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Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

The Green Bullet interview

November 16, 2023 Neil Warren Season 1 Episode 98

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Michael and James join me to talk about the legendary Green Bullet microphone

Michael is the Director of Corporate History at Shure

What does the job ‘Director of Corporate History’ involve?

Shure will be 100 years old in 2025 and started out as a philanthropic organisation, which is still follows to this day

The Green Bullet is celebrating it’s 75th anniversary in 2024

Shure’s first bullet shaped mics were released in 1939

James Waldron runs SimpleMics.com, which rebuilds vintage harmonica mics from new and vintage parts

greenbulletmics.net is a fantastic website written by Dave Kott, which James saved and keeps going

History of the Green Bullet, model 520, and recently discovered the name of the person who designed the first bullet microphone (not Green Bullet)

Bullet shape was designed after car headlight, not a bullet

The Streamliner was the first bullet shaped mic, released in 1939, which was a ribbon mic

Bullet shape was not designed to hold, it was just the cool design of the time

Shure had no idea the Green Bullet was being used as a harmonica mic for many years

The Green Bullet was originally designed for two way radio, public address systems, and uses like that

One of Michael’s first tasks when he started at Shure in 1976 was to discontinue the Green Bullet, until he was inundated by letters from harmonica players

Photos show the Green Bullet was being used by harmonica players very early in it’s life, from 1949 or 1950

Shure were unaware of the Green Bullet harmonica use as they focused on profitable phonograph cartridges

One of the reasons for the popularity of the Green Bullet (and JT30) is that they were cheap

Green Bullet was originally designed for speech, and one is featured in the TV show MASH

Green bullet was originally designed for speech, not harmonica

Photos from south side of Chicago show the Green Bullet being used for vocals as well as harmonica

Little Walter is the first person credited with playing amplified harmonica

Did Little Walter definitely use a Green Bullet?

James has a photo of Junior Wells using a Green Bullet

Some of the early Green Bullets had crystal elements (the model 7 and 707), and James has found a small number of them working

Shure and Astatic sourced their crystals from the same place (Brush Development), although they constructed their mics in different ways

No definitive records of the first use of the Green Bullet, or which of the classic players used it and when

May well have recorded using Green Bullets in the studio in the 1950s as no digital effects to add in post production back then

Green Bullet is very durable and hard wearing, with elements used being developed in a military setting

Difference between Controlled Reluctance (CR) and Controlled Magnetic (CM) elements is very minor

The Black label and White label elements produced for the Green Bullet

Michael thinks Shure maybe just changed the name from CR to CM because it was easier for customers to understand

Another difference between CR and CM is with the bobbin

Can people who own a Green Bullet tell if they have a CR or CM element?

Each element will sound different, whether it’s CR or CM, for various reasons. So best way is to try before you buy

Individual mics sound different, just like instruments do

The player will also make the mic sound different

Difference between the Black and White label elements, and are the black ones better?

Some of the later elements made in Mexico (520D model) are also great elements

Most harmonica players would say the Black label elements have a better bass response

Different suppliers and components will make the mics differ over time

Does James think Black labels are better?

Recommend buying a mic from a reputable supplier so you know you’re getting a good one

Meter readings are not very useful and different aspects that affect sound of a mic

How an element works

The Green Bullet is high impedance, with a higher decibel output level in order to drive guitar amplifiers

Other Shure mics which are used for harmonica, which are ‘moving coil’ mics (not a CR or CM)

Paul Butterfield was one of first players to use the Shure Unidyne 3 mic

Green Bullet 520DX is dual impedance, and the 520D can also be converted between low and high impedance

One advantage of low impedance is being able to use a longer cable, high impedance mics should not be used with cables longer than 20 feet

James made some mics for Roger Daltrey of The Who fame

Impact of using wireless systems with mics, with more modern ones with guitar jacks having high output which doesn’t impact mic output too much

Wireless mics can impact the tone of the mic though, as the distortion is applied through the wireless mic transmitter, rather than directly from the mic

Shane Sager (who plays harmonica with Sting) uses a wireless system with an impedance transformer

The Green Bullet 520D model moved from manufacturing in the US to Mexico from 1985

Mexican factory is 100% a Shure facility, with Shure employees

James has found many great elements from those created in the Mexican factory for the 520D model, and generally are more consistent

The Mexican produced 520DX model is a moving coil / dynamic mic, with Shure trying to make it sound as much like a CR as possible. The 520DX is the only Green Bullet Shure has built since 1997

The shell of the Green Bullet, made out of die cast zinc

Addition of a volume control on the 520DX was a great move

The Green Bullet shell makes it heavy

Shells made out of other materials, such as wood, with Michael questioning whether they resonate as well as die cast zinc

Importance of the air tightness of the shell

The pin holes in the Green Bullet are used for barometric leak, which maintains the pressure in the mic, such as if you take it on an airplane

Volume controls being added to a mic will impact the output level, which has to considered against the advantages of having a volume control (such as cutting feedback and playing louder in a solo)

Shure have released a video, featuring Sugar Blue, which highlights why the Green Bullet became popular with harmonica players

People often switch up the mic they use

James thinks crystals are so fragile that he insists customers pick them up by hand (he won’t post them)

Shure đơn’t manufacture crystals now because they are so fragile. They last built mics with crystals in 1969-70

There are some cheap crystal elements available from Japan, but the quality is debatable (although Dennis Gruenling does sell them)

A guy contacted Shure recently who had discovered some Shure mics with crystal elements

Some people like singing through a Green Bullet, with Elvis Costello singing through a 520DX

Michael thinks Bob Dylan plays harmonica through a 520DX sometimes

How to best look after a Green Bullet: with one suggestion is not to store them in the back of an amp due to the powerful magnets of the speakers

Green Bullets are virtually indestructible, with the wiring the only real area likely to become damaged

The glue on the element microphone can sometimes fail on the very early models. James has a contact who can repair this issue

Info

Happy Hour Harmonica Podcast

The Green Bullet interview

Nov 16, 2023 Season 1 Episode 98

Neil Warren

Michael Pettersen And James Waldron join me on episode 98.
In this episode we talk about the iconic Green Bullet microphone, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024.

Michael is the Director of Corporate History at Shure microphones , and he tells us about the early design of the mic, what it was used for and about how it took years before Shure became aware that it was such an important mic for harmonica players.

James runs SimpleMics.com, where he rebuilds vintage harmonica microphones, including for some illustrious customers. James provides a harmonica-centric perspective on the Green Bullet and some detail on what is under the hood of the mic.

Both Michael and James help debunk some of the myths about the Green Bullet, as well as sharing their deep knowledge of its element, shell and other inner workings of this most legendary of harmonica microphones.

Links

Green Bullet mics website:
https://greenbulletmics.net/

James’ Simple Mics website:
https://www.simplemics.com/

Versions of the Green Bullet:
https://service.shure.com/s/article/what-are-the-different-versions-of-the-green-bullet?language=en_US

https://service.shure.com/s/article/history-of-the-model-520-green-bullet?language=en_US

Convert Green Bullet to use with XLR cable (low impedance):
https://service.shure.com/s/article/putting-an-xlr-on-the-green-bullet?language=en_US

Add a volume control and on/off switch:
https://service.shure.com/s/article/adding-a-volume-control-to-a-520d-green-bullet?language=en_US

Shure 520DX model:
https://www.shure.com/en-GB/products/microphones/520dx?variant=520DX

Videos:
Shure video on how the Green Bullet became the sound of blues harmonica:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlLniCG0lCw

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram

Support the Show.

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Michael Pettersen And James Waldron join me on episode 98.
In this episode we talk about the iconic Green Bullet microphone, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2024.

Michael is the Director of Corporate History at Shure microphones , and he tells us about the early design of the mic, what it was used for and about how it took years before Shure became aware that it was such an important mic for harmonica players.

James runs SimpleMics.com, where he rebuilds vintage harmonica microphones, including for some illustrious customers. James provides a harmonica-centric perspective on the Green Bullet and some detail on what is under the hood of the mic.

Both Michael and James help debunk some of the myths about the Green Bullet, as well as sharing their deep knowledge of its element, shell and other inner workings of this most legendary of harmonica microphones.

Links

Green Bullet mics website:
https://greenbulletmics.net/

James’ Simple Mics website:
https://www.simplemics.com/

Versions of the Green Bullet:
https://service.shure.com/s/article/what-are-the-different-versions-of-the-green-bullet?language=en_US

https://service.shure.com/s/article/history-of-the-model-520-green-bullet?language=en_US

Convert Green Bullet to use with XLR cable (low impedance):
https://service.shure.com/s/article/putting-an-xlr-on-the-green-bullet?language=en_US

Add a volume control and on/off switch:
https://service.shure.com/s/article/adding-a-volume-control-to-a-520d-green-bullet?language=en_US

Shure 520DX model:
https://www.shure.com/en-GB/products/microphones/520dx?variant=520DX

Videos:
Shure video on how the Green Bullet became the sound of blues harmonica:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlLniCG0lCw

Podcast website:
https://www.harmonicahappyhour.com

Donations:
If you want to make a voluntary donation to help support the running costs of the podcast then please use this link (or visit the podcast website link above):
https://paypal.me/harmonicahappyhour?locale.x=en_GB

or sign-up to a monthly subscription to the podcast:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/995536/support

Spotify Playlist:
Also check out the Spotify Playlist, which contains most of the songs discussed in the podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5QC6RF2VTfs4iPuasJBqwT?si=M-j3IkiISeefhR7ybm9qIQ

Podcast sponsors:
This podcast is sponsored by SEYDEL harmonicas - visit the oldest harmonica factory in the world at www.seydel1847.com or on Facebook or Instagram

Support the Show.

Michael and James join me to talk about the legendary Green Bullet microphone

Michael is the Director of Corporate History at Shure

What does the job ‘Director of Corporate History’ involve?

Shure will be 100 years old in 2025 and started out as a philanthropic organisation, which is still follows to this day

The Green Bullet is celebrating it’s 75th anniversary in 2024

Shure’s first bullet shaped mics were released in 1939

James Waldron runs SimpleMics.com, which rebuilds vintage harmonica mics from new and vintage parts

greenbulletmics.net is a fantastic website written by Dave Kott, which James saved and keeps going

History of the Green Bullet, model 520, and recently discovered the name of the person who designed the first bullet microphone (not Green Bullet)

Bullet shape was designed after car headlight, not a bullet

The Streamliner was the first bullet shaped mic, released in 1939, which was a ribbon mic

Bullet shape was not designed to hold, it was just the cool design of the time

Shure had no idea the Green Bullet was being used as a harmonica mic for many years

The Green Bullet was originally designed for two way radio, public address systems, and uses like that

One of Michael’s first tasks when he started at Shure in 1976 was to discontinue the Green Bullet, until he was inundated by letters from harmonica players

Photos show the Green Bullet was being used by harmonica players very early in it’s life, from 1949 or 1950

Shure were unaware of the Green Bullet harmonica use as they focused on profitable phonograph cartridges

One of the reasons for the popularity of the Green Bullet (and JT30) is that they were cheap

Green Bullet was originally designed for speech, and one is featured in the TV show MASH

Green bullet was originally designed for speech, not harmonica

Photos from south side of Chicago show the Green Bullet being used for vocals as well as harmonica

Little Walter is the first person credited with playing amplified harmonica

Did Little Walter definitely use a Green Bullet?

James has a photo of Junior Wells using a Green Bullet

Some of the early Green Bullets had crystal elements (the model 7 and 707), and James has found a small number of them working

Shure and Astatic sourced their crystals from the same place (Brush Development), although they constructed their mics in different ways

No definitive records of the first use of the Green Bullet, or which of the classic players used it and when

May well have recorded using Green Bullets in the studio in the 1950s as no digital effects to add in post production back then

Green Bullet is very durable and hard wearing, with elements used being developed in a military setting

Difference between Controlled Reluctance (CR) and Controlled Magnetic (CM) elements is very minor

The Black label and White label elements produced for the Green Bullet

Michael thinks Shure maybe just changed the name from CR to CM because it was easier for customers to understand

Another difference between CR and CM is with the bobbin

Can people who own a Green Bullet tell if they have a CR or CM element?

Each element will sound different, whether it’s CR or CM, for various reasons. So best way is to try before you buy

Individual mics sound different, just like instruments do

The player will also make the mic sound different

Difference between the Black and White label elements, and are the black ones better?

Some of the later elements made in Mexico (520D model) are also great elements

Most harmonica players would say the Black label elements have a better bass response

Different suppliers and components will make the mics differ over time

Does James think Black labels are better?

Recommend buying a mic from a reputable supplier so you know you’re getting a good one

Meter readings are not very useful and different aspects that affect sound of a mic

How an element works

The Green Bullet is high impedance, with a higher decibel output level in order to drive guitar amplifiers

Other Shure mics which are used for harmonica, which are ‘moving coil’ mics (not a CR or CM)

Paul Butterfield was one of first players to use the Shure Unidyne 3 mic

Green Bullet 520DX is dual impedance, and the 520D can also be converted between low and high impedance

One advantage of low impedance is being able to use a longer cable, high impedance mics should not be used with cables longer than 20 feet

James made some mics for Roger Daltrey of The Who fame

Impact of using wireless systems with mics, with more modern ones with guitar jacks having high output which doesn’t impact mic output too much

Wireless mics can impact the tone of the mic though, as the distortion is applied through the wireless mic transmitter, rather than directly from the mic

Shane Sager (who plays harmonica with Sting) uses a wireless system with an impedance transformer

The Green Bullet 520D model moved from manufacturing in the US to Mexico from 1985

Mexican factory is 100% a Shure facility, with Shure employees

James has found many great elements from those created in the Mexican factory for the 520D model, and generally are more consistent

The Mexican produced 520DX model is a moving coil / dynamic mic, with Shure trying to make it sound as much like a CR as possible. The 520DX is the only Green Bullet Shure has built since 1997

The shell of the Green Bullet, made out of die cast zinc

Addition of a volume control on the 520DX was a great move

The Green Bullet shell makes it heavy

Shells made out of other materials, such as wood, with Michael questioning whether they resonate as well as die cast zinc

Importance of the air tightness of the shell

The pin holes in the Green Bullet are used for barometric leak, which maintains the pressure in the mic, such as if you take it on an airplane

Volume controls being added to a mic will impact the output level, which has to considered against the advantages of having a volume control (such as cutting feedback and playing louder in a solo)

Shure have released a video, featuring Sugar Blue, which highlights why the Green Bullet became popular with harmonica players

People often switch up the mic they use

James thinks crystals are so fragile that he insists customers pick them up by hand (he won’t post them)

Shure đơn’t manufacture crystals now because they are so fragile. They last built mics with crystals in 1969-70

There are some cheap crystal elements available from Japan, but the quality is debatable (although Dennis Gruenling does sell them)

A guy contacted Shure recently who had discovered some Shure mics with crystal elements

Some people like singing through a Green Bullet, with Elvis Costello singing through a 520DX

Michael thinks Bob Dylan plays harmonica through a 520DX sometimes

How to best look after a Green Bullet: with one suggestion is not to store them in the back of an amp due to the powerful magnets of the speakers

Green Bullets are virtually indestructible, with the wiring the only real area likely to become damaged

The glue on the element microphone can sometimes fail on the very early models. James has a contact who can repair this issue