Who makes the best U47 Clone?

[foldback]

Wagner, Telefunken, Sound Deluxe, Manley, Peluso, Pearlman, Neuman, Wunder or ?

I've got a number of great microphones but I'm wanting that elusive mother of all microphones to compliment a big blues voice.

Feel free to suggest a preamp too if you have experience with something that really compliments your mic suggestion.

Comment about what led you to this solution would also be appreciated.

1. Sound Quality
2. Reliability
3. Availability
4. Price

Thanks and best wishes to everyone for a fantastic New Year!

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by foldback

Wagner, Telefunken, Sound Deluxe, Manley, Peluso, Pearlman, Neuman, Wunder or ?

... Horch

[sound delux]

There have been many posts on this, so do a bit of searching on GS.

I have a Gunter (Wagner) and it is amazing, from what I understand he only uses NOS for the important parts and does a trip to Europe when possible to find as much as he can to make them, they are limited in number and expensive due to this, I believe that there is about only about 120 or so of them and it is getting more difficult to any more parts.

Here is a link to testimonials and reviews from his site.

http://member.telpacific.com.au/gunt...References.htm

It has been said that they are probably as close to the original as you can get, Gunter is very particular about what he does, so I wouldn't be surprised.

[alnico]

http://www.wunderaudio.com/CM7product.html

and be sure to click on the "CM7 comparison" link on that page thumbsup

[seawell]

I've had my Wunder CM-7 for about 4 days now and I'm amazed! This thing sounds incredible. I've never had the pleasure of using a real U47 but I have tried many of the U47 clones and the Wunder does it the best IMO.

[foldback]

Originally Posted by seawell

I've had my Wunder CM-7 for about 4 days now and I'm amazed! This thing sounds incredible. I've never had the pleasure of using a real U47 but I have tried many of the U47 clones and the Wunder does it the best IMO.

Thanks. That's the kind of real user feedback I'm interested in. I've already searched the GS forums and looked at the manufacturer websites. I'm interested in knowing what led folks to what they chose and how happy they are with it before I make my final decision about what to try next.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

[oceantracks]

Originally Posted by seawell

I've had my Wunder CM-7 for about 4 days now and I'm amazed! This thing sounds incredible. I've never had the pleasure of using a real U47 but I have tried many of the U47 clones and the Wunder does it the best IMO.

So wait...you have never used a real U47, but the Wunder does the best imitation of one of all the clones?

What does this mean?

TH

[derobertisdj]

Originally Posted by foldback

Wagner, Telefunken, Sound Deluxe, Manley, Peluso, Pearlman, Neuman, Wunder or ?

Korby KAT47 in order: Price | Sound Quality | Reliability | Availability

Telefunken U47 in order: Sound Quality | Reliability | Availability | Price

here my2cent, an EQ review of U47 clone

best wishes to everyone

[RoundBadge]

Wunder CM-7, Wagner the Flea are probably the top 3 for mic's that actually really cop to the 47 thing.

Wunder-basically zero wait time to get one.
..great customer support..they'll do whatever it takes to make you happy with the mic..
top notch craftmanship..
I've had mine open side by side with the originals..impeccable
..do a search here.people love em'

Wagner- long wait time..up to a year..
never ever heard a bad thing about these..
Do a search,all great reviews.


I heard the Telefunken..didn't blow me away.

The Korby 47 head is a nice..but it don't nail the 47 thing..[I got a Kat 4 too]

[denial]

Originally Posted by seawell

I've had my Wunder CM-7 for about 4 days now and I'm amazed! This thing sounds incredible. I've never had the pleasure of using a real U47 but I have tried many of the U47 clones and the Wunder does it the best IMO.

Probably not the right choice of words Seawell, but it's statements like this that make shared information and experiences on forums so delightful to read.

Better get a genuine serviced U47 as your benchmark to test with.

[ssaudio]

Originally Posted by denial

Probably not the right choice of words Seawell, but it's statements like this that make shared information and experiences on forums so delightful to read.

Better get a genuine serviced U47 as your benchmark to test with.

Yes, and it's posts like yours that highlight the distasteful side of this board.

The guy offered his honest thoughts, he could do no more...

[James Lugo]

Wunder all the way. I've used most all of them, the CM7 is stunning and available. I've heard great things about Wagner but I was never able to really contact anyone from the company. I think someone returned my email a few weeks after I sent it asking me if I wanted to get a 10 month waiting list but I had already scored a CM7. The mic is incredible! Huge, warm. Check one out, I think Mike has a loaner you can use if you drop some scratch on a credit card. Good luck.

p.s. My CM7 sounds way better then the 2 Neumann U47 I usually rent. That's not to say that those are the greatest U47 on earth but the Wunder smoked both of them IMO.

[denial]

Originally Posted by ssaudio

Yes, and it's posts like yours that highlight the distasteful side of this board.

The guy offered his honest thoughts, he could do no more...

It's fine to say that seawell liked a particular microphone but he's unintentionally misleading readers by not comparing it to the genuine article. Basically he doesn't know what a well maintained U47 sounds like yet believes the CM7 clones it best. Fair enough but I think that statement needs to be supported with the models to which it was compared to otherwise it doesn't hold much weight either.

People reading these posts often buy gear based on these so-called shootouts so it would be of service to the readers to have a few more facts at hand when deriving an opinion.

[ssaudio]

Originally Posted by denial

but he's unintentionally misleading readers by not comparing it to the genuine article

No he is not. He is quite clear on his metric.

Originally Posted by denial

Fair enough

Yes, he was - you on the other hand, were not.

Originally Posted by denial

People reading these posts often buy gear based on these so-called shootouts

More fool them, but that's beside the point.

Originally Posted by denial

so it would be of service to the readers to have a few more facts at hand when deriving an opinion

Nothing wrong with that, but belittling a poster when he did absolutely nothing wrong is not the way to go about it.

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by denial

Probably not the right choice of words Seawell, but it's statements like this that make shared information and experiences on forums so delightful to read.

Better get a genuine serviced U47 as your benchmark to test with.

Is it necessary to have used an original to appreciate one microphone above several others?

I think it's pretty clear what he meant; no reason to be a troll. This strikes me as vintage snobbery.

Doesn't it make sense that if the recordings are good, not much else matters?

Or should we forgo recording in favor of endless gear-shootouts?

[GYang]

Straight answer - Wagner 47
It's even hard to call it clone. Also, I will always pick Wagner over any original u47 (at least that I had chance to use).

You can't go wrong with Wunder, too.
Korby is excellent in general, but I prefer Korby's 67 and 251 very much to 47 and in direct compariosn (I have both for quite a long time) Wagner is clear winner, there is something of that high class touch associated with U47.

[Zeppelin]

Anyone compared the Peluso's and Pearlman's to Wunder CM7?

[seawell]

Just to clarify my earlier post since it seemed to start a little argument...... I have never tracked a vocalist with a U47 or myself sang into a U47. However, I have had vocal tracks come into my studio that were recorded elsewhere on a U47 so I do feel like I have an understanding of how a 47 sounds. Anyway, today my wife and I are celebrating our anniversary so if you'll excuse me I'll get back to stuff that actually matters

[syra]

IMO from the ones I heard,

The korby U47 doesn't sound like a U47. It sounds "like it" but not at all like a real U47.

The Horch doesn't sound like a U47. It sounds huge but not in a U47 kind of way.

The Telefunken is closer but ...too much on the dark side.

Wunder CM7 sounds the closest. A bit more air (subtle) but done very tastefully.

[elambo]

Originally Posted by seawell

Just to clarify my earlier post since it seemed to start a little argument...... I have never tracked a vocalist with a U47 or myself sang into a U47. However, I have had vocal tracks come into my studio that were recorded elsewhere on a U47 so I do feel like I have an understanding of how a 47 sounds. Anyway, today my wife and I are celebrating our anniversary so if you'll excuse me I'll get back to stuff that actually matters

Yet you took the time to write all the above anyway...???

[seawell]

Originally Posted by foldback

Thanks. That's the kind of real user feedback I'm interested in. I've already searched the GS forums and looked at the manufacturer websites. I'm interested in knowing what led folks to what they chose and how happy they are with it before I make my final decision about what to try next.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Best of luck with your search. Let us know what you end up with.

[lane thaw]

I'm sooo glad Seawell responded. I'm in between a Wunder and Wagner and I'm in Greensboro a bit. I guess I should ask first "Hey Seawell, can I come by your studio and check out the Wunder".

And since it's your anniversery, take her to Asheville tonight, my bands playing at Tressa's downtown - get a room at the Renasaince hotel nearby.

Have a great New Years Eve everyone, it's the only night where I make as much as my wife.

[Vari-Mu]

Originally Posted by syra

IMO from the ones I heard,


The Horch doesn't sound like a U47. It sounds huge but not in a U47 kind of way.

I totally agree with this.

To me it's the interesting thing about the mic.


Cheers

Vari-Mu

[seawell]

Originally Posted by lane thaw

I'm sooo glad Seawell responded. I'm in between a Wunder and Wagner and I'm in Greensboro a bit. I guess I should ask first "Hey Seawell, can I come by your studio and check out the Wunder".

And since it's your anniversery, take her to Asheville tonight, my bands playing at Tressa's downtown - get a room at the Renasaince hotel nearby.

Have a great New Years Eve everyone, it's the only night where I make as much as my wife.

That's funny you said that because we were actually planning on coming to Asheville for our Anniversary but we were both a little under the weather so we decided to postpone it. We will hopefully get a chance to come up there soon. Let me know next time you're in Greensboro and I would be glad to let you check out the Wunder. It's a phenomenal mic.

[Ollie]

This is all about what you like in your recording environemnt.

Wagner's are impossible to get, though if you are close in proximity to some one who has one you could possibly listen to it. I am sure it is a high quality product.

I have been very please with the Wunder. Great mic, but that is what I like. I have heard good things about the Horch mics.

Originally Posted by foldback

Wagner, Telefunken, Sound Deluxe, Manley, Peluso, Pearlman, Neuman, Wunder or ?

I've got a number of great microphones but I'm wanting that elusive mother of all microphones to compliment a big blues voice.

Feel free to suggest a preamp too if you have experience with something that really compliments your mic suggestion.

Comment about what led you to this solution would also be appreciated.

1. Sound Quality
2. Reliability
3. Availability
4. Price

Thanks and best wishes to everyone for a fantastic New Year!

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by syra

The Horch doesn't sound like a U47. It sounds huge but not in a U47 kind of way.

I talked to the Horch designer. He said for sounding exactly like U47, he can replace one small part inside to reach that typical U47 "compression". I rather prefer the standard "cleaner" sound ...

[HudHudson]

A bunch of Austin Gearsluts did a large diaphragm condenser shootout this month and Wunderkap was nice enough to bring a CM-7 with two different heads to check out. I was one of the vocalists who tested all the mics and the Wunder simply blew me away. It was full, present and detailed without any unflattering emphasis. Wunderkap did share with me afterwards that the CM-7 would have sounded even better had I sung closer to the mic, as that would saturate the transformer. Now I'm praying my new studio build won't break the bank and I can afford a CM-7 of my very own in 2007.

[AB3]

Wunder CM7 is a killer mic. I wish I had two of them! They are great for instruments as well.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by foldback

Wagner, Telefunken, Sound Deluxe, Manley, Peluso, Pearlman, Neuman, Wunder or ?

I've got a number of great microphones but I'm wanting that elusive mother of all microphones to compliment a big blues voice.

Feel free to suggest a preamp too if you have experience with something that really compliments your mic suggestion.

Comment about what led you to this solution would also be appreciated.

1. Sound Quality
2. Reliability
3. Availability
4. Price

Thanks and best wishes to everyone for a fantastic New Year!

It seems a lot of people think the CM7 is the closest to a U47... The only thing I would like to add is that I have heard so many U47's sound different from one another... The CM7 may sound like one U47, while another may sound more like the Pearlman, or Wagner, etc.

I did compare a Pearlman to a friends U47 and I thought they were remarkably similar. But, that particular U47 most likely sounds different than the one James Lugo rents, or the 47 Roundbadge has used.

Just something to keep in mind with all of these clone microphone threads that compare them to the original.

[Matthew Murray]

My Wunder CM7 has made more of an impact on me than any other single piece of gear I've purchased. And I've purchased plenty.

A religious experience, the CM7 is.