V7 BFG

Signature Vocal Microphone for "The Reverend" Mr. Billy F. Gibbons

Best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist of the legendary American rock band ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons consistently ranks as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductee and iconic blues-rock guitarist from Texas has been performing on the road for decades, and is still musically hyper-active with The Kings of Chaos, the BFG’s and – last but definitely not least - ZZ Top!

V7 BFG

THE SIG. VOCAL MIC FOR THE ONE AND ONLY BILLY F. GIBBONS

Best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist of the legendary American rock band ZZ Top, Billy Gibbons consistently ranks as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. The Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame inductee and iconic blues-rock guitarist from Texas has been performing on the road for decades, and is still musically hyper-active with The Kings of Chaos, the BFG’s and – last but definitely not least - ZZ Top!

Recommended Use

Vocals, speech, broadcasting, podcasting, electric guitar, drums

Highlights
Vast amounts of gain before feedback
Captures your voice in the most natural way you've ever heard on stage
Custom chrome plated finish and royal purple windscreen
All-metal housing and beveled spring grille
Specialized supercardioid aluminum voice coil
Patented integrated shockmount



















Inside the V7 BFG

  • V7-BFG-Image-Map-3-aspect-ratio-545-390

    INNOVATIVE, SPECIALIZED ALUMINUM VOICE COIL

    The DMC7 dynamic element in the V7 BFG has been custom-developed for a crisp, open sound that perfectly captures your voice in the most natural way you’ve ever heard on stage – and its sophisticated supercardioid capsule design helps isolate your voice from other instruments, ensuring vast amounts of gain before feedback. Proven Neodymium magnets, tight production tolerances & high-end workmanship ensure excellent sensitivity, superior sound quality and superb consistency.

  • V7-BFG-Image-Map-3-aspect-ratio-545-390

    PATENTED INTEGRATED SHOCK MOUNT & GOLD-PLATED XLR CONNECTOR

    The V7 BFG’s brand new, patented shockmount efficiently decouples the capsule from mechanical vibration, providing exceptionally low handling noise as compared to other mics in its class. This means you can focus on your performance without fearing rumbles, pops, or anything other than your voice coming through. Plus, a gold-plated XLR connector ensures loss-free, reliable signal connection for years and years of demanding use.

  • V7-BFG-Image-Map-6-aspect-ratio-545-390

    ALL-METAL HOUSING & BEVELED SPRING STEEL GRILLE

    The V7 BFG’s road-ready design is all metal. The chassis’ high-quality, highly durable zinc alloy is designed to withhold the wear & tear of day to day tour life for years, and the spring steel mesh grille is dent-proof and corrosion-free for perfect reliability. Also, see that beveled edge around the grille? That prevents your mic from rolling around when you put it down. (It’s the little things that count)

  • CUSTOM CHROME FINISH & PURPLE INTERNAL WINDSCREEN

    With this special plating and purple internal windscreen for a unique aesthetic, the V7 BFG’s highly-polished chrome finish makes an immediate impression on stage or in the studio. The switchable internal windscreen reduces unwanted wind noise and plosive pops….and just in case you’re in need of a different color, we’ve included a spare black windscreen in the box for you.















Inside the V7 BFG Grille

  • V7-BFG-Image-Map-6-aspect-ratio-545-390

    BEVELED SPRING STEEL GRILLE

    The V7 BFG’s spring steel mesh grille is dent-proof and corrosion-free for perfect reliability. The beveled edge around the grille is made to prevent your mic from rolling when you put it down – so simple, yet so effective.

  • V7-BFG-Image-Map-8-aspect-ratio-545-390

    SWITCHABLE INTERNAL WINDSCREEN

    Efficiently reduces unwanted wind noise and plosive pops….and just in case you don’t like the stylish “BFG purple” color, we’ve included a spare black windscreen in the box for you.

Specs

Components
Capsule Dynamic
Power
Electrical impedance 300 Ohms
Connectivity 3-pin male XLR connector
Sound
Polar patterns Supercardioid
Frequency range 40 Hz - 19 kHz
Sensitivity 2.0 mV / Pa (-54 dBV)
Magnet Neodymium
Voice coil Aluminum
Dimensions
Mic 54 mm (2.13 in.)
Mic length 184 mm (7.24 in.)
Mic weight 296 g (10.44 oz.)
What's in the box
V7 BFG microphone
Mic clip
Thread adapter
Leatherette pounch
Microfiber polishing cloth
V7 BFG sticker
2x Jim Dunlop Custom Gel Picks (BFG Signature)
Spare black internal screen
User manual with warranty card

Downloads

User Manual
  • "The V7, in a word? Perfectamundo!"

    — Billy F. Gibbons - ZZ Top, The BFGs - sE Artist
  • "I PREFER the sE V7 microphone vs. the industry benchmark dynamic vocal microphone."

    — Ken "Pooch" Van Druten, FOH Engineer (Linkin Park, Justin Bieber, Kid Rock)
  • "The V7...is a stage mic that doesn’t feel like a compromise. I’ve had this mic for almost a year, and it’s captured amazing vocal performances, with stellar sounding results...even more so than the industry standards."

    — Andy Hong, Tape Op Magazine
  • "I have a new snare mic now. The sE V7 beat all my usual (and a few unusual) suspects in a blind test, and now it’s my go-to. Perfect tone and great hi-hat rejection. It’s killer!"

    — F. Reid Shippen, GRAMMY®-winning mix engineer / producer (Ingrid Michaelson, Kenny Chesney)
  • "Having tried a large number of industry standard microphones we never found one that works well for Tommy until we tried the sE V7. We both noticed the difference instantly."

    — Gary Sharpe, FOH Engineer (Between the Buried and Me, Every Time I Die)
  • "We did an A/B comparison through the Q wedge and the V7 smoked a standard 58...it's easily worth $150-199."

    — Ryan Pickett, FOH Engineer (Ray LaMontagne, My Morning Jacket, Jim James)
  • "The processing of the microphones is faultless...technically perfect design...robust sound for the stage that does not cost the world."

    — Bonedo.de
  • "I was surprised at how well-voiced the V7 is for a mix, closer to a LDC mic than the usual hand-held; a clear bright representation with plenty of detail in the vocal range."

    — Arthur Stone, Gearslutz.com
  • "The V7 is an all around great mic that really captures my voice and blocks out the rest. I’ve had a lot of issues in the past with feedback - as we like it really loud on stage - and this mic seems to be a perfect fit for what I’m looking for."

    — Alexis Mincolla, Singer (3Teeth)
  • "I am absolutely floored by the versatility of the V7. The way that mic handles the highs while still maintaining the low end qualities of my voice truly stunned me...I'm having a lot of fun with it on stage."

    — Terra Lopez, Singer (Rituals of Mine)
  • "We recently did a shootout with the new sE V7 handheld vocal mic against two classics, the Shure SM-58 and SM-7 and were very impressed with the V7. It had a much more extended top and bottom and the off axis rejection was much, much better than either of the Shure classics."

    — John Baccigaluppi, Single Fin Studio Group
  • "On snare, the huge bottom end of the V7 conjured a snare sound that could punch through walls...for big heavy snares, this mic is a must have."

    — MusicTech, March 2017
  • "With the V7, singing behind the drums is not a problem anymore. Besides the fantastic sound, the V7 isolates my voice perfectly from the drums, and now it's possible to record my vocals while drumming."

    — Titus Vadon, Composer / Musician
sE artists

From mainstage headliners to the biggest names in engineering, our artists rely on sE  to bring their sound to life

<h4>Q&A</h4>
What are the differences between your microphones’ polar patterns? How do I choose the most suitable type of polar pattern for my recording environment?

There are no real “right” or “wrong” answers to this question, as different patterns will just provide different types of sounds, and whatever best suits your particular song is usually the right answer! With that said:

  • Cardioid – Generally best for recording vocals or other single sources, when you don’t want to hear much of the room sound around the source.
  • Omni – This is good when you want a less focused, more “roomy” sound. Think distant drum mics in a great-sounding room.
  • Figure-8 – Since this pattern lets the mic “hear” on both sides – front and back – and reject the sounds on either side, it’s handy if you want to record two sources at once from a point in between them, without hearing what’s off to the sides.
  • Hypercardioid / Supercardioid – More directional than Cardioid, this is good for spot mics, when you want the sound to be very focused.
How should I store my microphone?

We generally recommend keeping your microphone in its case or original packaging when it is not in use for more than a few hours. If your studio is very clean and safe, it could be OK to leave out on its mic stand when not in use, but if a mic is out of its case, it could potentially be exposed to dust, smoke, moisture, or humidity – which can damage the sensitive parts of the mic – so we recommend avoiding those things at all cost.

How do I clean the microphone from spillage and dirt?

If your microphone has come in contact with dirt or another removable substance, we recommend cleaning it with a very soft, slightly damp cotton cloth. Do not open the microphone up to clean the inside, and make sure you NEVER touch the capsule itself. Cleaning a capsule should only be done by highly trained professionals in a “clean room” environment. If you suspect your capsule needs to be cleaned, please contact [email protected] so we can recommend an authorized local technician.

My guitar amplifier / drum / horn is VERY loud, and I am concerned about the risk of damage due to loud noise.

For the most part, sE mics can tolerate extremely high SPLs (typically over 135dB) and will be fine in front of even the loudest sources – yes, even our ribbon mics. If in doubt, you can check the specifications on the individual product page.

Which sE mic is best for recording vocals / drums / guitars / etc.?

Check out our Find Your Mic page to find the perfect mic for your application.

How do I connect my microphone to my computer?

You’ll need some sort of audio interface to do this – essentially, a box that converts an analog signal into a digital one, and sends the digital signal to your computer software in a way that your computer can understand. Some audio interfaces also include microphone preamplifiers, which raise the signal level from “mic level” to “line level” – if you are using an interface with no built-in preamp, you’ll need to plug the mic into a separate mic preamp first.