[Elecraft] D-104 Mic

[Bob Nielsen]

On Feb 23, 2007, at 2:03 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

>
> It's a great mic and a real icon. If yours has the original  
> element, it may
> well be a Rochelle salts crystal element. Of so you're fortunate it's
> survived. They are easily destroyed by physical shock (knocking the  
> mic over
> or dropping it) and temperature extremes. If you open the  
> "lollipop" top,
> you'll see the element suspended in rubber inside the ring to help  
> protect
> it from shock. The Rochelle salts crystal is also water soluble. If  
> exposed
> to high humidity for any length of time, they dissolve! The element  
> was
> hermetically sealed when it was made, but it seems that some of the  
> seals
> fail over time (or curious fingers broke them).
>

I dropped my D-104 several months after I bought it (around 50 years  
ago) and know well what you mean.  I mailed the head to Astatic  
asking them to replace the element and let me know how much it would  
cost.  The repaired mike was sent back to me a week later--no  
charge!  I still have it and wonder what shape the element is in.  I  
may throw together a transistor amp and give it a try with my K2 one  
of these days.

Bob, N7XY