How do you guys feel about used mics?

O

oxband

Well-known member
When it comes to gear, I usually buy new electronics and used for something mechanical like a tripod. I’m looking for a shotgun, and dont mind paying more for a gun I can use for many, many years. I’m thinking of the NTG-3 or the MKH-416.


I found a used MKH-416 on B&H and am considering it. That said, I am a bit wigged out over buying used electronics for the long haul. Thoughts?
 
One consideration regarding the purchase of a new Rode NTG-3 is they have a phenominal 10 year warranty. Some other Rode mics have extended warranties also.

That can bring you some peace of mind on a purchase and avoid used mic angst.

Grant
 
I have a closet full of pre-owned mikes, so I'm a big advocate, _but_ I usually buy from first-time owners that have kept them in a smoke-free studio, not on-location field recorders bumping and grinding and running and gunning... So, there is probably a great deal of wisdom in Grant's guidance towards a warrantied purchase.

GJ
 
Of my 25 or so microphones, just about half were purchased used. There are an awful lot of people out there who buy gear for one project and then sell it afterward. Several of those I've bought have been literally as good as new. I generally will only buy a used mic if it's had one owner and is not more than about three years old, and only if I can see pictures of it beforehand to make sure it doesn't have any serious dents or scratches. I also won't pay more than about 60% of the price of a new one. But following these principles, I've made some very good purchases over the years, including some of the mainstay mics I carry with me on all shoots. Only once was I a little disappointed with the physical condition of a microphone, but I was trying to match another antique one I had from about 30 years back and there weren't any perfectly clean specimens to be found. Even in that case the issue was purely cosmetic. It sounded fine, and a little cleaning and TLC went a long way toward making it look better as well.

So yes, you can do fine and save a lot of money buying used mics. Just be reasonable in your expectations and avoid mics you're not familiar with or that look like they've been through a war, and you very likely will be happy with the results.

- Greg
 
Every mic I own I bought used. Its the best bang for your buck, and sometimes by a large margin. They all sound great.

Just my 2 cents
 
Fools buy new :)

As long as the thing doesn't look like it's falling apart, the connector isn't coming off, and it sounds good. You're good to go.
 
About half of my mics are used. So that is maybe 30 mics, not sure exactly. When you buy it, you check it out, if it has a bad capsule or whatever, you return it. Schoeps are always good used, because you can send it back to the factory for a complete overhaul by a real person and it will be like new or better. Some mics are prone to capsule issues, like large diaphragm Oktavas, but even then you can maybe do a capsule swap. A lot of the stuff I buy is in pretty good condition. You can usually tell from the photo if it has been hammered or handled properly. If you need a matched pair, that can be something of an issue.
Most ppl don't bother with matching. Bottom line, you can save some money, but you won't always get a good deal on quality items.
 
If you know the seller or are pretty sure the mics were treated well you can get some good deals. Many problems are not at all visually obvious. You won't see a blown diaphragm or a dirty capsule. Electronics problems in general you will only know about when you test the mic. So internet is a big gamble but also the biggest place to find used mics. In general if your buying from a sound person it's probably in good shape. If your buying from someone who doesn't have a clue it's a gamble but that is also where you may get some fantastic deals. It's a calculated risk. And a lot of smart people buy new. Most of us though also have a bunch of used mics. If your looking for classics or just plain weird mics you are going to be in the used market a lot so learn what to look for and don't blow your wad on a mic that HAS to work, because you never know till you have it and it works.

While Schoeps are good because you can get repairs, those repairs are not cheap. A friend sent a pair back to be cleaned (you have to send them to Germany) and it was $300 a pop seven years ago.

You can also sometimes find quality mics at very good prices new. Project studio sites are good places to get a heads up on a mic that is a lot higher quality than the price would suggest. Oktava for instance first started popping up there first, RadioShack for awhile was selling a PZM made by Crown for $50 (the Crown branded version was $350), CAD has a really decent mic that is designed for drum overheads that is often sold in pairs for ~$50. The last are cardioid so not particularly great for booming but they are really small and light so they work well for plant mics.
 
Ditto to all the above....notice also that really good mics hold their value better than a lot of the things we buy.....try buying some of the older Neumann's... ;-) [h=1][/h]
 
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