Remember when Bob Barker used a Sony ECM-51 microphone on The Price is Right from 1972-1992? Well, I've finally got my own!
Here it is! My very own Sony ECM-51 microphone! Won on eBay, delivered on July 28, 2011.
The AD-38 windscreen! All proudly made by Sony!
The black handle that Bob Barker holds the microphone by.
Sony ECM-51 microphones require a "N" or E90 battery, no matter whether Duracell, Energizer, Radio Shack, or Enercell! Enercell "N" batteries are widely available at your local Radio Shack store.
Down here where the wire begins is the grip end that you don't see on camera since Bob Barker or any other host holds the Sony ECM-51 by this area of the microphone!
And on the other side of the grip end in between the two tiny screws, it says "ECM-51".
Like on Match Game, Sony ECM-51 microphones telescope!
My Sony ECM-51 microphone, sans AD-38 windscreen to show what it looks like under the windscreen!
Closeup detail of the capsule used to speak into! Made proudly by Sony.
Here's the inside of the battery pack that the "N" battery goes in for the microphone to work. The telescoping tube unscrews to access the battery pack.
Here's a closer look at the battery pack. Here, you can see the positive battery pack. The spring on the bottom of the telescoping tube is the negative battery spring.
Closeup detail on the bottom of the windscreen. It says "SONY JAPAN AD38".
Weird! AD-38 windscreens for Sony ECM-50, ECM-50PS, and ECM-50PBW also fit the Sony ECM-51 capsule. Personally, I prefer the original AD-38 windscreen on it that goes all the way down the capsule. Looks better that way.
I've recently discovered that the wire on Bob Barker's Sony ECM-51 from 1972 had a much longer wire 'cause the CBS technicians unsoldered the original 10' wire and soldered a much longer wire so the XLR connector does not drag around the stage floor. But I'd rather keep mine intact. So for additional length, I use very long XLR extension wires like what you see here.
Bet you used to think there were thin wires inside the telescoping tube, eh? WRONG! Inside the telescoping tube, there's a narrow metal telescoping tube that looks like a narrow antenna for rabbit ears. This transmits your voice or any other sound from the capsule on the top, through this telescoping antenna to the battery and through the wiring to get to the amplifier.
Here's a video of me opening the package it was delivered in when our mailman delivered it to me on July 28, 2011.
I've just got a second Sony ECM-51 microphone!!
My second Sony ECM-51 microphone won in July 2012, delivered on July 18, 2012.
The AD-38 windscreen.
Grip end, proudly made by Sony.
The other side of the grip end, along with the ECM-51 model number in between the two tiny screws.
Note: The NO. 1394 is the serial number for this microphone. Each Sony ECM-51 microphone has a different serial number.
This second Sony ECM-51 microphone has a different XLR connector, made by Switchcraft.
Both Sony ECM-51 microphones from July 2011 and July 2012.
Details of how the N battery goes inside the microphone.
The Sony ECM-51 microphone carrying case. I decided to decorate it with some photos of Bob Barker and Price is Right logos, as well as a CBS logo.
Hey! Check this out!
On 9/21/2015 was the 44th season premiere and they had a 1970s throwback and Drew used a Sony ECM-51 microphone.
My third/final Sony ECM-51 microphone won in August 2016, delivered on August 9, 2016.
The AD38 windscreen.
The grip end.
On the grip end, the Sony logo is upside down.
The model number on this one is ECM-51B. Must be the Japanese model for the Sony ECM-51 microphone.
The male XLR connector on the other end is manufactured by Neutrik.
A closer detail of the Neutrik XLR connector.
And now it's time for a little project: Modify this Sony ECM-51 to become wireless. First, I have to loosen the screws that hold the grip end into place and then snip the wire about 3 inches away from the bottom of the microphone. The cord will be recycled and a female XLR connector will be soldered on so the microphone cable can be used again
The red and black wires are spliced to the XLR output I bought from an ordinary dynamic microphone at Radio Shack for parts. The red and black wires are soldered together. Then the bottom of the Sony ECM-510 I saved from the scraps after that was modified was used to hold the output into place.
The Sony ECM-51 modified. Heat shrink tubing wrapped around the black handle, but leaving an inch at the top and bottom for the battery access and XLR output access. And with the help of this Sennheiser transmitter, it can now work wirelessly.
Telescoped like Alec Baldwin's microphone on Match Game 2016.
I've recycled the microphone wire and soldered a female XLR connector to the end that was cut off from the Sony ECM-51 microphone.
Check out my Sony ECM-51's newest accessory: A black AD38 windscreen.
The black AD38 windscreen proudly made by Sony.
Just like its original silver counterpart, same model, but black.
The original AD38 and the black AD38 together in harmony.
The carrying case with revised Price is Right logo from the current era.
