BlowsMeAway Productions - Custom Wood Microphones

BlowsMeAway Productions
Exotic Wood Microphones
"Art you can play"

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Home -- Custom Wood Mics -- Ultimate Series Mics -- Wireless Systems -- Kalamazoo Amps

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You wouldn't play a cast zinc violin, would you? A steel piano? A pewter guitar? Of course not. But a harmonica microphone is part of your "instrument." Why play through a metal microphone? Experience the warmth of wood! My rare wood mics have a slightly smaller diameter than a JT30, with none of those uncomfortable bumps and ridges on the grill. And these mics are considerably lighter than their metal counterparts. A JT30 weighs between 8 and 10 ounces depending on configuration. A Shure 520D weighs a whopping 13 ounces! My wood mics weigh as little as 4.5 ounces including element and connector.

The result is a mic that is comfortable to hold, easy to play, beautiful to look at and, best of all, sounds GREAT. Guaranteed, or your money back.

Each mic is a one-of-a-kind work of art. Although I occasionally have wood mics ready for sale, my preference is to work with each customer individually. I will help you choose woods and options and discuss any ideas you have. As I build your mic I will email you photos of the entire process, from raw wood preparation through finished microphone, to keep you informed every step of the way. I price all the options in direct proportion to the labor involved in building them into your mic. Scroll down to the Design Your Own Mic section to learn more about these beautiful mics - with options, prices and photos. But first - meet a few of my customers.....

Internationally acclaimed stars Kim Wilson, Charlie Musselwhite and Mickey Raphael love their BlowsMeAway Wood Mics. To see them and hear what they have to say about my work, please visit the home page.

Now - here are a few other pros who use BlowsMeAway mics.

RJ Mischo	"Best Harmonica Player" award winner in 1996, with 10 CD's under his own name and apppearances on countless others. RJ Mischo endorses BlowsMeAway's Custom Wood Mics. "I just plugged in my new beautiful curly maple mic from BlowsMeAway Productions. It has a 1950 Shure black label CR element with Killer Tone. I played the mic with my Bassman, Super Reverb & Concert amp sounds great with all of them. This outfit makes the highest quality harp mics, volume controls & cables, I highly recommend them!!!!" RJ Mischo - November 2010

Deak Harp	“These Mics are a work of art ... And man the wood makes the tone just drip out ...Warm as the Sunflower River in Clarksdale Ms .. in July ..... And the Piano Finish is so smooth you can see yourself in it .. Everybody should have one” --Deak Harp

Jimi Lee	“Like many other people, whether for harmonica or guitar, I have tried for a long time to get a good tone wireless. It took Greg Heumann’s knowledge and experience with elements, impedance matching, volume pots and more to accomplish the task. My new custom wood body harmonica mic is not only wireless, it has the best tone, is comfortably light weight and looks like a piece of art work. It is now part of my regular gigging set up. I’ve been spoiled and really don’t want a heavy bodied mic anymore, except maybe as a back up, but today I asked Greg to make me another one that isn’t wireless for a back up. I find myself prone to tell players about Greg's wood mics above all others. The wireless has become my hands down mic of choice. Thanks for all that you have done for me. You are the one I recommend most and it’s an easy choice.”-- Jimi Lee Jimi's mic is set up low impedance with an XLR connector so he can use it with his Samson wireless rig. You can see him use it in this video.

Andy Just	“I play with a BlowsMeAway Productions wood mic and it is my favorite mic! Super light, great tone and it fits in your hand WAY better than the stock mics. The coolest looks! And I love the volume control now. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this mic to anyone that is serious about playing electric harp... I'm sold on Greg's mics!” -- Andy Just Listen while you look.... Hear blues veteran, recording artist and pro performer Andy Just blowin' his BlowsMeAway wood mic and volume control through a Sonny Jr amp, recorded live at The Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City, CA: Struck By Lightning Blue and Lonesome Rockin' Boogie
Jake Friel	“The first time I picked up this mic at the SPAH convention in Virginia Beach I knew I had to have it. It was lightweight, had great sound and looked really cool. I have since put all my "antiques" away including my beloved green bullet and custom JT-30 aka "Shrek" that I used to adore. Nothing can touch the mic Greg made; there is artistry involved in creating this mic. The fact that this is made from a single piece of wood “blows me away”. The volume control has changed my playing; I love the ease and control it gives me on stage. The mic is extremely light and easy to use especially for longer shows. Because I play it all the time the color has deepened and gotten richer. I can’t wait to get my next one with a custom grill! I mention the microphone every show and I always take the time to show it to anyone who asks and refer them to the website. ” -- Jake Friel

This video opens with RJ Mischo playing acoustic. At about 2:48 in the vid, he came over to me to try one of my wood mics - hooked up to my Sonny Jr Avenger. We ended up trading licks for quite a while - it was a hoot! RJ decided then and there he had to have his own BlowsMeAway wood mic. And now he does!

Here's a recent review - November 1, 2010: “Just want to share my experiences with a wood bullet mic made for me a couple months ago by Greg. I've had the chance to gig with it a few times and feel like I now know it well enough to review it. I bought it as a treat to myself, not because I needed a new mic (I have several lovely harp mics). I supplied the white CR element and had him build me a mic out of cocobolo wood with a stealth volume control. I had previously been using the element in the original GB with a volume control that I added. Greg built the mic to my specs and emailed lots of pics of the process as it went from a hunk of wood and metal to the final product. Visually it is a work of art. The mic has far exceeded my expectations. I figured it would sound the same, be a little more comfortable to hold, and be pretty to look at. But the reality is that it feels Perfect to hold, sounds better than the element sounded in the GB, and I feel like I have much better control of my volume and sound. It's hard to put into words without sounding like a pitchman for Greg's company (never met the guy). The only thing he did to the element was to disconnect the built-in resistor in the GB (which I never thought was a problem), but otherwise the element is the same. But I guess it's the combo of the wood, the right gasket, the proper match of volume control to the element, and a better fit in hand (and whatever other mojo he added). Whatever it is, I keep getting complements on sounding better and playing better. I've been busy with new responsibilities at work and haven't been practicing much, and am using the same old amps, so it's quite striking to me that just a different mic with the same old element is making such a difference. In addition to being lightweight and feeling good in the hand, the stealth volume control is great--turns easily and very smooth transition in volume all the way up with no abrupt jumps. It ain't cheap but to me has been well worth it. Thanks Greg! ” ------ Harpdoc

Design your own mic!

The base price for a BlowsMeAway custom wood mic is $279. That includes a shell turned from a single block of your choice of wood, a billet aluminum grill with straight slots, screw-on connector, natural finish, black foam windscreen, custom gasket - and of course a wonderful vintage Shure single impedance controlled magnetic element - 99A86 or 99B86. (These elements are considered to be among the best available for harp - and have been out of production now for about 40 years. They are far superior to the elements that come in the current Shure 520DX Green Bullet or any other mass-produced harp mic. I buy them used from a variety of sources.) I also have other elements, or will make a shell for your element if you like. See "Elements Available" below.

SO - start at $279, choose your wood(s) and consider the following pro options.

New! I have many more photos in my Customer Mics photo album on Facebook. Start here to understand the options and their prices - but look there for a broader selection of woods.

BlowsMeAway Productions custom wood bullet microphone

This mic is made from Kingwood

Pro Options:

Lamination: Some woods aren't available in blocks thick enough for me to start with so I laminate multiple boards together. This results in some beautiful color and grain combinations as you can see from the pictures here. Lamination takes lots of prep and time - add $29 for a standard 3-piece lamination, $39 for 4-way.

Zebrawood and Macassar Ebony.

Cocobolo and Purpleheart, maze grill

Multilam woods: I have some prelaminated woods- these are thin layers of birch that have been dyed, then pressed together in large sheets under huge pressure, bonded with a special resin. Add $10 for these woods.

This is "Blue Bayou" color combo, turbine grill

This is "Desert" color combo, stealth volume control

Finish: My standard finish is a natural looking hand-rubbed finish with a satin sheen. Your skin oils will react with these mics and they will get richer/darker/duller over time. They can be restored with furniture polish and/or furniture wax.

A more durable finish uses nitrocellulose lacquer. This is the same material used to finish fine guitars and pianos. Here there are two levels:

Piano finish takes at least 8-10 coats of lacquer, lots of sanding, a couple extra weeks, and fills all the grain for a mirror like finish. (Look at the text reflected in the shell.) Add $79 for this finish.

I don't have a spray booth and an army of polishers. I don't guarantee perfection, but it is close.

Violin is glossy - however the wood grain is not completely "leveled". The wood is completely sealed and protected. Add $29 for this option - the most popular choice.

This mic is burl maple, with ebony, a stealth volume control and "Ben" engraved on the side.

Inlay

The mic on the left is a lamination of Cocobolo and Zebrawood, Mercedes grill and has a turquoise granule inlay. Add $39 for an inlay ring.

The mic on the right is made of Redheart. When the wood was turned it revealed "checks" that had to be filled with something. I chose turquoise granules. I can add inlay material to engraving (see below) as well . Ask for price quote.

BlowsMeAway Productions custom wood bullet microphone - inlay

Inlay colors/materials, L to R:

Aluminum powder (a byproduct of my grill manufacturing process)
Blue, gold, red metal flake - note the finished inlay is a combination of the core color and silver
Red, gold, blue and turquoise "granules"

Grip Shoulder: Adding a "shoulder" can make the shell even easier to hold, for players with arthritis or other disabilities. Add $19

The mic on the left is a lamination of Cocobolo and Macassar Ebony. The mic on the right is a lamination of Macassar Ebony and Purpleheart.

Engraving: Laser engraving adds a personalized touch - good for your initials or .... Also see the "anodized grill" option below - that's Steven Tyler's mic and has some nice engraving on the side. Add $69

The mic on the left is made from rosewood and marblewood. The mic on the right is made from Zebrawood

BlowsMeAway Productions custom wood bullet microphone - engraved

Stealth volume control: The end of the shell IS the volume knob. I set it up so that the wood grain lines up perfectly when the control is at full volume. Add $89, specify smooth or click action.

The mic shown on the left is made from a 4-part laminate of Kingwood. You can just barely see the line between the rotating rear and the main part of the mic. The one on the right is Zebrawood, Tripoly grill.

BlowsMeAway Productions custom wood bullet microphone- stealth volume control

XLR Connector: Mickey Raphael and Jimi Lee wanted low impedance mics with XLR connectors for different reasons. Mickey wants to unplug his acoustic mic and plug this in for a few blues numbers during Willie Nelson's shows. Jimi Lee wanted to use the mic with his low-Z wireless mic rig. I can also set your mic up for high impedance/XLR like a Blues Blaster (Pin 3 hot) or ready for the wireless transmitter (Pin 2 hot) if you like. I have to fabricate several parts to make it work. Add $59.

BlowsMeAway Productions custom wood bullet microphone - XLR connector option

Wood grills: On special request I can make your grill out of the same wood as your mic. Wood grills are really pretty, and will stand up to lots of playing if treated well. If dropped the wrong way though, they are certainly not as strong as aluminum. Wood grills are for special occasions, home use, display mics, etc. They are very lightweight. To ensure maximum strength I leave these a little thicker and will not cut the "Maze" pattern in them. Add $29.

This mic is olive wood. I brought this piece from Italy and do not have a supplier for it here.

Curved/Radial Slot Patterns:

Curved or radial slot patterns require a lot more setup time and machining work, but they are beautiful and unique. Add $39.

"Mercedes"

"Maze"

The mic on the right is made with Marblewood

"Tripoly"

"Starburst"

"Turbine"

"Turner"

"Waves"

(Optional Grill Screen shown,
see below.)

"Smiles"

(Optional Grill Screen shown,
see below.)

I have other new designs too. Some of them haven't been rendered in actual aluminum grills yet. If you want more ideas, or have some of your own, please contact me!

Personalized Grills - add $89

Now you can have your grill personalized like Kim Wilson's and Charlie Musselwhite's. I recommend you use your own initials, however :) I have a couple different designs and will work with you to help you decide.

BlowsMeAway Productions custom wood bullet microphone - Initials

Kim Wilson's mic. "Right Initials"

Jay Sawyer's Mic - "Upper Initials"

Bill Noteman's Mic - "centered initials"

This one was made for country sensation Heidi Newfield. This is "single initial center"

Jay Sawyer's mic - 3 Initials, Vertical

Gary Berlant's mic - 3 Initials, Horizontal

Anodized Grill:

All grills can be anodized - black, blue, red, purple, gold - other colors too. Add 2 weeks and $75 (the cost is high because the anodizer has a minimum charge - no way around it. )

and yes, that IS Steven Tyler's mic.

Brass Grill:

Brass is a little heavier but gives a warmer look. Standard aluminum shown on left for comparison. A brass grill adds 2 ounces to total mic weight.
Add $29

Grill Screen:

All grills are provided with a black foam wind screen. A metal grill screen, shown on the right, adds a nice look. Add $10.

Elements Available:

A Shure singe impedance Controlled Magnetic 99A86 or 99B86 element is included in the $279 standard price mic. This element was in the original Shure 520 Green Bullet and is an outstanding value.

If you need to save some dough, consider a 99S556 Dual Impedance Controlled Magnetic element and Deduct $29. This element was in the Shure 520D and is a great choice if you're on a tight budget. A little brighter than the single-impedance elements but still has great tone and break-up - and way better than anything you can buy in a commercial bullet today.

Premium Shure Controlled Magnetic - like 99H86 white label CM - add $79

Shure Controlled Reluctance 99(H,G)86 white label - add $169

Shure Controlled Reluctance 99(A,G,H)86 black label - add $219

Supply your own element - deduct $79 from basic mic price

Others: Inquire.

Woods Available:

BlowsMeAway Productions		Wood Inventory as of 12/11

Solid Block Woods Available
	Canary
	Claro Walnut
	Cocobolo
	Curly Walnut	maybe - large unsawn piece
	Ebony	temp out of stock
	Jobillo
	Koa
	Kingwood
	Maple Burl
	Olive
	Rosewood, Burmese	very similar to cocobolo
	Rosewood, E. Indian	dark
	Sheeoak	1 left
	Wenge
	Tamboti
	Zebrawood

Specialty Blocks - prelaminated. Add $10, no lamination fee
	purpleheart/maple/wenge/canary	laminated on slight bias
	Multi-lam "desert": orange/purple/brown	see my BlowsMeAway facebook page for photos
	Multi-lam "Blue Bayou" blue/lt. blue/purple/green	see my BlowsMeAway facebook page for photos
	"BluesBerry" Multi-lam	med blue, natural, red, burgundy
Board stock available (for laminated mics)

	Bocote
	Canary
	Cocobolo	large variety
	Ebony	dark, dark brown, dark brown grain
	Kingwood	(square stock - requires 4-way (2x2) lamination
	Marblewood
	Rosewood
	spalted maple
	Wenge
	Zebrawood

The following board woods are good for the center section in laminations - contrasting color, but not much grain - which can conflict with side wood grain
	Ash
	Cherry
	Padouk (orangish)
	Purpleheart
	Yellowheart

I have many more photos of mics in a wide variety of woods on my facebook page. Go here and head for the "Customer Mics" photo album. If that doesn't do it, I recommend that you Google these woods to learn more about them.

There's a lot going on here. I will work with you through every step of design and specification. If you have questions, don't hesitate to contact me.

Note - these mics are as much works of art as they are top quality musical instrumnts. As such I sign each one by burning my initials into the mic down near the connector, letters about 1/8" high. If you do not want this please let me know when you order.