U87 vintage

Author: f | 2025-04-24

The Neumann K87 Capsule for Vintage U87 is a genuine Sennhseiser spare part manufactured for vintage Neumann U87 microphones. Vintage U87 vs. New U87Ai Vintage U87 vs. New U87Ai. compasspnt.prorecordingworkshop. 33K 28,674. Diamond Forever.

Neumann U87 (Vintage) - Vintage King

Congratulations on becoming a dad and Congratulations on buying a quality microphone! The U87's from that period of time generally sound terrific and will also hold their value into the future. An excellent solid purchase!I have found that these microphones sound pretty terrific through most preamps, but probably my favorite pairing is with a 1073. This is a classic signal path, you've probably heard U87s through 1073s on a ton of records. I personally use a BAE 1073 and I am almost always happy with the results. I also enjoy it through a Pendulum MDP-1 if I want something more open and sparkley (is that a word?) I also like to run it through an API 3124+ on electric guitars.Full disclosure, I own five "battery compartment" U87s, 3 stock and 2 modded by Klaus Heyne. So I'm biased...For some reason there's a bunch of folks here on Gearspace who like to hate on U87s. Don't let them get you down! U87s have been a staple of the professional recording industry for decades for a reason. If I'm using my vintage u87, I usually use the preamps in my API console and an adjustable low cut filter (API 565). Some singers don't need much compression, but if they do, I like the API 525 or Urei La3a.Another chain I like is U87 to Altec 1567a to Urei LA4.Or U87 to Empirical Labs Mike-E for things that are crazy dynamic and percussive or might need some grit.I like trying different things for each situation. My Favorite U87 chains always include a few choobs in the chain! Fave presently is 1973 U87 into a Weight Tank WT72 (V72 clone) into an opto into a bluestripe 1176ab Three best mic preamp matches for an " O.G." U87 on vocals:1) "O.G." Neve Mic preamp works well for both rap and rock. The original transformers smooths out the midrange,, a sound we've heard on many recordings. When you kick in the second stage you can make the right vocal appear bigger( watch out for distortion).2) "O.G." Tubetech MP1A not the MP2A- works well for singers, R&B and soul. The old transformers smooths out the grain in the old U87's and makes them almost "smoky" and "vintage". 3) The RND Shelford Channel- to me the best match for today's clear and open vocal recordings. With the Shelford Channel facilities you can pretty much make the old U87 vocal sound dissappear and it becomes something of a hybrid which brings the old sound into the present. Large-diaphragm condenser microphone Product Description Great on vocals, overheads, acoustic guitars or just about anything. The U87 was originally designed by Gerhart Bore of Neumann as a solid-state replacement for the very successful U67 tube microphone, (somewhat ironically, the U87 was debuted in 1967). The mic used the new K87 capsule, which was sonically identical to the K67 capsule, but utilized phantom power instead of an external PSU. In order to guarantee usability in the absence of a power source, the microphone body was fitted with a pair of 22.5v batteries to power the mic.By 1986, when phantom power had become an industry standard, there was no longer a need for the battery compartment, and so the chamber was modified to house a DC/DC converter instead, and these mics are designated U87A. The output of this version is 6dB higher, with a noise floor that is 4dB lower than the original U87. Those models that had an XLR connector instead of a Tuchel are designated U87 Ai. More Information Condition Used / Vintage Capsule Type K87 Transducer Type Condenser Reviews No one has written a review yet. Be the first!

Custom U87 Condenser Microphone with Vintage Neumann U87

Gear Addict Joined: Aug 2010 🎧 10 years Help me build a killer vocal chain for my vintage U87! Since we became parents in the past month, I've only had limited testing time with this amazing mic (76 original capsule) I purchased. I've tried combinations of the below and so far, going into the 110 LE pre with a small cut around 3.5khz then into the modded Warm is my favorite, preserves the detail and has a nice bit of glow / warmth at least on my test vox. I felt it was a tad plasticy / lacking weight/depth or something so I pushed the Warm into the Stam just a tad with very low reduction and had a nice bit of hair, but easily overdid it I felt and maybe would benefit from Opto or vari mu instead of two linked FETs haha.Then again, when I re-tried the Silver Bullet on Neve setting with only a little bit of input rather than mixing with API and going hard, I really liked that direction too maybe just as much. I probably just need to play more with it.Styles pretty varies but mostly rnb / pop / edm / hip hop stuff, and outside of my own vox will sometimes work with a few vocalist collaborators who all sound good on an 87My setup / components available for chain besides the mics:-Treated bedroom/closetPre's / Eqs-Louder than Liftoff Silver Bullet-Focusrite ISA 110 LECompressors-Stam SA-76-Warm WA76 (with Revive Audio Mod)-Audioscape G Bus CompConverter-RME ADI 2 PRO FSOpen to all ideas into how to bring the most magic out of a vintage U87, particularly compressors in the chain.Thanks! Last edited by ThePremiere; 29th January 2022 at 12:45 AM.. Reason: Clarity Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,054 🎧 15 years Try the Buzz audio velox or look at the Gainlab Audio Dictator dual mono pentode Want that Fairchild 670 or Gates sta level fits in a mix perfectly sound ? Thank me later. Cheers Gear Addict There are way too many factors to give any advice. It's a good mic. I have a 1st gen U87 and it sounds good through gear that sounds good. SSL, Avalon, Neve, API, etc preamps all sound good with it. Same goes for comps, EQs, etc. It just depends on the source and what you're going for. Buy gear you know sounds great and experiment. Quote: Originally Posted by ThePremiere ➡️ Since we became parents in the past month, I've only had limited testing time with this amazing mic (76 original capsule) I purchased. I've tried combinations of the below and so far, going into the 110 LE pre with a small cut around 3.5khz then into the modded Warm is my favorite, preserves the detail and has a nice bit of glow / warmth at least on my test vox. I felt it was a tad plasticy / lacking weight/depth or something so I pushed the Warm into the Stam just a tad with very low. The Neumann K87 Capsule for Vintage U87 is a genuine Sennhseiser spare part manufactured for vintage Neumann U87 microphones.

innerTUBE Audio U87 Retrofit, for vintage U87 - Reverb

Gear Maniac Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 256 🎧 15 years U87 on kick. How close can you go? Hi,This is my first thread, but I have been reading for years. Tracking guide drums in an isolated small live wooden paneled room with no primary and hardly any secondary reflections. 122 on overheads, 414 on Toms, 57 top/bot of snare, D112 on kick and U87 as low room mic. I can go an additional 122, 421, 414 or even 58 on kick. I don't own a 147. The U87 shines on the kit, especially the way it breaks up the bottom end of the kick. Tried duplicating the break-up with outboard high end outboard, but nothing shines like the U87 on the kick. The musician/fellow engineer is unhappy that I will not go closer than 4 foot with the U87 on a closed back rock kick. It's my only U87 and I value it. How close can the U87 handle? I assume the high dBSPL distorts the diaphragm? If the mic is not distorting, then what are my concerns?Thanks Registered User Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 372 🎧 15 years I've gone 6" to a foot off the outside skin lots of times, (Its not a ribbon mic). It was an old u87, not the AI version sounded great. Then again who knows I've never had any issues, but depending on how hard a hitter the drummer is might not sound so hot. I just put outside BD mic where it sounds Tried duplicating the break-up with outboard high end outboard, but nothing shines like the U87 on the kick. The musician/fellow engineer is unhappy that I will not go closer than 4 foot with the U87 on a closed back rock kick. It's my only U87 and I value it. How close can the U87 handle? I assume the high dBSPL distorts the diaphragm? If the mic is not distorting, then what are my concerns?Thanks U87 on kick??? I'd double check SPLs first; but personally, I like dynamics like AKG D12 or EV RE-20 for kicks & toms... Registered User Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 571 🎧 15 years Quote: Originally Posted by DamnYankee ➡️ U87 on kick??? I'd double check SPLs first; but personally, I like dynamics like AKG D12 or EV RE-20 for kicks & toms... What's the big deal?I'd quite happily mic every drum with a U87 if I could afford and risk that many. U87's, like 414's, are usable on anything in my opinion. Not ideal of course. Registered User Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,881 🎧 15 years I'm still trying to figure out "guide drums". Gear Maniac Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 256 🎧 15 years Re:I'm still trying to figure out "guide drums".I have not recorded drums in my room before, it's a new room and we are getting our heads around it's subtleties of tones as well as finalising the song structure.Thanks for the helpful link Matti. Gear Maniac Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 256 🎧 15

U87 Vintage for sale - eBay

Years I've found with my vintage U87 I really prefer a tube preamp. There's something about the pairing that works. I fell out of love with the 87 when I sold the Manley VoxBox and fell back in love with it when I bought a Useful Arts pre. Quote: Originally Posted by ThePremiere ➡️ Agreed. I'd also rather keep it more on the transparent side than colored, especially for my DA for the kind of stuff in doing.But thanks sourpatch for that tip. I'm sure it's also a nice sound. I have both RME and Burl and I only use the RME for the latency. Gear Guru Joined: Nov 2017 Posts: 20,783 🎧 5 years RME is still rock solid, for others following...Chris Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2008 🎧 15 years A nice opto followed by an RND 542 can improve any vocal chain. Gear Nut Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 149 🎧 15 years 20 something replies and nobody said congratulations?!? I'll say it - congratulations on being a new parent - life will never be the same, in a spectaculary good way :-) That said, gearwise you seem to have the neve thing available already, between the Silver Bullet and the Focusrite (don't have either, just going on what I've heard) which would be my first take on a pre for an 87 so I would second the suggestions to get a solid EQ to follow it, and also try the 542. If you really want something different a good tube pre would be likely to offer a great second flavor - maybe a Solo 610 or the Hamptone, both of which which love solid state LDC's in my experience. First though, as mentioned, playing with the distance & polar patterns of your 87 is of course the first step. No surprise you love it; they're great mics. Quote: Originally Posted by chrisbramble ➡️ 20 something replies and nobody said congratulations?!? I'll say it - congratulations on being a new parent - life will never be the same, in a spectaculary good way :-) That said, gearwise you seem to have the neve thing available already, between the Silver Bullet and the Focusrite (don't have either, just going on what I've heard) which would be my first take on a pre for an 87 so I would second the suggestions to get a solid EQ to follow it, and also try the 542. If you really want something different a good tube pre would be likely to offer a great second flavor - maybe a Solo 610 or the Hamptone, both of which which love solid state LDC's in my experience. First though, as mentioned, playing with the distance & polar patterns of your 87 is of course the first step. No surprise you love it; they're great mics. Well as someone who's sold a vintage u87 and 2 u87ai over the years, I'm highly biased and will not congratulate Gear Addict Joined: Jun 2005 🎧 15 years

u87 vintage for sale - eBay

Redundant.Selling that U87 on today's market will get you a budget for most high-end boutique mics. I think you should get an EQ because the mic is so dark in the top end, that mic needs top end, it's very dark. Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,079 🎧 15 years Quote: Originally Posted by sourpatch ➡️ I think you should get an EQ because the mic is so dark in the top end, that mic needs top end, it's very dark. Unless of course OP has a bright voice. Then the mic could be very complimentary as is. To blindly say a mic “needs top end” is absurd and ill-informed. Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 1,079 🎧 15 years If your voice sounds great on a U87, you won’t need to buy anything else. If you’re not satisfied with the sound you’re getting, try moving closer (or further) to the mic. Also try changing its polar pattern. Figure eight will yield more proximity effect (low end) than cardioid which might fix your perceived issue(s). Obviously make sure the high pass filter isn’t engaged. If after you’ve done all that and still don’t like the sound, then sell the mic and try something else. Like has already been stated, no electronics after the mic will make the mic complimentary to your voice if it’s not. Gear Addict Joined: Aug 2010 🎧 10 years Op here, thanks for all the insight and recommendations!I probably should have clarified in the post that it already sounds really amazing in general, on my voice, through my chain. Really was just kind of looking for what people who are using a vintage U87 like running it through that's all, and what they'd recommend in 2022 given our endless options. Definitely should have seen some of the defensive "get another mic then" replies coming LOL. I don't want another mic. I'm in love with this one. I'm just trying to get rid of the weakest link in my chain is all lmfao! With this logic of "it doesn't matter what you run it through" there's no reason a prosumer preamp or compressor is cheaper than a super high end one. So funny how some people are so angsty!All that aside, I will have to try some of these recommendations. I totally agree that's all about the performance music and voice like 75 percent of the way, 20 percent is the mic, rest is outboard yada yada... (Guess I have to include that as a disclaimer)As for the plastic ish lack of depth thing that was a suuuuper picky analysis, like I could roll with this sound it already has in this chain and be more than ecstatic. I'm almost 100 percent sure that's the tone of the WA76 (cleaner version due to revive mod) Rev D character adding that sticky fast bright thing). Love it actually, but just wondered how to get a tad bit more grit and depth without smooshing it. Maybe. The Neumann K87 Capsule for Vintage U87 is a genuine Sennhseiser spare part manufactured for vintage Neumann U87 microphones.

Neumann U87 Vintage for sale - eBay

Distance you want. Both work but sound different. Registered User Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1 🎧 10 years Quote: Originally Posted by china jam ➡️ What's the big deal?I'd quite happily mic every drum with a U87 if I could afford and risk that many. U87's, like 414's, are usable on anything in my opinion. Not ideal of course. Honestly, the U87 is a great mic, but it has it's purposes. It's not for kick. If this is "low-end" theory...and we're talking kick...then go for Audio Technica ATM 25 or an Audix D6...low end, and sounds good. Gear Nut Joined: Sep 2022 Posts: 77 I found this thread because I searched U87 kick drum. I don't really like my U87ai on anything BUT kick / FOK. Funny, I know, but I am a weird-y Gear Maniac Joined: Feb 2023 Posts: 174 Quote: Originally Posted by soundmurmur ➡️ I found this thread because I searched U87 kick drum. I don't really like my U87ai on anything BUT kick / FOK. Funny, I know, but I am a weird-y Hey man. Though I have a clone of it (the wa-87) I also like it as my kick-out mic. Sounds awesome, I imagine a U87 would be even better.Didn't try it at the port hole, but I don't think that would work anyways.