Astatic model 77 mic

Steve B · Post by **Steve B** » 30 Jul 2000 3:50 pm

Are these any good for recording? Has anyone ever seen one of these? It is old, and kind of looks like a Shure 55 style mic. Is it worth trying out?

Tele · Post by **Tele** » 31 Jul 2000 12:25 am

Steve,

it is always worth trying something out.
BUT - I wouldn't buy one to do it. If you already have one or could get it for free then it would be okay.
These mics could add some flavour to vocals or harp playing but I wouldn't recommend them for recording a steel.
If you like to record with vintage mics and like to spend some $$$ go for ribbon mics (there are a few inexpensive ones such as Shure 300 series or RCA 6203 which a fine sounding mics)

Andy

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 31 Jul 2000 7:28 am

Steve, Astatic typically made microphones for the two way radio and public address system business.
Most of their microphones were crystal with a few carbon button and dynamic models.

They were reasonable in price and the quality was good for what you paid.

However, as far as I know, they were not used in professional recording.

Haven't found the specs for a 777 yet, but I'm looking.

They went out of business in the late '60's.

Blake

Joe E · Post by **Joe E** » 4 Aug 2000 1:39 pm

I just got rid of a very simular mic. Basically it was way to thin sounding for recording. Most of those mics had very little bottom end charicteristics.

Rich Paton · Post by **Rich Paton** » 4 Aug 2000 3:56 pm

Steve, in the early 1980's I took a six month course on multitrack recording, which was offered as a University of Ca. extension program.
It was staught by the recently retired Chief of A&R, recording, and audio engineering at Columbia Records in L.A.
He taught us to experiment with any and all microphones at hand, and learn what instruments and situations they work well on.
For example, a major-buck Neumann U-87 condenser mic is probably not the ideal choice for mic'ing guitar amps. A Shure 57 0r 58 does give excellent results.
I have an old Electro-Voice 686, which is technically just a vocal public-address mic.
But contrary to all the theory, it gives excellent results when used on acoustic guitars and mandolins, etc.
One of the best soundind mic's I've used was a $15 garage sale buy, a Sony condenser with internal 1.5 volt battery, the type that came with reel-to-reel tape recorders.
Experiment, use your ears, and find out what really works for your applications.