Astatic Brown Biscuit
Hi,
I just picked up a mint all original astatic brown biscuit and was wondering about the stock element. I was the
first to open it and it has a small white tag that says X45 on it and 30 stamped on the element itself. It has the 2 prong
chord which at the end was not attached very good but I was able to touch the prongs to chord and get a tone out of the element
although on the weaker side. Not sure if it is because of the bad chord end or a weak element.
Anyway my question is what is the element model? Does that 30 represent 1930? what is the X45? I was thinking about possible putting
a screw on connrctor and a shure CM element in it but it is in so nice original condidtion with its base I am not sure if I should just sell it
or modify it? What are your thoughts. I also have a few an original mint in box mics Astatic 200 with a stron 101 element and with original chord
and also debating if I should put on a screwon connector since it is all original.
Thanks 528hemi
-That's a quote from "WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT" and has nothing to do with anything other than my lack of sleep... SEMANTICS 100: "Biscuit" is a generic term referring to the morphology of a small number of mics that have found use in the hands of harp jockeys, most notably the ASTATIC 30 and the AMERICAN RC. What you've snagged is an ASTATIC 30. I've encountered the ink-stamped "30" on virtually every original element I've found in this model, leading to the deduction that it's the mic's model # that the stamp is alluding to. As for the X45, can't say I've come across that before... As it is an early crystal element, if it works at all it's defying the odds. As for what to do with it? Well, what do you want to do with it? If you're going to use it to play out, changing the hard-wired output cable (the originals were covered with woven brown clothe) to a modular connector/cable combo is advisable for the sake of dependability and durability. Modifying the output isn't such a hardship with the "30" as the cable channel is 3/8" and will accommodate a 2501MP thread-on connector. Thus, if you get homesick for the good old days of hard-wired harmony, the mod's reversible... -Fritz