I am tempted to buy my first harmonica mike, and the online source where I usually go to buy equipment here in Tokyo is offering a deal on the Shaker Maddog mikes. Poking around the internet, it seems they have a good reputation, but I haven’t seen them mention by the gearheads on this forum. Has anybody tried them? How does it compare to the Shure 520DX for about the same price?
5 Likes
I own a dozen mics, including the Shaker.
If you want a mic that will make ANY small tube amp sound great, get the Bulletini with Volume Control.
I promise you will be very happy
5 Likes
That’s quite a collection! Like I say I live in Tokyo, and it seems like the only way to get a Bullitini to me wold be to order it direct, and I expect customs & shipping would add about 30~50% to the price… making it a much more expensive investment for my first foray into getting a harmonica mike… I would guess something like three time the price of what I can get the Maddog for.
5 Likes
The solution seems clear: buy the Maddog.
6 Likes
Get the Shaker
5 Likes
I love my Shaker. Made in the USA, great after-sales service, high quality and most importantly, small size as my hands are somewhat small.
Enjoy
Robert
The Great White North.
5 Likes
Thanks for your review! Which Shaker do you have? The standard one? the mad cat or maddog?
5 Likes
I’ve always wanted to try a shaker but haven’t yet been able to.
Rock on,
Luke
4 Likes
I have small hands and just love my Shaker.
5 Likes
Robert can you please take a picture and/or tell us what model you have? 
5 Likes
@johnreffitt1962 do you love your shaker?
1 Like
I do! It allows me to do hand techniques comfortably! Still pretty new to the whole mic thing, but i have no complaints so far…i picked up a Zoom A1X Four processor today and i cant wait to mess with it!! Stand by!! Lol!
5 Likes
Hey everyone,
I’m on the cusp of buying a new mic and I’m looking at the Shaker Mad Cat or Mad Dog. I’m wondering if anyone’s tried both and what thoughts are. I think the Mad Dog is a bit bigger, with a bit more bottom end, right? Of course, I’ll have to try them both to see for myself, but I thought I’d check the forum to see if there were any experiences to be shared. Thanks!
3 Likes
I got the original Shaker dynamic which I like, but I don’t have a lot of experience with different mikes. If you want a good comparison, Will Wilde, who uses the whole Shaker lineup, has a good YouTube video that compares their various models:
1 Like
Screwed that up a bit, but if you click on “type or paste code here” you will get to the Will Wilde video
I also have a Shaker Mad Cat and use it in the studio also at gigs and I really like it a lot. It’s easy to hold and I like the way it sounds. I recently got a Hohner Blaster mic and now have started to use it for gigs cause I can use Xvive U3 wireless system with it and it is a good length. I also had a custom holster made for it for gigs and it works great. I also have the Original Shaker mic but don’t have a lot of time with it yet, I will have to make that a mission to see how I like it.
3 Likes
I had the Shaker harpist, I wasn’t keen. Too plastic. Didn’t like how it felt in my hands. And it just looked naff. I bought a silver fish best harmonica mic I’ve owned.
1 Like
I’ve used a Shaker. The sound was ahight but it wasn’t comfortable in my hand - too small, and I didn’t like the plastic. I’ve had a green bullet and didn’t like the tone or size. Mics are a personal preference thing – sound and size.
I think Greg Heumann’s Bulletini is preferable to either of those but understand the $$ issues on imports. SO WHO ON THIS FORUM IS GOING TO JAPAN IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND COULD BRING A MIC?
Two things though – if sound is a primary concern, you can use any old shell you like – Shure, Astatic, Turner, RCA, etc and the key is the element you put in it because the element generates/determines the sound. So, if you get the Green bullet and the sound isn’t quite what you want, find a different element. Second, 80% of the sound is the player, 20% the mic & amp, so develop your tone so you’re happy with it, then the mic choice comes down to your comfort with the feel, sound, and your budget…
3 Likes