I want to buy a new ribbon microphone in the next two weeks and I'm still undecided about what to buy. I was thinking about a Coles 4038 or a AEA R84.
I can't rent and compare them here in town so I'm hoping for some advice from people who are familiar with both mics.
Steve said in an earlier post that the AEA, compared to the Coles, had "more midrange energy at normal singing distance" with "strong low-end emphasis".
Are these more the low-mids or the upper-mid frequencies that are emphasized? Does the low-end emphasis result from a more prominent proximity boost?
Greasygoose described the 4038 as more "vintage" while the AEA's "extended HF response" would make it sound more modern.
I've attended a session where a 4038 was used on an clean Fender amp and I liked it a lot in that context. I can imagine though that it can sound a bit dull in other applications.
I want to use the microphone in a loud rock music context mainly. That means on electric guitars, vocals and probably in front or above a drum kit.
I don't have a decent figure of eight ribbon mic but I have a couple of M160s and M500s and a Sank modded M260, that in Steve Sank's words sounds "shockingly similar to a RCA 77DX".
If those of you, who are familiar with both mics, wouldn't own one, which of the two would you buy and why?

I'm aware that this is an internet forum and if you don't want to sound like an add for one of the two just drop me a PM
Thanks, Max.

have you tried the royer 121?

it's close to the coles in sound, a smidge less low-mid and a bit more top. its freq resp seems to be quite flat, all in all.

compact body shape, very nice mic. you can hammer it with level w/o breaking it.

their stereo version--the sf12.--is a wonderful microphone for instant drum overhead or stereo acoustic instrument micing. it takes top end eq really well, as does the mono guy.

i don't know a thing about the AEA. 4038 is a great mic to use on pretty much any electric guitar, though you're right that it sometimes needs a helper on super trebly stuff, if you want the super treble in there.

Having a mic cupboard (micboard?) with both I have to say that I reach for my R-121's more often than the 4038's. I just *love* the 121. I don't dislike the 4038, at all, I just seem to be able to get better results with the 121 on most things.

Thanks for your replies lads.
I was thinking about the Royer as well.
I was aware that Coles and Royer microphones don't sound completely different, so I thought I'd ask about two mics that I assumed to be more different from each other to get more general opinions.
Let's assume you'd had to pick one of the two options:

1. The Coles 4038 or 4040 (more top end than the 4038, new magnet and ribbon assembly), Royer 121/122 option.
2. The AEA R84, RCAish option.
Intended application will be voices and electric guitars, drums and acc. guitars.

I know that the Royer is a very versatile mic but I'm still very curious about the AEA.

Max.

I've got a 4038 and the R84, as well as a Sank modified 260, and the AEA mic is consistently my favorite of the three. It translates what I hear in the live room to the control room in a more pleasing, and maybe more obvious, way than the 4038 does. All are valuable tools, but I find myself reaching for the R84 more often than not. It's not dramatically 'bright,' by any means; the extended top that people refer to is relative. It's an old world design to be sure, with a careful and modern execution.