That being said, they still make for excellent overheads or even tom mics. But the R-121 really shines when it is used for a kick drum mic outside the front head or as a distant mic to capture the full ambient sound of a drum kit in a room. Royer recommends using a pop filter when mic-ing the bass drumhead to avoid too much air, which would attack the ribbon and possibly damage it. Although we took some measure of pride out of our distinction as pioneers, we were relieved to find that the company offers one free re-ribboning as well as a lifetime warranty on the mics. The company also sells repair kits that Carberry found idiot-proof, meaning that in a pinch, even a drummer such as myself could fix the mic.
Many engineers get their bass drum sounds by combining a mic inside the drum with an outside mic.
Unfortunately, some of the most frequently used outside mics, like the Neumann U-87, are prohibitively expensive. Carberry and other engineers have been blown away by the sound quality of the T-121. It exceeded the performance of other mics that cost up to three times as much. The sound has wonderful articulation without becoming fuzzy or producing an annoying slap. The mic seemed to sound best off center and about 6 inches away from the head.