Neumann U47 Fet

A Neumann Classic Serving a Voice That Marked Rock History

The U 47 fet holds a special place in studio history: launched in 1972 as the transistor successor to the legendary tube U 47, it established itself as a microphone capable of handling high acoustic pressures while maintaining the presence and authority typical of the U 47 family. This Bon Scott Edition celebrates a specific chapter of that history, paying tribute to Bon Scott's high-voltage voice and the microphone that helped capture it on recordings that have become iconic.
This special series is developed in partnership with the Bon Scott Estate and is based on the current U 47 fet reissue, which has been back in Neumann's catalog since 2014. In short: you get the same working tool, with exclusive styling and premium packaging, designed for collectors and studios seeking an iconic microphone for everyday use.

For What Uses and Studios Is the U 47 fet Bon Scott Edition Made?

This studio microphone is aimed at sound engineers, producers, and artists looking for a classic large-diaphragm mic capable of handling intense sources without distortion, with mids that remain clear in dense mixes. On rock, punk, hard rock, blues, or metal vocal takes, it naturally helps the voice cut through guitars without becoming harsh, while retaining a sense of proximity and character.
It also excels when control and body are needed on percussive or amplified sources: guitar amps, bass cabinets, kick drums, toms, powerful brass. Its high headroom and frequency response focused on production efficiency make it an ally for fast sessions where a "ready-to-mix" sound with a strong identity is desired.

A Collector's Edition Without Compromise on Performance

The Same Sonic Engine as the Current Reissue

Neumann announces a straightforward and reassuring approach: the Bon Scott Edition is identical in sound and performance to the current production U 47 fet. You benefit from the same technical foundation (K 47 capsule, FET electronics, cardioid polar pattern) and the same philosophy: a large-diaphragm condenser microphone designed for pressure, presence, and solid imaging during recording.

A Microphone Designed to Handle High Levels and Stay Clear

When a voice becomes very dynamic, or an amp is pushed to the point where the room starts to "speak," many microphones harden or lose balance. Here, the U 47 fet's strength is maintaining a sense of foundation and punch, with usable mids. Handling very high SPLs (up to 147 dB with pre-attenuation) allows close placements, practical in modern studios to reduce bleed and achieve a direct, dense, and controlled sound.

An Exclusive Visual Identity and Premium Presentation

This special edition stands out with a matte black finish and dedicated graphic elements, as well as Bon Scott's name and signature on the microphone body. The set is delivered in a black wooden presentation case, accompanied by a collector's booklet including an interview with producer Harry Vanda. Each unit is numbered, clearly making it a rare piece, while remaining a microphone intended for daily recording use.

A Gesture for the Music Community

Neumann and the Bon Scott family also announce that a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Support Act Australia, an initiative supporting artists and music industry professionals. A detail that reinforces the spirit of this edition: celebrating an era, but also supporting those who keep music alive today.

Technical specifications

Category	studio microphone	Capsule	Large Diaphragm
Directivity	cardioid

Acoustic principle	pressure gradient transducer	Max SPL for 0.5% THD	137 dB
Polar pattern	cardioid	Max SPL with pre-attenuation	147 dB
Frequency response	40 - 16,000 Hz	Max output voltage for THD <0.5%	-3.3 dBu
Sensitivity at 1 kHz, 1 kOhm	8 mV/Pa	Phantom power required	48 V
Equivalent noise level, CCIR	25 dB	Current consumption	0.5 mA
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted	18 dB-A	Output impedance	150 Ohm
Signal-to-noise ratio, CCIR (ref. 94 dB SPL)	69 dB	Nominal load impedance	1 kOhm
Signal-to-noise ratio, weighted (ref. 94 dB SPL)	76 dB