EV 635A question

Sugarman · 24th July 2007

I just bought a used Electro-Voice 635A from ebay.
I plugged it in and the sound I hear is VERY hyped in the high mid freq (1-2 KHz) and no bass freq. High freq are fine. compared to an sm57 it sounds so tiny and has absolutely NO bass!
well, it sounds kind of cool that way, almost filtered, very lo-fi'ish, could work really well for som aps... but is it supposed to sound that "bad"? or is there something wrong with this mic?

cleantone · 24th July 2007

It is a field recording interviewing microphone. Look at the specs. There is a steep rolloff at 100hz or 80hz (I forget). This is to avoid wind, handling noise, and plosives. I would guess that your mic is fine. How much did you pay? I just got one on ebay too. Original box, paperwork, a Hubbel connector. Mine was made in 1970. Fun little mics. I paid $50 shipped. A little more than I would have liked but no big deal really.

Sugarman · 24th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleantone

It is a field recording interviewing microphone. Look at the specs. There is a steep rolloff at 100hz or 80hz (I forget). This is to avoid wind, handling noise, and plosives. I would guess that your mic is fine. How much did you pay? I just got one on ebay too. Original box, paperwork, a Hubbel connector. Mine was made in 1970. Fun little mics. I paid $50 shipped. A little more than I would have liked but no big deal really.

mine sounds like it has a roll off starting at 500 Hz or something - I mean, it's not even close to have bass freqs...
I paid $67 ex shipping... but it looks almost new. hm... might be overprice, don't know.

cleantone · 24th July 2007

Well 500hz would be bad. Or good depending on how you look at it. I pulled out the specs and the response starts at 80hz but rolls off from about 150hz. At least in 1970. They are still in production and the street price is about $100 I think. List is $150 I think. That is off my head. Maybe you should send some tones into it or white noise and an RTA or some sort.

Bob Ross · 24th July 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cleantone

Well 500hz would be bad. Or good depending on how you look at it.

Exactly. The OP has a defective 635A...which does not mean that he has a useless mic, just that he has an even more specialized tool than a stock, fully-functional 635A would be. Whether that's more or less useful than a "properly" working mic depends on his needs.

rufus13 · 24th July 2007

I have a few used EV 635a's like this, as well as some fully-functional ones. The sensitivity on the "tinny" ones is also way down. The coil is binding or jammed in the gap from a very hard hit or some iron fragments in the magnetic gap.

If you are able to do small detailed work, you can cut the diaphragm free and clean the gap with adhesive tape. Re-glue and it will be somewhere between about the same and like-new.

I'd try to return the mic to the seller. It's only worth about $5 in that condition.

Cheers.

lasso · 24th July 2007

I have one too - same thing - no low end at all. Curently in use as talck back mic. Let me know how your repair turns out if you try.

kjcoral · 24th July 2007

i have "functional" one and i tell ya, i love 'em as snare mics...

24th July 2007	#1
Sugarman Gear addict Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Posts: 367 Thread Starter	EV 635A question I just bought a used Electro-Voice 635A from ebay. I plugged it in and the sound I hear is VERY hyped in the high mid freq (1-2 KHz) and no bass freq. High freq are fine. compared to an sm57 it sounds so tiny and has absolutely NO bass! well, it sounds kind of cool that way, almost filtered, very lo-fi'ish, could work really well for som aps... but is it supposed to sound that "bad"? or is there something wrong with this mic?

24th July 2007	#6
rufus13 Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2005 Location: Interstate-5, North of Grant's Pass Posts: 700	tinny 635a I have a few used EV 635a's like this, as well as some fully-functional ones. The sensitivity on the "tinny" ones is also way down. The coil is binding or jammed in the gap from a very hard hit or some iron fragments in the magnetic gap. If you are able to do small detailed work, you can cut the diaphragm free and clean the gap with adhesive tape. Re-glue and it will be somewhere between about the same and like-new. I'd try to return the mic to the seller. It's only worth about $5 in that condition. Cheers. __________________ “The Gentiles are responsible for this!” — Ruth Madoff

24th July 2007	#7
lasso Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 585	I have one too - same thing - no low end at all. Curently in use as talck back mic. Let me know how your repair turns out if you try. __________________ Cheers, Lasso. www.tonekontrol.dk www.myspace.com/supershadecph www.hotmastering.dk - online mastering

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24th July 2007	#2
cleantone Gear maniac Joined: Feb 2003 Location: New England Posts: 267	It is a field recording interviewing microphone. Look at the specs. There is a steep rolloff at 100hz or 80hz (I forget). This is to avoid wind, handling noise, and plosives. I would guess that your mic is fine. How much did you pay? I just got one on ebay too. Original box, paperwork, a Hubbel connector. Mine was made in 1970. Fun little mics. I paid $50 shipped. A little more than I would have liked but no big deal really.

24th July 2007	#8
kjcoral Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2004 Posts: 210	i have "functional" one and i tell ya, i love 'em as snare mics...