Connector for old Lafayette mic?

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Rodgre
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Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by Rodgre » Mon Jan 11, 2021 3:59 am

I recently bought a Lafayette 99-4593 mic and it came without a cable and I'd like to make one for it but I'm having trouble determining the type of connector I need. It has a 4-pin male Amphenol-style connector, but the barrel size and pin spacing seems a little unusual compared to another male connector that I have.

I believe these mics are dual impedance and not balanced, so I assume that I will have to make a cable that terminates 4-pin Female to 1/4" TS and use a direct box?

Any direction as to where I might find the correct 4-pin connector for this? I believe that Lafayette, despite the French name, was an importer of Japanese audio gear in the 60's. Not super high-end stuff, but I thought this mic was cool looking and worth the $20.

Image
picture from Google search, Not mine


Thanks in advance!
Roger

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by digitaldrummer » Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:30 am

I would not be surprised if these were a variant of the EV mics of the same period. I have an EV 664 and it has this connector.

Of course that price is ridiculous... the EV is also dual impedance, etc. I have mine set for low impedance and it has an XLR pigtail (to the Amphenol connector)
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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by digitaldrummer » Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:34 am

check out this one too: http://www.coutant.org/ev636/index.html

similar look...
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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by Rodgre » Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:50 am

digitaldrummer wrote:
Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:30 am
I would not be surprised if these were a variant of the EV mics of the same period. I have an EV 664 and it has this connector.
I actually bought one of those off ebay and besides getting the gender wrong because I assumed, and you know what happens when you assume, it looked like the pin spacing was different. I will have to check again tonight. I just wanted to make sure before I buy another $30 connector off ebay that won't work. :(

Thank you!!

Roger

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by winky dinglehoffer » Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:42 pm

Rodgre wrote:
Mon Jan 11, 2021 6:50 am

I actually bought one of those off ebay and besides getting the gender wrong because I assumed, and you know what happens when you assume, it looked like the pin spacing was different. I will have to check again tonight. I just wanted to make sure before I buy another $30 connector off ebay that won't work. :(

It ain't the same as the MC4M, which is the connector EV used. I have a similar mic lying around somewhere, and the connector is pretty oddball. Unlike any other mic I own. If I can figure out where the mic is, I'll take a look and see if I can help. I never got around to finding a connector for mine.

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by Rodgre » Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:06 am

winky dinglehoffer wrote:
Mon Jan 11, 2021 7:42 pm
It ain't the same as the MC4M, which is the connector EV used. I have a similar mic lying around somewhere, and the connector is pretty oddball. Unlike any other mic I own. If I can figure out where the mic is, I'll take a look and see if I can help. I never got around to finding a connector for mine.
That's what I feared. I suppose if I have to just run a pigtail to an XLR connector, I will do that. It won't be pretty, but I'll at least be able to figure out how it sounds.

Roger

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Tue Jan 12, 2021 5:47 am

If you've got a connector with the wrong gender and pin spacing but with the right thread you can take it apart, hack an xlr to the internal wiring of the mic and then use the connector as strain relief and as a way to hide the mess.
The cable will be permanent but it's better than nothing.

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by drumsound » Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:27 am

Is that a mic built into a socket wrench?

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by digitaldrummer » Tue Jan 12, 2021 11:12 am

drumsound wrote:
Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:27 am
Is that a mic built into a socket wrench?
it fits GM but not Honda...
lug.jpg
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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by Nick Sevilla » Tue Jan 12, 2021 12:12 pm

Rodgre wrote:
Mon Jan 11, 2021 3:59 am
I recently bought a Lafayette 99-4593 mic and it came without a cable and I'd like to make one for it but I'm having trouble determining the type of connector I need.
Well, posting a pic of the actual connector, of your mic, would really help.

Cheers
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Rodgre
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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by Rodgre » Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:05 pm

Nick Sevilla wrote:
Tue Jan 12, 2021 12:12 pm

Well, posting a pic of the actual connector, of your mic, would really help.

Cheers
I will do that when I'm back at the studio...

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by Nick Sevilla » Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:12 pm

Rodgre wrote:
Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:05 pm
Nick Sevilla wrote:
Tue Jan 12, 2021 12:12 pm

Well, posting a pic of the actual connector, of your mic, would really help.

Cheers
I will do that when I'm back at the studio...
Thanks! I used to have similar mics to this one. They typically have a smaller DIN connector, made of
amphenox type plastic stuff, black in color. And the slots had two metal pins, in between which would
go the connector cable's pin. They used to get really wonky after several uses, so I'd have to get in there
with tiny pliers or pincers to tighten the connection up. PITA!
Howling at the neighbors. Hoping they have more mic cables.

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by drumsound » Wed Jan 20, 2021 7:58 pm

I made a joke about the look, but have you figured out how to get that mic plugged in to listen yet?

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Re: Connector for old Lafayette mic?

Post by A.David.MacKinnon » Mon Jan 25, 2021 7:47 pm

How'd you do with this? Any luck?

I just found this while cruising the xaudia for sale page - http://xaudia.com/shop_item/kent-dm13-dynamic-g0126/

Maybe Stuart can help you out with a retro fit.

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