Product Description

Fen-tone

Instrument Ribbon Microphone With Selectable In-Line Preamp

Inspired By A Classic 50s Ribbon Mic With Modern Components & Iconic Tones

The Ideal Studio Instrument Microphone

Fen-tone™ faithfully recreates the iconic ribbon microphone designs of the 1950s but with added modern components and features to deliver the most popular ribbon tones for instruments. Inspired by the compact, pencil-style ribbon mics loved by studios and home recordists, Fen-tone captures tight lows, lush mids, and smooth highs without harshness. Its figure-8 polar pattern and ability to handle high SPLs capture the most sought-after tones for electric guitar cabs, drum overheads, and more. With premium components like a custom Japanese ribbon, Neodymium magnet, and custom CineMag USA transformer, plus a selectable 26 dB in-line preamp, the Fen-tone ensures pristine sound even with low-gain preamps.

Celebrated Tone, Premium Components, Vintage Backstory

With a boutique-quality build and design, Fen-tone™ is crafted to honor the look and feel of the vintage ribbon microphones of the 1950s, and the sound profile of the most sought-after ribbon of the 2000s. The ribbon inside Fen-tone is 99.1% aluminum, 1.8 microns thick, and custom-crafted in Japan for exceptional accuracy and performance. Paired with the ribbon is a rare-earth Neodymium magnet, designed to create a powerful magnetic field that captures intricate midrange detail with precision. The ribbon and magnet are complemented by a USA-made CineMag transformer, delivering iconic ribbon tones with modern reliability. Compact and durable, the Fen-tone is built with rugged metalwork, making it a reliable choice for demanding studio sessions.

Applications

Detailed Guitar Cabs

Hear the midrange detail and rich warmth of electric guitar cabs.

Smooth Overheads

Never-harsh drum overheads with smooth top end and snappy transients.

Blooming Horns

Hear gentle saturation and compression without unwanted sibilance.

Classic Acoustic Guitar

Woody 'outlaw' tones with smooth highs and rich lows.

KEY FEATURES

What you need to know

The Fen-tone includes all the features that deliver a complete and professional recording experience.

Use VT/+dB to switch between “vintage” mode (VT) where the mic is fully passive, or “active” mode (+dB) which adds a 26dB in-line Warm Lifter JFET preamp. Use the +dB setting when plugging directly into interfaces or underpowered mixer preamps. +dB does require phantom power.

Note: Only have 48v on in +dB mode, and do not plug a cable connected to phantom power into the mic while in VT mode.

A sleek, popular low-profile design makes mic placement easy for guitar, horns, strings, overheads, and more.

The Fen-tone operates in figure-8 mode. The figure-8 polar pattern captures audio from directly in front of and behind the mic. This is great for off-axis rejection on the side, and tasteful capture of room reflections with strategic mic placement. Unlike some ribbons, Fen-tone has no “bright” or “dark” side due to central ribbon placement. This makes it easy to get consistent sonic performance.

WHEN USING FEN-TONE WITH PHANTOM POWER…  DO NOT ENGAGE 48V PHANTOM POWER IN "VT" MODE. DO NOT CONNECT FEN-TONE TO PHANTOM POWER WHILE IN "VT" MODE

Technical Specifications

Product Description & External Specs

• Inspired By A Classic 50s Ribbon Mic With Modern Components & Iconic Tones
• Instrument Ribbon Microphone With In-Line 26dB Preamp
• Selectable 26dB In-Line Warm Lifter Preamp (Phantom Power Required)
• L: 6.7” | W: 1.5” | Weight: .67 lbs
• SINGLE MIC Included Accessories: Heavy-Duty Flight Case, Mic Clip, & Protective Mic Sock
• DUAL MIC Included Accessories: Heavy-Duty Flight Case, (2X) Mic Clips, & (2X) Protective Mic Socks
• 5-Year Warranty

Component & Internal Specs

• Custom CineMag USA Transformer
• USA Transformer
• Powerful Rare-Earth Neodymium Magnet
• 99.1% Aluminum, 1.8-Micron thick Ribbon
• Polar Pattern: Figure-8
• Frequency Response: 30 Hz-15 kHz (+/- 3db)

Performance Specs

• Max SPL: 148dB (1kHz≤1%T.H.D)
• Output Impedance: 300 Ohms (Passive) 150 Ohms (Active)
• Sensitivity (Passive): -47 dBv Re. 1v/pa | (Active): -21 dBv Re. 1v/pa

Polar Patterns

Premium Components - Elite Build Quality - Superior Sound

Custom-Crafted Japanese Ribbon

The Fen-tone houses a 99.1% pure aluminum ribbon, custom-made in Japan. At 2.5-microns thick, the ribbon thickness is delicate enough to reproduce detailed audio but robust enough for everyday use. Ribbon purity is paramount for detail and frequency response; even slight impurities can dampen output and clarity, elevating the noise floor. The ribbon is also placed centrally in-between the magnet, eliminating the “bright” and “dark” side issue found on some ribbon mics.

Custom, USA-Made CineMag Transformer

The Fen-tone utilizes a custom, American-Made CineMag output transformer. The transformer inside Fen-tone delivers the rich depth and character of the ribbon - including the lush mids and smooth highs. The CineMag inside the Fen-tone also helps the mic pair well with modern preamplifiers by achieving 300 ohm output impedance.

Robust Neodymium Magnent

The ribbon inside the Fen-tone is suspended between the poles of a premium, heavy Neodymium magnet. While vintage original small-format ribbon mics like the B&O Fen-tone used AlNiCo magnets, Neodymium magnets are significantly stronger than AlNiCo magnets, and have become the new standard in premium ribbon microphone  manufacturing. This allows for a more efficient conversion of sound energy to electrical signal in the ribbon microphone. Neodymium is also much less susceptible to degradation and will last much longer in regular use.

Hand-Tested, Elite Build Quality

Every single Fen-tone is meticulously hand tested & inspected at Warm HQ in Austin,TX by real musicians and engineers with passion for superior sound.