Pasadena, CA (October 22, 2026)—A portion of the proceeds from sales of AEA Ribbon Mics’ limited-edition KU4A ribbon microphone will benefit the Guitar Center Music Foundation (GCMF) through a new partnership.
The collaboration began in the aftermath of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. As GCMF worked to replace instruments and equipment lost in the fires, AEA joined the effort by creating a special run of limited-edition KU4A microphones. Initially, a portion of proceeds supported the foundation’s wildfire relief initiative. With that effort now complete, proceeds from the remaining microphones continue to support GCMF’s ongoing instrument grant and donation programs.
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“AEA was founded in Pasadena and remains based here today. Our offices are located within the evacuation zone, several of our team members were displaced for weeks after the fires, and many of us have friends who lost their homes,” said Julie Tan, CEO of AEA Ribbon Mics. “Partnering with the Guitar Center Music Foundation allowed us to give back to our community while continuing to raise awareness of what Southern California experienced in January 2025. The foundation was one of the first major organizations to step in and support the music community while the fires were still burning. We deeply value its leadership within the music industry and its impact through music education, philanthropy, and support for musicians.”
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The limited-edition AEA KU4A is available exclusively through Guitar Center and its family of brands for $8,700, with a portion of proceeds benefiting GCMF’s ongoing instrument grant and donation programs.
The KU4A traces its design lineage to RCA’s KU3A, a high-sensitivity unidirectional ribbon microphone developed for Hollywood film studios. It was RCA’s most expensive ribbon microphone, and fewer than 600 were manufactured.
The wildfire relief initiative reflects GCMF’s broader mission of expanding access to music through instrument grants and donations. Since 2005, GCMF has supported hundreds of music education and therapy programs and reached more than 300,000 people. In 2025 alone, the foundation supported 141 music programs across 39 states, reaching more than 15,000 people through its grants.
“Access to music can change the trajectory of a life, and partnerships like this allow us to put that belief into action,” said Valeisha Butterfield, GCMF’s CEO and executive director.
