I’m trying to get the electronics working on my Lo Duca. The volume control is working but no amplified sound is coming out. I’m guessing that there’s a microphone attached to the wire that goes into the body but how do I get to it? In the first picture the top braided wire goes to the jack and the bare wire in the middle must be ground. The bottom wire probably is attached to a microphone that’s not working. Any ideas?
Lo Duca electronics
- Thread starter Ednovak
- Start date
Ventura
Been here for ages!
it is an unusual setup to the volume control, that the wires are not
directly soldered to it, but transferred through those 2 springy touch stems
sort of like they used on train sets ! the volume control also relies upon
the aluminum grill being well grounded (that little copper wire and clip)
transferring ground through to the Potentiometer body
to test, i suggest you simply alligator clip a jumper wire to the 2 white wires
that connect to the springy stems.. this will bypass the volume control and should
equal FULL volume to the jack for testing.. the grill can be left off for this test
if you still have no sound, the old Mic element may be shot, OR somewhere
along the wire the (white stuff) insulation has cracked off and shorted to
the braid (which is ground, yes) a very common problem after 60 years
the Mic is inside the bellows, you need to remove the bellows pins and open
it up to see it/work on it
it is a pretty old LoDuca since it has round aluminum action arms, a 3 reed
LMH student model looks like.. probably still fun to play.. if you get the mic
working for the heck of it, cool, but that technology was just basic so no loss
really if it's dead
good luck
directly soldered to it, but transferred through those 2 springy touch stems
sort of like they used on train sets ! the volume control also relies upon
the aluminum grill being well grounded (that little copper wire and clip)
transferring ground through to the Potentiometer body
to test, i suggest you simply alligator clip a jumper wire to the 2 white wires
that connect to the springy stems.. this will bypass the volume control and should
equal FULL volume to the jack for testing.. the grill can be left off for this test
if you still have no sound, the old Mic element may be shot, OR somewhere
along the wire the (white stuff) insulation has cracked off and shorted to
the braid (which is ground, yes) a very common problem after 60 years
the Mic is inside the bellows, you need to remove the bellows pins and open
it up to see it/work on it
it is a pretty old LoDuca since it has round aluminum action arms, a 3 reed
LMH student model looks like.. probably still fun to play.. if you get the mic
working for the heck of it, cool, but that technology was just basic so no loss
really if it's dead
good luck
Yeah, those old style mics had a life span of 20-30 years, mine was dead as a door nail.
I cannot see your accordion, but most have pins that need to be pulled, once done, it just pulls apart with a gentle lift.
If you do that, be sure to note/mark what pins came from what hole and replace them in the proper order.
If you do that, be sure to note/mark what pins came from what hole and replace them in the proper order.
Any decent external mic (dynamic or condenser) will pickup the treble side tone with much better fidelity and sound better than any of these vintage microphones inside the bellows. Really the only advantage of that arrangement is sound isolation.
All modern accordion microphone installations will be multiple microphone elements installed in the grill and bass mechanism compartment (outside the bellows) or multiple microphone elements mounted on goosenecks to locate them outside the instrument completely.
Taking the bellows apart was much easier than expected. Here is the mike which is dead. The wiring all checks good. Does anyone sell these any more? I understand it’s not the best solution but I’d like to try it as long as it’s apart.
Ventura
Been here for ages!
the market has moved away from these types of Mics, so there
is not a lot to choose from, or that will fit in the space available
other than picking up an old Harmonica mic and taking it apart
for the part, SHURE still makes and sells the Green Bullet Mic,
and the element is available from them as a repair part. It is
a high impedance Dynamic type mic element.
that may be more than you want to spend
good luck !
is not a lot to choose from, or that will fit in the space available
other than picking up an old Harmonica mic and taking it apart
for the part, SHURE still makes and sells the Green Bullet Mic,
and the element is available from them as a repair part. It is
a high impedance Dynamic type mic element.
that may be more than you want to spend
good luck !
That is definitely an old crystal mic... and even if they were around today I would stay away from them. If you replace with a dynamic mic, you may need an external preamp to up the volume if recording, but if just using it with an amp, crank it up and enjoy.
Liberty bellows sells used ones as is cheap. https://www.libertybellows.com/shop...der---As-Is-For-Parts-or-Repair-x67878358.htm
