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Post by Quint on Aug 20, 2020 18:30:45 GMT -6
What are some of your favorite under $500 (per mic) ribbon mics these days? Under $300 would be even better if they're still good mics.
I have a few of the Apex 205s and a Cascade Fathead I bought 8 or 9 years ago, but I haven't bought any new ribbons in a while.
I'm planning on getting a couple of the Stagers in the near future, but I also might be interested in picking up a pair of cheaper ribbons as well.
What are y'all liking these days in the under $500 (or $300) price category?
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Post by bluegrassdan on Aug 20, 2020 18:49:28 GMT -6
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ericn
Temp
Balance Engineer
Posts: 14,902 
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Post by ericn on Aug 20, 2020 19:58:40 GMT -6
Used beyer
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Post by hadaja on Aug 20, 2020 20:18:03 GMT -6
Samar al95 is not too bad. A lot of high end detail.
Reslo “the beep” modded by Xaudia has great character.
Never used a NTR but heard good things,
There are some under $500 goodies.
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Post by svart on Aug 20, 2020 20:47:29 GMT -6
I'll second bumblebee mics. Great mics for the price. Much better than apex, etc.
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Post by jakeboy on Aug 20, 2020 20:51:13 GMT -6
I love my Cascades....I have a short ribbon Fathead II Lundahl and a VIN-Jet Lundahl long ribbon. FH rules on guitar cabs.
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Post by geoff738 on Aug 20, 2020 20:54:55 GMT -6
I’m curious about the Swart amps one, but no experience. They haven’t been around long though. Might not be many out there.
Cheers,
Geoff
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Post by Quint on Aug 20, 2020 21:53:20 GMT -6
I love my Cascades....I have a short ribbon Fathead II Lundahl and a VIN-Jet Lundahl long ribbon. FH rules on guitar cabs. I like the Fathead that I have on amps. It's the original non-Lundahl version. When I get the Stagers, my intention is to primarily use them as OHs, when I don't want a condenser sound. So I guess my question about under $500 ribbons should further be refined by saying that I would be looking to use these under $500 ribbons primarily on guitar/bass amps, room mics, and piano, in that order of importance. |
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Post by Quint on Aug 20, 2020 21:56:30 GMT -6
I guess you can buy them already assembled? I have too many diy projects on my plate right now to take on another kit. Edit: This actually looks really simple to put together. Like it might only take two hours. I think the RM-5 would be what I would want if I went the Bumblebee route. Does the RM-6 sound kind of like a Royer? |
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Post by LazyOldSun on Aug 20, 2020 22:11:21 GMT -6
The Samar AL95s are very good all around ribbon mics at a great price. Kind of a no brainer. I’ve only gotten to use the Cascade Fat Heads a little, but like them as well.
If used primarily for guitar amp i might get a used Beyer m160.
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Post by wlinart on Aug 21, 2020 1:38:57 GMT -6
Check out nohypeaudio. He has a few models, all very affordable. Assembled in Belgium by the designer who's behind ADK audio microphones.
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Post by stormymondays on Aug 21, 2020 6:03:44 GMT -6
I'm planning on getting a couple of the Stagers in the near future Get one SR-2N (if not both) now and thank me later. Once I got my pair there was no need to keep using any "cheap but cool" ribbon... or to save up for more expensive ones! |
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Post by Ward on Aug 21, 2020 6:57:45 GMT -6
I'm planning on getting a couple of the Stagers in the near future Get one SR-2N (if not both) now and thank me later. Once I got my pair there was no need to keep using any "cheap but cool" ribbon... or to save up for more expensive ones! $1080 for a matched pair? Kind of a no-brainer. vintageking.com/stager-microphones-sr-2n-matched-pair |
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Post by Quint on Aug 21, 2020 8:08:56 GMT -6
I'm planning on getting a couple of the Stagers in the near future Get one SR-2N (if not both) now and thank me later. Once I got my pair there was no need to keep using any "cheap but cool" ribbon... or to save up for more expensive ones! Can't a guy own some Stagers AND some other cheaper ribbons as well?  Trust me, the Stagers are happening. I just want some additional ribbons as well. Recording a full live band takes more than two mics. |
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Post by stormymondays on Aug 21, 2020 8:15:54 GMT -6
Can't a guy own some Stagers AND some other cheaper ribbons as well? Trust me, the Stagers are happening. I just want some additional ribbons as well. Before I got the Stagers I only had 3 ribbons: Royer R101, Avantone CR-14 and the Reslo "beeb" (restored by Xaudia). They all saw fairly regular use. Now I only break them out if the Stagers are already placed in one instrument (say, piano, drum room or a couple guitar amps) and I really don't want to move them! |
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Post by Quint on Aug 21, 2020 8:26:39 GMT -6
Can't a guy own some Stagers AND some other cheaper ribbons as well? Trust me, the Stagers are happening. I just want some additional ribbons as well. Now I only break them out if the Stagers are already placed in one instrument (say, piano, drum room or a couple guitar amps) and I really don't want to move them! Well that situation happens a lot over here. Hence, the need for more than just the two Stagers. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2020 8:31:52 GMT -6
sE VR1. $350. Amazing, versatile. I own a pair. It's my #1 electric guitar mic. I also love them for room mic'ing drums in Blumlein, OHs, in front of a kit... all the usual spots you'd use a ribbon. Midrange on amps is perfect. Can handle a dimed Marshall stack with ease too, so you don't have to worry about blowing it on loud things.
A used M160 would be a good choice too. They are definitely more delicate though. But man, they are great mics. Classics for a reason for sure. I'm mixing a song right now where I used them as OH's and it sounds so good. My favorite acoustic guitar mic. Love them on amps too.
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Post by mulmany on Aug 21, 2020 10:22:35 GMT -6
I guess you can buy them already assembled? I have too many diy projects on my plate right now to take on another kit. Edit: This actually looks really simple to put together. Like it might only take two hours. I think the RM-5 would be what I would want if I went the Bumblebee route. Does the RM-6 sound kind of like a Royer? If you know how to read and which end of an iron is hot, a pair should take about 40min to build. They sound great. |
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Post by Quint on Aug 21, 2020 11:06:53 GMT -6
I guess you can buy them already assembled? I have too many diy projects on my plate right now to take on another kit. Edit: This actually looks really simple to put together. Like it might only take two hours. I think the RM-5 would be what I would want if I went the Bumblebee route. Does the RM-6 sound kind of like a Royer? If you know how to read and which end of an iron is hot, a pair should take about 40min to build. They sound great. Yeah, I looked at them and they do seem pretty simple. Much more simple than I was picturing. |
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Post by Quint on Aug 21, 2020 14:44:14 GMT -6
For those of you that have used the Fathead, how does that compare to some of these suggestions such as the Bumblebee?
I ask because I could also possibly just get another Fathead or two.
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Post by Guitar on Aug 21, 2020 16:00:27 GMT -6
If you can re-ribbon the Apex mics you have they sound pretty damn nice. I also took the extra screening stuff out of mine.
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Post by Quint on Aug 21, 2020 16:16:33 GMT -6
If you can re-ribbon the Apex mics you have they sound pretty damn nice. I also took the extra screening stuff out of mine. I've never re-ribboned a mic before, so I don't know how hard it is? Where did you buy the replacement ribbons? That being said, I DO like the sound of those 205s, as they are. Maybe I should try taking out the extra screening. |
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Post by Guitar on Aug 21, 2020 16:32:31 GMT -6
Here's an old blog post I made about what I did: dantonewac.blogspot.com/2016/12/apex-205-ribbon-mic-mods-and-re.htmlI would describe the process as difficult at first, and then you'll get the hang of it. There is a learning curve. Requires patience and a lot of small tools and setup. I've done four mics now, two MXL R80s and two Apex 205's. I'll most likely end up doing the MXL R40 pair also. |
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Post by Martin John Butler on Aug 21, 2020 16:49:21 GMT -6
The Cascade Vin-Jet with the Lundahl transformer sounds superb to me. It's around $400.
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Post by sirthought on Aug 22, 2020 0:26:36 GMT -6
I really got into ribbons due to having a smaller space that I tried to track full bands in. The figure 8 was a lifesaver. Some of these would only hit your $500 threshold if you find the right Reverb seller, but I look at price history and it happens a good deal.
Rode NTR - active ribbon and more modern sounding than vintage, but it really captures details nicely on all sorts of sources.
I think if guitar cabs are the target, then any one of the Royer R-10, AEA R-92, M160. I use the Fatheads just like you and have been happy, but tried the R-10 on a session and it was a notch livelier. Never actually tried the M160 but so many folks can't be wrong about them and you can get one today on Reverb under $500.
I've heard some good comments on the se VR2 active ribbons, but also heard complaints about them falling apart. Never a good feeling.
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