it does help. The mic was about 8 inches away from the grill cloth

 

[Csb@12]

Right. I was thinking about the 315 bidirectional mic. I have a 330 but don't use it all that much.

Cool. I really like the mic for a lot of applications, it just may end up not working for an amp mic. But i will have a tech look at it, the ribbon could still be an issue I am thinking

 

[RRuskin]

Here is a quick few notes so you can hear what its doing. Notice it doesnt do it on every note. I will try changing the angle of the mic again to see if it does help. The mic was about 8 inches away from the grill cloth

This doesn't sound like a mic problem. More like a sympathetic resonance from either guitar, amp or both.

 

[Csb@12]

This doesn't sound like a mic problem. More like a sympathetic resonance from either guitar, amp or both.

This is what is driving me crazy. I agree with you on what it sounds like, however, It does it on three different amplifiers, and multiple guitars. It does vary a little, but not that much.

 

[rob aylestone]

If you have tried multiple amps and guitars, you are left with two possibilities. The mic actually is resonating, or something in the room is. I would test the room first. A 20 to 20k sweep tone on youtube. Can you connect that to your system, and play it in the room. If yiu play it quite loud, you should hear a pure tone, going up. My guess is as it rise you will hear other noises. If you dont, then record it and see if the mic hears things your ears dont. If the mic suddenly sings at a specific tone you don’t hear, then its time to open the mic, and check something isn’t loose. Tone sweeps are horrible, but at loud volumes reveal all kimd of crazy stuff. My studio has a horrible resonance at a certain spot frequency. In normal use it is fine, but the whole room within a room seems to kick off. I have a coles commentators mic and this had a weird noise, screwing the internal wind shield tight cured it totally.

 

[Csb@12]

If you have tried multiple amps and guitars, you are left with two possibilities. The mic actually is resonating, or something in the room is. I would test the room first. A 20 to 20k sweep tone on youtube. Can you connect that to your system, and play it in the room. If yiu play it quite loud, you should hear a pure tone, going up. My guess is as it rise you will hear other noises. If you dont, then record it and see if the mic hears things your ears dont. If the mic suddenly sings at a specific tone you don’t hear, then its time to open the mic, and check something isn’t loose. Tone sweeps are horrible, but at loud volumes reveal all kimd of crazy stuff. My studio has a horrible resonance at a certain spot frequency. In normal use it is fine, but the whole room within a room seems to kick off. I have a coles commentators mic and this had a weird noise, screwing the internal wind shield tight cured it totally.

I want to thank you all for your help. I do believe it’s something in the mic itself. After recording that sound, I did go back to confirm it does happen with multiple amps, as well as guitars. None of my other mics can replicate the noise.