http://rickshawrecords.com/ribbonmic/index.html

Has anyone attempted this project? How difficult was it to put together?

When Rick was in SF last month he said that this Mic might be featured in Wired magazine. They interviewed him and took his mic to test it in a studio against vintage ribbon mics.

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Where might I find the specs to the Austin? I'd like to know what the spl might be.

I'm going to play the devil's advocate here...just because that's what I do sometimes...but dboomer has a point. The $99 MXL mics are decent regardless of the country of origin although I haven't personally tried the ribbons (just condenser).

I have your plans (bought a few months...or a year ago) but haven't gotten around to building one yet. Much of the appeal is the low price and the fact I'm drawn to DIY projects since I build all of my own gear. I plan to build one but it's in line behind the 18W Marshall I'm finishing up, a Vox AC15, and two Telecasters...

I think the kits are a fantastic idea but seem a bit expensive if you consider the time and effort I'd still have to put in to get a finished working product...but I know you have your time and effort you have to get compensated for too to make offering the kits worthwhile. I guess what I'm saying is that from my position if they were $75 I'd probably order one tonight to save me the hassle of sourcing parts from several different vendors. For $149 I'm not willing to mess with still having to cut my own screen holes and prep the chassis though...and it's REALLY not worth it to me to have to spend another $75 to get the chassis upgrade kit! $225 could buy any number of pre-assembled and tested microphones and allow me to spend my free time doing something else like practicing the guitar. -Just saying!

Regardless of my opinion though, it looks like you're successfully selling the kits...and that's all that's important! Thanks for offering another DIY option and good luck w/ the kits.

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SURFmole
I think the kits are a fantastic idea but seem a bit expensive if you consider the time and effort I'd still have to put in to get a finished working product... -Just saying!

Thanks for the feedback.

The current pricing is based on costs for my first run of 20 kits, and the custom-made parts SIGNIFICANTLY reduce the time and effort of ordering parts and building the mic. I can put one together in just a couple hours now. However, I understand about the perceived cost/benefit increase for a chassis upgrade. Again, great feedback that I am seriously listening to.

There is also an implied quality difference between "good" and "good for the money you've paid." I'd put the Austin design in the "Good" category.

During my research and development, I've been fortunate to acquire several >$1K ribbon microphones and many Chinese knockoffs. Believe me, the USA-made mics don't have to worry about competition from the Chinese manufacturers in terms of quality and sound... There is no comparison.

My "Basic Kit" is somewhere in the middle: It soundly trumps the $99 Chinese offerings, and the upgrade kits produce mics that rival some of the best name brands available.

Even my top-of-the-line kit is just $325 - 1/3 the cost of a $1000 mic! It's the combination of "good" and "affordable."

<u>OFFER:</u> People who have already bought my plans are entitled to $10 off any kit. You'll probably get an email soon (When I have time to compile an email list of previous customers!)

Also, I mostly agree with the above statements about preamps, but no preamp will "fix" a crappy input signal. The Acoustic guitar sample on my website was recorded with a budget $110 preamp, yet it gets the most positive comments.

• Rickshaw

Complete DIY Ribbon Microphone plans available from:
www.RickshawRecords.com

Nice article! Always wanted a ribbon mic! Rickshaw that's a great kit! I don't have money at the moment but in the near future I'd love to order one of your kits! Just a quick question, $225 is just without the transformer?
If these mics can stand side-by-side with $1000 mics then this is a great offer!
Hope your second run will be cheaper!

By the way, I haven't heard about MXL mics. $99 is nothing! Are these any good? Which MXL do you recommend?

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