Sennheiser MD431 Profipower (original 80s model, same capsule as MD441 - Prince's live vocal mic!)

Up for sale is my beloved Sennheiser MD431 supercardioid dynamic microphone - a vintage classic as used by Prince, Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl and countless others! The 431 is very similar to the MD441 (same capsule), but set up so it works better as a live stage mic while also being a brilliant and versatile studio tool. Sounds fantastic on vocals – more like a condenser in terms of detail and clarity, but with the punch of a top-notch dynamic and very little handling noise due to the clever internal suspension. I much prefer it to the SM7B because of the extra detail, and it also sounds great on snare, guitars, and everywhere else you might want to use a dynamic. It also turns heads with its super-shiny styling, as you might expect from Prince’s favourite live mic!

The mic itself is in decent condition – it works fine and sounds great, though some of the screenprint labelling has worn off. The MD431 normally comes with a gigantic and rather ugly power switch attached, which gets in the way of mounting and holding the mic - this one has had the power switch removed, so there’s no danger of accidentally turning it off halfway through a song! The box is a bit tatty, as you might expect from an 80s mic. :) The foam is still fine though, so it protects the mic well.

The modern reissue of the 431 goes for £400 or so in the UK, and neither looks nor sounds the part compared with the original - so grab a bargain, bling up your gigs, supercharge your recordings!

From the promo:

“The Sennheiser MD 431 II is a professional-grade dynamic mic designed primarily for handheld vocal work, but versatile enough to handle drums, amps and more on the stage or in the studio. The MD 431 II's supercardioid pattern means you'll get great rejection from other instruments and amps while getting laser-beam focus on your vocals. The sound is huge, clear and cutting with a smooth presence boost to get your voice heard through the densest mixes and arrangements.”