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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: axomxa on April 25, 2013, 12:55:53 PM

Title: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: axomxa on April 25, 2013, 12:55:53 PM
These look pristine for "vintage" mics at a decent price from a reputable handmade brand.  Is anyone familiar with them?  How far off in sonic performance might they be from the current card lines (603a/603/ka200 etc)?  Does anyone know of any sample sources of these?  I am considering 603/ka200's right now but would not mind savings about $800 if comparable  ;) 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-MB-C201-Cardioid-Condenser-microphones-MBHO-/310654600074?_trksid=p2050601.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D250%26meid%3D7200126979765017128%26pid%3D100085%26prg%3D1112%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D310351525558%26%26clkid%3D7200128747756367273&_qi=RTM1303753
Title: Re: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: Chuck on April 25, 2013, 03:17:17 PM
Not sure if these qualify, but the current MBHO's have a lifetime warranty too.
Title: Re: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: axomxa on April 25, 2013, 05:43:54 PM
Not sure if these qualify, but the current MBHO's have a lifetime warranty too.
Good point and a buyer of these would certainly want that.  Could always email the company to verify.
Title: Re: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: dbindc on April 26, 2013, 09:20:43 AM
I've got a few MB made mics that were probably from that era sold under the Peerless brand.  Mine have interchangeable capsules and I really like the cardioids.  They seem to have a fuller bass response than the current KA 200's. 
Title: Re: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: axomxa on April 27, 2013, 11:56:54 PM
I've got a few MB made mics that were probably from that era sold under the Peerless brand.  Mine have interchangeable capsules and I really like the cardioids.  They seem to have a fuller bass response than the current KA 200's.
Thanks for input.  One of the characteristics drawing me to the 603/ka200 is the favored higher end sound so maybe the 201's are not for me.  Thanks again.  Do you have any recordings with the older cards available on any site to sample?   
Title: Re: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: dbindc on April 29, 2013, 10:39:22 AM
Most of the stuff I tape is not for wide distribution, but here's a link to a John Cowan show on LMA where I used the older caps with the active cables and 603A bodies.

http://archive.org/details/jct2011-12-15.flac16

The inside of the capsules say  "MB C92540"  The bodies that came with them were MBC-540.  I believe they were transformer based.  Never really got to use them as one was broken.  The capsules work on all other MBHO preamps as well as an early pair of Josephson bodies I have made by MB id'ed as PEERLESS MBC 640.
Title: Re: "vintage" mbho cards
Post by: axomxa on April 30, 2013, 10:23:46 PM
Most of the stuff I tape is not for wide distribution, but here's a link to a John Cowan show on LMA where I used the older caps with the active cables and 603A bodies.

http://archive.org/details/jct2011-12-15.flac16

The inside of the capsules say  "MB C92540"  The bodies that came with them were MBC-540.  I believe they were transformer based.  Never really got to use them as one was broken.  The capsules work on all other MBHO preamps as well as an early pair of Josephson bodies I have made by MB id'ed as PEERLESS MBC 640.

Thanks.  Your tape should help me get a flavor for the older mbho units.  I like the apparent flexibility of their gear from different "eras."  I think the same seller (who I bought my senns from)  has one 640 for sale also.