An icon that helped to shape the sound of the 1970s is the Neumann U 47 fet, and it’s now been reissued by the company as the new “Collectors Edition U 47 fet.”
Neumann has resumed production of the mic according to the original production documents and schematics. The Collectors Edition is supplied with a wooden case with special packaging and an individual certificate with the serial number of the microphone.
As the transistorized successor of the original U 47, the U 47 fet permitted the processing of very high sound pressure levels; for instance, allowing positioning directly in front of loud amps. Due to this feature as well as the capsule sound derived from its tube-based predecessor, the U 47 fet contributed to many legendary recordings of the time.
In terms of technical design, the U 47 fet is a condenser microphone with a cardioid directional characteristic and fet 80 circuit technology. Among other things this technology, also used in the U 87, is characterized particularly by a wide dynamic range. The K 47, already employed in the U 47, is a double large-diaphragm capsule with a slight boost in the range above 2 kHz.
If required, a switchable low-cut filter raises the lower cut-off frequency electronically from 40 Hz to 140 Hz, and switchable attenuation can reduce transmission levels by 10 dB. In addition, to prevent overloading of the connected preamp, the output signal can be reduced by 6 dB via a switch on the bottom of the microphone.
Wolfgang Fraissinet, president of Neumann.Berlin, explains: “Today many new musical currents are defining themselves through the possibilities of digital production technology. The relaunch of the U 47 fet now provides the opportunity of using epoch-making technologies from different decades side by side. Vintage sound meets the modern world – providing ideal conditions for the realization of new creative soundscapes.”
The list of renowned artists who have created musical masterpieces with the sound of the U 47 fet includes AC/DC, Kate Bush, Bruce Springsteen, and later R.E.M, the Pretenders, a-ha, Dire Straits, Metallica, Michael Bublé and many others.
The Collectors Edition U 47 fet is available in classic nickel finish. A website with much more information on the microphone is here.
