DIY "bullet" style harmonica mic!

In this instructable, I'm going to show you how to build your very own "bullet" style harmonica microphone. You will get that cool bullet-mic look with shelling out the 100's of $$$ that you would pay for a real vintage bullet mic. Tone? That all depends on the mic element you choose to put in this shell. This shell has some serious Mojo because anything you make yourself has GOT to have more mojo than something you bought!

This Instructable WILL NOT cover the how-to's of mic element choice, mic wiring, or soldering, although you will need to know all of these things. For info about soldering, search around here, you'll find plenty of instructables on how to solder! (eg: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-solder/). For info on mic wiring, see this instructablehttp://www.instructables.com/id/I-Mic-Harmonica-Microphone/ . For more info on mic wiring (including videos) as well as mic element selection, check out my other harmonica microphone instructable http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-your-own-harmonica-mics/.

Let's get started!

Step 1 Get the parts together.

First things first: Safety. This project will require you to use a power drill, cut difficult material with a sharp knife, and to solder electronic components with a hot soldering iron. If any of that scares you, you shouldn't do this project. Wear safety glasses when using powertools.

Next: You will need the following items to complete this project:
1) A 1 and 1/2 inch diameter "slip on" PVC endcap (from the plumbing section of your local hardware). This will form one half of the mic shell.
2) A 1 and 3/8 inch diameter metal fence post cap (From the garden section of you hardware store). This will form the second half of the mic shell.
3) A package of 1 and 1/2 inch diameter rubber "cups" (for putting under you kitchen table's legs)
4) A 10 to 100 K ohm log taper potentiometer (for the voloume control, you can get these at rat shack)
5) A 1/4 inch mono panel mount guitar jack (again, rat shack)
6) A microphone element of some kind (mine comes from an old AudioTechnica ATR30 microphone I got used at Savers for $3.99. New it will cost around $30. You can use any element you like for this project)
7) Some hookup wire, acid-free solder for electronics, and some electrical tape.
8) Optionally: some cotton balls, spray paint, an old dryer cloth or other piece of cloth, a knob for the volume control.

Watch the first half of this video to hear more detail about the PVC end cap and fence post cap:

Comments

[admin]

Hello, and welcome to the Instructables community! It's great that you've decided to tell the world about something you've made by publishing an Instructable. We just wanted to let you know that your project still needs a little more work if you want it to be well received on Instructables. Projects that don't include certain basic elements tend not to get the attention that they deserve, and so we'd love for you to check out the list below of what makes a successful Instructable. Successful projects on Instructables include: - clearly written details of a finished project with instruction - as many steps as are necessary to explain your project - clear images that you took of your project for most, if not all of your steps - an intro image - proper spelling and grammar - appropriate cautions or safety considerations I'll give you another opportunity to make any final changes to your project before we publish it. Once you're all set to go, please republish your project and send me a quick comment letting me know that you've made some changes. I'll give it a quick final check to make sure you're on the right path, and then remove this note. Thanks for your submission and we hope to see your project published soon!

[Darwins_Deathcat]

Hi there, I've totally re-vamped this Instructable. Now there are loads of pictures, loads of detailed instructions, and appropriate safety precautions. I republished it, and I was now hoping you can remove your original admonishing post,... Cheers, Darwins_Deathcat

[slucepan]

I always wanted a little flat brown biscuit style bullet microphone.
Guess I will have to see what I can find at home depot ; ^ { >
Super awesome instructable.

[Darwins_Deathcat]

Thanks! Post a pic of what you come up with, I'd be interested to see it!

[corey_caffeine]

can this record voice?

[Darwins_Deathcat]

Yes, but it will not be as clear as normal voice mic. It is designed for distorted harmonica tone.