Anyone use a Blue Kiwi?

Got a bead on one so just bumping again

The studio I work out of has a pair. I’ve only used one once there, trying a bunch of mics on a female vocal. Surprisingly, out of them all, it was the only one I felt was truly unusable on her. Eventually, I’ll have to pull one out again, as it just doesn’t seem right, considering the great reputation they have. Maybe they’re preamp picky (they were all into a Duality)? Maybe it just wasn’t for her?

If you're not a sibilant singer (like me).
FWIW I like the Blueberry too. 251-ish though.
Chris

It has enough of a high-mid and top end "attitude" that it could be really wrong on some sources, I imagine. I'm not sure I cut any vocals when I had it, if I did they were incidental.

I suspect the Soyuz 017 FET, would be a winner on your voice John. Also Vincent knows a lot, regarding the U87ai/Kiwi simularities/differences.
Chris

Well, many grains of salt as the Kiwi was 15 years ago.

Edit: the mic I rented came from Skipper Wise's rental co. He owned Blue at that time and it was def the Latvian capsule.

What I recall, is that it had a really pleasing, but pronounced presence/top end. I loved it. Sounded "expensive" and "like a record" but maybe different from an 87? I'd happily be proven wrong.

FWIW, I love my Serano and I'd gladly add an OG Kiwi to my locker if I had the bread/need.

If you go Blue make sure it was one of the original made in Latvia, the newer ones are just blah.
If I was going to go for the 87 flavor, I would seriously consider the the Serrano, for the $ you could always buy an HK capsule and since your in Nashville Dave Wheeler could tweak it till your happy.
Or the Soyuz but, my hunch is your still going to want it tweaked once the new factor wears off. John you have the advantage/ disadvantage of knowing what you want, how it sits on the advantage/ disadvantage scale depends on the day.

The Kiwi is a touch more modern sounding that a U87ai. It’s got a cleaner sound. Slightly more open, but not harsh. Similar low end to a U87ai. Don’t think of it as a U87. It has its own sound, one that I personally think is really nice. Like the U87ai though, I prefer it through nice tube preamp like a Demeter VTMP. I actually did a rock duet for a film a couple of years ago and the female singer was on a Kiwi and I was on my U87ai. That worked really well. Both of us went through a UA610.

Serrano not gonna do it for you? - that Kiwi is a lot of dosh. I'd be surprised given the exposure on this board if (Chris?) Serrano wouldn't send you one to try.
Cheers, Ross

Honestly, I haven’t really listened/read to any of the u87 threads as I’ve just now gotten the hankering for one. But I will!

Moose,
I’m going to respectfully disagree/ agree with you. I always feel Blue at their absolute best built there capsules and mics with the philosophy of designing a mic that excelled at and overstated the perceived personality of the classic. They often always pretty much missed everything that made an 87 an 87, but at the same time in a quick demo it would always impress because it was like someone had flipped a switch labeled U87 personality in spades.
If that makes any sense.

I remember it as an expensive cheap sounding LDC. It DID introduce me to the concept of the grille FINISH mattering--as it had one side finished shiny and the other matte. Of course, I have no way to confirm that wasn't just that the two sides of the capsule were REALLY unmatched, but...

Sibilant. Ratty upper mids.

I had tried it because it was recommended because I always rented old 87s for my own projects...and it was "their 87'ish mic"...but, to me--it had the hallmarks of the wave of CHinese LDCs--a bright K67 style cap with seemingly no deemphasis circuit...no slanted grille to reduce proximity...only made with good enough head amp that it was "better than those" by...some amount that was NOT $2k more to me.

I question the "always cutting low mids"...and then wanting a U87. To ME--when I think about mistruths of the 87, it's that there's a big nasal HONK...rather than LOW bass, it has this huge warm low MID proximity effect that survives compression better, and then it sounds like there's a resonant shelf DOWN around 11kh--causing a big spike RIGHT there, and the HF to fall off above. I mean...I dunno--it's like a less universally good 67. Still great utility mic. The prices people sell them for now I find insane--and i LIKE old 87s. But, I'd BET a new 67 RI would best an old 87 at anything--and they're getting close in price, no?