Soyuz 017 FET

Both of the mics definitely have a sound... I would put them both in the "colored" category, but the Bomblet is less so. The 017 FET to my ears is more detailed and articulate as a result of having an upper mid bump that the Bomblet doesn't seem to have. It is also a bit thicker in the lower mids than the Bomblet, but the Bomblet has a lowend bump/seems to extend further down.

In usage I have found I like the 017 FET on vocals and acoustics. The Bomblet excels at anything drum related...kick out (particularly awesome here!), overheads, room and electric guitar. It sounds particularly awesome right up on a greenback. The Bomblet is also nice on acoustic, but again, less detailed. Its great for BGVs, too, because it has chilled upper midrange that lets the lead vocal step in front, yet still has a bump in the air frequencies.

I'm still getting to know both mics, but in general, the Bomblet seems to be more of a workhorse/better all rounder due to it having less of "the magic" in comparison to the 017 FET. The 017 FET is for the "larger than life" stuff.

I've got a fet and tube 017, as well as a Bomblet, and very general I would say the Bomblet is a bit more mid-range focused and grainy, while the the 017s are bit more hi-fi (meaning extended top and bottom). Transient response is also pretty different. Mid focus is very different, with the 017 being a bit higher and more full than the Bomblet.

I did an indie-folk/pop record with woman a few months ago and did half of the record with the fet 017 and the other with the Bomblet (both into a 1073 and Distressor), cutting some songs with both, and while both sounded really great, the 017 sat in the track with a lot more authority. Either would probably have been fine, but I think a 1073 is a bit too mid-scooped for the Bomblet.

For the record, the tube 017 into a REDD 47-->RS124-->1073 eq is my favourite vocal chain ever. I should try the chain with the Bomblet sometimes (I pretty much just use it on mono piano these days).