Bargain or Bust?

[Icantthinkofaname]

This is more than fair price. I've been quited 300$ for the audio board by Norwegian Shure distributor. And since i still have some Shure contacts in Europe, after being irritated by the distributor, I reported them to Shure Europe and got suddenly an quote of 114$ for the same part, followed by phone call and apology from the distributor.

The files sound exactly as my faulty mic. I would bet the capsule is ok, and the audio board, and/or psu board are faulty.

Now if you could persuade them to sell you the boards that would be a win. Extremely easy to replace, just snap in, all you need is a screwdriver.

Even if they have to replace all three boards, a KSM44 for $100 would be a fantastic find.

 

[MicMaven]

This is more than fair price. I've been quoted 300$ for

OUCH. I think I may just order them and go for it.

The files sound exactly as my faulty mic. I would bet the capsule is ok, and the audio board, and/or psu board are faulty.

The more test recordings I make, the more I think the capsule IS OK and the boards are noisy. Ending up with a proper KSM44 for cheap might be a real bargain after all - much better than using it as a donor shell and tossing the internals. Further testing suggests the capsule sounds pretty good on both sides. Whew ... for once the cheaper bits are at fault - usually, with MY luck, the most expensive bits die first.

Now if you could persuade them to sell you the boards that would be a win.

Right. I will know tomorrow. I have already obtained "wife permission" to go for it, so full steam ahead, I suppose, as it will not cause any marital strife.

Thanks for the uptake and comparison to your KSM44 - I don't really need a $900 microphone, but to have one for as little as it appears I may have to spend, it will be a real treat, like buying a Ferrari for the cost of a Yugo ... um ... sort of.

Thanks for the uptake. James - K8JHR -

 

[Rusan]

MicMaven, if you do instead decide to tackle replacing some of the SMD components, since you have a Hakko 936 clone I'll share a little trick. Get one of the pointed, sharply bent tips for it, and you can easily lay the tip across both terminals of surface mount passives.

After visiting the Shure web site, it sort of appears it is not selling replacement parts, and offering a Flat Fee Repair Service for a whopping $500 ! Ouch.

Wow, not good, but not surprising. Electro-Voice is doing the same thing. Their service department used to charge about $75 to replace the foam in a RE20, which will inevitably need to be done sooner or later. Now, since Bosch bought EV, they're a charging a $230 flat fee for repairing a $450 mic. Buying the foam from a third-party vendor and doing it yourself costs about $35 tax and shipping.

 

[MicMaven]

DISAPPOINTING UPDATE.

I ordered the three internal boards for the current model KSM44a from Shure to replace the original boards in my old KSM44. Unfortunately, the project stalled immediately on their arrival, because the FET board was not fully populated, lacking switches and other necessary components. A Shure Technician again offered to repair the mic for a flat $500 fee - but he balked when I asked if they have the parts to complete the job. Duh.

Despite all the assurances and assistance provided herein, I am not qualified to troubleshoot and repair the original boards. Not yet. My ham radio electronics mentor is helping me develop the necessary skills - he is a pretty cool guy, having designed and built exotic RF and other electronic gear for NASA, the Air Force and Lear Jets in his day.

I consider my options:

a) Sell the microphone to someone who is capable of restoring it to its former glory. $100 (plus postage in US) sounds fair considering the capsule "seems" OK.

b) Cannibalize it for parts, using the capsule with a set of JLI Alice OPA boards, and possibly using the original KSM44 boards with an electret capsule that fits the head shell.

Or...
c) ________________ (fresh serving suggestion)________________

At this point, b) cannibalizing is most appealing. as that might provide a decent capsule for one mic, and a heavy duty shell for another mic, on the cheap. // James - K8JHR //

PS - I wanna thank Mr. @Whoops for a delightful exchange early on, which helped me focus my attention in useful directions. I also thank the others who contributed to this thread. I have learned a lot on this particular project, and appreciate the number of fellers who generously help others on this reflector. James​

Original versus newer board received from Shure Parts Dept.

 

[metalockpick]

Good Day Mic Mavens. I purchased a used KSM44 microphone at a ham radio swap meet for $15 today. It appears in reasonably good condition, but it exhibits a substantial level of noise and much lower signal levels than other condenser microphones. Photos and sound clip attached.

What might I do to boost the output level and minimize noise? Any suspicious characters in view? Should I suspect problems with the circuit boards, or capsule, or both?

Have I purchased a microphone project or a parts rig? Boon or Bane? Bargain or junk? I recognize I provide precious little to chew on, but I do not know where else to start. Any ideas ? James - K8JHR -

First test - all original parts.
View attachment 105130

View attachment 107144

The Equitek sounds distorted compared to the KSM44 sample. I'm sure you could get >10x your purchase price (i'd buy it) in the condition it is in right now. That's a premium, mulit pattern 2.5 micron skin capsule and a good body...You got a screaming deal, whether you fix it or flip it.

 

[Whoops]

Hi mate,
Sorry for not remembering well, as we talked some time ago and I was full of work in between

Can you talk with Shure to see if they can sell you the schematics of the microphone?
Probably you received a pcbs from a new revision, try to buy from Shure the schematics for the original circuit and also for the newer revision

I’m sure your original boards could be fixed but without the schematic might be a little hard

Also, could you maybe transplant the missing switch’s on the newer board with the ones from the original board?
How many other components seem to be missing on the newer boards?

What capsule type does that mic use?

Best regards

 

[MicMaven]

Hi mate,
Sorry for not remembering well, as we talked some time ago

No worries. We kicked it around well enough.

Can you talk with Shure to see if they can sell you the schematics of the microphone?

I suppose I could, and yet, while I hate to declare surrender, it is well above my experience and pay grade. Someday, but not today. My career was a licensed professional with advanced degrees and special training. I am still learning to read schematic drawings.

Probably you received a pcbs from a new revision, ...maybe transplant the missing switch’s on the newer board with the ones from the original board?

CORRECT. Unfortunately, the parts do not transfer well - the newer boards use different connectors, etc.

Shoot - it seemed so easy to just order new boards and use the old capsule and shell. I am OK with it ... although I find it disturbing Shure's Technical Support and Parts Dept guys were caught by surprise by the deficiency.

Thanks again for the encouragement. James

 

[kingkorg]

The fault on mine was not on that board, but one of those long verlical ones that just snap in. Have you tried just replacing those two. I don't believe the fet board needs replacing.

 

[TromNek]

I've had an original KSM44 for over 20 years. My first nice microphone (rolled up all the loose quarters laying around the house to help buy it).

It's really a nice mic to have around. Seems like when nothing else really gives me what I want, I use it and it works great to get on with actually recording instead of trying to find the perfect sound with my other mics.

I suggest taking your time and seeing if your ham radio buddy can help you with it.
( I'm a ham too, kc2wdi )

If you do want to sell it ( option A ). I'm definitely interested and would give you some more than what you proposed.

 

[waltzingbear]

It looks to me the leaded components on the original board have probably been replaced by smd ones on the A version. A schematic would be helpful but still require some measuring and sleuthing to get it right. The switches do seem to have a slight variation between the two

A photo of the back would be useful as well

 

[MicMaven]

The fault on mine was not on that board, but one of those long verlical ones that just snap in. Have you tried just replacing those two. I don't believe the fet board needs replacing.

Nope. You cannot mix and match new and old style boards because the connectors are all different. You either fix the old ones, or buy a whole new set for the latest iteration. Or go straight to surrender and sell it to a guy who is better situated to fix it, and so I did. Thanks for the input. James

 

[MicMaven]

A photo of the back would be useful as well

Photos depicting both sides. James

 

[neowalla]

Gentlemen - I appreciate the clarification provided by each reply.

My wife can acquire a substantial quantity of dessicant from her place of work, so I will try that in a day or two. No harm, no foul - certainly worth trying as I have no idea how this was handled or stored by its previous owner. I am fussy about how I handle delicate electronics, musical instruments, radios, etc., especially allowing items to reach room temperature before opening boxes previously in the cold, and that sort of care.

I contacted Shure over the weekend, and await its response concerning replacement parts. I also checked Marketek, Full Compass, BSW, B&HPHotovideo, and a couple other likely suspects looking for replacement parts, with no joy. I recall seeing replacement capsules somewhere sometime in the past, but I cannot find them now. Sheesh! You know how it goes ... everyone is flush with parts, until you need them!

Unfortunately, I am a bit of a rookie at electronics, with limited experience troubleshooting and replacing SMD components. While I am a reasonably skilled project builder with through hole components, and actually own a basic L/C meter, I lack the competence and reflow equipment to competently replace SMD bits. I am, however, working to expand my skill set as everything is going in that direction. (My career as a licensed professional was in a vastly different field, but like the AVIS company, I try really hard.)

Spending just $15 to for this item, I had no expectation it would work at all, and figured it would be a parts rig or donor body. I will test the capsule and boards as per your suggestions, and see what gives. It is OK if it becomes something very different from an original KSM44. I will be pleased if ANY part of it proves useful, whether that is capsule, boards, or body/shell. Considering the magnitude of my initial investment, I will be pleased if I can make anything useful with it. Shoot! It is heavy enough to anchor a small skiff! It will find its purpose, eventually.

I truly appreciate your looking over my shoulder as I approach this project. I realize this is a small potatoes sort of project, but I will learn something from it, so I cannot lose. James - K8JHR -

For SMD soldering, I have had good luck using solder paste rather than wire solder. I still use a regular iron rather than blowing them across my bench with a hot air gun. I also bought an inexpensive digital microscope to inspect my work in all its gory detail. Very useful at spotting less than perfect solder joints or accidental bridges.