I've had lots of questions about the difference between the different types of microphones. I all boils down to the element in the microphone. Each kind of element responds differently to the harmonica.
Warning: I am not a good player, so don't expect much from these sound samples. I picked a riff that I could repeat with fair accuracy (and I am sick of it after playing and listening for 30 minutes).
Methodology: I played
through each mic into a Sony Pro tape recorder and then I hooked the external
speaker of the tape player to the sound card of the PC. I captured the input
and saved it as Real Audio files using "Cool Edit". The only amplifiers
are the solid state amps in the tape recorder and the sound card.
I am using an old B-flat Special 20 that I found in the parts box. (My good
harps are in the car).
I may want to run these comparisons again through a tube amp. I am not pleased with the clipping that was introduced by the overdriven solid state amps in the recorder and sound card. These mics all lost low end when played this way. I also had trouble with hum from the florescent lights in my work room.
These samples are unique to the way I play and hold the mic. Your mileage will vary.
Cheap PC Dynamic Microphone. I included this as a base line. Dynamic mics have a broad frequency response and are designed to record speech or music accurately. You can hear that I am overdriving it by cupping the mic, but otherwise this is approximately the sound you would get using the house vocal mic.
Strnad Harmonica Microphone. I had this in my parts box and since I've never used it, I tried it out. This is basically a good quality dynamic mic with a nice holder for the harp. I would guess it is similar to a Shure SM-58 or other quality vocal mic. I hear very little difference, though, between it and the PC mic. (There is a big difference, but by by cupping the mic, you overload it and get that "Attention K-Mart Shoppers" tone.) This is the larger Strnad for use with a Chromatic harp. I had to hold the smaller sp-20 in place and cup it.
MC-151 Crystal element. This is a nice hot crystal element that I've been using for a couple of years. I like it because it is the hottest element that I've ever found. It has a good edgy attack and sounds good through an old amp. You can hear that it doesn't have the bottom end that the dynamic mics have. Harder to hear is that it doesn't have the high end either. The higher order "twangy" harmonics don't come through. This is a 70's JT-30 with a 1 meg pot volume control (turned all the way up).
MC-127 Ceramic Element. This is similar to the 151, but it is not as loud. The comparison is not quite fair because I judge the 151 in this sample as being extra loud. You can hear that it is dirty, like the MC-151, but there is less high and low. This compresses the frequency response a little and makes your playing a little nastier. This is a 50's JT-30 with no volume control.
Shure Controlled Magnetic. This is a 70's Shure 520 Green Bullet. It has much more bottom than the other mics. It is good for a deep bass sound, but it also has more response on the high end. After hearing this sample, I may take this mic along with me to a Jam and see how it sounds with the lower harps (G, A B-flat). I stopped using the Green Bullets because they catch all the reed and breath noises and higher harmonics as well as the bass.
