I have had the same D104 for the last 25 years at least. I got it new from AES I think, and it still works good as new, despite the abuse.
A very good microphone to use with some rigs like the 32v3, with mods to the radio. My D104 has a grey uncoiled cord, and when I tried putting a longer cord on it (only a few feet longer) it lost all its high end! These things are very high impiedance! Brett N2DTS ----- Original Message ----- From: "D. Chester" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 4:21 PM Subject: Re: [AMRadio] Crystal Mic Elements > I understand that Astatic will replace the mic element if you send the old > mic back to them for repair. They will charge you for the new element plus > installation fee, likely to be as much or more than the element itself. I > wouldn't send them one of my pre-1937 1-inch thick mic heads though. They > might not re-assemble it with all the original hardware, they might damage > it or worse still, the old mic head might be considered a 'core replacement' > and I would get back someone else's new style head with a new element in it. > One option would be to send a spare usused later model head and when I got > it back, swap it out with the one in my older version. > > A spare mic head should be no different whether kept "n.o.s" in the > original unopened box or installed in a microphone. I don't think > connecting a microphone to a rig could cause any additional wear and tear on > the microphone, other than possible damage from being dropped. I have > several D-104's with good elements and they all work OK. The last time I > bought a new element from Astatic was sometime about 1990. > > I once saw a Japanese reproduction D-104 at a hamfest. It looked identical > to the original, except for the name plate, and the screws that hold the > head together which were phillips-head instead of slotted. Of course, I > have no idea if the element inside was the same thing. If so, they might > still have replacement elements, but I wouldn't count on it being identical > to or as good as an original Astatic. > > As popular as those mics have been ever since 1933, you would think that by > now someone would be manufacturing low-cost after-market elements that would > be identical to and as good as the originals, just like they do automotive > parts. > > Don k4kyv > > ______________________________________________________________ > Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net > AMRadio mailing list > List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html > List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html > Post: mailto:[email protected] > To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > the word unsubscribe in the message body. ______________________________________________________________ Our Main Website: http://www.amfone.net AMRadio mailing list List Rules (must read!): http://w5ami.net/amradiofaq.html List Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/amradio Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.html Post: mailto:[email protected] To unsubscribe, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word unsubscribe in the message body.
