I have been fortunate enough to hold one and rub it in a counterclockwise fashion but didnt bother mentioning that due to cost. What a great great mic. Now the focusrite....... not a fan. I had a Control 24 with Platinum Pres and those were pretty good but for the money and in the prosumer range I prefer Avalon. Have you ever used a U5 to record bass direct?? Getty Lee used one live, best bass sounds I have ever gotten. Now as a disclaimer, bass must have nice pickups.