Microphones

About Antique Microphones

To true audiophiles, this is a very complicated subject... but most of us just think of those big, old-style radio mikes with the radio or T.V. station call letters on top and a famous celebrity crooning or talking into them.

The 1920s and 30s is when companies started making microphones that worked well. The original mics were large because they put big funnels inside. But in less than 10 years they figured out you didn’t need to use the big funnel to get good sound...

Older microphones tend to be big and heavy, with grills, and some of them can work pretty well (RCA is probably the biggest name in vintage microphones). But they can also be very fragile. The old ribbon mics can be ruined simply by blowing in them, so never blow into an old mic!

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Continue reading

Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Vintage Microphone Collector Stan Coutant

I started my website on vintage microphones in 2001, for a couple of reasons. One was for the benefit of my s…  [more]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Microphones

Microphones

Testing 1, 2, 3. Stan Coutant's tribute to the vintage mic is clear and vibrant. Start at the table of contents fo… [read review or visit site]


Got a site to suggest? Let us know.




Other Great Reference Sites: Microphones

Are we missing one? Tell us.



Recent News: Microphones

Source: Google News

The Iron As Technological Art Object: Part II

ScienceBlogs
I see the same thing in Mr. Z's vintage microphone collection: a staggering array of styles and designs, and beautiful, beautiful forms. ...

Ghostly echoes as U2 studio is revived

Irish Times
Windmill Lane is a very good studio, and not just because of its eye-watering Neve 72-channel mixing desk or its vintage microphone collection. ...

Grand Ole Opry inducts Montgomery Gentry with help from Little ...

Examiner.com
Grand Ole Opry inducts Montgomery Gentry with help from Little ...
Examiner.com
... Montgomery continued, before lifting his member award, which is a 14-inch bronze 'n' oak replica of the Opry's vintage microphone, for all to see. ...

Holly Story

LubbockOnline.com
... stage is adorned with iconic images from the '50s, including terrific costumes, recording equipment Holly used personally and vintage microphones. ...

Montgomery Gentry join Grand Ole Opry

Country Standard Time
The Opry Member Award presented to Montgomery Gentry during the induction is a 14-inch bronze and oak wood replica of the Opry's vintage microphone stand ...

Top eBay Auctions    (get weekly Microphones email)

Status       Display       How this works
Neumann U-87 Early Model # 29975 With Mount$1,250 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 32 watchers
Vintage 1968 Neumann U87 Studio Microphone$1,200 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 54 watchers
Ampex 602 Vintage Recorder - 2 Ampex Tube & Mic Preamps$695.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 13 watchers
Akd D12 Vintage Microphone Dynamic Akg D 12$224.50 Ends in 4 hours 23 bids 64 watchers
Sennheiser Md421 Vintage Microphone Md-421$203.50 Ends Sunday 14 bids 25 watchers
Vintage Shure Sm-81 Condenser Microphone 1986 - 2 Of 2 $149.00 Ends in 5 hours 1 bid 17 watchers
Vintage Shure Sm-81 Condenser Microphone 1986 - 1 Of 2 $149.00 Ends in 5 hours 1 bid 22 watchers
Beyer Dynamic M260 Ribbon Microphone Vintage Sweet! Nr!$139.39 Ends Sunday 11 bids 39 watchers
Neumann Kmi 85 Condenser Mic: Have A Stereo Pair!$112.50 Ends Thursday 4 bids 24 watchers
Cascade 731r Ribbon Microphone "the Radiator"$105.50 Ends Sunday 3 bids 26 watchers
Shure 55sh Series 2 Dynamic Unidyne Elvis Microphone$101.11 Ends in 3 hours 6 bids 8 watchers
Antique 1940 Vintage Art Deco American D9at Microphone $100.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 17 watchers
Vintage Altec 639b Birdcage Microphone Mic$99.95 Ends Thursday 1 bid 17 watchers
Electro-voice V2 Microphone$99.00 Ends in 3 hours 1 bid 18 watchers
Classic Vintage Shure Pe 55 Microphone$81.00 Ends in 1 hour 16 bids 27 watchers
Vintage Astatic 30 And Olson Harp Harmonica Microphone$71.00 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 48 watchers
Vintage Shure 55sw Series Microphone - Rare Must See$67.66 Ends Sunday 7 bids 18 watchers
Brand New Vintage Reslo Pencil Ribbon Mic 1961 P.r.l.$66.00 Ends Thursday 5 bids 31 watchers
Shure 300 Studio Ribbon Microphone$64.00 Ends Wednesday 15 bids 42 watchers
Shure Brothers Unidyne Model 55 Elvis Microphone (nice)$60.99 Ends Sunday 2 bids 23 watchers
Altec Tube Mic Preamp Very Rare Vintage$60.00 Ends Thursday 5 bids 17 watchers
Electrovoice Airline Ribbon Mic A+ Cosmetics, Needs Fix$59.00 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 60 watchers
Nib Vintage Astatic D 104 Crystal Microphone In Box Nr$58.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids 16 watchers
Vintage 2 Recording Microphones Dak Uem-83r Shotgun Mic$56.01 Ends in 11 hours 4 bids 17 watchers
Shure 55sh Series Ii Iconic Unidyne Vocal Microphone$56.00 Ends Monday 4 bids 14 watchers
Bbe Sonic Maximizer 882 Vintage Mic Pre Rack Processor$51.00 Ends Monday 11 bids 31 watchers
Rare Vintage Shure Bros S36 Microphone Mash Tv Show$50.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 17 watchers
Vintage Rca 90 A Microphone Stand Mic Stand Wow !!!$50.00 Ends Sunday 2 bids 13 watchers
Rare Vtg Wwii 40's Electro-voice #300 Microphone Clamp!$49.99 Ends in 23 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Re11 Electro-voice Vintage Microphone W/ Case$49.99 Ends Sunday 4 bids 3 watchers
Vintage Astatic Jt-30 Harp Microphone Mic Bullet$49.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 25 watchers
Authentic Electro-voice Velocity Microphone Model Va-1$49.99 Ends Sunday 1 bid 27 watchers
Electrovoice Re10 Microphone$49.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 7 watchers
Vintage Kenwood Ham Radio Transceivers & Microphone $45.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids 31 watchers
__vintage Turner 22x Mic On Vintage Astatic E5 Base$42.99 Ends Sunday 6 bids 5 watchers
*****vintage Kenwood Mc-50 Desk Microphone***** .$42.16 Ends in 6 hours 3 bids 31 watchers
Vintage Reslo Ribbon Mic. Rbt/h English 60's Mic$41.00 Ends Monday 3 bids 32 watchers
Astatic Model Jt-30 Microphone - Great Harp Microphone!$41.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 27 watchers
Old Vintage Aiwa 1960s Microphone Rare Collectable Mic$40.56 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 27 watchers
Electro Voice Ev 911 Vintage Microphone Mercury Mic$39.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 7 watchers
Vintage Shure 55sw Dynamic Microphone 1950s-60s W/cable$36.99 Ends Monday 9 bids 19 watchers
Vintage Microphone Astatic Mod Jt-30 Works Old Nice Nr$34.90 Ends Saturday 3 bids 26 watchers
Western Electric 633a Salt Shaker Microphone$32.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 13 watchers
Electro Voice Microphone Model 664 Hi Z/lo Z Vintage Nr$32.00 Ends Monday 4 bids 11 watchers
Shure Commando Vintage Microphone,harmonica Custom Mic$31.00 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 28 watchers
Vintage Shure 51 Microphone And Stand No Reserve$30.99 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 11 watchers
Vintage Ramsa (panasonic) Wr-133 Mic Microphone Mixer$28.00 Ends Sunday 3 bids 14 watchers
Astatic Mic 241-s Crystal Microphone Velvet Voice$26.52 Ends in 5 hours 2 bids 18 watchers
Telefunken Tc 600 Hifi Buy it Now$26.00 Ends Sunday 4 bids 6 watchers
Classic Shure 55s Microphone$25.49 Ends Wednesday 6 bids 15 watchers
Shure 548s Unidyne Iv Microphone Sm57 Sm58 Vintage Nice$25.00 Ends Sunday 6 bids 27 watchers

»» Get our weekly Microphones email
Right now on eBay

See also

Tools

My Favorite PagesNew!   (how this works)