Shure SM57 or SM58??

[APB_4]

I ordered I Shure SM57 from piedog.com and I just recieved the package, the only thing is it's an SM58! The thing is they sell the 58 for £10 more but they only charged me for the 57. Should I keep the SM58 or return it and get them to send me the proper one?

[ErikH]

If you want the 57, send it back. Otherwise, keep it. It's great mic and can be used for anything. I've used it to capture a garage jam session on tape with pretty decent results.

[APB_4]

If you want the 57, send it back. Otherwise, keep it. It's great mic and can be used for anything. I've used it to capture a garage jam session on tape with pretty decent results.

To tell you the truth I don't care which mic it is as long as it's good. I know the SM57 and 58 are good mics it's just the 58 is supposed to just be a vocal mic I wondered if the 57 was noticeably better for recording instruments.

[ErikH]

The 58 records instruments well too, it just handles vocals better than the 57 but I've seen and used the 57 for vocals before.

Listen to my sound clips to get an idea of how the SM58 does recording a 4x12. Link in my sig.

[these_go211]

i thought they were basically the same mic except the 58 has the ball end and the 57 has the straight end. i was going to buy a 57 last year for vocals and recording acoustic guitar. i asked 2 friends, 1 who is a producer/engineer who owns his own studio and the other is a long time guitar player vocalist for their opninion on the 57. both, independently of one another, said i should buy a 58 instead. for what that's worth.......

[Dirt123]

Keep the 58. I keep meaning to get a 57 because they are supposed to be a classic mike for recording amplified guiter, but so far the 58 works great or that and vocals too. I have 3, I snap one up whenever I see a used one.

[APB_4]

i thought they were basically the same mic except the 58 has the ball end and the 57 has the straight end. i was going to buy a 57 last year for vocals and recording acoustic guitar. i asked 2 friends, 1 who is a producer/engineer who owns his own studio and the other is a long time guitar player vocalist for their opninion on the 57. both, independently of one another, said i should buy a 58 instead. for what that's worth.......

Well that's certainly reassuring, thanks. Also thanks Erik. If anybody else has anything to add fire away.

[Zerberus]

Keep the 58 unless you specifically want teh exact tone and response of teh 57

[APB_4]

Keep the 58 unless you specifically want teh exact tone and response of teh 57

Well I've never used a 57 this is my first mic so it seems I got a bargain saving an extra £10 on it.

[John Wymore]

From Sure's website this appears to be the main difference for the SM 58:

A highly effective, built-in, spherical filter minimizes wind and breath "pop" noise.

[APB_4]

From Sure's website this appears to be the main difference for the SM 58:

A highly effective, built-in, spherical filter minimizes wind and breath "pop" noise.

Well that sounds pretty useful as I will be recording some mouth organ as well. I found another difference the range of frequencies are 40-15000Hz for the 57, 50-15000 for the 58

[Lewguitar]

Always thought they were the same mike. The SM-58 has the ball that helps prevent "pops" when used as vocal mike and the singer breathes into it heavily. The SM-57 doesn't resist those "pops" from breathing into it as well as the SM-58.

So the SM-58 is usually used for vocals and the SM-57 is usually used for instruments.

[twoheadedboy]

depends on what you're using it for. THe sm58 is the same thing as a 57, but has a wider dynamic range, so you get more of the airy highs and more of of the rumbly lows. It's great for recording because it's more transparent than a 57. I personally like a 57 better for micing guitars just because it emphasizes more of the frequencies that i'm into.

[ArtieToo]

I'm too lazy to check the website, but isn't the 57, (by virtue of its mouthpiece shape), more directional than the 58? Not positive about that, but I was thinking that was part of why its prefered for instruments.

[ErikH]

They both have the same pattern (cardioid). The main differences are the frequency response and the wind/pop filter. Vocals need that filter, instruments generally do not.

[AmirH]

The 57 and 58 are the exact same mic. The only difference is the pop filter on the 58. The pop filter actually makes the 58 pick up less frequencies as it's meant for live use- but in a recording situation I'd take the 57. You can always add a different pop filter if you have nothing better for vocals and it generally just gives you more to work with when miking up an instrument.

[Imp]

if you're being very careful, just unscrew the filter on the SM58.. it's a 57 for all intents and purposes then.. just be careful with the exposed end!!

tom

[APB_4]

if you're being very careful, just unscrew the filter on the SM58.. it's a 57 for all intents and purposes then.. just be careful with the exposed end!!

tom

Hey I just opened it and it looks like you could even screw on the 57 end if you could get one.
Thanks everybody.

Adam.

[APB_4]

I just recorded a clip VERY quickly so it's utter crap but still the backing is awesome stuff from the one and only TwilightOdyssey. I'll try and do something better tomorrow and stick in tips and clips.
Thanks again to everybody who posted, enjoy.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/song...songID=3024880

PS. Tell me what you think of the clip.

[seafoamer]

I prefer the 57's for everything, except live 'vocals'. I use 57's over 58's for studio vocals cuz i don't like the mid spike that the 58's have. 57's for instruments & speakers too.