It was consistently used as a bass mic on many Beatles sessions, and it became legendary for this reason. 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 These 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. 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. Features Many of the most sought-after microphones from history have been recreated and reproduced for the modern era. If you’re looking for a microphone that is usable, high-quality but still retains its vintage aesthetic then the following brands may be ideal for you.

Rare working-condition vintage examples sell well into the five figures if you can even find one. With that in mind, Telefunken produced a meticulous reissue for a fraction of the cost. And the results are quite impressive and can be best described as “pure sonic opulence”.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 RCA 77-DX is known not only for its classic tone but also for its bold and iconic appearance. It has been used in a vast number of recordings by legends such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Al Green, and Jonny Cash. This retro microphone has been used extensively by Metallica’s frontman James Hetfield for live performances. Features 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.

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.These features make it ideal for capturing the dynamics of drums and taming electric guitar amps as they became progressively noisier during the ’60s. The Telefunken ELA M 251E can work beautifully on a number of instruments, in part thanks to its 3 polar pattern options. You can record vocals with stunning results, and you can even set it up on a figure-8 pattern to record two singers for a beautiful duo sound. This new version employed the same capsule (K47) and a similar head grill but used solid-state circuitry. That’s quite a history!