Two!! Holy Grail Neumann SM-2 Microphones Sequential Serial Numbers & Supplies

Description: This is a holy grail Neumann microphone auction. The most popular stereo tube microphone used on tens of thousands of hit records, from the quintessential sound of strings (starting with “Theme From A Summer Place”) to brass to acoustic guitar to drums, a "secret weapon" for acoustic piano and harpsichord, entire jazz and classical orchestras, and even lead vocals (notably “Diary” from Bread, several hits by Roy Orbison, Louie Armstrong and others). The great engineer Armen Steiner (Richard Harris, Neil Diamond, Bread, and many others) used these on strings and other instruments in many motion picture soundtracks until the mid '80's. As far as the sound, the SM-2 has an unmistakeable treble presence bite like no other Neumann. Newer Neumanns pursued higher frequency "sizzle" at the detriment of the high mid bite that really cut through a mix and, as Steiner said, to fit perfectly in a rock and big band track better. And the warmth of the tubes in the microphones and in the power supply. What makes this a holy grail auction is this is closest you are going to get to a MATCHED SET. Sequential serial numbers right off the assembly line. SM-2/167 and SM2/168. 167 power supply (NSM 219) has german tag on top and taped hand printed label "FIXED DIAPHRAGM". Has updated three prong power cable connector, indicator lamp, and fuse cap. 168 power supply (NSM 153) has Gotham Audio Corporation half sticker West 48th Street New York with old COlumbia exchange phone number. Has original two prong power cord. Might have come out of CBS 30th Street studio, the revered Columbia Records "Church", but no telling for sure. If it was it could have been used on everyone from Percy Faith to Ray Conniff to Miles Davis to Streisand, Dylan, and Simon and Garfunkel recordings. This is the one we used on our string session. One original shockmount with no bands. All cables and connectors. Both original Neumann SM2 Boxes. Mic 168 and power supply was used for a string session 12 years ago; the other never used. They were stored in a nonsmoking temperature controlled storage. They will be professionally boxed by Fed Ex and fully insured or you can pick them up after payment 2 hours over the dam from Las Vegas in northern AZ. They really should be in a major facility like East West or Ocean Way to complete their stellar mic lockers and used for mic emulations. There are no known mic emulations of these mics yet as they are so rare. This alone makes them invaluable. Either East West or United Audio could do an entire emulation of every possible configuration of the two capsules of this mic and all it is capable of. And you would have two to pick and choose from. The profit potential and value added to any facility is immense, as well as mic emulation plug-in income in perpetuity. They should both be ready to go, but as all vintage gear, may require a tech visit to be at their optimum and are sold as is. We've never opened them up to look at the tubes and won't even to photograph them, as we are not techs. Our only string session with one was fantastic into a Universal Audio 2-61O. We never even tested the second one. Congratulations in advance to the blessed purchaser of these fine instruments of recording history.

Price: 16000 USD

Location: Meadview, Arizona

End Time: 2024-11-06T19:42:23.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD