The Coles 4038 | A Microphone Standing the Test of Time

Harness the Sonic Power of the Ribbon Microphone Used to Record Ringo Starr and John Bonham

In the early 1950s, television was taking off as a cultural force, and the number of homes in the United Kingdom with a television set was growing rapidly, spurred by the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. Mindful of the rise of a visual medium, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) began work on a smaller microphone to replace the BBC-Marconi Type A. This led to the development of the 4038 Ribbon Microphone, which utilizes a ticonal pressure gradient single ended magnet, and was a third of the size of the Type A. Now, 70 years later, the 4038 still proves its worth in the recording studio, as an outstanding choice for tracking drums when using the Glyn Johns Method.

SHOP COLES ELECTROACOUSTICS

Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone w/ 4071B mount

$1,482.00

The 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone is of British Broadcasting design (BBC) and used for broadcasting and recording such sounds where a clear smooth wide range frequency response, absent of transient distortion and relatively high sensitivity is essential.

The 4038 has a proven reliable performance capability, being since its introduction, used by broadcasting networks throughout the world such as the BBC.

The frequency response of the 4038 is exceptionally flat from 30 to 15,000 c/s and throughout this range the shape of the bi-directional (figure of eight) polar response is maintained substantially constant both in the horizontal and vertical planes, giving a natural smooth sonic quality textured response to sound signal being picked up.

Studio microphones have now achieved a remarkable fidelity of reproduction. If the microphone is not close to perfection, there is no point in having expensive systems to take the sound the rest of the way to the audience's ears.

In the world of sound, the BBC has always been the leader, and is still regarded as the 'setter of standards'.

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A Fabulous Mic for the Fab Four

In the late ’50s and early ’60s, many recording studios in the U.K. adopted the 4038 as the preferred microphone for tracking drums and other instruments when producers needed to capture the full meatiness of the midrange tones. One of those studios was Abbey Road, and the 4038 was the overhead microphone of choice used to accurately capture Ringo Starr’s drums in early Beatles recordings. If one wants to hear the sonic capabilities of the 4038, they need look no further than “Please Please Me”, “Beatles for Sale,” and “A Hard Day’s Night.”

“If the kit’s well-tuned, you just have to put in some top EQ, and you get the most unbelievable drum sound” said Geoff Emerick, a Grammy-award winning engineer that began working with the Beatles in 1963 and would go on to engineer the iconic sounds of the Beatles’ albums “Revolver” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. The band would bring the 4038 back for use on “Abbey Road”. At times, the 4038 was used as more than just a drum microphone: the 4038 was one of the microphones used to record Paul’s bass during the sessions for “Sgt. Pepper”, and was also used to capture the Hammond organ.

Glyn Johns & John Bonham, and the 4038: A Match Made in Heaven

Another iconic use of the 4038 can be found on Glyn Johns’ work on Led Zeppelin records. Johns’ method of miking drums (affectionately known as The Glyn Johns Method) with two microphones overhead and one in front of the bass drum. The 4038 was his microphone of choice for due to the microphone’s ability to sonically replicate the beatings that Bonham unleashed on his kit, and for its huge tone, resulting from a full bottom end.

Chase Bliss Blooper Bottomless Looper Effects and Pedals / Loop Pedals and Samplers

Chase Bliss Blooper Bottomless Looper

$499.00

From Chase Bliss:

The bottomless looper.

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Coles 4038 M/P Studio Ribbon Microphone Matched Pair w/ 4071B Mount

$2,963.00

The 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone is of British Broadcasting design (BBC) and used for broadcasting and recording such sounds where a clear smooth wide range frequency response, absent of transient distortion and relatively high sensitivity is essential.

The 4038 has a proven reliable performance capability, being since its introduction, used by broadcasting networks throughout the world such as the BBC.

The frequency response of the 4038 is exceptionally flat from 30 to 15,000 c/s and throughout this range the shape of the bi-directional (figure of eight) polar response is maintained substantially constant both in the horizontal and vertical planes, giving a natural smooth sonic quality textured response to sound signal being picked up.

Studio microphones have now achieved a remarkable fidelity of reproduction. If the microphone is not close to perfection, there is no point in having expensive systems to take the sound the rest of the way to the audience's ears.

In the world of sound, the BBC has always been the leader, and is still regarded as the 'setter of standards'.

View Details

SHOP COLES ELECTROACOUSTICS

Harness the power of the Coles 4038 today at Chicago Music Exchange! Questions? Give us a call at (773) 525-7773 today, or chat with one of our experts standing by from 9am-9pm daily.

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Harness the Sonic Power of the Ribbon Microphone Used to Record Ringo Starr and John Bonham

Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone w/ 4071B mount

A Fabulous Mic for the Fab Four