With its clean, streamlined all-brass construction, Ear Trumpet Labs' Wanda seems to be the first of their unique microphone line that has no plumbing or bike parts in sight. A 26 mm diaphragm phantom-powered condenser mic, Wanda measures under 4-inches long by 2-inches in diameter – with a built-in 5/8-inch stand mount that pivots front to back. The mic feels solid, like no drummer or clumsy engineer could do much damage. Wanda was designed to handle high SPLs and given how many ETL products I see touring through town this makes sense. The mic shines with the clean brass finish, and though it's less of a look-at-me than some ETL mics it doesn't look like anything else currently out there. The medium-large diaphragm uses a transformer-less FET circuit, and all ETL mics are hand-made in their fun Portland, OR, shop; see my interview with founder Philip Graham in Tape Op #159.
We've had a Wanda prototype at Jackpot! Recording Studio for several months and later received a proper production model. The first test I gave her was a last-minute tambourine overdub on a hurried session. Over the years, I've noticed many condenser mics fart out and clip internally when confronted with a tambourine, but Wanda captured the hits and off beats with elan, and also sat in the final mix quite easily without a lot of compression or EQ.
On acoustic guitar, placed pointing at the join/12th fret area, it had a wonderful, rich tone. It was not shrill or super bright by any means, but delicate finger picking was well-articulated and low notes carried substantial weight without getting boomy. On harder strumming, the guitar's midrange came forward in a perfect, usable way. The balance of frequencies from this mic on acoustic guitar was spot on, and my assistant and I both though the result almost sounded compressed in a way as if the mic added some of its own focus.