While so many boutique microphone manufacturers go for the retro look, most try to copy the vintage Neumann look of the 60s and 70s. Ear Trumpet Labs has gone for the ultimate retro look however, with it’s line of condenser mics looking like the mics seen on black and white movies of the 20s and 30s.

Like so much vintage technology that we take for granted, there was usually a good reason for the design. In the case of a mic like the new Myrtle, the look is a direct result of the spring suspension system that isolates the capsule from the mounting, eliminating the need for an expensive isolation mount that needs to be purchased.

All of the Ear Trumpet mics share a distinctive retro look, but they’re also meticulously hand-built in Portland (for those of you who prefer to buy USA). What’s more, company founder Phillip Graham uses recycled metal parts to make his mics, which makes them totally unique compared to anything else on the market. You can hear him explain how he does it in the video below.

The Ear Trumpet Labs mics are prices very reasonably and can be purchased directly from the company.