SHURE SM57 & SM58 "Vocal Mic"

majestikc · 2009-05-08T12:29:18+00:00

I heard these are the exact same mics in every way except the SM58 is a "Vocal Mic" because it has a built in pop screen?

SHURE SM57 & SM58 "Vocal Mic"

Gearhead

Either SM57 or SM58 would go for 75 Euro excluding transport and importing, new in box, parallel import into Europe if you find the right oke (I did, NOT illegal just not very commercial). Stores sell it for 85-90. I have seen them here for between 1200 and 1300 depending on where you are. Someone must be making a good margin if you're paying 1500.

Riaan-Combrink

TomCat wrote: IMHO I think the SM57 or Beta 57A are still the best microphones around for Guitar Amp Mic'ing.

As far as live stage use is concerned, however, after using a Beta 58A for a year now I can't get used to my SM-58 again. The Beta has a massively wider response (especially tops). Much clearer. I notice it in my slider and gain settings when I alternate between the two. Have to bring it down for the Beta, as it just JUMPS out of the mix!

Don't know the pros and cons of the Beta for recording though ...

Wizard

Prices of SM57's and SM58's vary hugely depending on specials etc.
In general 57's are more expensive due to high demand and low supply - lots of 58's in stock.
57's on gumtree get sold very quickly.

AlanRatcliffe

Buyer beware - there are a LOT of Chinese copies floating around. They even have the "made in Mexico" on the box, but the mics themselves are cheap copies, more like the 48s than the 58s.

TomCat

There is only one official importer for Shure and that is Wild & Marr.

They supply to all the stores.

Yes, exchange rates play a great role in the final price so it depends on who bought their stock when as far as pricing goes.

Wizard

Useful review --> http://www.tweakheadz.com/review_of_the_sm57.htm

FenderBender

I bought an SM58 in January from this guy on bid or buy:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/12872931/shure_sm58_microphone_and_microphone_stand_and_microphone_cable.html

I didn't need the stand, so ended up only paying around R550 for mic, boxed with clip, bag and a lead strap!
The seller treated me well with no hassles whatsoever.

It is a genuine Shure product!

Stoner-Riff

SM57

Stoner-Riff

TomCat wrote: There is only one official importer for Shure and that is Wild & Marr.

They supply to all the stores.

Yes, exchange rates play a great role in the final price so it depends on who bought their stock when as far as pricing goes.

I got my three SM57's for R900.00 each.
Bought them in Florida last year Oct.
The mom&pop stores there have to compete w.MF to keep head above water, and you get good deals like that when you say " i see Musiciansfriendsell it at . . . "

Stoner-Riff

majestikc

.....not too sure he's going to be able to bite it off.......but he looks funny trying at least :?

Garth-S

What is the opinion on the shure PG mics. I have a PG58 and am quite impressed, and they are half the price of the SM58's

TomCat

PG's are not too bad from a tonal perspective for normal PA use.

Their shortcoming is when they are used on higher powered PA's where the handling noise becomes too obtrusive.

OK on a mic stand but not good for hand-held use. Another good alternative is the SM48.

FruitarGeek

Sorry to revist this topic which is well rested, but on the topic of SM58 v SM57, what do you guys recommend I go for first?

I don't really need a mic to mic up my amp or gear, because I use software which works great. My main concern now is recording vocals, and perhaps acoustic. Maybe even recording band practices, you know, by sticking mic in the middle of the room etc. Now I only have budget for one mic, for now alteast. Which one do I go for first

And more importantly, whats a good price I should pay for second hand one?

AlanRatcliffe

R900 - 1000 s/h, but be very careful buying s/h unless you really know what to look for.

For studio I usually recommend the 57 first, because it is excellent in such a wide range of applications (live too). A 58 is a must-have live for vocals, but it quickly gets put away in studio when you have a semi-decent LDC. So it boils down to your priorities...

andrewjbryson

SM-58
Frequency response: 50 to 15,000 Hz

SM-57
Frequency response: 40 to 15,000 Hz

singemonkey

Seems to be a big myth in SA with 57s. I've encountered "sound guys" who have told me that it's not a vocal mic. It's interesting then that Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra - who some people consider to have known a thing or two about vocals and were not limited by budget - chose the SM57 as their stage mics. Sinatra apparently would record with nothing else.

Go to www.bhphotovideo.com and buy an SM57 for $100. Do not pay more than R1,000. If you have to, go in with others or buy when you need other stuff to reduce shipping charges. I needed one in a hurry once and Bothners burned me so bad, I still have the scars. Still, in the long term, an SM57 is never obsolete.