Also called the ‘Piezoelectric Microphone’ this microphone type was most commonly used between 1930-60. The Coles 4038 features a pressure gradient ribbon transducer that is capable of withstanding high sound pressure levels without distorting. It is still being sold today, over 70 years after it was first released. The original series was manufactured by Georg Neumann GmbH between 1949 and 1965, with this early version employing a tube design (the early U47s used an M7 capsule). The carbon microphone was one of the first commercially available microphone types and was patented in the late 1800s though most started manufacture in the 1920s. Carbon microphones used a platinum bead pressed against a hard carbon disc to transmit sound. Each vintage microphone has a deep and unique history. They’ve all been used in different ways in countless recordings over the years.

You can also have a piece of history in your house with the Neumann U47 FET Collector’s Edition (used for the features here). The only real downside here is the high price, but it’s fair enough for what many consider to be the ultimate vintage microphone. Features The output impedance is selectable by the user, with the factory preset at 250 ohms, and changeable to 30 or 150 ohms. The RCA 77-DX is known for having a fairly flat response, part of the reason it was so popular for so long. Many different forms of microphones have been created over the years, and knowing a little bit about each type will help you to narrow down your search for your perfect vintage or antique model. The 1920s saw rapid improvements to microphone technologies largely thanks to the increased demand for broadcast radio services. In 1928 the first commercial condenser microphone was released. The figure 8 pattern became very useful for recording two singers at the same time, as well as other applications with musical instruments, ambiance capturing, etc.

Required Cookies & Technologies

Mercenary Audio MFG KM-69: This is a modern interpretation of Neumann’s KM-84 microphone model and is a transformer-coupled FET condenser microphone. The AKG C12 is another vintage microphone that helped build the history of western music in the last century. Countless legends have recorded iconic music with this mic, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, and the Beatles. Neumann released the U67 in 1960 and became its flagship large-diaphragm condenser, as a replacement for the U47.

The AKG C12 capsules were made by hand and were far more involved than those fitted to equivalent Neumann mics in the 1950s, including more than 120 individual parts. You can still find old editions of this mic on the market, although they usually sell for tens of thousands of dollars. You could also buy the Telefunken ELA M 251E, which is a meticulous reissue of the original… if you have 10k lying around that is. FeaturesThese legendary RCA ribbon mics features are quite unique. At 1 kHz, the 77-DX has an output of -50 to -56dbm, depending on the pattern selection. In all honesty, we’re going to talk about six vintage mics, and one modern mic with vintage looks. This last one is the Shure 55SH Series, the only modern and affordable microphone on this list that offers a vintage look and feel. The SH55 UNIDYNE II was designed with a cardioid polar pattern. This ensures that your vocals make it out to your audience without the rest of your band bleeding through. It has the look and flair of a vintage microphone but in reality, it’s a modern vocal mic that produces great results. Its amplifier circuit was originally built to comply with the standardized requirements of the German and Austrian national broadcast systems after World War II. The ELA M 251 has achieved legendary status and is an extremely sought-after and desired large-diaphragm tube contender mic today.

The U47 used a vacuum tube that had ceased production, so Neumann had to find another option. The U67 was based on the readily available EF86 pentode tube and incorporated a K67 capsule and transformer-balanced tube circuit along with other mother innovations. Another great feature of the U67 is its versatility. You can mostly use it on any source imaginable. Its predecessor is the Type 77-D, introduced a few years earlier in 1948. The RCA 77-DX was widely used by broadcasters, and therefore instilled in the minds of the common folk. Legendary late-night show hosts such as David Letterman and Larry King used it on stage for years. Features Seminal Beatles record Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band employed the AKG C12 quite a bit for the bass. For the remainder of the group’s sessions at Abbey Road, the C12 would be the primary choice for recording Paul’s bass. In 1915 the vacuum tube amplifier was created which improved the volume output across all types of devices including the microphone. The following year the condenser microphone was patented by E.C. Wente.

Few microphones throughout history have the pedigree of the Neumann U47. For many, this mic is THE studio microphone and has been used in countless recordings by some of the greatest musicians ever, produced by one of the most respected microphone brands ever. Units produced before 1950 were distributed by Telefunken and display the Telefunken logo. Telefunken stopped production of VF14 tubes in 1957, and so the U47 was discontinued in 1965 and followed by the U47 FET in 1969.