That's NOT a C12. I should know, I own four. It looks to me like the AKG "The Tube," which was sold in the 80's. They are covered with a brownish sued, but maybe the pic's color is off. It could be a VR as well, also with the color being off. The "The Tube" was a horrible mic, not even slightly resembling the C12 in either the capsule nor the electronics. The VR's are quite nice, though not exactly as nice as the original. Close enough, if you aren't super-picky. I kind of prefer the Sound Deluxe copy, though, which cost less. The brass ring with this type of mic is the Telefunken 251, which uses the same capsule as the vintage C12, but a different cage and amplifier. It goes "Ka-BOOM."