NEW LISTING 2/26/08
(Click on above thumbnails to enlarge photo)
CLASSIC
1950'S
"ELVIS" STYLE
VINTAGE
MICROPHONE
MIC
OAK TREE VINTAGE'S
"555VMOT"
for sale
I have an extensive background in sound reinforcement
having designed, installed and controlled many church, club, band,
school / university audio sound systems. Systems ranging from 4000-5000
seat halls to coffee shops and with groups varying from solo to
multi-piece acts. I put a sound system in the Air Force Academy chapel
(yes the famous one you see on the post cards from Colorado). I've done
work for most of the schools and military installations here in the
Colorado Springs area over the years. I am not trying to simply "blow my
own horn", but to give you my background before I tell you about the
sonics of this mic. I know sound and I know microphones extensively. Ok,
after 10 years of looking, we have finally found a "vintage" looking mic
that isn't just for "prop use", yet is under $500.00. Not only does this
one work, but it works incredibly well. Most "vintage" mics are just
that, "old mics". Most are great looking, but were designed in an era
when sound systems and stage performances were much less demanding then
they were even 30-40 years ago. Most of the classic designs were from
the 30-'s-early 60's. Stage / monitor levels were no where near the
volumes they reach now, and speaker response range was much narrower.
Sub bass was unheard of, literally, and top end was generally limited to
the 10-12kHz region. Also microphones typically had either a
corrugated ribbon element, a Mylar diaphragm element, or were a Piezo
crystal element. Ribbons stretch after a couple decades and loose their
top end, so mics with this type of element must have new ribbons
installed to get back their former sonic glory. Most crystals have long
since dried up and pretty much sounded like a telephone even when they
were new (that's why harp players want them as they have that
"Mississippi mud" sound through an old tube guitar amp. If they can find
one that still works that is). That leaves the Mylar diaphragm mics.
Many of the classic Shure mics designed around the famous 55 series had
Mylar elements (the larger body versions usually had aluminum diaphragms
which while they don't particularly change over time, they have a very
limited frequency response in the first place). Mylar is a type of
plastic and as you can imagine age has not been kind to most mics with
these type elements (which describes most mics out there). I have tested
30 to 40, 55 series mic's over the years and sonically they are not
consistent. Most of them (when they do work at all) are very "thin"
sounding with not much low end. I will still deal in them, as some folks
still want an original either for appearance, to round out a collection
or to install a different element in.
Having said all that, here is what I'm really here to talk about. This
new mic is one of the best sounding, dynamic, uni-directional, live
performance mics I have auditioned. When they came in, the first thing I
did was grab one of my personal SM-58's, this mic and a couple new XLR
cables and headed to my main demo mixing console. Immediately I noticed
over the other classic 50's style mic we have had from India is much
better craftsman ship on this one. The lines are evenly cut, the
castings are all clean, the pivot joint isn't just a "bolt from the
hardware store", it has a nice satin clear-coat finish and it has an XLR
(big plus as you don't need one of my special cables). I put this mic
into a channel and the Shure SM-58 in a channel next to it. After doing
a quick "check" for signal level on the two, I tested for level. This
555VM was about 6dB+ hotter than the 58 (likely due to the
-71dB sensitivity). Sounding almost as if I was demo'ing a
Shure Beta or an EV N/D series. I also noticed the top end was
considerably extended over the 58, even with just my voice. I then
checked for handling noise (a very difficult thing for mic manufacturers
to keep a lid on. Accomplished by completely suspending element in
rubber mounts. See right photo above) and it was
very acceptable. I then check for "off axis" rejection. Again, more than
acceptable (also a difficult thing to control). Next I checked for bass
proximity, expecting there to be a prevalence of boominess. VERY
acceptable. At this point I was a little too impressed, so I thought I
would check for other variables. The first thing I did was to rule out a
difference in channels on the mixing console. This was simply done by
reversing the mic connections. Still the same. Next, I thought I must
have grabbed a less than typical performing SM-58, so I went to my
personal mic case and picked two more 58's and two SM-57's (my personal
preference over a 58 as I like the extra top-end crispness for vocals,
although most folks simply "default" to using a 58). The 58's and 57's
all performed consistently, as they should (especially since they're my
personal mics) and this new 50's style mic still blew them all away ( I
still will keep my 20 or so 57's and 58's). Here are the specs:
Applications: Vocal
/ Speech
Type: Dynamic Moving
Coil
Frequency Response:
50-16,000 Hz (a 58 tops out at 15k and the element in the new 55SH tops
at 14kHz)
Polar Pattern:
Uni-Directional / Cardioid
Impedance: ~370 Ohms +/-
20% (low Z)
Sensitivity: -71dB +/-
3dB
Pop Filter Material:
Black, Acoustic foam
Body construction:
Chrome plated die casting with a clear satin, poly finish
Connection: Standard
3-pin, XLR
Stand Flange: Standard
US threads with European adaptor included as well
Case: Foam lined, poly
case
I was simply looking for a
better looking "prop" mic when I found this model. Most of the folks
looking for a classically designed mic simply want them for movie, TV,
Stage props or display / award props. Very few people want to actually
use them as functioning microphones. These go beyond our wildest
expectations as not only are they great looking microphones, but
exceptional performers!!! I apologize for making this text so wordy, but
not many things that come down the pike impress me anymore. This Mic
does and I am adding 3 to my personal audio "tool box".
Mic measures 7.5" overall height. Uses
a standard XLR-XLR cable such as our
OTSJ-25 mic cable shown
on this page (sold separately)
NEW
$139.99
ea.
with Factory Black Foam
Discount available for 3 or more mics.
(Shipping add $15.50 for mic or mic &
cable to any of the US states via
Postal Priority Air Mail)
OR
Available in custom versions shown below too!!
"Lip-Stick
Red" "Lightning
Blue"
"Electric Hot Pink"
(Click on above thumbnails to enlarge photo)
For an added touch of Class and
Personality, we can remove the factory foam windscreen, line the mic in
custom "Lightning-Blue", "Lip-Stick Red", or
"Electric Hot Pink" silk and re-install foam pop
filter / windscreen behind it. Mics look fantastic when finished!
Available Custom Modified in
either "Lip-Stick
Red", "Lightning
Blue", or "Electric Hot Pink" for
an additional $50 ea.
@
$189.99
ea.
with exciting custom color option
|
|
| CABLES FOR
ABOVE MIC!
(Click on above thumbnails to enlarge
photo)
CENTER PIN "75-MC1F" SCREW-ON TYPE F-20 - XLR MALE
MADE IN THE USA!
VINTAGE MICROPHONE MIC
CABLE CABLES FOR SALE
New vintage mic cables
for many older mics using screw-on, center-pin Amphenol connectors. These are
super-high quality cable with a great 1 year warranty
from manufacturer. They are well insulated and shielded, with an Amphenol
center-pin screw-on connector on one end, and an XLR male connector on the
other for input to standard modern mixers and snakes. To use
directly into a guitar amp simply use an adaptor, transformer, or direct
box. They will fit any microphone, pick-up, or any device using a
center-pin, screw on Amphenol type including astatic jt-30, turner 22's
and 33's, some Americans, EV Cardax 950, some Calrads, and many, many
others. (not for modern XLR mics). Please verify that your mic or pickup
is functioning prior to ordering cables. If you need assistance doing this
please just phone us. 20' (feet) in length!
NEW!
$32.99 ea.
|
CABLES FOR
ABOVE MIC!
(Click on above thumbnails to enlarge
photo)
CENTER PIN "75-MC1F" SCREW-ON TYPE F-20 - 1/4" PHONO
MADE IN THE USA!
VINTAGE MICROPHONE MIC
CABLE CABLES FOR SALE
New vintage mic cables
for many older mics using screw-on, center-pin Amphenol connectors. These are
super-high quality cable with a great 1 year warranty from manufacturer. They are well insulated and shielded, with an Amphenol
center-pin screw-on connector on one end, and an all metal Neutrik
1/4" male "guitar / phono" plug connector on the other for
input to standard, modern mixers and guitar amps with 1/4" inputs.
They will fit any microphone, pick-up, or any device using a center-pin,
screw on Amphenol type including Astatic JT-30, Turner 22's and 33's, some
Americans, EV Cardax 950, some Calrads, and many, many others. ( not for
modern XLR mics). Please verify that your mic or pickup is functioning
prior to ordering cables. If you need assistance doing this please just
phone us. 20' (feet) in length!
NEW!
$26.99 ea.
|
Please see / read the
"red" paragraphs above prior to hitting this email link or
calling)
