This is way off from the normal physics of the heart of the forum, but gonna post as I think I recall that you (Doug) are a musician and have done audio electronics and software.
So a while ago I was TV surfing and on PBS I came to...
"Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour"
from:
Lyric Theater and Cultural Arts Center
Lexington, Kentucky
They have a youtube channel here: http://www.youtube.com/user/WoodsongsOTRH
(and the newer ones use the mics to follow.)
A bit better than the normal normal crap on TV. So I'm watching the musical performers and then am thinking, "what are those microphones they are using?" Never seen the like. Looks like they were made in the garage but they must be good to be used here. I almost posted something here then to see if anyone knew of them.
But I did a lot of web searching and over a while eventually figured out that this is what they are:
http://www.eartrumpetlabs.com
Here's a pic of the main version "Edwina" from their pages
So on their pages they have lots of videos of various artists using them and some liking them a lot.
For me any opinion on the mics is theoretical.[*] My hearing sucks. But a decade or two back I got some not terrible mics and had some notion about the technology.
So I assume these are large diaphragm cartridge condenser mics. Clearly they (eartrumpetlabs) make their own mounting hardware or adapt plumbing pieces to make the supporting structure. I didn't find any statement of making their own cartridges or if they are buying them from some other vendor.
So I don't know if they really are good or are just attracting those who like the funky look.
Any thoughts from anyone?
[*] I had the privilege of doing a walking tour of Vietnam in 1968. I could have had a card that read "Have Gun Will Travel". At a recent reunion of guys I served with I asked, "Who's got ringing in their ears", (tinnitus) everyone raised their hands. My high frequency hearing has been gone for many years.