[Elecraft] D 104

[Don Wilhelm]

  Despite all the "solutions" presented, the D-104 Lollipop is one of  
those classic mic frames that just will not give up.  I have 2, one with 
no PTT lever on it (anyone have one for sale?) and another with a Heil 
HC-5 cartridge instead of the original mic element.

For those who have a D-104 frame and an element that does not work, YES, 
go down to "the shack" and pick up one of those $3 electret mic 
elements.  Remove the original element and put the electret in its place 
(with a lot of foam to take up the excess space).  Turn on mic bias in 
the K3 and you will have the classic D-104 mic look with good 
performance (just as though it were an Elecraft MD2).

Be creative, and you too can have a working classic microphone.

BTW - I use an Elecraft MD2 mic (no longer available) and like it a lot.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/4/2011 7:25 PM, Grant Youngman wrote:
> I give :-/
>
> Why use a D-104 if that's the only point?  A $3 electret from " the shack" will do just as well.
>
> Hopefully, someone will step in and kill this thread.
>
> To the original poster -  the simple solution is to use an Astatic stand with a preamp or something similar.  Or as Don suggested, try a couple of meg in series with the element and see if the K3 gain is high enough to give you decent audio.  If you have to EQ a D- 104, use some other mic.
>
> Been using D-104's since 1957, and while I may not be a certified audio engineer, there is nothing wrong with "common knowledge".  By the way, the ceramic version of this mike has lousy low freq response. You want the crystal element.
>