Ribbon mics : DIY or purchase ?

[Emmathom]

Hi
I'd like to open a new thread about ribbon mics.
I believe that, due to the ribbon itself, the shape of the headbasket, it's not that easy to build a DIY ribbon mic from scratch (but I maybe wrong !)

Can some of you share their experience in building a ribbon mic ? or about some mod like adapting a ribbon in a LDC static mic ?

In the other hand, if we leave aside rather expensive ones (>800€) like Royer, Coles, Beyer, AERA, etc... is there any affordable reference which can give (at least if not excellent) good sounding results ?
I would be interested to get one (or a pair) for live instrument recording (not guitar amplifier) like horns, drums overhead, strings, etc... this kind of mic (ribbon) missing from my fleet.

I've noticed Bumblebee, NoHypeAudio, t.bone, Oktava, Superlux... and surely many more in that price range (350€<)
Some comment or advice ? some links ?

Regards

 

[kags]

Ribbons, having few components can be assembled for a low cost. I’ve used some commercial ribbons from MXL that we less than $100 and they sounded quite good. You could start with that and replace the transformer to see how that goes.

Before you get into winding your own ribbon, which is delicate but not that difficult, maybe take apart an inexpensive unit to learn how it’s assembled.

There are inexpensive ribbon kits from several companies, but you simply assemble the pieces. You won’t learn much about how to wind a ribbon, but you’ll get a very useable mic.

 

[Emmathom]

Ribbons, having few components can be assembled for a low cost. I’ve used some commercial ribbons from MXL that we less than $100 and they sounded quite good. You could start with that and replace the transformer to see how that goes.

Before you get into winding your own ribbon, which is delicate but not that difficult, maybe take apart an inexpensive unit to learn how it’s assembled.

There are inexpensive ribbon kits from several companies, but you simply assemble the pieces. You won’t learn much about how to wind a ribbon, but you’ll get a very useable mic.

Thank you for your input. So MXL (with a good transformer) to begin with. Also NoHypeAudio (~220€) or Bumblebee RM5 or 6 (~320€) are winkin' at me...

 

[kags]

Also check https://www.austinmics.com/

And

https://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/products/rm5-ribbon-mic