Lucas CS1 Matched Pair - Tube Condenser Microphones

Lucas CS1 - Matched Pair Microphones

Ser # 052
Ser # 053

Lucas Engineering CS-1

Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphones

The Lucas CS-1 is a large-diaphragm tube condenser microphone that was designed as a modern classic, with the intention of answering the question “Why can’t great microphones be made today?” It is the result of a collaboration between Terry Manning (of Compass Point Studios) and Oliver Archut (of TAB-Funkenwerk), which began with Archut’s mod/overhaul of Manning’s disappointing C12VR; the result, says Manning, was “something so far superior that I was shocked by it… it quickly climbed into my Top Mic List.”

The specification process began in conversations between Archut and two design engineers from the original teams that made some of the best-known classic mics — one helped design the Neumann M49/M50 mic and K47/K49 capsule, and the other helped design the AC-701 tube for Telefunken.

Oliver Archut describes the CS-1 circuit as “simple;” it is not unlike the U-47 amplifier circuit.

The tube in the CS-1 was designed and built by Mullard in the UK in the early 1970s. The tube name is LMG-95-ES; this is a Lucas designation of an obscure (if not entirely unknown) Mullard tube that was reportedly designed for use in a high-end audio component. The tube offers low noise and, according to Manning, “a couple of design possibilities that have never before been used in a microphone buffer amplifier:”
As this is a studio gear store a lot of this gear was purchased over a number of years, if you need any more specific dates details please contact us.