Wife Brought Home Some Mics from a Yard Sale...

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Nate74

Nate74

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So my wife comes bouncing in the front door this morning after having walked a few block around our neighborhood with her neighbor friend. "Look what I bought for you baby at a yardsale!" she says. She proudly opens a plastic bag and pull out three small black microphones with more lipstick caked up on the windscreens than I've ever seen. All three are Samson S11's (whatever that means).

"Um..." I ask hesitantly "how much did you pay for these?" Assuming they were only about $25 new I was worried. "$5 for all three" she announceds proudly.

So two questions:

1) How the heck do you get lipstick out of a windscreen? Toothbrush maybe...

2) Are these things even worth ruining a toothbrush over?

Of course regardless of if they're useless or not, since the wife got 'em for me, they'll be the center piece of my studio now ;)
 
Well the windscreens should come off by unscrewing them, at least you can with most Dynamics...I would use Rubbing alcohol and a Toothbrush as Lipstick is probably Oil based and alcohol will dissolve it without harming the windscreen....

I checked on line and these mics if they are available sell for about $50 (Probably cheaper at some places) so you did get a good deal and they might be OK for Live Vocals or maybe Micing toms or Guitar cabs, I guess you will have to try and Find out.....


Cheers
 
...Chinese SM58 knockoffs, originally retailed for around $50...three for five sounds like a good deal...if the grills unscrew like a 58 then cleaning should be a breeze... ;)
 
Yup, with some "help" the grills unscrew. I pulled the little foamy things out and will try some alcohol and an old toothbrush. I tried each of them with my PA and they seem to work fine.

Originally $50 a pop? I guess 3 for 5 ain't that bad... that may put me over the 20 mic mark too :rolleyes:

Thanks for the input guys!
 
Gas

So you have a wife with GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)?
That must be the perfect marriage! :)
Where do I get one of these? :confused:
 
i actually had to use these on guitar cab once, and they werent bad. not amazing, but they got the job done.
 
I bought a vintage bakelite microphone once that smelled hardcore, like old lipstick and cigarettes....I've never managed to get the smell out, but I bought it for looks anyway, so that's okay.....
 
whyseye said:
I bought a vintage bakelite microphone once that smelled hardcore, like old lipstick and cigarettes....I've never managed to get the smell out, but I bought it for looks anyway, so that's okay.....
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Put it in a bag with a box of baking soda for a week. That should help. I had that problem with a Shure SM54
 
PinkNoise said:
So you have a wife with GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)?
That must be the perfect marriage! :)
Where do I get one of these? :confused:
Click to expand...

I don't care how bad the mics are. This behavior should definitely be encouraged in a spouse. Next week she might bring home a Neuman. :eek:
 
I'm not holding my breath on the Neuman, but I agree with the general sentiment :)

On a side note, I'm currently looking to add the capacity to individually mic toms when tracking drums. I think I'll give these a try as I continue to read up on my other options.
 
up-fiddler said:
I don't care how bad the mics are. This behavior should definitely be encouraged in a spouse. Next week she might bring home a Neuman. :eek:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I have to agree totally!!
 
Heck I's put up a pot of boiling water with some Dawn diswashing soap in it. Boil the screens/ballheads for about 4 minutes and that ought to clean/melt off that junk and sterilize it at the same time. Assuming you don't have any hard cleanable surfaces inside of the mike you can't do much. If you do I'd apply a soft cloth towel with some alcohol for cleaning that.
 
Well the toothbrush & alcohol approach seemed to get all the visible gunk off, as well as some of the black paint on the screens. I'm sort of shocked how "now that bad" these sound in my PA.

I'm thinking $5 was well worth it. :)

BTW, sorry Cal fans (including my brother-in-law)!
 
at 3 for $5, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use em on toms. and make sure your wife knows just how appreciative you are of this sorta thing. my wife *hates* yard sales. :p


cheers,
wade
 
I've used these mics. They sound ok, but their worst quality is poor feedback rejection in comparison to the SM58.
 
One of my favorite mics I picked up for five bucks at a garage sale. Its and EV R6, sounds really bad but gives a cool effect and works nicely paired with a 57 on a guitar cab.
 
mrface2112 said:
at 3 for $5, I certainly wouldn't hesitate to use em on toms. and make sure your wife knows just how appreciative you are of this sorta thing. my wife *hates* yard sales. :p


cheers,
wade
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, don't they all! :rolleyes:
 
I recently picked up 2 mogami 25' cables for 2 bucks at a garage sale...but finding a sunn 200s for 5 bucks...a Phase Linear 400a (This is the same reference amp Alan Parsons used for that early Floyd stuff) for $20...garage sales kick ass.
 
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