Ceramic Elements
Hi Fritz,
I am interested to know more about ceramic elements (mainly astatic).
What's the general difference between the MC-151 and MC-127 elements, in terms of tone and output? Obviously individual elements of the same type will vary, but are there any common trends?
Is there any practical difference between the MC-126 and MC-127 ceramics?
How tough are the elements? I'm imagining somewhere between crystals and CM/CRs as far as dropping them goes. How about damange from heat and humidity?
Thanks
Jon
Jon, the ceramic piezo-electric element is the closest thing to a crystal you can get -without actually being a crystal or having the inherent liabilities/weaknesses of the crystal. In the case of the best known ASTATIC elements, side-by-side comparisons of the MC-151 crystal and the MC-127 ceramic underscore their physical similarities and sonic differences: Their capsules are essentially the same; Their "active ingredients" function under the same principle: Applying pressure yields voltage. The differences? The Rochelle salt crystals of the "crystal" element are -like table salt- water soluble and somewhat hydroscopic and are subject to change as a result of exposure to moisture (read "fail"). Add to this the traits that they don't handle impact or heat well (read "fail") and you get the impression they are temperamental performers. The ceramic element is a compromise to some as its output is 2 to 4 dB less than its crystal counterpart and has a response curve that does not reach the typical 10K of the crystal (for many this is an advantage). As a result, I refer to them as being somewhat "darker" in sonic signature. What do you get in return? DURABILITY. Nowhere near the sensitivity to exposure, the elements, or rough-handling. The ceramic was an economic attempt to cure the ills experienced with the crystal. Players like Gary Primmich and William Clark learned to work with these ceramic elements and enjoyed their benefits.
A personal observation: Testing NOS MC-151 crystals and MC-127 ceramics has shown a much higher degree of consistency among the ceramics tested and a much lower rate of DOA's -in fact, NO DOA's have been encountered. Even among a half-dozen new, out-of-the-wrapper MC-151's it's not likely to find two that are identical. There lies part of the crystal's charm: They really DO seem to have individual personalities...
So we are talking vintage elements here - what about the modern elements that are easier to find and much more inexpensive? Has anyone tried the kobitone crystal against the Kobitone ceramic elements?
The Kobitone crystal it the choice Hohner uses in the Blues Blaster - It is not bad but nowhere near the old Astatic crystal elements. Hohner has recently improved the Blues Blaster. I guess I answered my question there however what about the Kobitone ceramic? Anyone have any reviews on it?
-Bruce
I have a 1950s era JT30, and it definitely has more bite and sizzle than a 1990s era crystal JT30VC that I also own.
When I A/B'd the ceramic JT30 with a student's recent-vintage Shure 520DX, the Ceramic JT30 was much louder played through an amp, and again had a lot more upper frequencies in the sound.
The ceramic JT30 is a great mic but I just never use it, so I'll be putting it up a on Ebay in a few days. I'm going to include an mp3 of me playing the mic with a backing track into a digital interface, with a small amount of reverb as the only effect, so as to give a clean picture of how the mic sounds.
hi fritz
i came across your name a month ago and somehow i can ask a questio
i have a T-3
it has a japanese crystal in that sound ok,dennis oilleg has fixed the weak points, before it is shipped back,
shall i keep the japanese crystal, or ask for another element, perhaps ceramic, or if you have another suggestion
i do have two older green bullets, some butterfields, and couple other mics that seem ok
323 712 2409
thanks
tommy
Hi, Tommy
Sadly, Fritz passed away several years ago. Since that time Dave asked me to take over duties as the Mic Guru. I'm Greg Heumann - I just shipped a Rackit! mic to you yesterday. How is that for small world!
The Japanese crystal is not awful, but it is definitely not the same tone monster that the T3's original Astatic MC-151 crystal was. Those elements ARE still available as they were manufactured well into the mid-80's. The last of them (and hence the newest, and most likely still strong) were found in the Hohner Blues Blaster microphone. Hohner bought the end of production JT30-VC microphones and MC-151 elements, painted the mics blue and sold them as the BluesBlaster for many years. At some point they ran out of the MC-151 elements and begain using the Japanese Kobiton crystal in its place. Then China began manufacturing elements and Hohner switched another TWO times to newer/cheaper elements. The result is that a) not all BluesBlasters are alike, and the newer they were, the worse they sounded (in most people's opinons, including mine.)
I have MC-151 (crystal) and MC-127 (ceramic) elements available and they are as Fritz aptly described above - 10 years ago. Contact me by email if you are interested.
Trying these elements side-by-side, when they were new from Astatic, they were very similar in tone... the ceramic a little more mellow at the highest end (treble). With that said, playing 151's of different ages resulted in HIUGE differences in tone. Most players I know choose to buy and sell mics until they find a "choice" 151. On the other subjects Fritz is best to answer...