Got gear lying around the studio that you don’t find yourself using? Sell it on Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange! Catered specifically to musicians, Gear Exchange makes it simple to flip your used studio gear — guitars, microphones, and anything in between. Plus, Sweetwater offers zero seller and transaction fees when you opt for a Sweetwater Gift Card as your payout, giving you more financial headroom when searching for new equipment of your own.
Mic Month may have come and gone at Sweetwater, but our Gear Exchange consistently sees a wide range of terrific transducers all year long. The following seven are a sample of our favorite picks among the many used mics currently available. Snatch them up while you can!
- RCA Vintage 77-DX
- Blue Microphones Blue Bottle Tube Microphone System
- Groove Tubes GT44 Stereo Pair
- sE Electronics Rupert Neve RNR1
- Microtech Gefell M296
- Crown AKG PZM185
- ITT Vintage Telephone Microphone
RCA Vintage 77-DX
Simply one of the most iconic mics ever
Even people who don’t watch sports know who Michael Jordan is. Likewise, folks who aren’t audio engineers or musicians still very likely recognize the RCA 77-DX when they see it, thanks to its decades of popularity among broadcasters and late-night talk show hosts. Musically, the RCA 77-DX has been used by Johnny Cash, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, and many more, and numerous Sweetwater studio engineers love the sound of this multi-pattern ribbon mic on brass and strings as well as voice. With omnidirectional, bidirectional, and cardioid polar patterns, as well as three different low-frequency-attenuation settings, this RCA 77-DX represents a fantastic opportunity to finally add this classic mic to your locker.
Blue Microphones Blue Bottle Tube Microphone System
Versatile — and collectible — tube condenser-mic system
This Blue Microphones Blue Bottle tube microphone system with B6 capsules was the flagship model for Blue Microphones during their prime, and the one shown here ships with the standard B6 capsule that sounds heavenly on just about anything, hence its enormous desirability even today. Plus, seven additional capsules were also manufactured, so the Blue Bottle has enormous potential to become your day-to-day studio workhorse. Sweetwater studio engineers who have used a Blue Bottle are also quick to comment about how, despite being a tube mic, it has very low self-noise, thanks to its included power supply and Class A circuitry.
Groove Tubes GT44 Stereo Pair
Pair of tube SDC mics for a steal
This Groove Tubes GT44 stereo pair very nearly gives you “tube” for the price of one, considering it comes with almost an entire set of the various capsules available for the GT44s. In addition to interchangeable capsules, the GT44 also features switchable highpass filters and an attenuation pad. Sweetwater engineers familiar with the GT44 attest that they’re among the most versatile, most affordable, and best-sounding ways to start utilizing tube mics for stereo miking techniques. And, while their 20Hz–20kHz frequency response captures anything, drums (specifically snare drums and hi-hats) and acoustic guitars are frequently mentioned as two instruments that the GT44 handles particularly well.
sE Electronics Rupert Neve RNR1
Contemporary ribbon mic that’s become an instant classic
Seemingly everything designed and built by Rupert Neve has achieved iconic status, and this sE Electronics Rupert Neve RNR1 active ribbon microphone is no different. Ribbon mics have always been very popular choices for strings and voices due to their sensitivity and subtle, natural high-frequency attenuation. What makes the sE Electronics RNR1 stand out is its ability to deftly capture all details across its entire 20Hz–25kHz frequency response. This makes not only your strings and voices sound better but everything else, too! Plus, its bidirectional polar pattern has led to more than one Sweetwater studio engineer having reported using the RNR1 as a drum overhead with overwhelmingly positive results.
Microtech Gefell M296
Great for studios but perfect for stages
Our omnidirectional mics are represented by the Microtech Gefell M296, and it is a beauty! Eschewing traditional metallic housing in favor of a ceramic one enables the M296 to maintain consistent temperature and sensitivity to any frequency and in any space. Sweetwater engineers find that the M296 is perfect for the concert hall, where its slight bump from 2kHz to 10kHz brings out exquisite detail in instrumentalists and vocalists alike. The M296 also sports a 10dB pad and a highpass filter at 90Hz. While we don’t have the space to elaborate here, we suggest reading about the history between Microtech and Neumann sometime . . . simply fascinating.
Crown AKG PZM185
A pressure-free way to check out PZMs
If you’ve never used a pressure zone microphone (also known as a boundary microphone) before, then here’s your chance to check one out at a great deal. Powered by either +48V or an internal AAA battery, this Crown AKG PZM185 hemispherical boundary microphone makes quite possibly the perfect camera microphone for interviews, broadcasts, and group conferences, thanks to its nearly undetectable profile and high radio-frequency-interference (RFI) protection. Sweetwater can confirm that it’s great in the studio, as well; place it on the floor just in front of the kick drum and prepare to be floored by how much low end you now have!
ITT Vintage Telephone Microphone
Hold the phone — and check out this mic!
While many effects processors can give you a lo-fi telephone effect, Sweetwater thinks there’s a better way — use an actual telephone! This ITT vintage telephone microphone was once an honest-to-goodness analog telephone that has since been modified with a volume knob and mono output for a classic telephone sound that simply can’t be beaten by any plug-in. The volume knob is also sweepable for effects and better overall volume control. Simple, effective, inspiring, and very cool, this mic might sell faster than any other on the list, so grab your real phone and call Sweetwater’s Gear Exchange now!
GAS Up at the Sweetwater Gear Exchange
We love used gear — and not only for the savings. Used gear comes with a story. Whether it’s a vintage piece whose owner is passing it on to the next generation of music makers or a contemporary piece searching for a new home filled with love, used gear carries with it the spirits of its previous owners. And when you find that perfect piece of used gear and make it your own, you add to its story, enriching it with your own musical turns of phrase and performative plot twists. Whether you’re buying or selling, the Sweetwater Gear Exchange is the best place for used gear. Get started today and enjoy zero seller fees and zero transaction fees when you choose Sweetwater Gift Card as payout.