Old ribbon microphones

squareneck · 9th May 2008, 10:30 PM

Hello!

I have a pair of B&O BM3's. My problem is the low output from them, and I've read that this is the case with most old ribbon mics especially B&O's. Both mics sounds the same and have the same output, so my guess is that they're in normal condition.

Questions are:

Do I just need a AEA TRP with 80 dB quiet gain?
or can magnets lose strenght with time?
or have the ribbon lost its tension?

Maybe I can modify them by replacing the original transformer with a new one. I read that ENAK is putting in new Lundahl transformers in Old ribbon mics.

All inputs are more than wellcome!

oldbrowndog · 11th May 2008, 12:21 AM

An aea trp would do the job. but the things you mentioned can happen to ribbons. If you get the chance to test run on a high gain preamp & are still unsatisfied it may be worth your while to send to ENAK for a check up.. living legend that dude!

TMI · 15th May 2008, 10:06 PM

Oxide is your enemy!

Other stuff like heat, shock to the magnets, degaussing fields do happen but oxide where the ribbon is terminated can be the worst. Not much you can do unless you change the ribbon at which time the terminating mounts must be clean, clean, clean.

The electrical industry has a silver paste designed for aluminum cable to reduce connection resistance.

Ribbons are delicate and best left to a pro.

9th May 2008, 10:30 PM	#1
squareneck Gear interested Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	Old ribbon microphones Hello! I have a pair of B&O BM3's. My problem is the low output from them, and I've read that this is the case with most old ribbon mics especially B&O's. Both mics sounds the same and have the same output, so my guess is that they're in normal condition. Questions are: Do I just need a AEA TRP with 80 dB quiet gain? or can magnets lose strenght with time? or have the ribbon lost its tension? Maybe I can modify them by replacing the original transformer with a new one. I read that ENAK is putting in new Lundahl transformers in Old ribbon mics. All inputs are more than wellcome!

11th May 2008, 12:21 AM	#2
oldbrowndog Gear interested Join Date: May 2008 Location: OZ Posts: 17	ribbons An aea trp would do the job. but the things you mentioned can happen to ribbons. If you get the chance to test run on a high gain preamp & are still unsatisfied it may be worth your while to send to ENAK for a check up.. living legend that dude!

15th May 2008, 10:06 PM	#3
TMI Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 54	Oxide is your enemy! Other stuff like heat, shock to the magnets, degaussing fields do happen but oxide where the ribbon is terminated can be the worst. Not much you can do unless you change the ribbon at which time the terminating mounts must be clean, clean, clean. The electrical industry has a silver paste designed for aluminum cable to reduce connection resistance. Ribbons are delicate and best left to a pro. __________________ Tom Maguire TMI Engineering Last edited by TMI; 17th May 2008 at 01:51 AM. Reason: spelling

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