Blows Me Away Bulletizer
Thought I would share my early experience of the "Bulletizer" that I bought from Greg at blowsmeaway.com
I bought this after reading the thread "Shure Ultimate Series Mics" which you can find earlier in the gear section on the forum. I checked out blowsmeaway.com and was interested in the Bulletizer as I've been using a Shure 545 for a while now. Although I dig the sound of the mic when fully cupped and the element is really being driven, I find that keeping a tight cup starts to wear on the hands after playing for any length of time. The Bulletizer is designed to address this by offering a bullet shaped head for more comfortable playing.
Spurred on by Kinya's endorsement on the site, I ordered a Bulletizer and eagerly awaited its arrival. Having tested it out thoroughly I am literally "blown away" by this great product! Not only does it provide for easier handling, the bulletizer also has the effect of really enhancing the mics capabilities and tonal qualities. Bonus!
With the bulletizer I can certainly cup the mic a lot easier than before and get a fully muted and darkened tone without as much strained tension in the hands. It also allows me to back off a lot better- much easier to increase/ release pressure on the cup slowly to slide in and out of the full muted sound, giving improved technique that I couldn't get without the bullet-shaped head. My amplified wah wah has become much stronger overnight, something I've never quite been able to command before!
It is a bit smaller than I expected (2" widest diameter) and this might be less favourable to some players, although it is, obviously, bigger in comparison to playing with an unbulletized head, which is the point of the thing..!
I've never had the opportunity to use any other types of vintage mics or different elements etc. The only bullet I've played was my previous and first harp mic, a shop-bought Shure 520DX. I quite liked this mic but found to be constanly dark, almost to the point of being a bit one dimensional (although this was a good while ago and my playing has improved since then so maybe I wan't getting the best out of it). On this basis, it's hard for me to offer a more useful comparison to other bullets but I have found that the Bulletizer has taken my already great sounding 545 and really loaded it for a better amplified blues sound. Maybe it's just more like what you would expect to be able to get from other bullets, but I am certainly impressed with it.
If you already own a 545 or SM57 then I would say a Bulletizer would be a great purchase, not only for the improved grip, but to provide bullet capabilities without needing to buy another mic. You can, of course, still use your mic for "open mic" playing with the Bulletizer fitted and this does give you the advantage of using just one mic at a gig, either in your hands or slotted onto a stand.
Fitting is fairly straight forward, by the way. It's an Allen key job so not really suitable for the bandstand, although I'm wondering if I'll have any need to take mine off...
So there you are- one happy customer, well and truly Bulletized! Here's the link if you want to check it out:
A couple of weeks ago Brendan Power was in town and played a gig with Steve Malerbi. He had one of Greg's chopped down SM58 mics to which, being Brendan, he had done further mods.
1) he would sometimes use the 58 with its ball grille.
2) Other times ,he would unscrew the ball revealing the element, which now looked like a 57. At first I though he was unscrewing the 58 head and screwing on a 57 head, but he was just removing the ball.
3) sometimes he would slip a Bulletizer onto the exposed 58 element. He installed and removed the Bulletizer at least once between songs, so evidently he's found a way to make installing and removing it more casual.
Winslow, did you get a chance to hold it? How did it feel?
No, I didn't try it out. But Rob's review has me curious, as I own a 545 that I really like. It's *much* more subtle than a bullet mic, and I'd be curious to see how the Bulletizer affects the sound of the 545.
I believe Greg will be a vendor at SPAH in August, so if you come to SPAH you'll have a chance to try it out.
Stopped by Greg's a couple of months ago and picked a 545 & Bulletizer...my .02 is It's a great combination and sounds good through my Cruncher. I think you'll like it.
Dave
I think I'm going to get one of these. I find the JT-30 and Green Bullet uncomfortable to hold. I like my 545, but find that hard to get a good cup as it's to small on the other end. I'm thinking I'll send it in to have it "Ultimized" and "Bulletized" all together.