Rare Vintage Beyerdynamic M 260 N(C) Flat-Top Ribbon Mic (Stephen Sank RCA 77-DX Mod)

This is an exceptionally rare, premium piece of recording history: an early vintage Beyerdynamic M 260 N(C) hypercardioid ribbon microphone in Excellent condition, featuring the highly coveted "DX" modification by master technician Stephen Sank.

Condition & Provenance:
This microphone has been meticulously cared for in a smoke-free studio environment. It is in remarkable cosmetic shape for a 1970s instrument, with the original body text and badging completely intact and crisp. The flat-top mesh grille is pristine, structurally solid, and free of any dents. Mechanically, the microphone performs flawlessly, delivering a healthy, rich signal with a perfectly functioning ribbon element.

The Rare Housing & Connection Variant:
This is the highly desirable early flat-top spherical grille basket variant. Unlike later mass-produced iterations (like the M260.80), this early West German build features a wider, full-bodied low-end frequency response. Furthermore, this is the factory-original N(C) low-impedance model, meaning it features a factory 3-pin XLR connection. You do not need to deal with rare, fragile, or expensive German Tuchel adapter tails—this microphone is pure plug-and-play for any modern preamp, console, or audio interface.

The Stephen Sank "DX" Modification:
Stephen Sank (son of legendary RCA microphone designer Jon R. Sank) custom-modified this unit by replacing the stock, rigid Beyer ribbon with an authentic, ultra-thin 0.7-micron RCA 77-DX ribbon material. This creates a spectacular studio hybrid: you retain the tight, highly useful hypercardioid polar pattern of the M 260 body (offering magnificent bleed rejection in live rooms), but you gain the smooth, velvety, dark, and rich classic character of a vintage RCA broadcast microphone.

 Sonic Signature:
This microphone is absolute magic on electric guitar cabinets, effortlessly smoothing out harsh, ice-pick frequencies while retaining a thick mid-range punch. It is also stellar on brass, acoustic guitars, drum overheads, or for giving vocals an intimate, old-school broadcast warmth.

What’s Included:

• Vintage Beyerdynamic M 260 N(C) DX Microphone (very good Condition)
• Black padded protective zipper case