[alexhornbake]

As you’ve pointed out High SPL isn’t what breaks ribbons, it’s high SPL at low frequencies (ie wind/air moving frequencies, like those produced from a slamming wooden case lid.

Kick drums and bass guitar amps might not be a good match for a ribbon, but speech (with a pop filter) is fine.

Modern mics like those from Royer Labs can handle high SPL (cranked 100w guitar amp).

There are a few reasons why professionals still like ribbons for certain tasks: unlike condensers and dynamics, the resonant frequency of the ribbon is typically very low (20Hz), so you don’t get any peaks or artifacts when the source audio vibrates at the resonant frequency of the mic. Also, if you like the sound of your expensive mic preamplifier, the low output ribbon mics let you add gain/dirt/harmonic distortion which to some is pleasing to the ear.

Love that the op built his own, that’s really awesome.

[afandian]

Is the frequency response purely a function of the physical shape? I wonder why you can't use a similar diaphragm shape but as a condenser?

[duped]

No, it's a function of the acoustic, mechanical, and electrical properties of the entire system.

An easy way to understand this with dynamic mics is that the coil itself has some resistance, inductance, and capacitance that impedes the flow of the induced current through the coil. That impedance is frequency dependent, so the properties of the coil affect the frequency response.

Same principle applies to all transducers. The acoustic energy is converted into mechanical/kinetic energy and then into electrical energy. So to understand the frequency response you need to understand the acoustic, mechanical, and electrical impedances.

[TrackerFF]

Yeah, I have a Royer R-121 which I use in combination a SM57 on guitar cabs/amps - classic combo as you get the fullness and low-end of the Royer, and attack and top-end of the dynamic. But eyewatering price when considering it's only one microphone (though it has more use cases, like overhead).

With that said, every ribbon mic I've owned, I've felt like I've had to handle with kid gloves, just in case.