just want to remind those reading this that might have a "bad" D104 element, or think their element is bad because the mic sounds like crap, that there is fix that can work quite well for this.
this will not work if the rochelle salts in the element have been damaged.
many times people will junk a D104 element because they think the salts are damaged when in fact its just the wax on the diaphragm coming loose.
looking at the face of a D104 crystal element, one would see that it comes to a point in the middle.
this point is one end of a stirrup that connects to the rochelle salts inside.
when these rochelle salts vibrate, they cause a small electrical current to flow, which is how the mic produces sound.
the problem is that the end of the stirrup that connects to the diaphragm is held in place by some black wax, and with time, vibration, and temperature variances; this wax wiggles loose from the stirrup and therefore the stirrup does not vibrate much if at all when the diaphragm is moving.
this will cause a flat tinny sound to no sound at all.
the fix is simple.
re-heat the wax to re-establish the connection between the stirrup and the diaphragm.
i just use a cigarette lighter. a few passes across it should do the trick.
folks should really try this before junking any of these precious elements.
wait!
what am i doing?! i shouldnt be telling anyone this. i should be out buying up "junk" MC320 elements!!! LOL
LC
this will not work if the rochelle salts in the element have been damaged.
many times people will junk a D104 element because they think the salts are damaged when in fact its just the wax on the diaphragm coming loose.
looking at the face of a D104 crystal element, one would see that it comes to a point in the middle.
this point is one end of a stirrup that connects to the rochelle salts inside.
when these rochelle salts vibrate, they cause a small electrical current to flow, which is how the mic produces sound.
the problem is that the end of the stirrup that connects to the diaphragm is held in place by some black wax, and with time, vibration, and temperature variances; this wax wiggles loose from the stirrup and therefore the stirrup does not vibrate much if at all when the diaphragm is moving.
this will cause a flat tinny sound to no sound at all.
the fix is simple.
re-heat the wax to re-establish the connection between the stirrup and the diaphragm.
i just use a cigarette lighter. a few passes across it should do the trick.
folks should really try this before junking any of these precious elements.
wait!
what am i doing?! i shouldnt be telling anyone this. i should be out buying up "junk" MC320 elements!!! LOL
LC