‘Sir George Martin'
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Vitavox B50
[1955]
This iconic handheld dynamic mic was used as a talkback microphone by Sir George Martin to communicate with artists in the studio. It has facilitated thousands of Abbey Road conversations between Studio Two control room and live room.
The engineers on the session would have used the built-in mic on the mixing desk, so this mic became the all-important link between artist and producer.
George would have used it to speak to Peter Ustinov, Bernard Cribbins, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, Shirley Bassey, Matt Monro, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas, The Beatles, Cilla Black and more.
“It featured a push button on-off with an optional lock. I remember on one session in the 1960s with The Scaffold, Paul McCartney’s brother Mike McGear decided to prank everyone and leave the push button in the locked position so that everyone on the studio floor could eavesdrop on the control room.”
John Kurlander, Producer & Engineer: June 2023
Available Formats:
+ Each print is individually numbered and hand signed by Rick Guest.
+ Shipped in a dent-resistant tube.
+ Prices include shipping.
+ Estimated shipping within 6 weeks. See FAQs for more information.
Sir George Martin
1961
Photo: © UMG Archive