i have not seen the picture that you are talking about but from your discription and aplication they sound like bruyerer dynamic (sorry i dont know how to spell it) ribbon microphones.

I don't believe the beyer ribbons were around when Love Supreme was recorded...

I'm trying to remember the picture (unfortunately, I don't have the album), but what you are describing sounds like Schoeps tube mics (likely 221A or B) with either the schoeps windscreen or pressure-gradient omni "balls" on the end. Email me the photo and I can give you a better answer...

--Ben

It is kind of hard to see in the pictures, but what I can see is this-

Almost certainly a windscreen on a small diaphragm microphone. The bracing inside of the ball looks like the Schoeps windscreens you can still buy. http://www.posthorn.com/S_pops.html#w20 The connector on the back also looks like the connectors that I've seen pretty regularly on Schoeps 221B microphones. However- the capsule end of the microphone on the close-up shot doesn't look like Schoeps. Perhaps a Neumann KM54/64 or a M582 mic with a windscreen (although 582's usually have a completely different connector on them)

Wish I could be of more help...

--Ben

thanks ben
it does look like a Neumann and in the close up shot is the diamond shaped logo.
would these have been transformer coupled small diaphragm tube condensers?
why does no one but schoeps make small dph tube mics.
and everyone is into the transformerless thing when much of the best jazz was recorded with tubes , transformers and condensers?
strange

Where is the diamond? I must confess I can't see it... Also, some of the old Neumanns don't have a diamond logo, but rather a round/circular logo. (see the pictures on the Mic Shop webpage: http://www.micshop.com/M-582txt.htm ) Anyways, Neumann, AKG and Schoeps all made small diaphragm tube mics. All of them that I listed are all SD mics. I am sure it isn't an AKG C60 or C61 as it just isn't the right shape.

As for today's mics... Tastes have changed. I think if you went and hung out at some of the bigger jazz sessions out there, you'd find a lot of the older technology in place for recording- that includes tubes and ribbons. The classical world has turned into a world of cleaner and more transparent. You won't get that with tubes and transformers. Personally, I use tubes in a lot of my recordings- I like the way they sound...

--Ben

it could be an old telefunken, they where around and had a dimond shaped logo at the time.

Could be- Schoeps sold the 221 B under the Telefunken name for a period of time. Remember Telefunken was rebranded versions of other mics that Neumann, AKG, and Schoeps made (well, for the most part).

--Ben

Thanks guys
It could be a telefunken , If anyone wants I can email photos.
it definitely has a diamond logo.
So is it agreed it was somekind of small diapraghm transformer coupled tube mic?
Does anyone find it odd that many of the classic blue note jazz saxophonists were recorded with such a mic?
Today it seems saxes are universaly recorded with either a LD condenser or a ribbon.
Has anyone had luck with the sd condenser approach.
opinions
Thanks again. :D :D

you could email it to me booking . at . phoenixandtheturtle . dot . com

there was alot of old r&b recorded with ribon back in the day. a mic you could try is the kel hm1 i have a few though i havent tryed it on horns(just havent had the chance) i bet it would sound just right