Message Board

Well... honestly, without the original nickel capsule it isn't going to sound like a KM54. I'm sure the mic will probably still sound good and the ac701 tube is a part of the sound of a 54/56, but the capsule makes a huge difference. I've never heard a 54 w/ an 84 capsule so maybe it is a great comb...

I have a KM-54. It's my favorite drum overhead and acoustic guitar mic. If you search the web you'll find the article about engineer Bill Porter's early 60's Elvis sessions at RCA-B in Nashville. He used a km54 on OH and a km56 on a guitar amp (I think) . These recordings are some the finest product...

That's a cool poster. I might have to steal that image for a flyer.

Another vote against the reissues. I have a '71 Vibrolux Reverb w/ factory JBLs that works great for me (early 60s R&R/surf). This amp sounds way better than the RI. The other guitarist in my band just picked up a '69 Pro Reverb that sounds great too, much better than his '65 Deluxe Reverb RI which ...

Just checked out some refin prices on gbase.com and the 2 I saw were $1500 & $1895 (asking prices...). So I guess they've gone up in value a little more than I thought. Still worth looking into...

How about a vintage refin? I have a 63 Jazzmaster that I bought 7 years ago for around $800. It is a very good Olympic white refin and looks original. The guitar was originally white and the old finish is still under the refin. Refinished Jazzmasters usually go for around $900-$1200 now. Check out g...

I use either a Neumann KM-54 or 1 capsule of my SM-2 (which is actually a stereo KM-56). The KM-54 has flatter response while the KM-56 has a prescence peak around 6K (I think). The KM-56 has 3 switchable patterns, cardiod, omni, and fig.8. The fig.8 comes in handy when recording a singer/guitarist ...

I love mine enough that I even bought a second one. (I do most of my recording live to 2 or 4 track.) The only source I don't like it on is bass or bass drum- too soft and mushy.

Bill

I have asked this very same question before. Using Bob Dylan's Freewheelin' album as my reference, (the Sundazed mono LP sounds great), I was amazed at the amount of separation between guitar and vocal. As Chris explained, the key is using 2 fig. 8 mics. I would use a small diapghram condenser (Neum...

I just saw this mic listed on the back of the new Sundazed lp reissue of Johnny Cash's "Blood Sweat Tears" album (1962). I had never heard of this model either. A google search revealed that it was often used to mic upright bass in the early 60's. It is an omni dynamic and probably somewhat related ...

Pittsburgh is a pretty cheap place to live. You can get a decent apartment for under $400/month (of course you have to find a job here...) There are a lot of talented musicians involved a pretty wide variety of genres. It is not hard to get shows, make connections and get noticed. It's also a good g...

I am looking for 2 Otari manuals (MTR-12 and MTR-20). I am also looking for a logic card and channel card for a Studer A-80 mk. iv 1" 8 trk.

thanks,
Bill

The Neumann KM-54 is my fave. If the guitar is a little "dead" sounding try a KM-56. Before I got the Neumanns I used an Ocktava MC-012 from the Soundroom. They're OK but not in the same league. Two other mics I would look into but don't have personal experience with are the Schoeps 221b and the Alt...

I love the Neumann KM-54. This was Bill Porter's OH mic on the early 60's Elvis recordings at RCA B in Nashville (I'm sure it was also used on many other productions there too). Those recordings are some of the very best sounding in pop music IMO. Follow the link below to hear a recording of my band...

I have a VC1 which I primarily use on kick drum. To my ears this preamp sounds thick and dark (compared to my other preamps - Phoenix Audio DRS-2, UA 2-610, Altec 1567a, Grommes G5M and an Allen Heath Mix-Wizard board). I paid $375 for mine used and it is worth that just for how great it sounds on k...