The Rycote Babyball Gag...What a piece of garbage

G

Gorilla King

Well-known member
I just got my BBG today and I have to say, the manufacturing on these things is horrible. First off, you'd think for the 140.00 that I payed for it the thing the ring could be made of something more sturdy than plastic. Second, the damn ring wouldn't even open! The top ended up falling off and yes the plastic rings were still stuck together. I ended up having to use pliers to twist it apart and then I had to use an exacto knife to whittle off some plastic nubs so I could actually lock and unlock the thing with my bare hands. Now I have to glue the top part back to the ring and hope for the best. I'm really dissapointed in this product. Especially since I payed 140.00 for it. It's probably worth about 100.00 less than that. If you have any alternatives I would suggest going that route. At least I know now not to buy my blimps from Rycote.
 
Your experience is very unusual... at least in the construction department! I can't believe the thing fell apart! I would IMMEDIATELY demand an exchange or refund! Are you actually going to accept that? Unless you broke the thing in some crazy way from your he-man strength that makes no sense... If everybody else (myself included) had this same experience don't you think you'd have heard us all saying what a POS it was? Instead of recommending it?

Okay now to take your side for a minute... I FULLY agree that the price of these things is a TOTAL HOSING and that's why I want to figure out how to make blimps! They are ALL a huge rip-off for what you get! The ONLY reason they can get the prices they do is because:

A) They work great (your experience notwithstanding).
B) The companies have no competition.
C) The supply to demand ratio is in their favor.
D) All of the above.
 
Mine worked great. Just twist it. IF you tried to pull it apart, they you probably
tore it to Hades. This little contraption is all about the twist.

Charli
 
Yeah I mean I'm a big strong guy and I couldn't for the life of me twist it apart. I'm guessing since I cut off those little nubs that I wouldn't be able to send it back. It'll still work fine and do what it's supposed to do once I glue the top back in, but I was pretty upset to just have the thing fall apart on me. I'll use Gorilla glue to put it back together. That oughta hold really well. On the bright side, the windscreen is in good condition and I like the retractable comb. I just hope that as I finish up with putting my audio kit together in the next two months nothing else like this happens. Particularly since my next buy is a Sanken CS-3 (probably), a Schoeps CMC 641 (definatley) and a Sounds Devices 702.
 
I think Gorilla Glue is for wood only... check to be sure and use something that adheres plastic.
 
Gorilla glue adheres other materials, but I would recommend a clear plastic epoxy for cosmetic sake.
 
so overall, what is the verdict on these bbg?

i'm close to ordering one...

i have plenty of rycote softies and have had nothing but the best of luck on them on me66, me64 and currently on my 416 but my oktava's are in desparate need of some sort of real windscreen.

is the bbg only needed for outdoors? what other alternatives have folks used that are good?

how about that shure one that was like $35??

matthew
 
Get this and the windjammer for your Okatava. Sound good and it looks like
Hollywood to boot.

Charli
 
I have the Shure windscreen (for my SM81) and I tried to use it for my Oktava outdoors. That's the reason why I have the BBG. It's great. I keep it on the mic at all times. I add the windjammer when I'm in heavier winds.
 
Ditto across the board... I have 2 bbg and 2 windjammers. Yeah I think they're overpriced... but check out a full blimp and you'll come running back to the bbg. It's the difference between being able to use the Oktava (or another small mic) in virtually any outdoor situation or virtually NO outdoor situation.

Like I said it sucks paying that for what you actually get in raw materials... but the cost is for the result more then the object itself.
 
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