Older vintage 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!
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To true audiophiles, this is a very complicated subject... but most of us just think of those big, old-style radio mics 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...
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Microphones part I
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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 students. I taught aud… [more]
Guest Column: Understanding Antique Radios
You've just acquired an old radio, but apart from the manufacturer's name on the front, you don't know a blessed thing about it. L… [more]
Guest Column: Collecting Vintage Transistor Radios of the 1950s and 60s
Perhaps you recently saw a picture of a cool looking pocket radio from the early 1960’s and were reminded of your carefree, youthf… [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
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]
Jim's Antique Radio Museum
Jim Tripp's showcase of radios from the 1920s to late 1950s, organized by style and theme (wood, console, plastic, … [read review or visit site]
The Radio Attic's Archives
This photo gallery of over 7800 vintage radios, categorized by manufacturer and model number, is a group effort wit… [read review or visit site]
AntiqueRadios.com
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Radiomuseum.org
This vast archive and community of radio collectors features over 120,000 radio model listings and 350,000 photos a… [read review or visit site]
Philcoradio.com
Ron Ramirez's comprehensive reference on the former Philadelphia Storage Battery Company and Philco Corporation. In… [read review or visit site]
Phil's Old Radios
This extensive collection of antique radios includes beautiful photos and detailed historical descriptions. The sit… [read review or visit site]
Radiophile.com
John Pelham's collection of wood and plastic radios from the 1930's and 40's. What sets this site apart is the deta… [read review or visit site]
Tube Radio Land
Paul Turney's collection of tube radios from manufacturers like Zenith, Atwater-Kent, Philco, RCA, Emerson, Sparton… [read review or visit site]
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Tune in to Steve Davis' collection of 1930s and 40s Art Deco style radios, featuring stunningly crisp high resoluti… [read review or visit site]
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Steve Erenberg's extremely wacky and well-done collection of vintage mad-scientist devices and contraptions. Writte… [read review or visit site]
Clubs & Associations: Radios
- Antique Wireless Association
- Southeastern Antique Radio Society
- New Jersey Antique Radio Club
- British Vintage Wireless Society
- California Historical Radio Society
Discussion Forums: Radios
Other Great Reference Sites: Radios
Top eBay Auctions
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Recent News: Microphones
Source: Google News
CD reviews 5/20: Rita Wilson, Saint Etienne and JD McPherson
Minneapolis Star Tribune, May 19th
Recorded with vintage microphones and tape machines, the vibrant, rockabilly-heavy disc brings to mind Memphis' Sun Studios and the likes of Bobby Helms, Bill Haley and Little Richard. Nearly all the cuts were penned solely or partly by McPherson,...Read more
JD McPherson: When A Punk Goes Vintage
NPR, May 18thThe vocal distortion you hear in "A Gentle Awakening" not only comes from the vintage microphones used on Signs and Signifiers, but also slamming the tape "with a little more gain than you're supposed to." "I like seeing the hand involved in all work,"...Read more
'American Idol': Phillip Phillips, Joshua Ledet & Jessica Sanchez Sing For A ...
Idolator: All About The Music, May 17th
Even though we're suckers for the vintage microphone, this song didn't do it for us. The first half was too low for Josh — granted, that was probably for the key change, after which he was in his wheelhouse. A few weeks ago, this makes it into the...Read more
Rescuing Vancouver's rock past
The Province, May 10thHennessey sits with-in a cramped North Van basement studio, crammed with a collection of box cameras and vintage microphones. Stacked up everywhere are old tape recorders and boxes of tapes containing rare gems such as by The Look or the pre-Collectors...Read more
Wednesday Video Spotlight: JD McPherson to play “Conan” June 6
NewsOK.com (blog), May 9thFeaturing JD McPherson (lead and backing vocals, guitar), Jimmy Sutton (bass), and Alex Hall (drums, piano, organ), the album was recorded through a collection of vintage microphones into an old 1960's Berlant 1/4-inch tape machine...Read more
Castillo's talents shine
The Doane Line, May 9thBased on the sincerity in his voice and judging by his tattoos, a vintage microphone and music note on his forearm, music is his passion. Castillo began working on his recital a month ago. An hour in length, consisting mainly of classical pieces,...Read more
Tuned In: Melodic Keane matures ... JD McPherson ... Theo Bleckmann
Evansville Courier & Press, May 7thSinger/guitarist McPherson, from Eastern Oklahoma, puts himself in the right environment to capture an authentic sound: The release was recorded in the Chicago home studio of producer (and bass player) Jimmy Sutton using vintage microphones and tape...Read more
Schoolhouse Rock
Harvard Crimson, May 4thNow sipping his very own coffee, Hamilton speaks with cool-headed erudition about the artistry of record-making—the challenge of blending and balancing each track, perfecting each voice with vintage microphones and tape. His eyes flash with interest...Read more
