Topic: Cascade "Fat Head II" Ribbon Mics

[rustle]

I just recieved some information on the Cascade "Fat Head II" Ribbon Mics. I've always wanted to fool around with some ribbons, but the co$t was prohibitive to my budget. Yet these mics with the "Lundahl" transformers, are only $649.00.
 Has anyone, with experience with other Ribbon Mics, tried these mics? I'm interested in running these for indoor accoustic concerts; string quartets.

 Here's the link for further study. Oh, I ordered up the "shoot out" CD to give my ears a listen.

http://www.cascademicrophones.com/cascade_FAT_HEAD_II_EM.html
 
Thanks in advance, 

                    Russ

edit: forgot the link 

[George2]

Those look pretty good, but I've never heard of them. Lundahl trannys are good. You will need a mic preamp with 70-80db of gain for acoustic music, as ribbons have really low output. But, good thing about ribbons, they can take a lot of SPL before overload.. notice on those rated 165db at 1% distortion.
Blowing onto a ribbon mic can be critical, or even walking fast with the air pushing on the ribbon. You don't want to put it in front of a nimrod and have them blow on the thing and say, "is this on?"

[JasonSobel]

I've also been eyeing this mic.  however, I'd probably just buy one and use it as the side mic in a M/S config (with one of my gefell m200 mics as the mid).  Please let us know if you go for it!

[TNJazz]

Might be worth mentioning that while Lundahls are nice transformers, there are many happy owners of the stock model out there as well.  Matched pair is $300.

Might want to try it first before you plunk down the extra $ for something you might NEVER notice the difference on (far field recording).

Plus you can always upgrade the transformer later if you want to anyway (DIY, even!)

[rustle]

Hmm,
 Thanks TNJazz. upgrading the transformer later was something I didn't think of.

 I guesss I should have mentioned, I've used ribbons quite a bit at Capital University. Just didn't want to shell out the coin for something so fragile (I was soley into rock/jam taping then).

 Of course I would use these for "accoustic" and "String Quartets" as mentioned in my first post.

Gonna go for it

[PH]

I've used these recently at Compass Studios and they are amazing. The pair they had were the standard issue and they faired almost as well as the Royer SF12 (at 1/4 the price). You absolutely cannot beat these for the price, but they are ribbons and are fragile, so using them outside of your controlled environment is always a risk.

I actually decided to sell my Royer SF12, in part due to these Fathead mics. I opted to cash out after I finished using the Royer on my last two projects, to try out a pair of these, along with another preamp with the leftover dough. I'm ordering the standard version for now. Compass has already ordered another pair.

Cheers, Phil

[rokpunk]

I've also been eyeing this mic.  however, I'd probably just buy one and use it as the side mic in a M/S config (with one of my gefell m200 mics as the mid).  Please let us know if you go for it!

anyone wanna split a pair of the black stock version? i've been eyeing these up for a while now.

[rowjimmy]

I've also been eyeing this mic.  however, I'd probably just buy one and use it as the side mic in a M/S config (with one of my gefell m200 mics as the mid).  Please let us know if you go for it!

anyone wanna split a pair of the black stock version? i've been eyeing these up for a while now.

I've also been looking at these... If I wasn't back in the pre-amp market, I'd take you up on this.

[rustle]

I've used these recently at Compass Studios and they are amazing. The pair they had were the standard issue and they faired almost as well as the Royer SF12 (at 1/4 the price). You absolutely cannot beat these for the price, but they are ribbons and are fragile, so using them outside of your controlled environment is always a risk.

I actually decided to sell my Royer SF12, in part due to these Fathead mics. I opted to cash out after I finished using the Royer on my last two projects, to try out a pair of these, along with another preamp with the leftover dough. I'm ordering the standard version for now. Compass has already ordered another pair.

Cheers, Phil

 Thanks Phil,
 I'll report back with my impressions.

 ~ Russ

[JasonSobel]

Might be worth mentioning that while Lundahls are nice transformers, there are many happy owners of the stock model out there as well.  Matched pair is $300.

Might want to try it first before you plunk down the extra $ for something you might NEVER notice the difference on (far field recording).

Plus you can always upgrade the transformer later if you want to anyway (DIY, even!)

good point there.  I'd primarily be running indoors, on-stage, which is why I'd even consider ribbons in the first place.  I don't know if I'd go for a ribbon if I mostly taped "from the section" at larger shows.