OLD SKOOL SLEEPER MICS

The Peavey 520i.

It was about 1998 and I had a recording session with a new band I had just joined.  We spent a week tracking songs & fleshing out ideas.  Black faced ADATS, Ramsa console, some old rackmount gear (that's where I fell in love with the Ensoniq DP/4), a few compressors & some NS-10's with some Kleenex over the tweeters - mixing down to one of those old skool Panasonic DAT machines with the big knob in the middle.  It was a load of fun, and we recorded some really cool material. 

Fast forward about 10 years later, and I'm listening to some of those rough mixes, and I think to myself, "Wow, that kick drum sounds really great."  I call up the drummer to see if he still has the mic we used, and turns out it was stashed in a closet somewhere in his house.  "Dude, you want to barter something for that mic?"  "Sure man, I need some mastering work done."  

I get the mic, and he gets some mastering work - both happy campers.  So here I am writing about a little known Peavey microphone (yes I said the "P" word) - Peavey.  The name that so many love to hate.  The staple brand of so many churches here in the south for the last 40 years.

"Well, they may not sound the best, but they're tough!"

Back to the microphone - I have used the Peavey 520i on allot of recordings since then.  There's not much this microphone doesn't do well on.  Everything from kick drum to  violin.  The latest instrument I have used it on is electric guitar.  I have a Sovtek Mig50h that I love, but I wasn't totally happy with my tone.  My Audio Technica Pro37r died (my first choice for electric guitar), then I tried a Shure SM-57 (the go to standard), and finally a Sennheiser e609.  Still not happy.  I think to myself - let's give the Peavey a try. 

Bingo, found it.  Happy camper.

You should give it a try yourself.  It's a great mic you can get on the used market for very little, and can handle most studio chores with ease. 

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