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Another day at the Vintage King Tech Shop, another historic microphone in need of expert repair. Actually, in this case, it’s two microphones; a matched pair of vintage Neumann U 67s, to be exact.
Each U 67 tells a story—one that begins in the early 1960s when Neumann set out to create a successor to the iconic U 47. The VF14 steel tube used in the U 47 had been discontinued, forcing Neumann’s engineers to create a new design based around the smaller EF86 tube.
The result became one of the most iconic microphones ever made. Just ask Bryan Reilly, professional audio engineer and producer, proprietor of Scramble Shack Studios in Ferndale, Michigan, and proud new Neumann U 67 owner.
“The U 67s are the score of a lifetime,” said Bryan. “They’ve always been one of my favorite mics of all time. They sound amazing on everything: drums, vocals, acoustic guitar, brass instruments, piano, you name it.”
Introduced in 1960 and originally dubbed the U60, the microphone was later renamed the U 67 to build on the success of its legendary predecessor, the U47. The redesign was led by Neumann's chief engineer, Dr.-Ing. Gerhart Boré, who implemented a number of new features that set the standard for future microphones.
At the core of the U67 is its dual-capsule K67 with a Mylar diaphragm, a significant upgrade from the PVC membranes used in earlier designs. This new capsule design featured a split backplate and a brass tension ring, creating a more stable and reliable construction that would stand the test of time.
“The sound of the U 67 is so well balanced,” Bryan told us. “They’re very warm without ever being muddy. The top end is smooth and open but never harsh. The mid-range is very present and full. There isn’t a lot of hype to the frequency response; everything sounds natural without any build-up in the lows or weird high-end overtones like clones often have.”
The U 67 added a third polar pattern to Neumann's arsenal. While the U47 offered cardioid and omni modes, the U 67 introduced figure-eight into the mix, dramatically expanding its versatility in the studio.
The microphone's body also got a significant redesign, featuring an angled grille housing to help reduce capsule resonance. The slimmer profile was made possible by the smaller EF86 tube that replaced the larger VF14. Neumann was so confident in this unique body shape that they patented the design. To this day, the silhouette of a U 67 is instantly recognizable.
“Just looking at the U 67 while recording is an inspiration,” said Bryan. “I think the magic of the mic helps bring out something special in a performance.”
Other innovations introduced by the U 67 included an internal bass rolloff filter to combat proximity effect, a -10 dB pad to protect the capsule from high SPLs, and a body that could be opened without tools, making servicing during sessions remarkably quick and easy.
“I was so lucky to have my friend Al Gadzinski reach out to me about this pair of U 67s that came into his shop,” said Bryan. “They had the original capsules, cases, and power supplies—I just knew I had to have them. After demoing them at my studio, I made the offer and picked them up.”
This pair of vintage U 67s arrived in need of a little TLC. We spoke to Vintage King Microphone Technician Tim ‘Timmo’ Johnson about what went into the restoration process.
“I restored about 80% of the mics. They needed all new cables and new shock mounts,” says Timmo. “These mics were used hard—someone had even put a clear coat on the body and head, so I cleaned all of that off using an ultrasonic bath.”
“I re-pinstriped the outside of the bodies and bumped out both head grilles—they were extremely dented,” he continues. “I also took apart both original capsules and connections, cleaned everything with a fiber brush, and carefully dusted the capsules. One capsule wasn’t working at all, so I had to put in a little work on that one, but it’s now fully restored.”
“To bring them back to spec, I installed two brand-new Telefunken EF86 tubes and set the bias on the tubes and power supplies,” Timmo explains. “I also had to remove a broadcast pad from the power supply, update the units with an IEC connector for chassis ground, and rewire them to 200 Ohms. They were originally set to 50 Ohms, which was common for broadcast use.”
“Both microphones still have their original mic boxes, which we re-lined with new foam,” Timmo adds. “The serial numbers are 1564 and 1568. Back then, Neumann and AKG made everything in lots of 10 and paired the mics by hand based on performance.”
After the restoration process was complete, the mics were carefully packaged and transported to Scramble Shack Studios, where Bryan has been putting them to use ever since. Here's a comparison of how the mics looked when they came in (left) vs how they looked after the restoration process (right):
“Timmo at Vintage King did such an amazing job on the restoration,” Bryan told us. “Not only do they sound absolutely amazing after all the work he did, but the look of them has such a vibe. You can tell that these mics were used on a lot of records over the years, and I’m honored to continue their legacy at Scramble Shack.”
Check out our Hall of Fame page to learn more about the legendary Neumann U 67, or head to our Vintage and Used section to browse our collection of vintage mics.
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