Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Mon Jun 06, 2016 1:10 pm
by waitup
Hey gang,
I've got this Carillon Axis 70 Ribbon mic. I bought it for 200 bucks about 8 years ago. I actually grew to really like it on guitars.
Anyway, I blew it up. What are my options for replacing the ribbon? Assuming that's what happened?
-NF.
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Mon Jun 06, 2016 2:18 pm
by stosostu
I acquired an RCA 74 Junior that didn't have a ribbon and I found the only option was to make my own. But beware, it is a time consuming and frustrating exercise. I think I made about 10 attempts before I got one that worked, then probably 10 more before I got a satisfactory result. One hint, my corrugating machine was made of two Vegemite lids. I showed the results to Wes Dooley when he visited Adelaide and he was quite impressed. He suggested a couple of improvements in the re-assembly technique using sticky tape on the ends to position it. BTW AEA, Wes's company make replacement ribbons for RCA mics, except the 74, but I don't know of anyone who supplies them for Carillon mics.
Just in case you were wondering, I am definitely not interested in making them.
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Mon Jun 06, 2016 3:05 pm
by Ben M
Hi Nick
Glen Phimister could probably re-ribbon it for you. He's in Marrickville.
Email me if you need a number for him.
Cheers
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Mon Jun 06, 2016 3:12 pm
by Chinagraf
http://shop.geistnote.com/are the guys for ribbon stuff, assuming you want to have a crack at it.
Rick had some good advice for corrugating the ribbon, can't remember, was it jam jar lids?
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:07 am
by Paul Maybury
https://openplanrecording.wordpress.com ... -upgrades/did a great job on re ribboning a Reslo and a nude mic stereo ribbon thing.
Both mics are now useful tools, in fact the Reslo is a monster.
Cheers, Paul
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:36 am
by dave01.cooper
http://shop.geistnote.com/
Andy - this site looks the business. Have you had any experience with their foils? I too need to re ribbon a Carilon Axis 70 (love em on gtrs too!) and a Cadenza ribbon mic.
I got a quote from OPR for a re-ribbon and it was 2x the price of the original mic price so I'm keen to do it myself to be honest.
Do the different foil thicknesses make for less or more ribbon movement thus making less or more low end reproduction?
Thanks all
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:01 pm
by Chinagraf
HI Dave, I've bought some Lundahl tranniess from them and some ribbon I redid an old reslo with.
I used the thicker ribbon as I didn't trust me not ripping it. I corrugated it with this old wooden cog setup that my missus had from a junk shop, I think it was for butter or something?
The thinner is supposed to be better response, but more delicate. Maybe Rick can chime in about microns because he has done a lot of his own re-ribbons I believe.
For a cheaper mic what have you got to lose really? Sending to a pro costs more than the mic did hey, plus if you buy a sheet of foil you can have a crack at making your own. The trick is finding the right thing to do the corrugations, they sell a jig for it, but it ups the cost. But then, you can mic anything you want without fear as you can just wack another strip in when you blow the ribbon. There are some great vids on tuning the ribbon by pumping low tones into it, I just did a wobble test and listened, then adjusted it till I was happy.I still have a pair of trannies I took out of some fatheads that I will use to make my own mics one day, they are in the box of 'things to do when I get old and crazy" (hey you kids get offa my lawn)
Like Blue Oyster Cult said, "Don't fear the Ribbon"
Cheers.
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Tue Jun 07, 2016 8:10 pm
by Chinagraf
Here at 3.35 in the tuning thing I was talking about, there is another one showing the old RCA dudes doing it but I can't find it. Interesting viewing.
https://tune.pk/video/4218619/how-it-ma ... microphone
Re: Replacement Ribbon?
Posted:
Wed Jun 08, 2016 9:56 am
by waitup
Thanks for this guys! Think I'll have a stab at doing it myself!
NF.