just picked up a Amperite Ribbon Velocity Model RBMH

[kd8oyv]

just picked up a Amperite Ribbon Velocity Model RBMH from the 30's ...what i wanna know...if i can find one would it be best to run a ribbon element or retro-fit a hiel element in it....i also think imma put the mic back as orginal condistion as possible...so wish me luck.

73 frankie/kd8oyv

[W7TFO]

Congrats.

Keep it out of the wind, mostly with a bag over it when not in use.

Ribbons typically need about 10 dB more gain than a dynamic.

If indeed it needs a new ribbon, inquire here:

http://www.wesdooley.com/aea/AEA_Replica_Microphones_and_Parts.html

Wes may be able to make it go again.

73DG

[Jeff W9GY]

Yeh, I think best to use it as a ribbon microphone and not as a "housing" for some other 'capsule'.  I'll bet with a good ribbon and strong magnet the mic will sound excellent. Those old ribbons of yesteryear had great fidelity.  They surely exceeded the recording capability of the times. 

[WA3VJB]

I agree with Jeff -- it would be a shame to dismantle a working ribbon mic.  Great sound if your transmitter can pass it.

The only time I can see a transplant is where the innards are blown and you really like the look of whatever housing the old mic came with.

[The Slab Bacon]

You might want to contact Dave (W9AD) he rebuilds ribbon mics when he has time.

[Steve - K4HX]

Nice find. Amperite advertized quite regularly in QST during the 30's. They had some nice looking mics. I've never seen or heard one though.

just picked up a Amperite Ribbon Velocity Model RBMH from the 30's ...what i wanna know...if i can find one would it be best to run a ribbon element or retro-fit a hiel element in it....i also think imma put the mic back as orginal condistion as possible...so wish me luck.

73 frankie/kd8oyv

[ve8xj]

I would keep it as a ribbon mike. I use a 2 element ribbon recording mike with the BC-610H with original bc-614 pre-amp and a Yamaha mixer/preamp infront of it. I get very good reports with it . I listen to my audio with a pair of headphones while I talk and have to say I have fallen in love with the sound of it. I did have to wrap it in acoustical foam because it was very sensitive with air movement.

[W2DU]

I was in the sound business beginning in the mid 30's, using double-button carbon mikes. Then along came the Amperite ribbon models, of which I bought one--man, what a difference in the sound from that mike. Used it with my ham gear also. Later on I purchased RCA 74-D mikes, but still used the Amperite.

Rick is a professional recording engineer, with 24-channel equipment. I gave him the  Amperite, which still works as well as when it was new in the 1930's. He uses it right along with his more modern mikes.

Walt

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

I'll throw in with the herd: keep it as designed, even if it needs servicing. Ribbon mics have a sound all their own, very smooth, full, and warm to my ears. I've got a 74B here that probably will need a new ribbon, but I'm going to try it out sometime this winter. As Steve said, you just don't see the Amperite mics everyday. Definitely a keeper.

Fix it up, then get yourself a little mic preamp/equalizer if you don't already have one. Set it up with the transmitter of your choice and enjoy.

[WBear2GCR]

Do NOT gut that mic!

Better to sell it for the $$ and get something that is already empty or unrepairable for looks...

You can make workable ribbons yourself... the foil from most foil/film caps is suitable. Since ur using it for ham radio, perfection in the HF is not required, so your ribbon can be less than pristine and less than perfection.

Making the corrugations is not too difficult... plus if you take apart a film/foil cap you should have ample stock for experimentation.

Tensioning the ribbon is also not that critical except if you want perfect bass response, which again for ham use (30Hz., who cares...) is not critical.

One thing that is heresy, but can be done is to slip in some neodymium "booster" magnets to up the flux and so the output...

                               _-_-bear

[WBear2GCR]

http://www.lloydmicrophoneclassics.com/18.html

http://www.k-bay106.com/ampr_rbmh.jpg

[k4kyv]

If indeed it needs a new ribbon, inquire here:

http://www.wesdooley.com/aea/AEA_Replica_Microphones_and_Parts.html

Wow. Some of those "replica" mics are priced  higher than what you could probably find a working real McCoy for.

I have a pre-WWII Electro-Voice V-1 (as I recall). Chrome and black wrinkle.  It used to work, but last time I tried it, it was dead.  When it worked, I never could get rid of the 60~ hum.  Probably too many transformers in close vicinity, plus the pre-amp needs to be low-hum and low-noise.  Another one of those "roundtoit" projects.

[W4RFM]

True story.  There is a radio engineer in Tuscaloosa Alabama, who used to make his own ribbons for RCA 44's, 77's and the like by separating the foil from the wax paper on Wrigley chewing gum wrappers. No-really! (This was in the 70's).  Then he would cut the ribbon of foil to size, and weave it thru a pocket comb, using his thumb to gently impress the "groove" on it.  My 44BX has one in it, and it sounds great.

[w1vtp]

Roll your own ribbon mic. Stu did it. Doubt if it would fit in a RCA ribbon mic 

http://mysite.verizon.net/sdp2/id16.html