Astatic Bullet Mic

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

I know several of you remember these from a lotta years ago. I have one that belonged to my Uncle who has since passed away. Still in the box with the little base and stand.

Anyhow, my problem is that I hook it up to a p.a. same as you would for any other mic, and it doesn't work. The instructions talk about connecting to an amp and even has some diagrams, etc. It should work either way, right?

Could be the element is just bad. I opened it up and the 2 wires are intact. One goes to the center term of the amphenol plug, the other is grounded to the case.

Thanks, JO. BTW, I need one of those old cables with the amphenol connection if anyone has one lying around.

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Jerry, The microphone element is probably bad.
The Astatic microphones used a crystal piezo
electric element.
They would melt around 130 degrees F.
Also crystals did not tolerate moisture well.
All the ones I've seen in the last few years were bad.
They were high impedence, unbalanced.

At one time there was a Canadian company that was
making Astatic products. The original Astatic
was bought out in the late '60's or early '70's.

Crystal microphones were cheaper to make than the dynamic and ribbon microphones. They were mostly used in home recording, and public address applications.
Some early acoustic guitar contact microphones were
crystal.

Ceramic Piezos replaced the crystals many years ago.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Thanks Blake, you're probably right. The information that came with it warns about high temps. Just my luck. A pity too, since eveything else is all there and in such good condition too. Oh Well

Jonathan Shacklock · From: London, UK

Hi Jerry, this page should be of some help:

http://www.jt30.com/jt30page/jt30faq.html

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Thanks Jonathan Exclamation

Lots of info there.
Cool avatar, btw Cool

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Jonathan, Thanks for the Astatic Info. Didn't know they were still in business.

Blake

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

If you're looking to use a bullet mic for harp, there is a company that makes beautiful wood versions with an old Gibson style knob at the end for volume. There were a couple of fine harpers at a gig here Sunday using them, and I've posted the web site on this forum a few years back.
If you're interested and can't find them in any search, let me know and I'll try to track it down.

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

Ron, thanks for the offer. Actually, I don't play harp, but a good musician friend does. I offered to lend him this old mic for a gig we had coming up. At the rehearsal, we found it didn't work.
I have had it since the late 90's and just assumed it was ok as all Unc's other gear was in fine shape.

Blake, your info was very helpful. I figured you might have some insight into this old mic.

Johathan, thanks again for the link. If I'm reading the info correctly, I could just change out the old element with the cheaper ceramic unit. Sounds like it would be more reliable that way and save me a bunch of bucks v. the crystal replacement. That way I could still have a working unit.
Even if it doesn't work, it's still a precious heirloom to me due to the heritage, but as time and $ allow, that's probably what I'll do.

Thanks all. Still could use an old amphenol type cable in the meantime.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

I've had one of the original mics with the hand stand for many years, just like Radar O'Rielly used on MASH, as a good conversation piece.

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