1950's Style Vintage Microphones 50's Elvis style Deco
Antique Used Mics sale microphone like Shure 55 55SH 555 55A 55B 55C 55SW
microphone for sale.
Purveyors of Electronic, Musical
and Vintage goods
from then, now and in between.
Since 1982.
1950's STYLE "ELVIS" MICROPHONE
MIC
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 NEW LISTING 2/26/08 (Click on above thumbnails to enlarge photo) CLASSIC 1950'S "ELVIS" STYLE VINTAGE MICROPHONE MIC OAK TREE VINTAGE'S "555VMOT" for sale Great mic for live sound, stage use! I have an extensive background in sound reinforcement having designed, installed and controlled many church, club, band, school / university audio sound systems. Systems ranging from 4000-5000 seat halls to coffee shops and with groups varying from solo to multi-piece acts. I put a sound system in the Air Force Academy chapel (yes the famous one you see on the post cards from Colorado). I've done work for most of the schools and military installations here in the Colorado Springs area over the years. I am not trying to simply "blow my own horn", but to give you my background before I tell you about the sonics of this mic. I know sound and I know microphones extensively. Ok, after 10 years of looking, we have finally found a "vintage" looking mic that isn't just for "prop use", yet is under $500.00. Not only does this one work, but it works incredibly well. Most "vintage" mics are just that, "old mics". Most are great looking, but were designed in an era when sound systems and stage performances were much less demanding then they were even 30-40 years ago. Most of the classic designs were from the 30-'s-early 60's. Stage / monitor levels were no where near the volumes they reach now, and speaker response range was much narrower. Sub bass was unheard of, literally, and top end was generally limited to the 10-12kHz region. Also microphones typically had either a corrugated ribbon element, a Mylar diaphragm element, or were a Piezo crystal element. Ribbons stretch after a couple decades and loose their top end, so mics with this type of element must have new ribbons installed to get back their former sonic glory. Most crystals have long since dried up and pretty much sounded like a telephone even when they were new (that's why harp players want them as they have that "Mississippi mud" sound through an old tube guitar amp. If they can find one that still works that is). That leaves the Mylar diaphragm mics. Many of the classic Shure mics designed around the famous 55 series had Mylar elements (the larger body versions usually had aluminum diaphragms which while they don't particularly change over time, they have a very limited frequency response in the first place). Mylar is a type of plastic and as you can imagine age has not been kind to most mics with these type elements (which describes most mics out there). I have tested 30 to 40, 55 series mic's over the years and sonically they are not consistent. Most of them (when they do work at all) are very "thin" sounding with not much low end. I will still deal in them, as some folks still want an original either for appearance, to round out a collection or to install a different element in. Having said all that, here is what I'm really here to talk about. This new mic is one of the best sounding, dynamic, uni-directional, live performance mics I have auditioned. When they came in, the first thing I did was grab one of my personal SM-58's, this mic and a couple new XLR cables and headed to my main demo mixing console. Immediately I noticed over the other classic 50's style mic we have had from India is much better craftsman ship on this one. The lines are evenly cut, the castings are all clean, the pivot joint isn't just a "bolt from the hardware store", it has a nice satin clear-coat finish and it has an XLR (big plus as you don't need one of my special cables). I put this mic into a channel and the Shure SM-58 in a channel next to it. After doing a quick "check" for signal level on the two, I tested for level. This 555VM was about 6dB+ hotter than the 58 (likely due to the -71dB sensitivity). Sounding almost as if I was demo'ing a Shure Beta or an EV N/D series. I also noticed the top end was considerably extended over the 58, even with just my voice. I then checked for handling noise (a very difficult thing for mic manufacturers to keep a lid on. Accomplished by completely suspending element in rubber mounts. See right photo above) and it was very acceptable. I then check for "off axis" rejection. Again, more than acceptable (also a difficult thing to control). Next I checked for bass proximity, expecting there to be a prevalence of boominess. VERY acceptable. At this point I was a little too impressed, so I thought I would check for other variables. The first thing I did was to rule out a difference in channels on the mixing console. This was simply done by reversing the mic connections. Still the same. Next, I thought I must have grabbed a less than typical performing SM-58, so I went to my personal mic case and picked two more 58's and two SM-57's (my personal preference over a 58 as I like the extra top-end crispness for vocals, although most folks simply "default" to using a 58). The 58's and 57's all performed consistently, as they should (especially since they're my personal mics) and this new 50's style mic still blew them all away ( I still will keep my 20 or so, SM-57's and 58's). Here are the specs: Applications: Vocal / Speech Type: Dynamic Moving Coil Frequency Response: 50-16,000 Hz (a 58 tops out at 15k and the element in the new 55SH tops at 14kHz) Polar Pattern: Uni-Directional / Cardioid Impedance: ~370 Ohms +/- 20% (low Z) Sensitivity: -71dB +/- 3dB Pop Filter Material: Black, Acoustic foam Body construction: Chrome plated die casting with a clear satin, poly finish Connection: Standard 3-pin, XLR Stand Flange: Standard US threads with European adaptor included as well Case: Foam lined, poly case I was simply looking for a better looking "prop" mic when I found this model. Most of the folks looking for a classically designed mic simply want them for movie, TV, Stage props or display / award props. Very few people want to actually use them as functioning microphones. These go beyond our wildest expectations as not only are they great looking microphones, but exceptional performers!!! I apologize for making this text so wordy, but not many things that come down the pike impress me anymore. This Mic does and I am adding 3 to my personal audio "tool box". Mic measures 7.5" overall height. Uses a standard XLR-XLR cable such as our OTSJ-25 mic cable shown on this page (sold separately) NEW $139.99 ea. with Factory Black Foam Discount available for 3 or more mics. (Shipping add $15.50 for mic or mic & cable to any of the US states via Postal Priority Air Mail) OR Available in custom version shown below too!! 
 "Lip-Stick Red" "Lightning Blue" "Electric Hot Pink" "Neon Green" (Click on above thumbnails to enlarge photo) For an added touch of Class and Personality, we can remove the factory foam windscreen, line the mic in custom "Lightning-Blue", "Lip-Stick Red", or "Electric Hot Pink" silk and re-install foam pop filter / windscreen behind it. Mics look fantastic when finished! Available Custom Modified in "Lip-Stick Red", "Lightning Blue", "Electric Hot Pink" or "Neon Green" for an additional $50 ea. @ $189.99 ea. with exciting custom color option *Color option currently available only on a limited basis. - Hi Jerry, This is Steve in Tokyo. I just got my 555 VMOT "Lightning Blue" vintage style mic and I love it! The construction is so obviously of a high quality and it looks killer! I hope you find a way to continue the custom color jobs because I feel badly for anyone that wants that and can't get it. I am writing you to tell you how happy I am that I received it so quickly and that it was a real pleasure doing business with you. Truth is, I am so excited about it but I haven't even tried it out yet! As far as looks and construction it is everything you promised. I am sure that the sound quality will be as you described too so I can't wait to give it a go! Take care and thanks for exceeding my expectations! - Steve J. - " it is! The sound quality is absolutely as good (I actually think better) than my Sure SM58! On that first gig I also had several people come up to me on break to ask about it due to its amazing eye appeal. It is the best musical purchase I have made in years! Thanks again!" - Steve J., Tokyo, Japan |
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| CABLES FOR
ABOVE MIC!
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CABLES FOR
ABOVE MIC!
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photo)
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UNLESS SPECIFIED MICROPHONES DO NOT COME WITH EXTERNAL CONNECTORS, CABLES OR STANDS. THESE MAY BE AVAILABLE SEPARATELY. |
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TO SEE OTHER VINTAGE MICROPHONES WE HAVE FOR SALE CLICK HERE |
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TESTIMONIALS. CLICK HERE TO READ WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY. |
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