steve wrote:
They were the standard bass guitar and bass drum microphone in the 1960s and 1970s. ...

That's a little scary to read!

Many of us bought a D-12 in the late '60s after seeing it pictured in some English recording sessions. Like you, I didn't "get" the D-12 and stuck with the SM-56, the 421, the EV 666 or later the RE-20. Some people here used RCA 77s for kick and the EV 655C, RE-55 and Altec saltshaker omni dynamics were also in common use in the US. The Brits at that time were always seeking that "American" low end and it's little wonder why if they were really using D-12s for the bass and kick!

A great trick is to put a windscreen on your kick mike. It led me to making some very different choices from the norm.

I usually record three different takes with the D-112, D 12e, and the AT atm 25 and let the band pick. They always pick the atm 25. Then I record the atm 25 through Api, Sytek and the Universal Audio 2-610. They always pick the 2-610. Then I record the atm 25 through a Alan Smart C1 and Tube Tech Cla 2-B and they always pick the C1. Then I charge them $75 for the time.

there's a d12e where i work. we tried it once, then promptly changed mics. we haven't used it again. lately i've been liking a d112 6" - 12" in front of the kick, and a 421 way inside with all the low end rolled off.

after seeing it mentioned several times, i think i'll try an atm 25 inside soon.

I took Steve's tip (earlier in this thread) for using the M88 for kick on a session yesterday. Sounded great. Full, rounded tone.

Also, the Sennheiser 609e we recently bought has yet to sound good on kick or anything else.

I never found any use for a D12e on the kick drum either, but I love it on bass. It captures the low mids in a way that gets them through a mix like I want to to hear them. D12e + large diaphragm condenser is my current favourite for micíng a bass amp.

There is a hungarian cold war era d12 knock off called the EAG MD-16N. It eats the d12's lunch any day of the week. Ive seen a couple on ebay before.

What the heck do I do with a blown d12 ??
I guess the parts haven't been available for sometime.

brianbiv wrote:Hey!
Steve, what do you think of the Beyer M88 on Kick drum. I have recently purhcased one and enjoy the sound of it for kick, I think that if placed inside the kick it can get a little bouncey sounding. And do you know if you really need a windscreen for that mic when placed in the kick.
Rock!

I'm not Steve but I will say be careful with using the M-88 on bass drum. A few of them have blown here when they were placed in a vent hole neck deep. Worse than blowing it up is damaging the mic. The diaphragm's surround gets stressed out and the mic will lose fidelity and level. I stopped using it unless it's on the outside of the resonant head.

behussey wrote:What the heck do I do with a blown d12 ??
I guess the parts haven't been available for sometime.

AKG re-issued a spare capsule assembly recently, but it is no longer made.

There are still some NOS ones kicking around. You see them from time to time on Ebay.

I'll post here if I ever see one.

Here you go:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-AKG-ECHOL ... dZViewItem