Gold Plated Microphone for Vocal: Where to buy?

[John Willett]

These things are not available at all in the shops.

You normally arrange it via the manufacturer, or manufacturer's main agent on your country.

First find the microphone you want.

The manufacturer will either build you a special version, or strip one down and send the casing away to be gold plated.

Sennheiser did this for Prince.

But it's a special - in the same way that the crystal versions of mi to phones are a special.

[anjelo]

Originally Posted by John Willett

These things are not available at all in the shops.

You normally arrange it via the manufacturer, or manufacturer's main agent on your country.

First find the microphone you want.

The manufacturer will either build you a special version, or strip one down and send the casing away to be gold plated.

Sennheiser did this for Prince.

But it's a special - in the same way that the crystal versions of mi to phones are a special.

Thanks for the reply.

Hence, the price will normally depend on the mic on the first place. Am I correct? Since there are some sites offering gold plated finishing service for microphone for $500 at the most. So for $5000-$6000 range, the gold plated finishing costs is only about 10% of the mic price.

Also, could you please tell me what is the purpose of a mic to be gold plated other than for the sake of appearance? Is being gold plated affecting how the mic captures sound?

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by anjelo

Also, could you please tell me what is the purpose of a mic to be gold plated other than for the sake of appearance? Is being gold plated affecting how the mic captures sound?

The gold plating is *only* to have a flashy looking mic.

It does nothing at all for the sound.

[narcoman]

only to have a stupid looking mic!!!

But yes - looks only.

[Winny Pooh]

Get the Manley reference gold, tell your rappers it's real gold and masculine, they will love you.

[anjelo]

Originally Posted by John Willett

The gold plating is *only* to have a flashy looking mic.

It does nothing at all for the sound.

Ok. Got it. Thanks.

[Bassmankr]

Amazon.com: Voco Pro MK 58 Karaoke Microphone - Gold Plated: Musical Instruments

$46, 1 left, better hurry

Amazing how people find it easier to post a question rather than take less than a minute on google to find an answer for themselves. Gold plating of electronics is for corrosion control however the plating is so thin that with any use (like with gold plated audio connectors) the plating is worn off defeating it's purpose. Gold color or gold plating of a mic besides a very thin sputter coat on the internal mic capsole diaphram for corrosion control would be for show only (the same purpose as gluing rhinestones on a mic).

[anjelo]

Originally Posted by Bassmankr

Amazon.com: Voco Pro MK 58 Karaoke Microphone - Gold Plated: Musical Instruments

$46, 1 left, better hurry

Amazing how people find it easier to post a question rather than take less than a minute on google to find an answer for themselves. Gold plating of electronics is for corrosion control however the plating is so thin that with any use (like with gold plated audio connectors) the plating is worn off defeating it's purpose. Gold color or gold plating of a mic besides a very thin sputter coat on the internal mic capsole diaphram for corrosion control would be for show only (the same purpose as gluing rhinestones on a mic).

Of course I had googled and I was pretty aware that this kind of karaoke mic was sold at amazon. But this mic was out of my concern hence the question.

[Doc Mixwell]

Originally Posted by anjelo

Is there any gold plated microphone for live vocal sold in the market? I would love to know.

A friend of mine told me that it is in $5000-$6000 range. I still find myself hard to believe though. I've tried to search such products in some of the largest online music stores but couldn't find one.

I hope someone could shed me a light regarding this kind of mic.

Thanks in advance.

Manley GOLD reference is $4,950

[anjelo]

Originally Posted by Winny Pooh

Get the Manley reference gold, tell your rappers it's real gold and masculine, they will love you.

I also noticed this manley available at sweetwater. There are two kinds, one is at $5000 and the other is at $7000. Jeez, what a price. But these mics read "gold reference" and not "gold plated". I thought they were somewhat different.

[legato]

A rather famous singer in my country always appears with black tuxedo, glasses, and a golden microphone. Has worked for him for some 35 years now.
But since his mike became wireless, only the grill is gold. Plated most likely. Well, the guy does think big. He was the first to do multiple shows in big arenas, which at the time was a huge gamble in such a small country. So who knows, perhaps the mesh is solid gold.
24 carat would be a little soft. Faraday might like it, though. Silver even more.

Hmmmmm.........
Nah..........

[anders-on]

Telefunken M80 Gold.
http://www.telefunken-elektroakustik...s/m-80gold.php

I don't think the plating is pure gold though. I've got one in chrome. It looks cool and sound good for live stuff.

You can also check out http://mutantmics.com. He can chrome mics in different colors. A gold plated Fatboy is pretty cool on stage. He can also change the microphone element in old mics. I've got an old Fatboy with a beta 58 element inside that he refurbished for me. No chrome though, I'm a vintage kind of guy.

[radiovoiceone]

Google L Ron Hubbard's gold microphone collection.

[lifesize]

the manley gold reference mic is in that range. also, several years back, lawson offered gold-plated ldc tube mics, for around $2500