McDonald, TN, United States
About this listing
A superb highly collectable example of the multi-pattern small-diaphragm microphone. Celebrated in historical recording sessions, it remains a studio icon.Historical Significance & FamousRecording CreditsThe KM 86 is affectionately known by audio engineers as "The Motown Mic" It is heavily defined by its presence on major historical pop and rock releases:The Motown Studios Era (1968-1972):Legendary engineer Bob Olhsson noted that the KM 86 was the primary workhorse at Hitsville U.S.A.. It was used on virtually every sound source.This included the multi-layered tracking for Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and Stevie Wonder's early masterpieces.Neil Young: The acoustic guitar tracks captured for his seminal 1972 album Harvest utilized the KM 86 to achieve their incredibly deep, intimate fidelity.Pink Floyd: Renowned sessions at Abbey Road-used the microphone to capture David Gilmour's guitar amplifiers for The Dark Side of the Moon.Condition & Quality ReportThe Microphone: Excellent ConditionAesthetics: The matte nickel-plated housing shows clean lines, faint age patina, and minimal wear.Head Grille Capsule Basket: The outer wire mesh is completely free of finger dents or impact depressions. The vertical pillar is perfectly straight.Acoustic Internals: The dual-capsule assembly is original. The subtle internal amber tone indicates normal, healthy aging of the inner protective Silk layers.Switches & Connectors: The mechanical polar pattern switch shifts firmly between settings. The base houses an original gold-plated 3-pin male XLR insert.✨This microphone was recently sent to Sennheiser with all suggested maintenance completed. Please see photos. The Original Case: Fair / RestorableConditionInterior: The custom-molded interior plush red velvet layout is clean, clean of stains, and securely holds the mic shape.Exterior: The silver-embossed diamond hot-stamp logo is incredibly bright and in great condition for its age.Flaws: The structural side seams have dried and split along the lid corner. This exposes the under-board layer but leaves the main textured leatherette wrapping undamaged. It is a straightforward candidate for a PVA glue clamping repair.Technical SpecificationsCapsule Type: Two individual KK84Cardioid Capsules mounted back-to-backSelectable Polar Patterns:Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Figure-8.Circuitry Type: Solid-state JFETTransistor (Transformer balanced output).Power Requirement: +48V PhantomPower standard.Barrel Diameter: 21 mm (Standard compatible sizing across vintageNeumann mounting clips).Total Length: 170 mmPackaging: Will be meticulously packed and shipped in a sturdy box to guarantee its vintage condition is preserved during transport. This microphone will need to be signed for. 📦This and all other Neumann items to be listed are from one owner, my late grandfather, who had a recording studio in the 70’s and was a radio station manager during my childhood.
Price$5,195
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