7 replies to this topic

[Lawrence Reeves]

There have been posts in the past about mics for the concertina. Here are my AKG C 416Ls attached to my Suttner. They are very lightweight, and are fed into an AKG B29L two input preamp. It is nice being able to play without a pair of boom stands surrounding you. I have a second setup like this for my Bb /F if needed, but find that most gigs allow me the time to pop the mics from one instrument to the next. I have a second set of mounting clips on the second instrument. They attach with bluetack and do not mar the finish.

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[Jim Besser]

There have been posts in the past about mics for the concertina. Here are my AKG C 416Ls attached to my Suttner. They are very lightweight, and are fed into an AKG B29L two input preamp. It is nice being able to play without a pair of boom stands surrounding you. I have a second setup like this for my Bb /F if needed, but find that most gigs allow me the time to pop the mics from one instrument to the next. I have a second set of mounting clips on the second instrument. They attach with bluetack and do not mar the finish.

That mic is no longer available. Any idea what has replaced it?

[Lawrence Reeves]

A model called the C 516ML. They use the same preamp, and a similar clip to hold to the instrument. I like these because they can be positioned not to interfere with hand position, and are very low feedback being a hypercardiod pattern.

[Jim Besser]

A model called the C 516ML. They use the same preamp, and a similar clip to hold to the instrument. I like these because they can be positioned not to interfere with hand position, and are very low feedback being a hypercardiod pattern.

How's the sound? I use a Microvox, which is efficient but scratchy.

You said you attach the mics with bluetack. What, exactly, is that? Does it mar the finish of the instrument? Can you make quick instrument changes? (I sometimes have to switch in the middle of a dance medley).

Thanks, this looks like it might be an improvement over the Microvox.

[Azalin]

It looks like those spy drones from the Galactic Empire!

[Geoff Wooff]

[quote name='Jim Besser' timestamp='1336954486' post='136098']


You said you attach the mics with bluetack. What, exactly, is that? Does it mar the finish of the instrument? Can you make quick instrument changes? (I sometimes have to switch in the middle of a dance



I think "Blue Tack" is an English/Irish trade name for what ( I think) is called Poster Putty in the USA.

[hjcjones]

THe AKGs are supplied with their own specialist "putty" for attaching them to instruments. I've always been reluctant to stick things to my concertinas, whether it's bluetack or velcro, but perhaps I'm over-cautious. I also use AKG C416s, and the solution I've come up with is to attach them to the hand straps using a pair of velcro cable ties on each. You can see this, albeit not very clearly, in this photo:

http://www.flickr.co...157624791574657

These can be easily and fairly quickly switched between instruments (although possibly not mid-set)

The 416's replacement, the 516, has a bulkier attachment which, whilst more robust than the 416 which was always breaking, is more difficult to attach to a concertina - or at least is more cumbersome.

[Lawrence Reeves]

I have never noticed any issues with the finish. The putty from AKG or the adhesive pads supplied are assumed to be placed on expensive instruments, Although never intedned for the concertina, a valuable instrument none the less. Tonally, I would say these mics are very good, I tend to roll the highest frequency on the board for my channel. The ease of transfer for me is a few seconds because I have a second set of mounting brackets on the Bb /F. I have found a few other great mics, just not as affordable. Mics from Countryman, and DPA with a little creativity for mounting also are very discrete looking with amazing sound. My set up can go from easy at most festivals where I use a vocal mic from my concert flute and whistles, and the mentioned AKG set up, to advanced. Advanced being two full AKG C 416L / B29L and a foot switch from Radial Engineering called an ABi to allow switching between Bb /F and C/ G at the stomp of a foot switch. I try to use good quality xlr cables to get the best tonal properties from my instruments.