[Elecraft] D-104 and Radio Shack electret element

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

The Astatic crystal element exactly fits the "lollipop" housing. It's THAT
big! But it's no problem to remove and rewire. The lollipop top even unplugs
from the stand.

Unlike a lot of "modern" desk and hand mics, the D-104 was designed around
the element, rather than coming up with a design for the case and plunking
the element inside! That was true of most of the old microphones. For
example, the Heil "Heritage" microphone is a copy of the old "ribbon"
microphones used for broadcasting in the 1930's and 40's. The long, tall
shape of the enclosure was dictated by the shape of the microphone inside,
which used, literally, a ribbon of flexible metal in a magnetic field.
Another enclosure for the same ribbon element is the Heil "Classic" that was
another 'standard' in broadcasting studios everywhere. In both cases, the
"pop" screen so often seen put in front of the microphone today is part of
the mic and dictates the separation from the grille and the element inside.
It's placed just inside the metal openings. 

Similarly, the more round mics were either miniature crystal elements or
dynamic elements which were that size! 

Heil has used these designs for good reason. People associate those mics
with quality and performance, based on old associations. Heil can use them
because today's elements are so small they can be put inside almost any
"traditional" enclosure. 

Even the most "technical" of us still responds to "fashion" -- at least some
of us do.

Ron AC7AC

-----Original Message-----
you might be able to place an electret element in the case and leave 
the original element in there....  You'd have to rewire since the 
astatic has a 3 conductor
plug on the mic housing.   I have placed an electret ( small )  in 
front of a dynamic AKG element in my current station microphone, and 
cannot hear any acoustic interference.

bill