Recording - May 2014 - 34

R E V I E W S B Y PA U L V N U K J R .

4038 (shown on the facing page) is not a reproduction or reissue-it is one of the oldest microphone models still being made today. This is evidenced by the fact that
it is still constructed with a long-outdated 3-prong Western Electric input jack
and needs an XLR adaptor (thankfully included) to be used with modern
mic preamps and consoles.
The 4038 measures 71/4" x 31/4" x 23/8" and weighs a healthy 2
lb. 6 oz., and as you can see from the photo has a unique head
design somewhat like an old-fashioned flatiron. It is finished in a textured black enamel, and its head assembly is made of perforated
brass with an internal mesh fabric protecting the ribbon and motor.
The head assembly is attached to the body on a swivel mount
and can pivot a full 180 degrees front to back to aid in mic positioning. Another design holdover from the 1950s is a rotating
ring on the body with three eyelets, whereby you could attach
cords to suspend the mic above its source. For modern-day use it
comes with a threaded mic stand adaptor that attaches to two of
the eyelets with Allen screws.

Coles

Specs
The 4038 uses a pressure-gradient low-mass damped ribbon which is
only 0.6 microns thick, 1" long and just under 1/4" wide. It is one of the thinnest
ribbons on the market. As such it is quite delicate and the 4038 needs, like most older
ribbon designs, to be handled with care.
It has a 30 Hz to 15 kHz frequency response, an impedance of 300 ohms, and a sensitivity of -65 dB re: 1 V/Pa. It is fairly flat across the frequency spectrum, with its most
significant variances being a roughly 2 dB rise around 200-300 Hz and 1.5-6 kHz.

4030L and 4038 Ribbon Microphones
A classic ribbon mic serves as introduction to a remarkable newcomer

Coles Electroacoustics Ltd. is a British
microphone company started in the 1960s
by two gentlemen with the first names of
Colin and Les, which condensed nicely to
Coles. At one time both men worked at
another British company named STC, short
for Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd.,
which had a prestigious microphone division. Over time Coles took over the manufacture of many STC models, and eventually in the 1970s acquired the intellectual
property and rights to continue the manufacture of those microphones on its own.
Coles is best known for classic ribbon
mics like the 4038, originally an STC
design that is still in production today, as
well as more modern ribbon designs like
the 4040 (reviewed April 2004) and the
stereo 4050 (reviewed February 2011).
Today we will take a look and listen to
the historic 4038 as a prelude to trying
out the newest Coles ribbon, the 4030L.
The Coles 4038
The original STC 4038 was designed for
the BBC and dates back to 1953. The current
34

RECORDING May 2014

It comes in a hard plastic case and my review model came complete with the 4069
XLR adaptor, mic stand mount, and a purple velvet mic bag, which should be placed
on the mic when not in use. The bag is vital to protect it from both air blasts, as well
as microscopic metal particulates that can literally clog up the ribbon assembly.
Set up, stand up
The 4038 requires a robust mic stand, as it is both heavy and a tad awkward in shape
and balance. I repeat, when I say "robust mic stand," I mean a good counterweighted stand
from someone like Latch Lake, Atlas, or Ultimate Support, and not the cheap $20 variety.
This is especially true if you wish to use one or a pair of 4038s on drum overheads...
and trust me, you will! Also give yourself some setup time, as some assembly with a
screwdriver is involved with both the XLR adaptor and the mic stand mount.
In use
The 4038 is one of those microphones that, when you plug it in and place it on a
source, makes your brain say, "Aha! I get it!" It is instantly apparent why this mic has
been so highly revered throughout recording history. Like most ribbon mics it has a rich
bottom end and a smooth rolled-off top, but it also has a nice pronounced mid presence that many other ribbons do not.
Despite its figure-8 pattern, I found the 4038 less subject to the sound of the room than
what I am used to from other ribbon mics by firms like AEA. To explain, when I use a mic
like an AEA R84 I am very aware of the source sitting naturally in its space in a very 3D
way. With the 4038 the source and the room are tighter, more focused and gelled together with a natural compression that is hard to describe until you hear it.
The 4038 has one of the smoothest yet most pronounced proximity effects I have heard
in a ribbon mic. It's thick and full even at 2-3 feet away, making it very deceptive when

Recording - May 2014

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