Description

First introduced in Germany in 1947, the world renowned U47 is one of the most popular and revered of all studio mics. Almost all recording studios that don't have one, want one. Original U47s have become very rare and expensive, but many studio engineers still look for that character of the U47 while recording. GoodFly microphones spent several years re-creating that original sound using a mix of new and vintage NOS parts. Our remake of the Neumann BV8 transformer, a NOS Telefunken EF12 tube and German PVC M7 capsule, along with a special modification to the circuit around the tube makes the frequency response and sonic characteristics of the GoodFly U47 very close to the original.

Transformer

Capsule

The original M7 capsule bodies were made of brass with PVC diaphragms on early versions, and Mylar sputtered with pure gold on later ones. For our microphones we have recreated the original brass capsules using high quality CNC machines and have had them skinned in Germany by an ex-Neumann engineer. Faithful recreations of both the PVC and Mylar diaphragm options are available.

Transformer

Tube

The original U47 was equipped with a Telefunken VF14M tube. Original VF14M tubes are now almost impossible to find one, and on the rare occasions they do appear on the market they are sold for outrageous prices. After a few years of research for alternative tube, GoodFly have found a solution which closes matches the sonic characteristics of the original. Engineers around the world have experimented with Telefunken EF14 and EF12 tubes as a replacement for original VF14, but both require modification to power supply to work in the original U47 circuit. After trying different variations we found a tube mode for EF12 that makes our U47 sound very linear and as close as possible to the original.

All our Telefunken EF12 tubes are carefully selected and tested for cathode emission, self noise and frequency response before being installed in a microphone.

Transformer

Transformer

Apart from very early models, almost all U47 microphones were equipped with Neumann BV8 transformers. This type of transformer was used from 1951, first in the long body and later in the short body version, until the end of Neumann's U47 production. The same transformer, but with a different winding ratio, was also used for the classic M49 and in its solid-state successor, the U47 FET.

We have re-created our BV8 transformer to all the original specifications, using high quality Nickel lamination and wiring techniques based on the original Neumann datasheet.