Anybody ever see the old CAD e300's around?

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Chris F

Chris F

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I don't mean the new little ones, which look vaguely like a 4033 with a gold grille. The mic I'm talking about is enourmous: the body is black, about the size of a can of malt liquor, and side address screen is either dull silver or dull gold. I've recorded on one twice at a local studio, and it makes my acoustic bass sound like the voice of god. The engineer tells me it contains one of the biggest diaphragms he's ever seen in a LDC, but that they've been out of production for a while now.

Does anybody know the mic I'm talking about, and if so, ever see them for sale?
 
I don't know if they're in prodction any more.

FWIW, the CAD M-177 and 179 use capsules that are copies / replicas of those very same capsules in the e300's you're asking about, so they're very similar-sounding mics in the same lineage. Much cheaper, too.
 
Also from CAD's web site:


"Resulting from over a decade of active development, the M177 is one of the first in a new generation of CAD condenser microphones. Using the latest computer modeling tools has resulted in a microphone that features the best of old world and new world technology at an astonishingly affordable cost. The M177 features a single pattern version of the original Equitek E-300 capsule. "
 
Thanks guys, that was very helpful! The mic I'm talking about is the one I've made the best recordings of my life on as a bassist, so I'd be a fool not to try and track one down for my home rig. Of course the UA-2610 is another matter... :rolleyes:

Screws - Is the one you own one of the gigantic ones?

Chess - CAD seems to be one of those companies who (like MXL) seems to have a lot of similar model numbers and change things around a lot. Are you pretty sure that the e300 you're talking about (i.e. - the original huge one) the new one using the same capsule as is the same monster I'm chasing? If so, you may have done me an enormous favor. Thank you! Granted, the M179 isn't nearly as "sexy" as the old E300, but if it sounds the same of similar, who needs visual "sexy" when the recordings it makes will be drenched in...uhh..."appeal"? :o
 
Chris F said:
Chess - CAD seems to be one of those companies who (like MXL) seems to have a lot of similar model numbers and change things around a lot. Are you pretty sure that the e300 you're talking about (i.e. - the original huge one) the new one using the same capsule as is the same monster I'm chasing?
Click to expand...

The M-179s actually use Chinese-made replicas of the E-300 capsules. So MXL and CAD share that in common, at least. Except the CADs are designed and assembled in the States.

Even if it doesn't sound exactly like it, you'll still like the mic. It doesn't surprize me that you liked it on bass. Just about all of the CAD mics have this unusually linear bass response all the way down to like 10 hz. There isn't anything down there in the bass region that the CADs can't capture faithfully.
 
I have used the 179 on upright bass, saxes, and bass clarinet. I like the tone it gives my often very bright horns. I can see where as a bass player you would like the "wamth" of it's sound. Plus it's multi pattern so you would get a few more uses out of it. Great mic for under $200.
 
Chris F said:
I don't mean the new little ones, which look vaguely like a 4033 with a gold grille. The mic I'm talking about is enourmous: the body is black, about the size of a can of malt liquor, and side address screen is either dull silver or dull gold. I've recorded on one twice at a local studio, and it makes my acoustic bass sound like the voice of god. The engineer tells me it contains one of the biggest diaphragms he's ever seen in a LDC, but that they've been out of production for a while now.

Does anybody know the mic I'm talking about, and if so, ever see them for sale?
Click to expand...

I've got an E-300 I bought new about 10 years ago. I will never sell it. It's a mic that works for a lot of applications which on some sounds amazing and on others sounds okay but never bad. I bought a CAD M-37 a few years ago because they said the mic use's a single pattern diaphragm version of the E-300. Well it does sound and perform very much like the E-300. If you can't find the E-300 look for an M-37 or M-177 which is also bassed on the E-300. I've been told if you open up the M-177 the circuit board is stamped M-37. I don't have an M-177 to verify this though. There are a pair of M-37's on ebay right now for less than one E-300 will cost if you find one. Here's the link. Good luck.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41466&item=7326514955&rd=1
 
Thanks for the info - I sent an email to Oz' friend at about 3 AM when I got back in - hopefully, it will still be for sale. If not, I'll go for next best. :)
 
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