Elvis Costello on tour with Josephine. Photo by Steve Jennings.
Front of House Gear Spotlight: Ear Trumpet Labs Josephine
“Among the vocal mics used for [Elvis Costello’s] Radio Soul! tour is a pair of old fashioned looking Josephine mics from Ear Trumpet Labs. The mic is popular with performers seeking a “vintage” stage look — yet it’s equally at home in a recording studio. And while Josephine’s 1920’s-style spring suspended capsule and copper details may appear nostalgic, there’s nothing dated about the performance of this handmade, hand-wired large-diaphragm (26mm), 24-48 VDC phantom-powered condenser microphone design. Its controlled cardioid polar response is intended to maximize feedback rejection with either close-in or ensemble vocals or acoustic instruments, even on loud stages. Within its copper mic body are modern touches such as fully balanced transformerless electronics with matched FET transistors, film capacitors, and precision, hand-selected resistors. Under the mesh grille is an integral silk pop filter for effective plosive control without loss of clarity."
–George Petersen
Front of House Magazine, Sept 2025
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