Can you help me with choosing a tube microphone for around $1600?

[Reag1502]

I've got around 1600 to spend, and want something that is a BIG improvement overall from my Rode NT2000. I will mainly be using it for my vocals which is a tenor, and for some acoustic guitar stuff. I really just want a nice sounding mic for vocals, so it doesn't have to be a tube mic, but I also want the warmth so that may be a big factor. These are the mics I have heard about so far that are in my price range. I would really appreciate your input if you have heard or own any of these. Thanks

1.Charter Oaks SA538B
2.Telefuken AK 47 (USA Model)
3.Mojave MA-200
4.Pearlman TM1

Anything else???

[u b k]

peluso p12, the unsung hero.

here's my heads up: a lot of people prefer vocal mics to have a presence push, or extra air, a la 251's. those types of mics don't fare well for me on acoustic guitar, the top never sounds good.

another gotcha: if you record your vocal and acoustic guitar tracks with the same mic, you may end up with too much freq buildup in some areas and not enough in others. this depends on the mic you choose, but in general, the more low mid or hi freq boost a mic has, the more true this will be.


gregoire
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ubk
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[gm5k]

gotta add the Peluso 2247LE to the list as well.

i just got to try out both the CO 538B and the Peluso 2247LE recently side by side. they were both amazing microphones. i found the LE to be smoother as where i found the 538B to be more "hyped"...the LE was more natural and lush to my ears. it was a no brainer for me. and my god is the LE a gorgeous looking microphone

im very interested in the p12 as well, from what ive heard. the main thing i keep hearing is how well it sits in a mix.

u b k, does the p12 eclipse a 414 TLII pretty badly in your opinion? i ask this because theyre both going for the c12 sound

[Reag1502]

thanks guys, I'll check the Peluso 2247LE out. Keep em coming

[gm5k]

don't forget the p12! and also remember that Charter Oaks will tweak your 538b to your liking sound wise, if you so wish

[thermos]

Only tried the pearlman, no need to try anything else. Its exactly right for me.

[TonyBelmont]

Peluso 47 LE or Pearlman TM-1 would be good choices to look at...

[Grady]

I have a Peluso 2247 LE and a Mojave Audio MA-200, if you're looking for a big and natural sound at that price point I would suggest trying the Peluso, I love it on my voice and on acoustic guitar. The Mojave is also good but a bit more accentuated in the upper frequencies and adds more of a "sheen" on things. Both mics are nice though.

[Midlandmorgan]

Agreed with what has been said, but I have to add: The Charter Oaks 538B is blowing me away right now (have one in for demo/review)///sound nothing like the other choices, and seems to be a fine rogue amongst the others...

Any Peluso is a great choice...the Pearlman is a great choice...but the Charter Oaks is a a great choice with a unique flavor...worth checkling out.

[macr0w]

I just got a 22-47le a few weeks ago and have used it for male R&B vocals and also for male hip-hop vocals and I like the sound alot. But of course I have been useing a 414B-ULS and a Baby Bottle up untill this point. It seems to be a great improvment and so far I love it.

[shikawkee]

I don't know how much the Telefunken MK-47 costs but I'd get that mic at any price. Absolutely KILLER. I just tried it and I was blown away (and I'm a tough sell on mics).

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Reag1502

I've got around 1600 to spend, and want something that is a BIG improvement overall from my Rode NT2000. I will mainly be using it for my vocals which is a tenor, and for some acoustic guitar stuff.

What would you change about the NT2000 to make it your dream mic?

That might help make sense of where you're trying to head.

I recorded an album's worth of vocals fairly recently with an NT2000 at the singer's insistence, and I am pretty familiar with its response.

War

[Reag1502]

Originally Posted by shikawkee

I don't know how much the Telefunken MK-47 costs but I'd get that mic at any price. Absolutely KILLER. I just tried it and I was blown away (and I'm a tough sell on mics).

Its around 1600. There's a review of it in the new Electronic Musician magazine. It really seems interesting to me, because the reviewer said it sound great even on loud distored electric guitar stuff. I know you have to take those reviews with a grain of salt, but it seems to be a great over all mic for everything.

[Reag1502]

Originally Posted by warhead

What would you change about the NT2000 to make it your dream mic?

That might help make sense of where you're trying to head.

I recorded an album's worth of vocals fairly recently with an NT2000 at the singer's insistence, and I am pretty familiar with its response.

War

I like the Rode NT2000, I just want a different flavor if I decide. The Rode is a bright sounding mic with a modern type tone in my opinion, and I'd like to have that tube warmth, and old school sound if that makes any sense.

[trident fan]

after talking with Al Schmitt a few years ago, i purchased an AT 4060. he said nothing else is even close in the price range. i have recorded some experienced studio singers since then and most if not all of them wrote down the name of the mic before they left because they were so impressed with it. don't be a snob
regards,
TF

[GearHunter]

Originally Posted by shikawkee

I don't know how much the Telefunken MK-47 costs but I'd get that mic at any price. Absolutely KILLER. I just tried it and I was blown away (and I'm a tough sell on mics).

I think you mean the Telefunken RFT AK-47, yes? And I agree. It's $1600. I have heard it, as well as the Pelusos and some of the others, and I really like the AK-47. It's a cut above the rest of the pack of new-generation asian-capsule mics.

Also, the Gefell UMT70S is always a great choice with it's classic German heritage and M7 capsule. In your price-range, too.
GefellUMT

[shikawkee]

Yeah, the AK-47. That's it.
What a great mic!!!

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by GearHunter

I think you mean the Telefunken RFT AK-47, yes? And I agree. It's $1600. I have heard it, as well as the Pelusos and some of the others, and I really like the AK-47. It's a cut above the rest of the pack of new-generation asian-capsule mics.

Also, the Gefell UMT70S is always a great choice with it's classic German heritage and M7 capsule. In your price-range, too.
GefellUMT

Hey Drew, just an FYI.. the Peluso & Pearlman are using capsules that are made in America. The Peluso 47LE & Pearlman TM1 use metalwork from China, but all of the diaphragm work, etc is done in the USA. Yay! I can link to gear on my website, too...

[warhead]

Originally Posted by Reag1502

I like the Rode NT2000, I just want a different flavor if I decide. The Rode is a bright sounding mic with a modern type tone in my opinion, and I'd like to have that tube warmth, and old school sound if that makes any sense.

Exactly, bright and modern.

For $1600 and doing home recording I would go for several new flavors but maybe that's just me.

I'd grab a ribbon, a new condensor and a dynamic. You can do a lot these days for $1600.

War

[PistolP]

I am sellin my at 4060. you would obviously get it for less than 1000$.
It's about 2 yrs old with brand new original tubes.

http://cgi.ebay.de/AUDIO-TECHNICA-AT...QQcmdZViewItem

bstrgrds
Pete

[chrisrulesmore]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Hey Drew, just an FYI.. the Peluso & Pearlman are using capsules that are made in America. The Peluso 47LE & Pearlman TM1 use metalwork from China, but all of the diaphragm work, etc is done in the USA. Yay! I can link to gear on my website, too...

Utilizing rare NOS (New Old Stock) tubes, premium components manufactured in the United States and carefully selected elements from overseas, Telefunken | USA™ has created a superior, yet cost efficient microphone designed to address the needs of broadcasters as well as the professional, commercial, and project studio markets. With no compromise in sonic excellence, this new large diaphragm condenser microphone is a lower-cost alternative to the Telefunken | USA™ microphones which have gained popularity among today's top producers and engineers.

So would 'overseas' constitute asia, or are we talking Germany? If the former, then it looks no different from the Peluso/Pearlman/Charter Oak manufacturing process...

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by chrisrulesmore

Utilizing rare NOS (New Old Stock) tubes, premium components manufactured in the United States and carefully selected elements from overseas, Telefunken | USA™ has created a superior, yet cost efficient microphone designed to address the needs of broadcasters as well as the professional, commercial, and project studio markets. With no compromise in sonic excellence, this new large diaphragm condenser microphone is a lower-cost alternative to the Telefunken | USA™ microphones which have gained popularity among today's top producers and engineers.

So would 'overseas' constitute asia, or are we talking Germany? If the former, then it looks no different from the Peluso/Pearlman/Charter Oak manufacturing process...

They could use a similar manufacturing process, or they could be completely assembled/ manufactured overseas(whether China or a different country). I'm not going to make any assumptions or speculate.. You would have to contact them for details on how and where those capsules are manufactured.

[NOCCA]

Originally Posted by chrisrulesmore

So would 'overseas' constitute asia, or are we talking Germany? If the former, then it looks no different from the Peluso/Pearlman/Charter Oak manufacturing process...

From my understanding, not that it matters, (its the sound that matters) is that Peluso/Pearlman capsul metalwork, as stated earlier is done in china and the diaphram work is done in the U.S.

On the other hand Charter Oak imports a bunch of chinese capsules and throws away the ones they don't like, and perhaps tuning them to thier liking.

But as stated earlier, listen to the mics. I had the chance to listen to both the 538B and the P12 and they are completely different mics yet both entirely solid.

[mpr3]

at4060

[u b k]

Originally Posted by Reag1502

The Rode is a bright sounding mic with a modern type tone in my opinion, and I'd like to have that tube warmth, and old school sound if that makes any sense.

what's your pre? what's the rest of your chain?

i ask because a mic alone is not going to give you warmth. for that, you need a warm mic, a warm pre, great converters, and mellow acoustics in your room. if you plug a u47 into a sytek you're not going to have old warmth, you're going to have modern bigness.

i'll keep plugging for the p12 because it has some kind of compelling quality to it that i've only ever heard in expensive, vintage mics. the 2247 and it's ilk, these mics sound great and for the money offer unparalleled quality. but when you put a 2247 side by side with a mint u67, there is no comparing. the 67 truly has silk up top and is master of the midrange; the 2247 sounds a little raspy and small.

put the p12 side by side with that same u67 and it holds its own, you'd have no idea the two mics were so far apart in age and price. it owns the mids as well, it's just not as airy. the 67 is big, the p12 is focused, both are gorgeous and highly engaging in their own ways.

trust me, when it comes time to mix all your tracks together, you will deeply appreciate a mic with midrange clarity more than sheer low-mid girth.


gregoire
del
ubk
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[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by trident fan

after talking with Al Schmitt a few years ago, i purchased an AT 4060. he said nothing else is even close in the price range. i have recorded some experienced studio singers since then and most if not all of them wrote down the name of the mic before they left because they were so impressed with it. don't be a snob
regards,
TF

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

[shikawkee]

I would say get the MK-47 and a SM7 and you're allright for a while.

[jchas]

I picked up a slightly used AT4060 a couple years ago for $600. I love the mic, and it would free up over half of your funds for another flavor or two.

[shikawkee]

No offense but the 4060 isn't in the same league as the AK-47 IMO and I've used both. YMMV.

[GearHunter]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

Hey Drew, just an FYI.. the Peluso & Pearlman are using capsules that are made in America. The Peluso 47LE & Pearlman TM1 use metalwork from China, but all of the diaphragm work, etc is done in the USA. Yay! I can link to gear on my website, too...

Thanks for the setting me straight on that, Tone-ster. There are so many of these new mics out now that are part chinese part US part German even, that I dunno which part is from where or goes where. Of these new ones that I've heard, and I haven't heard all of them, I like the Telefunkens. I also have always liked the AT4060. But shoot, my favorite mic that I own is my 20 year-old Neumann U87. I think you know the one. So...there you go.