Gear Spotlight: Coles 4038

These iconic mics can be found in every major studio on the planet.
Why? They work. They work really well.

Developed by the BBC, this waffle iron looking mic has a distinctively dark sound. These mics rose in popularity in the 1950s and 60s and today are used around the world on drums, brass, amps, and a myriad of other sources. Bands like The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin have both turned out fantastic recordings with these mics and superstar record producer, Steve Albini, says this is the one mic he would own if he could only have one.

Here at Drum Arsenal Productions, this pair of Coles 4038s gets used frequently on drum rooms, percussion, and drum overheads.

These mics also do something wonderful to cymbals. They put them back in the mix, darken them up, and let them sit right where they should. My other favorite part about Coles 4038s is how well they take EQ. The Coles are considerably darker than most other ribbons, but they take EQ very well. My current favorite setting when working on drum sessions is to run the Coles through a pair of Sebatron tube preamps and engage the high-air EQ curve. This adds a nice top end to the mics and brings out just enough attack in the cymbals while keeping the kit full and the floor tom’s bottom end.

Working as a session drummer on remote recording sessions usually means things change frequently. Kits change out, snares are A/B’d, cymbals change tune to tune, but these mics hardly ever leave the stands.

Let’s listen to the Coles in context on a released song.
Here’s a great tune by Dallas, Texas based duo No Barriers. This song features the Coles 4038s on overheads and the drum and percussion tracks were recorded right here at Drum Arsenal Productions.

So if you want some Coles 4038s on your songs, I can guarantee they are set up
and ready to go in the studio!

Do you have a favorite mic? Let me know in the comments!