Newer ribbon mics

[illiummusic]

Soon I am looking to get a ribbon mic and I won't have enough for the Royer 121. So I am curious about the rash of newer less expensive ribbons on the market. I would mainly be using it for elec guitars but also the occasional percusion, horn, etc overdubs. I have used the Royer on guitars so I am curious how the others compare
Contenders:
-Crowley and Tripp Naked Eye
-Peluso R14
-Se Electronics R1

Anyone have any opinions on these.
Warhead especially on the Se mic since you seem to have alot of experience with that company

thanks guys

[mdsmith64]

I would definitely add a Shinybox ribbon to your list. I auditioned one at the AES Conference this last weekend and it sounded very sweet.

http://www.shinybox.com/

Best Regards,

Mike.

[Fletcher]

Save up for the Royer.

[tubedude]

I just had a Shinybox show up with stock tranny, I'll let you know how it works out when I get to run it through a few paces. I may mess with it tonight and try to post some samps on durty gee-tar.
Only impressions so far... looks good in person (like it costs a lot more than it did) though its not very substantial in the weight department. It has a pretty nice carrying box thingy and the shockmount seems nice. I'm almost scared of the damned thing I feel like I'm got a newborn premature baby or something.

I'm trying to figure out exactly where the damned ribbon is in the thing though. I'm about to write and ask so I have a better idea when micing things. The ribbon is 2 inches long, but the screen seems twice as long, leaving me wondering.

[T.RayBullard]

just got a pair of Coles 4040s...holy hell, these are beautiful. my favorite ribbon now..

[Jay Kahrs]

These look kinda interesting...

http://sontronics.com/main_frame_set.htm

The "Sigma" is their active ribbon mic.

[cchord59]

that shiny box ribbon is the same mic as the apex 210. ive got a 210 and it sounded ok. once I put a peluso xformer in it , it sounded way better. it only cost me 250 plus the xformer. then I got a peluso r14 and it sounded better again. the peluso is over twice the price of the apex but worth it.
the peluso is definatley in the same leauge as the royer, and coles.

[Mike Caffrey]

I agree with save up for the Royer, but becuase it's a great mic and you're better off buying something that you believe in rather than a piece that you're buying as a compromise.

[illiummusic]

First of all thanks for all of the replies.
Second, less money doesn't necessarily mean comprimising
This may only really pertain to the Peluso but, Royers are well known, there for they can charge more, the Peluso isn't that know yet, and from what I've read, their mics are comprable to mics 2-3 times the price. So the question is, How do these other mics stack up to Royer? If I can get a mic that I am as happy, or happier with than the Royer for less expensive, great. $1100 might be change to some of you guys but for me I have to save for that and $700 would be alot more manageable right now but I don't want to compromise. I know the difference good gear makes, I've used it I just don't own it, well I own a little. My next major purchase is the Mojave MA-200, then the ribbon. So I don't mind saving the extra money, I just want to make sure it's worth it. Not that the Royer isn't worth it, it's an awesome mic, but...you get point.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by illiummusic

Second, less money doesn't necessarily mean comprimising

It doesn't necessarily mean compromising, but often it will.

This may only really pertain to the Peluso but, Royers are well known, there for they can charge more,

Uhhhh, no. Royer just had its first price increase in a couple of years which was mostly to make up for the discrepency between the Euro and the Dollar so they could straighten their EU distribution... as well as that they hadn't had a price increase in a couple of years [while the price of materials never seems to stay even or go down... same with salaries... can you believe that shit?].

To me, a 121 is a compromise... but that's only because I have a 122v, all of the Crowley and Tripps, some old RCA mics as well as most of the AEA mics. I have not tried the Peluso [and while people seem to love his shit I've seen nothing but cut corners and hack work for the guy], nor the other mic you listed that wasn't the "Naked Eye"... and while the "Naked Eye" is OK it just doesn't stand up next to the 121 in terms of versatility, in terms of utility application, nor in terms overall depth and texture of tone [in my world, in your world YMMV].

Then again, the 121 doesn't hold up really well against the C & T "Soundstage" nor the "Proscenium" which have become two serious staple microphones in my world nor the "Studio Vocalist" which rivals the qualities of a condenser mic far more than the qualities of a ribbon mic.

So, while you have made up your mind before you made this post, or you may be a shill for the Peluso company [you wouldn't be the first, L-rd knows you won't be the last] the fact of the matter remains that this is an issue of perspective so until you have a fairly open perspective on these matters you really shouldn't talk about what is and what ain't a "compromise".

[toolskid]

I totally agree with Fletcher, save up for the Royer, you'll never regret it!!!

[illiummusic]

I haven't made my mind up about anything before this post and I'm not a shill for Peluso.
The fact is that I do have a failrly "open perspective" on the subject which is why I am considering other mics than the Royer. I know the Royers are worth the money and I also know that I don't know jack about any of the other mics listed which is whay I am asking questions. To be better informed. I wrote what I did about Peluso beause I have read that on a few other GS threads. I am merely regurgitating what I read into my thread to see you agrees or disagress. I'm not implying, only questioning. So I'm sorry if that came off the wrong way.

Fletcher, how do you like the AEA mics? How do you think the R84 & R92 compare to the 121?

[henryrobinett]

I have a Royer 121. Love it. I have an AEA84. Love it. I have the Peluso R-14. Love it. I'd buy the Peluso. You don't have to save your money.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by illiummusic

Warhead especially on the Se mic since you seem to have alot of experience with that company

thanks guys

Howdy.

The sE R1 is my go to ribbon mic on guitar cabs, period. It doesn't have a huge proximity effect and requires very little (if any) EQ most times. It has a better bite in the high end and like most ribbons, a smoother more forgiving midrange. Very well suited to guitar cab work in my experience.

War

[fonman]

I've been wanting to get a Beyer M160 for my guitar cab ribbon, largely because I think the hyper-cardioid pattern will help eliminate more of my mediocre room.
Anything bad to say about the M160 ?

[illiummusic]

Thanks for the reply Warhead. That's what I am looking for. I really liked the Royer on guitars but it seemed to lack some aggressiveness in the highs, it almost seemed to smooth, atleast for some of the rock music I do. Have you tried the R1 on any other sources?

[Fletcher]

I just used the R-122v on a "Lead Guitar"... it sounded great. Lately my "go to" leaning has been to either an old RCA BK-5B I just got back from being refurbed by Clarence at ENAK or towards the AEA R-92.

They all sound different, they all sound great, for guitar it is purely a matter of taste [if you do a search you'll see that Mr. Robinett and I have almost 180' polar opposites in the taste department which makes neither of us "wrong" and neither of us "right" which means to me you ought to make up your mind by your own bad self... stop reading, start recording].

I think the next mic I'm going to buy myself will probably be a Beyer M-160... I've always liked those little critters... I really ought to have one.

[warhead]

Originally Posted by illiummusic

Thanks for the reply Warhead. That's what I am looking for. I really liked the Royer on guitars but it seemed to lack some aggressiveness in the highs, it almost seemed to smooth, atleast for some of the rock music I do. Have you tried the R1 on any other sources?

Yes, the rear of the mic is also very nice on acoustic guitars etc as well. The R1 is also a bit of a more present sound with that "ribbon goodness" on many voices also. Great on strings etc also.

For more aggressive bite for those rock cabs just turn the R1 around and use the rear. I do this quite often and it's a very nice and present sound.

War

[illiummusic]

Maybe I'll try to arrange a time to try demo them. A friend of mine has the Royer and I know a guy that I think has the Peluso and Se does the Trial period. I'll just try to arrange a weekend with all 3 mics and do a shootout. Thanks for all the info guys.

Also Warhead, what kind of SPL can the back of the R1 handle? I didn't see anyhting on their website about that.

[warhead]

sE's trial program does not include the R1 ribbon.

War

[illiummusic]

Well then, back to bobing for apples.

[T.RayBullard]

Originally Posted by illiummusic

Well then, back to bobing for apples.

why dont you check out www.calistromusic.com

I dont know what his policies are, but I do know that he carries coles and some of the better brands..maybe he can let you demo something??(just a guess, I dont know)

Craig(calistro, the owner) is good folk.

Coles are my suggestion..i cant put em down.

[illiummusic]

Thanks for the info T.RayBullard, I'll check it out.

[mixerguy]

Originally Posted by Fletcher

Save up for the Royer.

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

[warhead]

Originally Posted by T.RayBullard

why dont you check out www.calistromusic.com

I dont know what his policies are, but I do know that he carries coles and some of the better brands..maybe he can let you demo something??(just a guess, I dont know)

Craig(calistro, the owner) is good folk.

Coles are my suggestion..i cant put em down.

For the record we do no charge returns on regularly stocked items (like the sE R1) when folks contact us in advance and make a purchase based on where we arrive when boiling things down to the customer's best interest (based on what they own, what they want to hear differently etc). If somebody doesn't like something, it costs them shipping both ways, and I'm fairly lenient on return times (which are again formulated along with the customers thoughts / needs).

I've done it for many a Gearslut, but to cut down on abuse it's not posted in our standard return policies.

The 4038 is about the last ribbon I would ever reach for on a guitar cab (particuarly one you'd like to crank up loud!) but everyone's experiences are different.

War

[T.RayBullard]

i wasnt reccomending the 4038, I was reccomending the 4040.

Originally Posted by warhead

For the record we do no charge returns on regularly stocked items (like the sE R1) when folks contact us in advance and make a purchase based on where we arrive when boiling things down to the customer's best interest (based on what they own, what they want to hear differently etc). If somebody doesn't like something, it costs them shipping both ways, and I'm fairly lenient on return times (which are again formulated along with the customers thoughts / needs).

I've done it for many a Gearslut, but to cut down on abuse it's not posted in our standard return policies.

The 4038 is about the last ribbon I would ever reach for on a guitar cab (particuarly one you'd like to crank up loud!) but everyone's experiences are different.

War

[warhead]

Originally Posted by T.RayBullard

i wasnt reccomending the 4038, I was reccomending the 4040.

War

[Crowley]

Many of our dealers will demo a Naked Eye for you. They are not required to though, so let me know if you need to demo a mic.

FWIW out of the original three mics mentioned NE is the only one Made in USA We even make our own transformers.

By all means use your ears to decide what works for you. I use some very expensive gear and some very inexpensive things too, whatever makes the sound. If I can't find the sound, then the mods begin. BTW NE is a result of that need - it all started when I had trouble recording my own semi competent Japanese end blown (shakuhachi) flute, (see that pyschedelic attempt at the blog link, just croll past the ads) then ended on the MB MkII! Go figure.

Bob



http://microphonium.blogspot.com

[illiummusic]

Thanks Bob for the info. I will definately demo one.

[Jim vanBergen]

AEA R84. Just adore it.

Oh wait... I also adore the Beyer M160, Coles 4038 (have not tried the 4040) and the Royer as well. Great palette of colors...you have to listen & decide what you want. Once I heard the R84, I knew it was meant to be mine and I would not let it leave my sight until it went home with me!