I just bought 2 broken M88's on ebay. I need some tips geting these suckers apart. As with all mics I don't want to force anything. I've taken the 3 screws out that hold the top of the windscreen on and I can see that this first one has a broken (very tiny) wire. I'm not sure if that can be fixed by me. I'm willing to buy a new capsule if need be but I can't seem to figure out how to get the bottom part of this mic open.

Any suggestions?

Is that small wire you see part of the humbucking coil? These break quite easily and are a relatively easy fix if you are decent at soldering. The wire is enamelled, so you need to heat it a little at the ends with the iron to burn the enamel off.

I can't remember how the rest of it comes apart. I seem to recall that the whole capsule can be pulled outwards from the rest of the mic as the terminals from the voice coil are at the bottom of the capsule.

yes the small wires (there are two) connect the coil(s)? to the part that slides over the magnets. And they are a hairlike thinness. You can solder these tiny sized wires? I've never soldered anything this small before. They are like the width of human hair.

Have you ever had to replace the whole assembly? The coil and the magnet? Whats that assembly called?

The humbuck coil has two wires, as does the voice coil (the coil inside the capsule which moves with the diaphragm).

These are connected via solder pads on the bottom of the capsule assembly. If you don't fancy connecting the humbuck coil, you can omit it. Use an Ohmeter to identify what is connected to what at the solder pads. If the capsule works it will conduct (say something in the region of 20 - 100 Ohms) and will make a faint popping or scratching noise when you connect the multimeter.

I don't know what the parts that slide over the magnets you are talking about are I'm afraid.

I've not replaced a whole capsule assembly. That's what I'd probably call it. If you get stuck, post a photo because I can't be bothered opening mine up and risking any damage.

Don't worry for the tiny wire soldering, i've done this on an SM58 when i was 19, it could seem hard but it's not. the only advice i can give you is be careful to do not warm up wires too much.
If you burn the wire try to tin an additional copper strand and stick it on the coil wire.

to open the connector end of the microphone, scrap the blue paint near the brand, you'll find a small screw. Unscrew it trying not to damage the screw head. This allow you to turn left(un screwing) the XLR connector.

Vetter wrote:Don't worry for the tiny wire soldering, i've done this on an SM58 when i was 19, it could seem hard but it's not. the only advice i can give you is be careful to do not warm up wires too much.
If you burn the wire try to tin an additional copper strand and stick it on the coil wire.

to open the connector end of the microphone, scrap the blue paint near the brand, you'll find a small screw. Unscrew it trying not to damage the screw head. This allow you to turn left(un screwing) the XLR connector.

Thanks I'll try that tonight.

One of my M88 seems to be tired. there is distortion on heavy bass source like floor tom or bass amp. do you think I can fix it or not? is it a known problem on this mic...? thanks for your help!

I have not been able to fix either of my broken 88's. But I've been really busy busy and have not been able to put much time into it since my last post.

What ever you do be very careful when inspecting the capsule as the tiny wires are easy to break. You could cause more problems.