Microphone Provenance and Preamps

Sony C800G

The Sony C800G that lives at Lovenest Studios was made in 2006 and was originally owned by a Sony employee.

That gentleman handpicked a vintage power supply that he found best suited to pair with the mic, and the power cable that he chose was also an older version.

There is also a 2024 version of the cable that I tend to use for crisper highs and air.

Unfortunately that gentleman was overtaken by cancer and sold it at the request of his family before he passed away. The buyer is who I got it from.

Installed in the mic and the power supply are three NOS tubes modded with gold plating and with the ohm rate changed to be higher and match the Sony.

The shock mount is an original U47 model, more reliable than the stock Sony SM.

I use a Kaotica Eyeball made for the C800G as a windscreen.

I do not have proof of this, but I was told that this mic was used by Derek “Mixed by Al” Ali for vocals by Kendrick Lamar and Snoop Dogg, and also used by Chris Athens whose credits include Drake, Mac Miller and Aerosmith.

Telefunken ELA M 251E

One of the three or four most iconic microphones in history, the 251 is known for its rich body, focused low end, detailed mid-range, and a “silky” or “magical shimmer” in the high end that is never harsh or sibilant.

This mic is not a clone but a handbuilt in the USA beauty by Telefunken, featuring historically accurate components, including an edge-terminated, dual-backplate CK12 capsule and a New Old Stock (NOS) 6072A vacuum tube.

Along with the modern sound of the C800G, the classic sound of this mic, used on countless hits in the last 50 years, and the other available mics and preamps here, recording ANY type or style of vocal, not to mention any other instrument, will give you the best results you can possibly attain.

Vintage Neumann U87

The Neumann U87 at Lovenest Studios is a vintage 1968 model originally purchased by Bob Both, who was James Brown’s personal engineer and production supervisor, and the mic was used for dozens of James Brown’s vocals in the studio from 1973 through 1977 at A & R Recording and Sound Ideas studio in NYC.

I have a letter signed by Bob Both as to the authenticity of this provenance and a signed photo of him with James Brown.

Soyuz 017 Large Diaphragm Condensor Tube Mic

This Soyuz mic was designed in the U.S. and handmade and machined in Tula, a city famous for machining in Russia. The body is crafted from one solid piece of brass using lathes that were purchased from the Kalashnikov factory and modified for this purpose.

The capsule is a hand-made and hand-tuned 34mm gold-sputtered device based on the design of the U67’s K67 capsule. and the transformer is proprietary and hand wound in-house,

The mic utilizes a 6ZH1P military grade pentode tube.

The mic has a smooth, open, detailed, and rich sound offering a combination of the U47’s robust low-end, the U67’s balanced midrange, and the 251’s clear, airy high-frequencies.

The Golden Age Project Premiere GA-47 mkII RP

The Golden Age Project GA-47 is a boutique, hand-built large-diaphragm tube condenser microphone inspired by the legendary Neumann U-47 microphone.

It’s known for its warm, sweet, and authoritative sound, making it a versatile “all-rounder” for vocals, drums, guitars, and acoustic instruments. The GA-47 utilizes high-quality, carefully selected components, including a vintage-style tube, high-end capacitors, and point-to-point wiring, to achieve a premium, U-47-like sound.

The mic has a smooth, open, detailed, and rich sound offering a combination of the U47’s robust low-end, the U67’s balanced midrange, and the 251’s clear, airy high-frequencies. It has the vintage U47 thickness in the low mids and a tiny more mid bite. I’ve found that the GA-47 suits certain singers better than any of the others.