When it comes to recording, vintage microphones are the standard by which all others are measured. Mention products such as the Neumann U47/U67 and AKG C12 to anyone with even passing interest in audio engineering and they’re likely to go weak at the knees… and then collapse on the floor when they find out how much one of these classic models would cost them.
Vintage mics, y’see, are in high demand, and there’s only a finite number of them around. As such, their prices are eye-watering - we’re talking anywhere between five and twenty grand apiece.
Fortunately, there are viable alternatives, and they come courtesy of JZ Microphones. In fact, you might even find that each of the company’s Vintage line microphones - the V12, V47 and V67 (no prizes for guessing what mic each of these models is designed to sound like…) - actually has some advantages over its old-school counterpart.
Let’s consider the sound: the JZ mics offer the same characteristics as the models they seek to emulate. In fact - and forgive us if this has the whiff of heresy about it - you might find that their tone is actually easier on the modern-day ear. Yes, really.
Then there’s the question of reliability. JZ’s mics are much more durable and reliable than the models of yore, and don’t come with the hassles associated with tube technology. As such, you can be sure that they won’t let you down.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there’s the issue of price. JZ’s V12, V67 and V47 each costs around $1,000/€1,000, which is at least five times less than you’d pay for a vintage equivalent.
Interested? You certainly should be.
You can rest assured that JZ’s mics are premium-quality, thanks to being handcrafted in Latvia. Each model also features the company’s Golden Drop Capsule technology, which ensures that the capsule is lighter and moves faster than one based on a traditional design. For the user, this means more clarity and precision and reduced colouration and distortion.
You just need to take our word for all this, though - just listen to some of the pros who’ve got first-hand experience of what JZ’s mics have to offer.
Take Joe Chiccarelli (U2, The White Stripes), for example: "I'm impressed with the V67. It truly lives in the same family as the original. Certainly a more open, hi-fi modern version of the tube."
And here’s Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Motorhead, Funeral For A Friend): “The JZ V67 has become one of my main vocal mics. The amount of detail is outstanding and I keep picking it over some of the classic microphones! It’s an extremely balanced mic and makes any vocals I record with it so easy to mix.”
Josh Newell (Avril Lavigne, Linkin Park, Black Veil Brides), meanwhile, says: "The V67 is everything you'd want if you mixed a vintage tube with a modern mic: It has a full low mid-range with a great top end. Great for guitars and bass (both acoustic and electric), and so good on vocals that I even liked how I sounded singing through it.”
So, the question you need to ask yourself is this: why pay more for a vintage microphone when you can have the same level of performance for so much less? Whether you go for the V67/V47, which deliver a classic vibe that’s spanned decades, or the V12, which gives you legendary sound in a new form factor, you’re onto a winner.
Find out more on the JZ Microphones website.