Asking Once Again...

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davdud101
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2012/12/27 11:12:50 (permalink)

Asking Once Again...

What's up, everyone! I finally got a nice mic stand for Christmas (and hey, a trombone mute!), and I'm soon going to purchase a Shure mic on a $100 budget. However, I was wondering this one thing;

Which is the best value between the SM58, SM57, SM48, and PG58?

I really consider myself a beginner, and this will be my first good microphone, but I don't' want to overspend on something I don't need with features that won't actually benefit me. What I really need is a mic with generally no hiss at normal gain levels, and that picks up well in the highs+lows. 



[EDIT]

(I decided I'd also ask about this, too!)
Could anyone name a couple of cheap keyboards? They'll need touch sensitivity, MIDI out, and a knob or two. Used or legacy models are fine.

Thanks!


post edited by davdud101 - 2012/12/27 11:19:27

 
Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
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#1

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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 11:22:58 (permalink)


    I use my 57s more than my 58s.

    Can you make it up to the price of a Senniheiser 935?


    best regards,
    mike





    #2
    davdud101
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 11:42:45 (permalink)
    Thanks for the reply, mike. Another $50... Is just starting to cut steep for me, but I guess that leaves the question of whether is so much better that it's worth it?

     
    Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
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    Cactus Music
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 12:17:02 (permalink)
    I'm the same as Mike, I have three of each. I put small wind socks on my 57's and we use them for almost everything including vocals. I find the 58 kinda dull, I wish I had spent the extra and bought the Beta's, they are crispy. But I can't see any mike collection being complete without the 57's. 

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    DeeringAmps
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 12:30:33 (permalink)
    You can probably never have too many '57's.

    T

    Tom Deering
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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 13:29:30 (permalink)


    Hi Davdud,

    The next time I think I need to buy another 57/58 type mic I'm going to spend the extra on the 935.

    A friend left a few over here for a week a while back and it seems like they do every thing the versatile Shures do and sound just a little bit more clear and open on vocals.

    It would be worth comparing with a test listen at a Guitar Center or some such.

    The 935 is the only similar type of hand held dynamic mic that has ever gotten me to think I'd switch from the Shure habit.

    best regards,
    mike




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    DeeringAmps
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 13:36:55 (permalink)
    "worth comparing with a test listen at a Guitar Center"

    Guitar Center? This time of year? (anytime really)
    Surely you jest???

    T

    Tom Deering
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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 13:53:37 (permalink)


    I was in Sam Ash Clearwater recently and a young lady flutist was leading some of the other staff through some Christmas carols.

    When it was time for her to check out my purchase I told her how charming it had seemed.

    Then I saw a sign on the wall that advertised that she also did a free group ukulele workshop every Thursday evening.



    :-)


    You just never know what to expect.


    :-)




    #8
    DeeringAmps
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 14:10:44 (permalink)
    curiouser and curiouser...

    T

    Tom Deering
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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/27 14:49:06 (permalink)


    Have you seen the new Mikek PM10 drum mics?


    I am thinking of trying one for snare and tom to hear what they sound like.

    I'd be comparing them to the Beta56a or SM57 I use now.


    best regards,
    mike


    #10
    davdud101
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/28 11:22:38 (permalink)
    I still haven't totally settled, but I guess I'll check around for maybe some used 935, 58, 57, etc., maybe to  save a coupla bucks.

     
    Mics: MXL 990, MXL R80, 2 x MXL Tempo XLRs, Cobalt Co9, SM48, iSK Starlight
    Cans: Hifiman HE4XX, AKG M220
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    The Maillard Reaction
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/28 11:26:03 (permalink)
    You're gonna use it for the rest of your life.

    It's gonna end up being enjoyed for pennies per day.

    Have fun!


    all the best,
    mike


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    Cactus Music
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/28 11:34:45 (permalink)
    Used mikes! Yuck! Dog slobber. 

    I have my own mike,, nobody else has every been allowed to use it.
    Even though my highest recomondation for a workhorse mike is a SM7 or a Beta SM7 there are many many great mikes out there, but if your talking about starting a collection they are a great starting point. 

    My vocal mike for live gigs is a Audio Technica that has no modle number on it , the decal fell off. It was $125 and sound exactly like a beta 58

    Johnny V  
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    #13
    tfbattag
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/28 16:15:07 (permalink)
    Hi David-

    The SM 57 is something that you will always be able to use. It even comes in handy as a hammer (just kidding). The only other one at $99 that I'd consider is the Audix i5. It's similar but a little brighter. I have one of each, and I really like them both. The 58 is targeted at hand-held vocals, and it has been maybe the most live performance vocal mic of the last 30 years. I'm personally not sure about this, but I have read that it's really the same mic as a 57 but with the steel mesh cap and windscreen. You might want to verify this information.


    Best of luck.

    Thomas Battaglia
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    tlw
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/28 22:03:41 (permalink)
    Shure have frequency plots for the SM57 and 58 on their website.

    There's not that much between them, but personally I find I use a 57 on instruments/guitar cabs in preference to a 58. Which seems a pretty common practice.

    Both are industry standards for a reason, both last decades if not abused too much (and they can both stand quite a bit of abuse). If I only had the one, personally I'd go for the SM57 as I find it more useful/flexible overall.

    Don't bother paying extra for a Shure with a switch, on/off switches on mics rarely come in very useful and lead to mics being turned off accidentally at just the wrong moment.

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    Cactus Music
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    Re:Asking Once Again... 2012/12/29 00:49:02 (permalink)
    What tlw is saying is so true, I have a friend who's set of 57 and 58's where purchased second hand by him in the mid 70's. We A/B'd them with my newer ones and they sound identical 
     The wind screens were just filthy so we washed them. 
    These mike where tossed in a suitcase full of cables for most of there life,,, never looked after. That's why we like them. As I said there are 1,000 of great  mikes out there, but nothing like these. They are not great, just legendary.   

    And a big thing for me is the gain before feedback rejection that few mikes can claim.

    Tlw,, there is a difference in the pre amps inside them with a low cut on the 57?? I believe other than that they share the same barrel and diaphragm.I think you can exchange the top parts. The main idea is the 58 has the pop screen. But add a windsock to a 57 and ther eya go/ 
    post edited by Cactus Music - 2012/12/29 00:56:17

    Johnny V  
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