Legendary mic goes back into production

Press Release: The 1960s and 1970s are considered to be one of the most innovative periods in the history of music. Many sound concepts of this pioneering time are currently being rediscovered and are regarded as a great enrichment – particularly in the digital audio world. The interplay among studio technologies of different generations forms the basis of unprecedented freedom for new sound experiments.

An icon of that era which was decisive in helping to shape the sound of the 1970s is the Neumann U 47 fet. As the transistorized successor of the U 47, it permitted the processing of very high sound pressure levels for the first time, for instance allowing positioning directly in front of loud amps. Due to this feature, and the capsule sound derived from its famous tube-based predecessor, the U 47 fet contributed to many legendary recordings of the time.

Now the U 47 fet is back! For the new “Collectors Edition U 47 fet”, Neumann has resumed production of this classic mic, according to the original production documents and schematics. The Collectors Edition is supplied with a high-quality wooden case with special packaging, and an individual certificate with the serial number of the microphone.

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 cutoff 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 – including AC/DC, Kate Bush, Bruce Springsteen, and later R.E.M, the Pretenders, a-ha, Dire Straits, Metallica, Michael Bublé and many others – can now grow longer ...