Vanguard Audio Labs

10/16/2026

10/15/2026

I’m normally a big fan of DIY….But when it comes to expensive condenser mics, I will never tell people to try cleaning their own capsules!!!

AKG capsules in particular have a very weak gold-to-Mylar bond. I’m not sure exactly what process or alloy they used, but they tend to be very sensitive to cleaning.

IF You want to learn to be proficient at this you need to start with crappy capsules that are in the $20-30 range. The great David W Bock told me that when he had trainees, he would MAKE them puncture or damage a capsule just to show them how easy it was to biff it!

Fortunately this amount of gold loss on an AKG C414B didn’t ruin it, but the output on that side is slightly reduced.

If you do have a cheesy capsule that needs to be de-cheesed, give me a holler at [email protected]!

10/14/2026

Vanguard Audio's Custom Shop gives you an opportunity to add bespoke versions of our mics to your mic locker with upgrades and extra goodies creating truly unique tools.

Imagine our V4 gen2 FET with a BeesNeez K47 capsule: that thick low end, punchy presence in the 3-5k region, and smooth, gently rolled off top end, reminiscent of the 47FET, but with the ability to handle super high SPLs in a transformerless design.

Or maybe our V13 gen2 tube with a BeesNeez CK12 capsule + Cinemag output transformer: the airy highs, rich midrange, and smooth, natural warmth of a classic Austrian capsule married to our modern tube design with a high SPL handling output transformer.
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That's what our Custom Shop is all about, Derek getting a wild hair and making something wonderful!

Only available from our Custom Shop.

10/13/2026

🧀🧀 De-cheesing a beautiful Gunter Wagner U47w capsule. 🧀🧀 what a treat to work on one of these! thanks to my clients for trusting me with some rare and valuable gear for restoration.

As always, you can contact me at derek@vanguardaudiolabsDOTcom for repairs.

(have to remove the actual URL because this platform now charges for more than 2 URLs per month. ensh!ttification marches forward, unbothered by us mere mortals.)

10/11/2026

We have a new Capsule Cheese™ world champ - a vintage CK12 brass capsule in an AKG C414EB.

What even happened here????? Wrong answers only.

10/11/2026

New Capsule Cheese™ world champion has been crowned on this C414EB with a brass CK12 capsule.

What. Happened. 🫣

10/01/2026

The bad joke is at the end 🥸 hey call us anytime 😘

09/30/2026

V34C gen2 LOLLI kits are now available and shipping!

The LOLLI gen2 turns your Vanguard V1 pencil condenser into a side-address large-diaphragm condenser with switchable omni or cardioid operation.

Phenomenal on guitar, strings, drums, voice, and more.

5 capsules/6 patterns per mic
*Hypercardioid
*cardioid
*wide cardioid
*omni
*LOLLI large diaphragm - switchable cardioid/omni

Available in stereo or mono kits including all capsules and shockmount. The stereo kit capsules are all matched pairs, and it comes with a handy-dandy stereo bar for your trouble too!

The LOLLI gen2 is also available as a single item to upgrade your V1 or V1S kit, which conveniently has a slot cut out in the case to fit it.

LEARN MORE: https://www.vanguardaudiolabs.com/products/v1s-lolli-stereo-pencil-condenser-kit/

09/23/2026

Slowly getting back into a build rhythm in the new office, including building more LOLLI capsules. Been spending a bit of time refining my workflow for these as I get bits and pieces from *counts on fingers* 4 different manufacturing vendors just for the LOLLI build, not counting adhesive and screws and all that boring stuff.

Thanks to all who have ordered or sent in a vintage repair request for being patient as we get settled. Still getting the i's dotted and t's crossed in the new place. For instance, I finally have a microwave and it's nice to not drink lukewarm coffee anymore! ☕

09/17/2026

A simple solution to a Schoeps CMT55 that you can fix without paying me. I see this issue on a number of mics from AKG, Neumann, and more. Get yourself some blue Loctite and make sure those tiny little set screws are in place!

As always e-mail me with any condenser mic repair requests - [email protected]