[Baumli]

Dear GAS gentry,

I am looking for a certain audio item which, I concede, is scarcely an audiophile item. It's a portable tape recorder microphone. Not a dynamic one, but a condenser one. The end screws off, and one puts a little AAA battery in. They used to be available from Radio Shack for about $15, and Sony sold them for about $20. They had an on-off switch on the barrel of the microphone, and the cord had two plugs--one for the mike and one for the on-off switch. No one makes them now, and I have never seen one come up on eBay, although certainly I see many dynamic microphones of this type. I suspect the condenser ones are so rare because they all incurred the same fate mine did: If you followed instructions, and left that battery in, it would leak in about two months and ruin the microphone. I eventually learned to remove the battery, but I didn't learn to not forget to remove the battery. Hence, the fate of my last microphone, and now this search. I'd be glad to pay a fair price for one, and even vouch for your good character, or something equally strenuous.

(No, Scott. Don't send me detailed instructions on how to build one, beginning with the word "Just ... ." I'm not good at building things like you are. I'm only good at destroying things, like tape recorder microphones, and the character of my friends.)

I know there are those who will revile my character because I still use a cassette tape recorder. (Just for the grandkids' voices.) But give me credit. I'm not trying to record on 8-track.

Cheers to all from Francis Baumli. And on this, feel free to phone: (314) 966-2167.

[Bob in St. Louis]

(No, Scott. Don't send me detailed instructions on how to build one, beginning with the word "Just ... ."

Sorry, I can't help you. But that made me chuckle. 

[decal]

Check out the Nady SGM-12 Shotgun Condenser Microphone at Musicians Friend.

[Baumli]

Dear Decal,
Thank you for the recommendation. I checked this one out, and it isn't what I need. It hasn't an on-off switch, and the switch on it is a dual-impedance feature--and neither impedance is correct. The folks at Musician's Friend researched the matter, in the tech-support division, and couldn't find anything either. Apparently the thing is archaic, outmoded, rare as hen's teeth. I'll keep looking, and if anyone "out there" in the hinterlands (where you are trying to avoid contact with the unwashed heathen) can lend a bit of assistance per this quest, I would certainly appreciate it. Thanks again for your help!

[steve k]

I have an old Radio Shack Optimus mic with an on/off switch. It's an Optimus 33-3021 Uni directional mic. Not sure if this is what you need but you're welcome to borrow it.

Steve

[Scott F.]

No one makes them now, and I have never seen one come up on eBay, although certainly I see many dynamic microphones of this type.

Francis, it may just be your lucky day. Have a look at what I just found on eBay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-VINTAGE-MICROPHONE-FOR-TAPE-RECORDER-ETC-/261187907154?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3cd0032e52

or this one

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-70s-General-Electric-Cassette-Tape-Recorder-m8400d-Works-Very-Nice-/271174968881?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3f2349a631

Hopefully those are the ones you are looking for. I used 'GE tape recorder" as my search term

[Baumli]

Dear Steve and Scott,
Thank you for the suggestion and links. The problem is, these are all "dynamic" microphones, as they were called back in those days. They are a high-impedance microphone which has awful sound (going into an awful-sounding medium, I concede). What I need is a low-impedance condenser microphone which can be identified by the fact that it always has a barrel shape and one inserts a battery in the end of that barrel: AA or usually AAA. So these dynamic or high-impedance ones won't work with my tape recorder. I've found many, many dynamic mikes on eBay and elsewhere. The problem is that the condenser mikes just didn't survive because their batteries leaked. And now no-one, or so it seems, makes them new. I used the word "archaic" earlier. A lot of audio is becoming archaic. Four years ago when my son was in an advanced "honors" English course at Kirkwood High School, his teacher brought in a list of 50 words for people to define. There were about 40 students in the class, and as it turned out, there was one word the teacher herself couldn't define, nor could any of the students--except my son. The word: "tonearm." Yes; only my son, who had (with enthusiasm) helped me set up many a turntable, could define the word. I'll keep looking for the microphone, but it's been a long, long quest. Thank you all for your help!

[wedweb]

Azden has battery powered mics for camcorders.  Not sure if any are low imp.

[Baumli]

Dear Wedweb,
Thank you for the recommendation. They come close to what need, but they aren't quite there. I wouldn't want stereo; and I need the dual plug. But from a look at their selection, this is a good name to have on hand for actual camcorder needs.
Thanks again from Francis Baumli