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Buying a used U87 -- What should I know?
I'm scouring eBay and there is no shortage of used U87s, including
new ones under $2,000. What should I know when looking at such a mic? Should I not bother with used? What about some of the ones I'm seeing that have various "modifications" applied? If I get one that needs help, how much does Neumann charge to service one (say, a new capsule, etc)? Also, what about the Neumann M147 and M149 tube mics? Are they "superior" in any way? Better for voice-over stuff? More pesky questions from the Group Idiot ;-) Brendan |
#2
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If I was going to make an investment in a mic that nice, I would NOT buy off
ebay, and I would definitely test at your local rental shop to what mics you like best. "The Horta" wrote in message .. . I'm scouring eBay and there is no shortage of used U87s, including new ones under $2,000. What should I know when looking at such a mic? Should I not bother with used? What about some of the ones I'm seeing that have various "modifications" applied? If I get one that needs help, how much does Neumann charge to service one (say, a new capsule, etc)? Also, what about the Neumann M147 and M149 tube mics? Are they "superior" in any way? Better for voice-over stuff? More pesky questions from the Group Idiot ;-) Brendan |
#3
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Brendan, I've bought three U 87s on eBay without any horror stories to
tell, but it's important to be choosy as to who you are buying from. A seller with a very high feedback percentage (and 100% is thoroughly possible) will be keenly interested in avoiding any negative feedback, especially on a major sale. I wouldn't even give a second glance at an auction if the seller's feedback isn't 100% or very close to it. You can (and in my opinion should) also view a seller's complete feedback record. If the seller has a few "neutrals" or "negatives" you can decide whether you think they were fair or not. As far as the merchandise is concerned, one thing to be aware of is that there have been two basic models of the U 87. One (the "U 87") was made from 1967 through 1986, when the newer model ("U 87A") was introduced. The newer model has 6 dB lower equivalent noise, plus almost 11 dB higher output levels (sensitivity). The only disadvantage of the newer model is that its sound pressure level limit is 5 dB lower (ca. 117 dB SPL rather than 122). Not every eBay ad is clear or even correct in stating which of these two models is for sale. (Additional letters such as "i" "p" or "mt" refer to other details, and don't affect which model is which.) Very often, sellers refer to the U 87A simply as a U 87 and I have also seen the reverse! Also, sellers often seem to copy the specs from Neumann's Web site--which naturally only lists the specs for the current model. Be aware also that the original type of U 87 was sometimes sold with a large Tuchel connector rather than the now-standard XLR-3M. If you're buying a "non-A" U 87, make sure which connector type it has, since some sellers actually conceal this in their photos (!). In terms of microphone condition: The most crucial, most vulnerable, and hardest-to-evaluate-over-the-Internet part of the microphone is its capsule. U 87 capsules cost nearly $800 to replace. As I said, my U 87s were OK but earlier in my eBay "career" I bought two U 89s, both of which turned out to need capsule replacements, and I was the one who had to pay. Fortunately those capsules aren't quite as expensive but as I said, you need to be careful whom you buy from and on what terms. One thing to consider is that Neumann USA (assuming you're in the USA) will inspect a Neumann microphone for (I believe) $70. It's not a bad idea to send them any used U 87 that you buy anyway--maybe you can get the seller to agree that if Neumann says that repairs are needed, the seller will either pay for them or cancel the sale and refund your money. This is all I can currently think of--feel free to post any specific questions that you may have. --best regards |
#5
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"David Satz" wrote in
ups.com: This is all I can currently think of--feel free to post any specific questions that you may have. Thanks Dave! I've only had one problem ever dealing on eBay (since 1998), so I'm fairly comfortable for most purchases, but with these mics it seems that there is so much I just don't know that it concerns me. They seem pretty strong (as far as resale) on eBay, so I'm also going to go to NYC and check out some stores there. I'm hoping to get to try some different mics out as well. Thanks for the input! Brendan |
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#8
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On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 15:30:39 -0400, The Horta wrote
(in article ): I'm scouring eBay and there is no shortage of used U87s, including new ones under $2,000. What should I know when looking at such a mic? Should I not bother with used? What about some of the ones I'm seeing that have various "modifications" applied? If I get one that needs help, how much does Neumann charge to service one (say, a new capsule, etc)? Also, what about the Neumann M147 and M149 tube mics? Are they "superior" in any way? Better for voice-over stuff? More pesky questions from the Group Idiot ;-) Brendan They are very different from each other and very different from the U 87. Unless you are comfortable with the seller, buy new. If you are comfortable, it's still a good idea to send the mic to be checked by Neumann in CT. Ty Ford -- Ty Ford's equipment reviews, audio samples, rates and other audiocentric stuff are at www.tyford.com |
#9
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Ty Ford wrote in
: If you are comfortable, it's still a good idea to send the mic to be checked by Neumann in CT. The cool thing is, I LIVE in Connecticut (a state the size of your average postage stamp). I wonder if it is possible to stop by their facility and check them out. Brendan |
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