what about this one
Beyerdynamic Opus 53

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Opus53/

JamesG wrote: THE ELECTRO-HARMONIX EH-R1 RIBBON MICROPHONE

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?sku=EEHR1XXXX&cid=d06_4

Anyone know if this is a re-badged Oktava? I wonder what their quality control is like.

thats is what i was thinking

JamesG wrote: THE ELECTRO-HARMONIX EH-R1 RIBBON MICROPHONE

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?sku=EEHR1XXXX&cid=d06_4

It is a ribbon microphone so the sound will be OUTSTANDING not in terms of clarity but in terms of warmth also you have to be very careful with the, even coughing on them can break them

I know what a ribbon mic is and I know about proper handling of them, thats not what I wanted to know, I wanted to know if anyone has actually HEARD the mic. you don't buy a mic because it it a condenser or a PZM mic you buy a mic because of how it sounds. Just because it's a ribbon mic doesn't mean it will sound OUTSTANDING in terms of "warmth" (if anything it would most likely be it's smoothness).

I understand that it is a re-badged Oktava from Russia (the ML-52). It is the best mic I have for recording jazz electric guitar. Outstanding and smoothness for miles.

All I can get out of EH is that they're manufactured for them. No other details.