Neumann’s run of microphones from the 1940s to the 1960s is nothing short of legendary. In less than two decades, the brand introduced a string of iconic mics that remain studio staples and continue to inspire modern pro audio designs. We're talking about the U 47 (1949), M 49 (1951), M 50 (1951), KM 54 (1954), KM 56 (1955), U 48 (1957), U 67 (1960), and U 87 (1967).

Much of Neumann's success can be attributed to constant innovation, and perhaps there's no better example of that than the U 87. The U 47, U 48, and U 67 established the brand as the preeminent tube mic manufacturer, but advances in solid-state technology opened a new space to explore. The result was a FET version of the U 67 dubbed the U 87.

This vintage Neumann U 87 (#19587) recently arrived at the Vintage King Tech Shop, offering the perfect chance to explore what makes the mic special, notable sessions it’s been used on, and the work our team did to bring this one back to life.

 

It’s ironic that the U 87 debuted in 1967 as the mic was created to take the place of the U 67. Like its predecessor, the U 87 offers cardioid, omni, and figure-8 polar patterns. The key update was the introduction of the K87 capsule, which maintained the same sonic character as the U 67's K67 capsule while enabling phantom-powered operation.

Moving to FET technology didn't hinder Neumann’s dominance in the microphone world. The U 87 quickly became a studio workhorse, prized by engineers for its clarity and low self-noise, while delivering a signature character and balanced response across all polar patterns.

The U 87 has captured every kind of sound source over the years, but it truly excels on drum overheads, acoustic guitars, stringed instruments like cello and violin, voice-overs, and most importantly, vocals. U 87s have been used on countless vocal performances, including Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?," Neil Young's "Heart of Gold," Aerosmith's "Walk This Way," Don McLean's "American Pie," Blondie's "The Tide is High," and many others.

When this vintage Neumann U87 arrived at the Vintage King Tech Shop, the microphone was working, but not up to the legendary standards of its pedigree. There was also the dented grille to deal with. Our team carefully opened the mic, meticulously assessed its condition, and outlined a comprehensive servicing.

Tim "Timmo" Johnson, Vintage King's longtime Microphone Technician, disassembled the U87 first. He cleaned the microphone's body, head grill, and swivel mount using an ultrasonic cleaner. After the bath, he bumped out the dented grill to restore the mic's iconic shape.

After finishing the cleaning and bodywork, Timmo replaced the mic's damaged internal components. He removed all the old caps, installed new ones, and swapped the mic's current capsule for a brand-new Neumann K87. Timmo then wired the microphone up to 200 ohms, reassembled everything, and tested the mic. With that all said and done, he restored the U87 to its former glory.

Akane NakamuraIf you’re interested in purchasing a vintage Neumann U87 or another classic piece of gear for your studio, we're here to help! Contact a Vintage King Audio Consultant via email or by phone at 866.644.0160.