|
Author
|
Topic: Ribbon Mics
|
John Macy
Member From: Denver, CO USA
|
posted 15 August 2005 01:07 PM
profile
A while back in the discussion on best mics for steel, ribbon mics came up. Dan Tyack mentioned he liked his PPA ribbon (a chinese ribbon marketed by PPA, Nady and Apex, and streets for around $199) almost as much as his expensive AEA Ribbons.I found a guy who is badging the same mic under his company name of Shiny Box Model 23. He is great to deal with and his price is $165, including the canvas bag and a (cheap)flight case. He has a new smaller profile one called the 46, too. Now I have a killer mic trunk, including $1000 Royer 121 ribbons. I demoed these and now own a 23 and a pair of 46's. He also works on them and is working on some new ribbon options, as well as transformer options on the output. Anyway, great deal, great guy to work with, and the logo is waaay better than the others...  Oh yeah, www.shinybox.com. Tell him I sent ya... [This message was edited by John Macy on 15 August 2005 at 01:08 PM.] |
Smiley Roberts
Member From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075
|
posted 15 August 2005 03:17 PM
profile
One of the best known,(& best ones,IMO) was the RCA 77DX. You've seen it a million times on TV. In fact,I think David Letterman has one on his desk,on his late night show. Its the "capsule" shaped one that he "beats on" w/ his pencil. It doesn't really work,since he wears a lapel mike. Its just there for "show" purposes.------------------
~ ~
©¿© It don't mean a thang,
mm if it ain't got that twang.
www.ntsga.com |
Dick Wood
Member From: Springtown Texas, USA
|
posted 15 August 2005 05:20 PM
profile
It used to work but he broke it with that pencil.------------------
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
Bruce Bouton
Member From: Nash. Tn USA
|
posted 15 August 2005 08:10 PM
profile
John
Are you saying these sound as good as the Royer. I've used the royer on steel with good results.
Bruce |
Dan Tyack
Member From: Seattle, WA USA
|
posted 16 August 2005 02:53 PM
profile
Bruce, I like mine (sounds like the same mike) better than the royer for miking clean steel. At less than $200 it's one of those mikes it would be silly not to own (kind of like having an SM 57 around).------------------
www.tyack.com |
Dan Tyack
Member From: Seattle, WA USA
|
posted 16 August 2005 03:18 PM
profile
To add to my last post, the AEA (which is a spitting image of the RCA that Smiley mentions) is a little better to my ears for dobro/weissenborn than the chinese ribbon, but they are equivalent (IMHO) for miking amps. I prefer either of them slightly to the Royer.------------------
www.tyack.com |
John Macy
Member From: Denver, CO USA
|
posted 16 August 2005 06:26 PM
profile
I think they sound really great. I just got in the pair of the Model 46's, and like them even better. I have not A/Bed the Royer with them on steel, but with guitar they were very close. The new 46 is a smaller package, too. I have one of the larger Model 23's also, and am getting ready to upgrade the output transformer to a Cinemag next week and see what that does, though I think I will leave the 46's stock. Best of all, the 46's are $150... |
Jack Anderson
Member From: Scarborough, ME
|
posted 12 November 2005 12:23 PM
profile
John, did you go ahead and do a transformer upgrade? What are your further thoughts about these two mics, their differences, etc.? |
John Macy
Member From: Denver, CO USA
|
posted 12 November 2005 08:17 PM
profile
I have been so swamped lately that I have not had the chance, but hope to after Thanksgiving. In the meantime, I have been using them a lot of guitar amps, and they are really great--my Royers have not been out of the trunk in a while . A friend of mine here in town bought a stock pair and really likes them a lot. He cuts a lot of jazz, and has been using them on drum overheads. I also just loaned the 23 to a guitar player friend to try out, and he's really picky about tone, so I'll be interested in what he says. Also, one of the Paris User Group guys in Boston bought the upgraded transformer and matched pair option and is loving them, too.Hard to go wrong at about $300/pair |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
|
posted 12 November 2005 09:36 PM
profile
John,
I will be checking into the various mikes available .....I am in contact with Jon, and will be discussing the transformer upgrade options ....I'll keep you posted on my findings ...I'm not sure of the price on the upgrades, but I'm sure it has to be under $1,000 for a matched pair of upgraded mic's !!....That's cheaper than one Royer !!....Thanks for the tip ...Jim |
T. C. Furlong
Member From: Vernon Hills, Illinois, USA
|
posted 13 November 2005 08:55 AM
profile
John, thanks for the report on the Shiny Box ribbons. I have five 77's , a few Varacoustics, and some Beyer in my arsenel but lately I am afraid to take them out. It seems that something is always happening to them. I mostly use them for TV shows, the latest being Legends of Jazz for PBS. I have been wanting some good sounding ribbons. Sounds like the 46 will fit the bill. Funny, I am supposed to be this informed guy in the world of pro audio and I find out about cool stuff like this on the Steel Guitar Forum. Just another example of how excellent the forum is!
TC |
Jim Sliff
Member From: Hermosa Beach California, USA
|
posted 13 November 2005 10:59 AM
profile
I found a stash of Varacoustics I forgot I had about a month ago!I sold two on eBay and kept one. Shoot, if I had thought anyonee here was interested in them I would have posted them on here first! |
Mark Fasbender
Member From: Salt Lake City,Utah
|
posted 22 November 2005 01:07 AM
profile
Hey John Macy........ I have quite a few ribbons of various types including beyers, rca and royer. Ill have to check those out as I dont like carting expensive ones around or using them on certain sources. Have you checked out the Octava ML 52? I like those alot . The remind me of my 44's. Cheap too. ------------------
Got Twang ? Mark |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
|
posted 22 November 2005 02:26 PM
profile
Check out shiny box again....They just updated the site with clips of the mic's with various transformers.....Jim www.shinybox.com |
Jeff Peterson
Member From: Nashville, TN USA
|
posted 22 November 2005 05:10 PM
profile
Again, as I've said before...It would do ya'll well to pay heed to John Macy's opinions when it comes to this kinda' thing. For me, John has nailed it again. Most,(mainly including me), are not in the position to be recording in John's league, and these mics are life(wallet)-saving additions to my personal recording projects.
Don't give up on us John, keep us informed...we,(I), can't get enough of this kind of info...especially when it saves money! |
Randy Beavers
Member From: Lebanon,TN 37090
|
posted 13 December 2005 01:38 PM
profile
I decided to try the Shiney Box 46 since they are priced this cheap. My "go to" mic for steel has been a Sennheiser 421 but not any more. I like the 46 better. I would imagine if someone takes reasonable care of these they should last many years. Thanks for the advice! |
Hook Moore
Member From: South Charleston,West Virginia
|
posted 13 December 2005 05:22 PM
profile
I just ordered 2 and told them John Macy is to blame
Hook------------------
www.HookMoore.com
|
John Macy
Member From: Denver, CO USA
|
posted 13 December 2005 07:35 PM
profile
I got no problem taking the blame on this one... Randy--I was a big 421 guy till the ribbons hit, too. Glad you like it .[This message was edited by John Macy on 13 December 2005 at 07:38 PM.] |
Al Terhune
Member From: Newcastle, WA
|
posted 28 January 2006 10:58 PM
profile
I sold my AEA R84 to finance a "new/old" Sho Bud. Boy, am I glad -- because it caused me to buy a 46 from Shiny Box. Okay, it's hotter than the AEA, less noisy, and just, to me, better for my needs. I'll never be without a rbbon, and this mike is incredible for the money. Viva la Shiny Box!Al[This message was edited by Al Terhune on 29 January 2006 at 10:37 AM.] |
Jerry Gleason
Member From: Eugene, Oregon
|
posted 05 February 2006 11:27 PM
profile
Okay, so I got a ShinyBox 46 to play around with. What a cool microphone! One of the things I always have trouble with is getting a good sound from an archtop acoustic guitar. It's always too bright and tinny with my condensers, and rolling off the high end makes it sound dull and flat. The ribbon does a great job on archtop acoustic. It's also cool with upright bass when you want a vintage, retro vibe.Here's a sample of my archtop acoustic with the ShinyBox 46 on an old swing tune, Seven Come Eleven. I haven't tried it on amp cabinets yet, but I will soon. Great buy for a hundred and fifty bucks! Thanks for the tip, John. |
Alvin Blaine
Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA
|
posted 06 February 2006 02:22 AM
profile
Jerry,
That was very nice work there.
What tracks did you use the ribbon on, was it just the archtop?
Also did you get the Shiny Box 46 with the stock transformer(the $150 model) or did you upgrade it? |
David L. Donald
Member From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand
|
posted 06 February 2006 06:32 AM
profile
I used the Royer for 3 yard mic on grand piano and got a fine sound to mix into the stereo image.Also I love Wes Dooley's AEA Ribbons, wish I could afford one... My Dad had a RCA 77DX once upon a time, very cool for it's "effect".
It was stolen to my great distress. This PPA Chinese mic sounds interesting especially for the price. |
Michael Garnett
Member From: Fort Worth, TX
|
posted 06 February 2006 08:20 AM
profile
It sounds like a lot of you guys are doing this for studio projects. What are your opinions on the versatility / ruggedness of this mic for a live gigging setting? Is it too sensitive to picking up other bandstand instruments and monitors?-MG |
Jerry Gleason
Member From: Eugene, Oregon
|
posted 06 February 2006 12:02 PM
profile
Michael, I personally wouldn't recommend this mic or any ribbon mic for a gigging situation. Ribbon mics are very delicate and easily damaged. A gust of wind could stretch or break the ribbon. Even in the studio, a pop filter should be used if you're singing or speaking into it. Also, the figure 8 pickup pattern means that it picks up sound from the back as well as the front, which could be a problem in a live sound situation (however, there is a strong null at 90 degrees where it basically picks up nothing, which could be an asset with skillful placement).For someone just starting a mic collection for project studio, this is definitely not the first microphone I would get. A better first mic would be one of the many inexpensive medium or large diaphram condenser mics that are available nowdays, which would be more versatile for a variety of sound sources. The ribbon mic has a sound of it's own that's not quite like anything else. It's not useful for everything, but for some things, it's unbeatable. Alvin, the 46 was used on the guitars (same guitar, overdubbed), and on the upright bass. The mic has the stock transformer.[This message was edited by Jerry Gleason on 06 February 2006 at 02:02 PM.] |
Brad Sarno
Member From: St. Louis, MO USA
|
posted 06 February 2006 01:41 PM
profile
I just ordered me a #46.Brad |
Alvin Blaine
Member From: Sandy Valley, Nevada, USA
|
posted 06 February 2006 03:15 PM
profile
quote:
the 46 was used on the guitars (same guitar, overdubbed), and on the upright bass. The mic has the stock transformer.
Thanks Jerry, It has a nice detail to it. You can even hear the pick hit the string, and the bass has good string tone and earthines to it.
I like it!
I guess I'm going to have to get a couple of these. I already have about 6 grand of mics in my little home studio, so what's another few hundred? |
The Steel Guitar Forum
