Up for sale is a microphone from my personal collection. This is a prototype AEA 44 microphone that was built by Wes Dooley for the 1997 New York AES convention. I stopped by the booth and talked with Wes and saw the prototype that was made from NOS RCA parts and some newly machined parts and placed an initial order for one even though it wasn't available to the public yet. After the AES convention wrapped up, the prototype showed up to my studio. The microphone was not in production yet, but I was given the opportunity to test it out and share my feedback with AEA. This microphone doesn't have a serial #. The AEA R88 was commercially released later in 1998.

The microphone is in excellent condition considering it's 29 years old. 100% tested. It sounds outstanding. I used it for vocals, acoustic guitar, brass, and the mono drum room. The case is in good condition, but the inside foam and velvet would be considered the inside of a "prototype" case! Ask a question or make a serious offer. This microphone has historical value, so it's priced above an off the shelf AEA44. Shipped insured with signature required.

Here's a little info from the AEA website:

The Genesis of the AEA R44

RCA built its legacy for almost two more decades. But in 1976, it exited the microphone business for good. This was particularly unsettling for passionate R44 fans, especially Wes Dooley, founder of AEA.

AEA’s chief engineer Dick Knoppow noted that there were thousands of RCA 44 series microphones still in use around the world and urged Dooley to take over their servicing. So, Dooley and Knoppow met with Jon Sank, RCA’s chief engineer, to learn everything they could about repairing, maintaining, and building the ribbon mics. Sank provided everything from instructions on installing and tensioning the ribbon elements to a large stack of new-old-stock (NOS) ribbon material. He also gave AEA the ribbon corrugator we still use today.

As AEA gained experience, we began replicating and machining RCA replacement parts, keeping the components as close to the originals as possible.

By 1998, we had acquired 100 percent of the interchangeable parts used in the original RCA 44s. That year, AEA debuted our first reissue—the AEA R44C—crafted using RCA’s original methods and techniques. Twenty-two years after RCA abandoned the microphone business, the 44 would live on.

Sold to the USA only. Sold as is. No returns. No warranty implied or expressed.