To Flea or not to Flea?

[Johns]

Originally Posted by Schumanji

Long time GS watcher here. I'm no golden eared engineer but I've been lucky enough to use a real 47 on an ex Abbey road desk and loved it on my voice, and i remember how little eq we used on it later- just sounded 'right'. I'm building up my home studio next year and while i'm not a purist but i'm really into older music mostly like Rockabilly/Doo wop so looking at getting to that vintage vibe.
Though it's not the same as trying them in person from listening to the shoot outs and samples i've found i've surprised myself in identifying the diffences in u47 clones and sad to say (due to the ££££) the Wagner u47w was the one that really stood out for me so far as the 'best'.
That said the Flea also impressed as very full sounding and seems like a great deal especially for those of us in Europe. As has been mentioned the Wagner like the 'OG' just has that more distinctivly vintage and 'finished mix' sound.
It sounds just a bit more compressed sounding (Somewhere on a GS thread it was mentioned the Flea sounded like the OG with the 'compression off'), a bit more pleasant distortion in the right places.
So, regarding that elusive 5% difference you percieved- you mention with a touch of vintage eq you could probaly bring it closer to the 'OG'. That poses a thought in my mind- While you can't ever expect to turn water to wine (please don't mention Antares Mic modeller) I wonder if you or fellow GSers have opinions on how far you can manipulate similar but newer 'close but no cigar' sounding mics such as the flea 47 with the right pre amp, eq, compression or indeed Tape/Anamod methods to bridge some of that 5%.
And yes, the Anamod is on my list too

Maybe a Flea 47 with a VF14? Just a thought.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Matti

Was it so that so that most Abbey 47s were converted to 48 for reasons
every recordist can imagine.

Matti

When I was last in the Abbey Road mic. store a couple of years ago I was told that whenever they bought s new Neumann valve mic. they also bought 10 spare replacement valves (vacuum tube in the American language) so they can still replace any valve with an original if it's needed.


Sent from my iPhone using Gearslutz

[studio1117]

I'm a Flea Dealer here in the US and i'm only here to let those mentioning some ideas about capsules know that I have approached the guys at FLEA about directly installing Neumann K47/49 capsules.
I can do it as an option here in the states, but I prefer to send the capsule to them so they can test the overall sound of the mic/capsule combo and make sure it's up to a standard they accept when it ships.
While the capsule is rather expensive, it is IMHO the single most important part of the sound, yes the other items grill,tube,transformer, caps etc all play out, but it IS the capsule that really is the core. I'd go so far as to say 65% capsule 35% all the other stuff, if proper spec items are used, meaning you cant throw in a 12ax7 and a radio shack transformer and get there.
Dont get me wrong, I'm in agreement with the other posters above, the FLEA is already there in sound, I just felt there were those who may want that little extra "closer to Neumann" feeling so I decided to offer this service.

[RKrizman]

Hi Aaron,

I went to your site and didn't see any info about you being a Flea dealer.

-R

[Ward Pike]

Originally Posted by zeushead

I have a Pair of flea 47s. All my clients love them. Here's a few links to some vocal stuff I've done on the Flea 47.
YouTube - Sarah Thiele "Someday" Music Video (Official Version).mov

Zeushead, the vocal quality on the Sarah Thiele is outstanding! How much of that is microphone, and what else was being used? I am seriously impressed. The vocal JUMPS out at you. It's present, alive, thick and yet sounds so natural.

Did you mix the track also?

[studio1117]

Originally Posted by RKrizman

Hi Aaron,

I went to your site and didn't see any info about you being a Flea dealer.

-R

Really because there's Flea page. You have to enter via one of the other links on the main page, then you'll see all the products on the left. Also if you go to Flea's website and look at US dealers, there we are.
Thanks

[RKrizman]

Originally Posted by Aaron H

Really because there's Flea page. You have to enter via one of the other links on the main page, then you'll see all the products on the left. Also if you go to Flea's website and look at US dealers, there we are.
Thanks

Got it, thanks. There's no way to know from the main page that you're a Flea dealer. Afaik you're the only one in the US, so I'd definitely put it on the front page.

-R

[studio1117]

Thanks, Yeah I've got my web guy on it. My site really is pretty plain Jane, but we like it simple and to the point :-) I need to get better pics as well for the Flea stuff. It really is great stuff.

[studio57]

Today i did a simple talking test (Finnish language) with Neumann U47 K49 /vf14 and Flea47 with M7/ef12 tube at the same time, neve 1081 pre direct to Lynx aurora to protools.

i am still extreamly super happy with my Flea47 pair !


enjoy !


Download flea47vsNeumannU47.zip from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way

[zeushead]

Originally Posted by wardpike

Zeushead, the vocal quality on the Sarah Thiele is outstanding! How much of that is microphone, and what else was being used? I am seriously impressed. The vocal JUMPS out at you. It's present, alive, thick and yet sounds so natural.

Did you mix the track also?

Hi, On that trk I used the Flea 47 with a Shadowhills mono gamma into a ADL 670, no EQ to PT. The only EQ was during mixing usually just a highpass. nothing boosted. That mic/chain and fact that she is a great singer makes all the difference. I can't wait 'til the record comes out here in the next couple months, I'll be sharing lots cool trks here on GS. I did mix this as well, I also played drums, gtr and did sound design. BTW, the chorus Leslie Arp GTR part is played by Jake E. Lee, and the bass is played by Chip Z Nuff.

Thx for the compliment!

ZH thumbsup

[lynyrd]

Originally Posted by zeushead

Real drums on both. 7 1/2" Blk Beauty tuned low. LOTS of stuff on them! Actually, pretty basic stuff to tell u the truth. Here's a pic of the usual setup. The Drums are Premier Signia. Best sounding kit ever made IMHO. There is a second set of distant room mics not in the pic, and where u see the 414s, i usually use royer 121s.
Attachment 208263

Your post makes me feel all warm inside (ok, I can't lie, I have owned a set of Signia's since the mid 90's and have never felt the need to replace them as I as well believe the Signia drums are the best sounding kits ever made).

[fragilo]

It's been a bit and the F47 and F49 have seen some use, male and female vocals and voice over, drums, guitar amps and mandolins, congas and timbales.

They are definitely kicking ass and are my go to mics now.

There is something about the presence of my old 87 that I still love, but I cant bring myself to use it on most sources considering what the Fleas are doing.

Money well spent, and damn do they wow the performers, both in sound and look.

Also I support the above statement, little to no EQ needed upon mix with these beauts...

[nas]

Generally speaking for vocals.. are you finding that a certain one will get more used for male vocals and the other for female or is it really much more a case by case? Of the two, which have you found to be the most versatile or gets more use (for vocals) the 47 or the 49? ... in other words if you could only have one which would you choose?

[RKrizman]

In my own experience with both mics they don't seem specific to male or female singers. For any given singer it could be either one.

-R

[Matti]

FLEA model A ?

Matti

[fragilo]

Originally Posted by RKrizman

In my own experience with both mics they don't seem specific to male or female singers. For any given singer it could be either one.

-R

Exactly! You never know till you try, and one will always seem slightly more appropriate, though they will usually both sound great.

[zeushead]

******//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGDsNZKTHLQ&hd=1[/URL]

[TornadoTed]

Just sent off the cash for a Flea 47 with EF12 today, to say I can't wait is an understatement

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by zeushead

******//www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGDsNZKTHLQ&hd=1[/URL]

sounds cool although w/ all the vx fx treatment on there I wouldn't know what mic was used. thanks for sharing.

[zeushead]

The chorus vocal has no filtering. Here's a link to a dryer type vocal.

‪zeushead1's Channel‬‏ - YouTube

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by zeushead

The chorus vocal has no filtering. Here's a link to a dryer type vocal.

‪zeushead1's Channel‬‏ - YouTube

[Plush]

For T-Ted-----

StrongMOVE on that FLEA 47

FLEA POWER!

[jayfield]

This little guy has a real big noggin for his age, so check the size of this F47. Could double as an attitude adjustor in a crisis. The mic has been spectacular so far on males, females, and kids. Love it!!

[yotonic]

Originally Posted by zeushead

I can't wait 'til the record comes out here in the next couple months, I'll be sharing lots cool trks here on GS. I did mix this as well, I also played drums, gtr and did sound design. BTW, the chorus Leslie Arp GTR part is played by Jake E. Lee, and the bass is played by Chip Z Nuff.

Thx for the compliment!

ZH thumbsup

Wow, she sounds great and looks great. Did she write that track too? She seems like a hipper Kelly Clarkson.