Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone Reviews

I'm taking my first steps into microphones, interfaces, in ear monitors and recording my drumming. Just to get up and running I bought two SM57's in bundles, each with an XLR cable and a boom mic stand. So far, I'm just using one overhead and one close in front of the kick drum. The overhead is working surprisingly well for not being close to any of the drums. The SM57 close mic'ed in front of the kick is working well, but isn't the best for recording the low frequencies of the kick drum. The next mic I add will be a Shure Beta 52A for the kick drum and the second SM57 will either move overhead along with the first one, or close mic'ed on my snare drum, where these are one of the very best microphones for the job. These two SM57's have been great to start me on this recording journey and I'll be using them for years and years after I add more/other mics to my kit.

It's the king. It's the first mic to buy. It's the last mic you'll buy. You'll probably buy more than one. There's almost nothing you can't record with one of these, if you're willing to try hard enough. For instance, why spend $ on a "live stream" mic, when all you need is a 57 and a good pop filter. It's workhorse with nothing extra needed - no phantom power, no preamp, nothin'. Plug and play.

This was a fantastic solution for my audio capture problem on my YouTube channel. Using a shotgun mic or lavaliere mics just don't cut it, nor the typical USB mics found commonly on Zoom calls. The SM57 is a GREAT performer for voice as well as capturing sound from my amp. This absolutely upped the quality of audio on my YT vids. When I play fingerstyle acoustic, it works well by itself but I also use an in-line mic preamp to boost signal. I purchased the SM57 with the Sweetwater bundle (SM57, 15 foot XLR cable and mic stand). Thanks to Adam Hunter (prior to my purchase) to answer my question about the SM57 with acoustic guitar: it IS all about placement!

What else do I have to say? This is the legendary Shure SM57. It's built like a tank, and is great for recording instruments and even vocals.

You hear about these mics all the time - once you start using one, it'll be clear why.

While there are other mics that are more specialized and could be considered better than the 57 for certain applications, you can totally get away with recording everything with this one mic. I've done that very thing and still ended up with a crystal clear, punchy mix once everything was all said-and-done.

If you're just starting out in recording, start with this mic - you will pass this onto the next generation.

If you've been at this for a while, it never hurts to have another 57 lying around.

As always the Shure sm57 is the solid go to mic. Well constructed with dynamic sound, this is our go to and has been for years.

Recently employed these mics to capture the sound of marimba and trumpet. The frequency response was excellent for the performance. The band was set close to a Bose L1 system but we had no feedback issues. SM57s are versatile and solid workhorses. They are not on the level of a high quality condenser, but if you know to place them, you get excellent results.

I grew up on Sm57's & Sm58's and given the mid-range that's typically needed for the average listener and what they use these days to listen through, and the quality of eq & other devices to sculpt the sound, I see no viable reason to use any other microphone(s) I have at my disposal. I'm sure there will be those that will disagree, but I see the end results and how you get there is what we are talking about here. I also doubt anyone including top engineers can tell buy hearing a piece of music can tell what microphone was used. So, case in point, find what works for you, your ears and your pocketbook then run with it. Great Job & great service from the folks @ Sweetwater. I only wish for a location in the Atlanta Area.

I'll be back!

Allways Love doing business with SweetWater ! Billy Germano Allways makes sure products are sent swiftly and if any issues arise , he's there to remedy the situation!
Happy return customer !:)

I have used them for over 4o years and they are a venerable veteran. You never have to worry.

You buy one then you buy more thats how it worx

I purchased this microphone for my at-home studio a few months ago. With a minimal amount of setup this mic was running in a most excellent fashion!! I was able to capture phenomenal recordings of my strat through my Fender Vintage modified tube amp. Now I just need to practice my guitar enough to be worthy of such a microphone…

Finally purchased 2 of these mics so far they have been great! The versatility and clarity is a plus as well. I would highly recommend these mics.

I record acoustic guitar (mostly classical lately) at home and at someone's suggestion I tried these mics. I have much more expensive large diameter condenser mics which record EVERYTHING in great detail. Great if you play perfectly, but if you make a bit of hand noise, breath a little once in a while, the 57s might be good for you too. I use these close in at about 7" pointed at the 12th and the bridge and get good results.

Though I've owned another SM57. Writing review for the many products I bought. There's a reason why this company does really good business and it's profitable. Even though they don't have stores in my area the service reps are very knowledgeable. Shipping is fast. I like that they're so concentrated and they don't have a bunch of stores everywhere. Though it's convenient with more stores I think it allows them to concentrate on their product and their customer service to rely on internet service.

I'm using this mic to mic my banjo and a condenser mic for my voice through a 2 channel mixer and into my laptop. My purpose presently is to record practices in order to improve my voice, my banjo playing and get very familiar with using sound equipment. I have played for many years but mostly without reinforcement. This has presented me with harsh but helpful realities.
So using this mic has opened a new way for me to get an act up and make a worthwhile presentation for folks.

I've used the Shure sm57 for miking drums, bass rigs, making a small practice amp sound huge, (but needed a PA and a condenser mic also) miking guitar amps, and for vocals, both lead and backup (tho I would recommend the sm58 more for vocals, it has a different pop filter) and I've also personally used it to mic an acoustic guitar to amazing results.
Don't listen to the one guy who left a 1 star review. This mic is everything you need it to be, and it's tough as nails

Works like a champ ,sounds great .

If you're looking at this mic, you already know it's pretty good, but you're asking yourself "Can I do better?"
Probably... but this one is an industry standard for a reason. It's solid. The price is very respectable. It works pretty well in almost every application. If you're thinking about it, just grab one. It may not knock your socks off, but it certainly won't disappoint.

The Shure SM57 is a world class microphone. It's been around for ages and, while that doesn't have to mean much because some mics such as the SM58 I find to be always an inferior option, I think with the 57 Shure have really nailed it. I bought this for a recording session for an acoustic guitarist I work with. The mic sounded great on each guitar he brought in. Or rather the guitars all sounded great through it. Naturally you'll want to do additional processing for a polished recording but this mic offers such a wonderful sound on all it captures. Just a little EQ & compression along with any time based effects will really make your source material shine. I now primarily use this as a vocal mic live and in the studio. It works wonderfully for that as well. Live I use no additional processing and in the studio I get pretty effect heavy. In both situations it stands up. The Shure SM57 is at home in anyone's studio or live rig and I truly believe Shure will probably be manufacturing this microphone for all eternity with good reason.

It's hard to go wrong with a classic!

An OUTSTANDING microphone from the leader in mic's!!! This is the perfect mic for stage and recording, be it singing, mic'ing amps or mic'img drums!!! I have 10 so far and will be buying a few more!

You cannot buy a better microphone for the money! Been using them since 1978. Remarkably they were bought then at the same price they are now!

Bought two to mic my congas.
Perfect!

Every mic user has to have a 57. They've been around forever and probably always will be.

You could literally record an entire album with just this one mic if you had to. It just works great for instruments and vocals both. I mostly use it as guitar speaker mic, but occasionally I'll put a pop screen in front of it to record vocals and it works great for this as well. They are almost indestructible, but if you do have to send it to Shure for repair, they have great repair plan - they just charge you a flat rate and send you a brand new mic. Hard to beat.

does its job

Great for guitar cabs and snare drums. A million uses.

The SM57 is the first microphone that I ever bought and is still my #1 pick for a live vocal performance. You don't get a lot of outside noise bleeding into the mix and the sound is warm, clean and crisp. It feels good in your hand, is easy to work and sturdy as a tank. I've had it since the early 90s and it sounds just as good as when I first bought it.

Works well for recording my instrument output

A while back, I bought a small item, possibly a guitar stand and was amazed at the efficiency and accuracy of the process. Even though it's primarily an online business, you still have the pleasure of getting to communicate with really good people.
Since that purchase, with the cooperation of my church, I've purchased around $10,000 of gear with no regrets.
I was asked to review this mic acquisition, but felt there was more to say.

Always the go to for instrument recording.

nice thank you

I have started using a mic after listening to a comparison between my Taylor 814 with e2 pickup to it mic'd.
The SM 57 works great! I also purchased the higher level Beta 57 so I can carry the mics in 2 different gig bags. That is also great.

It is a good microphone

The SM57 has been my go-to microphone for vocal and instrument for many years. I have never been disappointed in its durability or performance.

Best instrument mic ever made sold by the best supplier ever, thanks Sweetwater

First let me say that Ben Porter and the Sweetwater team did a great job getting my order to me. Now for the SM57, this mic lives up to its reputation for recording with my guitar/bass amps. I also have a SM58 that is true to its name.

Shure 57 is like the clock we rely on that keeps on ticking year after year, a mic we can depend on for "Shure".

We purchased this mic to use with a cajon. We had been using an SM58, but I read that people who know cajons shared that the 57 will work better. I did notice a difference.

1. Near perfect noise rejection: it's really easy to get a clean recording.

2. Solid build quality: you can drop it or hit it with a drum stick and the mic will forgive you.

3. Blends really well with other microphones: a popular electric guitar mic technique is to blend an SM-57 with a Royer R121 ribbon mic, or a Sennheiser MD421. The reason is, the SM-57 gives you a really satisfying midrange impact. Eddie Van Halen used two SM-57's to record Van Halen 1, which is considered one of the best guitar tones ever.

4. You can use it as a vocal mic: it plays nice with a loud vocalist. And doesnt have much handling noise.

5. It's replacable: you can find this mic everywhere. Meaning the price will never skyrocket to $10,000 like a Telefunken.

I don't think there's a more versatile mic at this price point. You really can't go wrong with an SM-57. It just works!

The fidelity of the Shure SM57 is excellent. It is just what I needed to record my acoustic guitar and mountain dulcimers. It picks up the sound beautifully and because it is pointed at the instrument it does not pick up any extraneous sound. It's a great value at this price.

I purchased this Shure Sm57 for my snare drum and have to say it works great and makes my snare sound amazing. Definitely recommend this mike and as always the service and reps at Sweetwater are the best.

Been playing of over 20 years and finally have an sm57 in my mic collection. I recently started recording my own drums and this is a must have in your arsenal of live/recording mics.

I bought a pair of these in 2017 for our church, intending to use them for instruments paired with a couple of Sennheiser e835s for vocals (I have always been a big fan of Sennheiser and still am). The first time we had use for any of these microphones was with a jazz band that needed 4 vocal mikes. So I used the SM57s as two of the vocal mikes. I was immediately impressed with their clarity and tone in that role.

Enter Covid.

As we could not have in-person services with full choir, we began recording anthems and hymns with a quartet of singers for use in our webcast services. I used our SM57s for the two best singers, and the e835s for the other singers (hoping they don't read this!). I have never regretted that decision. Our bishop held us up as the gold standard in the diocese for webcasts during this period.

I just ordered another pair for my personal microphone collection (long overdue).

If you need a dynamic microphone with the greatest versatility, This Is The One To Buy. Period. You won't regret it.

Unbeatable value for one of the most popular instrument mics on the market today!

I'm using the Shure SM57 microphone to mic the speaker on my combo guitar amp, and so far it works great, good clean sound and easy to use. I'm placing it close to the amp's grill near the center of the speaker and have been happy with the results. It's not a very expensive microphone as far as microphones can go, but seems to do an excellent job for the application mentioned above. I'm very happy with my purchase so far, and will continue to explore the ways of using this microphone.

The workhorse of sound reinforcement. These mics work well for everything.

What can I say it is is SM57 the workhorse of all microphones. If I had to only have one mic to do all of my recording this would be the one. I bought two this go around and will buy a few more in the near future.

Great mic

Great service from Sweetwater !!

As always, quick, flawless excellent service. Have already had occasion to use them and it they were remarkable!

Great Microphone. This is my first SM57 mic and I am using this one to mic the instruments. its size is nice and works well.

What else can I say that hasnt been said already? This thing is amazing in capturing the tone of mi guitar amp.

There's not a lot I can say about this product that hasn't already been said before. An industry standard and true workhorse that has proven itself time after time for decades. If you're on a budget (or if you're not) you can't go wrong with purchasing this mic. If you're into recording A LOT, get as many of these as you can.

Original Shure sm57 not much to say, best reliable instrument mic out here and coming from Sweetwater It's a no Brainer, arrived fast original shure mic, not going to risk buying a knock off elsewhere!

No issues with this mic. It's a classic for a reason.

This mic is the GOAT. A ridiculous price for such good quality. I now understand why SM57s are staples in professional recording studios.

Perfect mic for my amp!

Great for guitar amps, snare drums, live and recording.

The mic is tops in picking up Instruments Acoustical Instruments like Guitars Mandolins, Banjo's and harmonics wind instruments.

You can record just about anything with a 57. I have heard them used with good results on everything from their classic applications such as Snare drums and Amplifier Cabinets, to less obvious sources such as Acoustic Guitars, Toms, Kicks, High Hats, Saxophones, various brass instruments like Trumpets and Trombones, Congas, Bongos, Timbales, Pianos, Rhodes, Leslie Speakers, as a crushed mono room mic... Basically, if you don't know what mic to use, try a 57. You can get amazing vocals with this mic too. Use a pop filter in front of it and have your singer give some space between themselves and the mic. The sound will clean up beautifully. On guitar cabs, if there is too much low end where it sounds muddy, pull it back. It will clean up. Just spend a little time on mic placement and you will be rewarded for your efforts.

The SM 57 was the perfect solution to mic my Leslie 3300! I WAS only capturing half of my Leslie to tape before this, and the Cab grabber arrived. As always, Rob Amaral is the consummate professional and account manager providing the perfect solution at an affordable price!

Just what I needed. Thanks!

Sounds great on guitar amps, drums, vocals, an industry standard like the sm58, a must have for you mic locker

Awesome microphone picks up the intruments really well.

You can't go wrong with an SM57. I haven't had any problems whatsoever with mine. Nothing really special but it is a good mic

This is my first mic so I don't have anything to compare to. Does everything good enough for this guy. I'm a SoundCloud artist and was looking to up my recording game. I was recording into iPhone. This certainly did the trick. I use it with a Focusrite interface. I play heavy blues rock with some pretty gritty vocals. I can scream as hard as I can and the mic still sounds great. I play an all steel resonator on high gain. My feedback can get a little crazy when I record because I like to crank it up and get them tubes hot. Mic still sounds great. I think it's a great mic at a great price.

At this point, is a review for this microphone really necessary? If you are on this page reading reviews for an SM57, then you more than likely don't already own one when you know you should, so just buy it. You'll love it. It works great and belongs in anyone's personal collection. And not just their collection of audio gear, the SM57 also goes great with other collections, like video games, classic cars, and baseball cards. Add this microphone to your own personal collection today.

Buying from Sweetwater is more like partnering with them than a simple transaction. Sweetwater will provide excellent service by answering question quickly and accurately. They take service seriously and do a great job.

It's just a MUST have! (Every studio has at least two.) Use it on cabinets, snare top and bottom, vocals, guitar. You name it. Consistent and great sounding results every time.

If you don't like this mic then, I'm sorry to say, its because you don't know how to use it. Im fairly certain that this mic has been used on more recordings that any other microphone ever made, and by a long-shot! For percussion guitar cabs and brass it almost acts like a ribbon and can take extremely high SPL. For guitar cabinets its one of the go-to favorites by engineers around the world and can be used in tandem for phase cancellation. Need to mic an acoustic... add a preamp and you're golden. If you want to home-record music on a tight budget then invest in the SM-57. If you walked into any pro studio in the world they'd have dozens if not hundreds of 57's in their locker. The reason?... The 57 is ALWAYS and option. There are, of course, loads of mics that will out perform the 57 in a variety of settings but not by much and in no where near the price point. To make the 57 even better, it has no-doubt graced the stages of clubs to stadiums across the world for near a half-century, and more than any other mic ever made. It's been used since the late 50's and has the exact same design to this day because it works... and keeps on working even if you drop it, in a puddle, over and over. And should the shocking happen and it does actually fail, a new mic is less than $. Vocals, drums, horns, strings, guitars, cabinets, rooms, percussion.... I honestly can't think of something that makes noise that i'd like to record that I wouldnt at least try the 57. Get 1, or 57.... cause thats a really good number.

This mic came with a lot of hype and positive reviews. It exceeded them and is truly amazing! I use it to record bass and piano from my cabinet. It has solid recording capabilities across the frequency spectrum. I am especially pleased with the way that it captures my basses. Very articulate and clear. Thank you Shure!

I must say this mic has been amazing. It is a great accompaniment to my primary Rode Nt1A.

This is one of the finest mics. they just keep goin and goin and goin! Truly a classic! and for the money! Same price for decades! and I don't want to forget to mention my good friends at Sweetwater. Fast...knowledgeable and all round great bunch of people. I'LL BE BACK!

The most versatile microphone money can buy.

The SM 57 is legend for good reason. Realistically priced, extremely versatile, and well-made, this should be the first microphone you buy for a home recording studio. I have successfully miked a medium sized drum kit in my home studio with only three of these. Just starting out? Two of these and two SM58's are all you need to get going. Sure, expensive microphones are great if you need them and can afford them but while you're saving your money to buy more expensive mics for your studio you can be making great recordings with just these.

I bought this mic as an instrument mic and even vocals for when there is a need. The mic sounds super clean, is built like a tank, and will record pretty much any source of sound with no issues. It is also a super comfortable design for those who find that important.

Overall, you can't go wrong with getting one of these mics. They are on pretty much every record ever it seems like, and that's for a good reason. The price and performance of these literally cannot be beaten.

Works well, good material, and versatile. A must buy at this price point, I don't think there are any that outdo it.

I'm sure there are applications that would not be ideal for the SM57, but for SO many things (vocals and instrument mic'ing), it is perfect.

its the cats meow, just what I needed to make my home made cajon sound like a million bucks!

Bought because I needed another one, and Shure SM57's are great at what they do, and they perform for their intended purpose very well. It is a ruggedly built, classic Shure Dynamic Mic with tons of versatility, including mic'ing instruments. Sweetwater had it sent to me perfectly packaged and got it out quickly as always. Big Thanks to my new Sales Engineer - Daniel Rivera-Tre. Sweetwater is one incredible company!

This microphone is super reliable and provides great sound. An industry standard. It does everything I need it to and more than I expected.

The Shure SM57 isn't the Ferrari, Maserati or Porsche of microphones. Not for 100 bucks...not at all. But it's a helluva Ford 150 pickup! It gets the job done, it's versatile, it can be used in dozens of different circumstances...and it just keeps on keepin' on.
I had had a brand new 57 a few years ago, but sold it after it gathered dust for a few years in the back end of a drawer.
This time, I thought, I'll try something different.
Well, that "something different" was a major disappointment — and this is where Sweetwater's service comes in, with James Masterson in the lead. James has been my go-to guy at Sweetwater for years now, and I knew he could help me out. With no hesitation, James sent me a return label for the first mic. And that came even though it was just days after I had returned another item to Sweetwater with James' help. I can't say enough good things about him. He's always there to help and advise and he's ready to work with me if there's an item I'm not satisfied with. He's a professional...and that's often a rarity in this day. Thanks, James!

What else can a body write about the 57? They're SM57s. They do that job like no other.

The SM57 is a industry standard for a reason. Its a great Mic!!! I've used SM57's on almost everything and anything you can imagine over the years. Never have had bad results with a SM57. Yes, there are other mic's that might be better, but you'll never go wrong with a SM57.

I've used it for several venues and I'm very happy using it with my accordion. I did a lot of research on this. As it turns out one of my favorite YouTube videos is with the Mavericks singing 'All you ever do is put me down'. I was watching it again after I got the mic and their accordion player uses the SM57 Microphone. I chose wisely.

Dear Sweetwater,
I recently purchased a Shure SM 57 Instrument microphone from y'all. I already own a couple SM 57 mics, but I couldn't find them and I needed one to help support an open mic. We set up the mic on a boom stand for acoustic guitar and I am pleased that it performed better than I remembered. It didn't matter how hard or soft a player was playing, the SM 57 picked up everything. That's what I like about open mic and live performance, you get it all including the mistakes and happy accidents. The SM 57 had always been my microphone of choice for my guitar, both acoustic and in front of my amplifier, as it can handle the high sound pressure levels. I highly recommend the Shure SM 57 because it has the traditional look and sound I like. Buy an SM 57 and you will love it! You have my unconditional "Bro" guarantee!

As always, the Shure 57 is reliable and the most versatile microphone there is.

Nice quality mic and Ryan was very helpful and followed up after the order.

I'm very happy with this mic. My guitar sounds a lot better all of a sudden!

I was a live sound engineer for many years. The shure SM57 was always the mic chosen on tech riders for snare drum. I've been using sm57 for vocals since 1977. The Allman brothers used SM57 for vocals in their live shows. In recent years they started using Beta57. I like what the '57 does to my voice. It's not your typical recording mic for vocals, but it works for me.

I grabbed this kit so I could mic my amp and start recording. It's almost perfect. The cable and mic are perfect for me. But the stand "barely" works for my amp. I definitely need a smaller mic stand to put in front of the amp. The mic stand that comes with the kit works, I just don't get as much flexibility as I would like.

I don't know much about mics and just bought this to play around with on basic instruments like flageolets and so forth. Seems good for what I am using it for. Amateur like stuff. Makes the instruments sound better when I incorporate effects like reverb and such through it

This is one of the all time best amp mics ever!!!
Need an amp mic, look no further. This one will do the job and then some!!! Makes my recording sound better than I really am.
If you want the best customer service experience ever, call Sweetwater and ask for Dan Vranic. He will take care of all your
musical needs. VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE!!!!! FANTASTIC
CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!!! I will not shop anywhere else.
Sweetwater is where it's at!!!!!!!

Been wanting this microphone to record my guitar cabinet and I finally got one. Its awesome! Sounds great! I've played around with plugging my guitar directly into my interface and using the built in simulators in Logic but it always sounded "off", too much delay and the amp sims themselves never sounded right, nothing like playing through a real amp. Now that I have this mic I was finally able to mic up and record my actual amp/ cab and it sounds amazing! One thing thought I thought was odd thought, Im not sure if its the mic or my interface but I have to crank the gain knob all the way up just to get a signal and even then I have to turn up the volume on my amp to get a decent signal and in doing so my amp is cranked a little louder than I like to play. Im sure since the SM57 is meant to record loud sources thats why its hard to get signal at bedroom playing level. This mic sounds so good I cant be mad, I just have to get used to recording guitar at loud levels, just gotta make sure to record during the day when no one is trying to sleep lol. I was thinking about getting an additional mic preamp to boost the signal, maybe that would allow to get a decent signal at lower guitar amp volumes?

I have used Sure microphones for years, and the Sure SM57 is an extremely versatile mic. You can use it for live vocals, recording your guitars through your amplifiers, for recording drums... the list goes on. At the price point, you will get a great mic that works well and is extremely durable. A+

Completely happy with the quality and sound capturing of my rig with the good old metal industry standard mic

Should be rated 5 stars. What can I say about the SM57 that hasn't already been said? I have two on my snare (top & bottom) and I love the sound they produce. I also use them on guitar amps. They're affordable, sound great on almost anything, and can be dropped off the Empire State Building and survive the fall. Now, I'm not saying you SHOULD mic everything with the SM57, but you CAN, with good results. Whether or not it suits your needs is up to you, but any studio or engineer should have at least a few of these bad boys laying around. Comes with a clip, case, and decal.

Shure microphones have not failed me. I use them at home , for karaoke, and gigs. the sm57 is great for instruments, durable, sound great. My old keyboard player used it as a vocal mic. Mine is to mic a small tube amp. being on sale is even better! thanks Sweetwater for the great packaging and shipping!

Haven't spent a ton of time with it, but I picked it up to add it to my mic collection, and for adding to multi-mic'ing cabs to blend to taste.

So far so good. Has that classic sound I wanted/expected on guitar cabs as is, but it really opens up and sounds amazing if you add an inline booster before the preamp.

Ran it into a Mogaines mic booster, and then into a BLA B173.
Sounded killer. Great cut and definition from the mic, and the Neve style B173 added the heft and rounded off the top a bit very nicely.
Awesome combo.

Great addition to the mics I already own.

I have 7 of these for putting on cabinets and snare drum. They sound good and are directional so you pick up more of the thing you are mikeing and less background.

What can you say about a Shure SM57 (that hasn't already been said)? I have used these regularly since the mid 1960s. The perfect microphone for instruments and amps. Rugged, reliable and great-sounding. There are a lot of problems in the world, but capturing the sound of instruments and amps isn't one of them.

This mic records guitar heinously well. I lost mine and purchased a replacement. The bundle deal, with the mic, boom stand and 15' XLR can't be beat!

We all know the SM57 is The Mic as far as instrument mics. And it still is. Good, versatile mic.

What Hasn't been said about this workhorse microphone?! There is nothing I can add except that everything came well packaged and complete. Works as expected

This mic has stood the test of time. It's versatility is remarkable. You cant go wrong with it in ur war chest.

Just used it on my guitar amp this past weekend for an outdoor gig, it works exactly as promised. Great frequency response, durable frame... there's a reason why this mic is considered one of the classic essentials.

I have 5 of these I use them on amplifiers and for my snar drum. The can take the sound pressure cleanly and have good side rejection. Build solid and rugged.

A Sweetwater employee personally called me when they were 1 day late shipping the item when it wasn't their fault. I was very impressed! The mic works fantastic. Everything about this order was quality.

The product is perfect nothing more can be said about the 57 that hasn't been said already. The shopping experience was perfect and without any hitch. Sweetwater is now my go-to for all my music gear is they keep this up.

I use it to mike a Martin 000-15m into a Henriksen Bud 10 amp. It works flawlessly including no feedback problems. As usual, Devin provided excellent advice and service. This thing has endured, like the 000-15m, because it works and provides the "sound" many folks are looking for without costing an arm and a leg.

Heavy duty feel to these mics. Placed it a few inches from sound source and was able to grab a nice biting sound from my vacuum tube amp. Very happy with the results, which helps me stay excited about writing new tunes.

The quality for the price is unsurpassed, another satisfied customer.

Recorded guitars sound great, way better than anything I ever got from an amp sim. Great way to bring "your" tone to life. Hopefully it lasts as long as some people claim to have had theirs. Great service and fast shipping from Sweetwater, as always.

What can I say about the SM57 that hasn't already been said before. Try and find a studio anywhere that doesn't have one. It's affordable, small and can be utilized on nearly anything and likely has with good results. Sweetwater as usual had their Stellar Customer Service on board with this Product Purchase and the Shipping Crew was On Spot as they usually are. Best Team ever in the Musical Equipment Online Business. Hands Down- Mic Dropped!

I purchased 2 microphones recently that are serving their purpose; they are an SM58 and an SM57. I need three mics to complete my designed use for my personal audio playback and recording studio. I am using two SM57s to record my stereo guitar amps and one SM58 for a vocal mic. These are are working out better than I expected. Thank you, Sweetwater, and especially Joe James.

How do you even begin to review a legacy in instrument microphone recording? I'm going to try.
The three snare drums I have used the SM57 with all seem to pair with it extremely well. I now have a few different microphones that might have to be donated to the local school because I will never use them again.
The Shure SM57 is way better than any of them. I might even have to retire my brand new 7 piece drum mic set and purchase more SM57'S! Always purchase them from a well known dealer such as Sweetwater. The internet is full of fake SM57'S. If your recording your instruments you don't need to purchase anything other than these. You will instantly notice the difference between this microphone and the ones you've been using. I would say live long and prosper SM57! However it has already achieved that goal.

You know exactly what you're getting. Great mic, very versatile. Sweetwater has competitive prices and very fast shipping. They're my first choice when buying A/V equipment.

Using a mic to record tracks on a tascam 4 track multitracker to make scratch tracks or rough drafts,the mic I was using didn't produce the sound I wanted for my guitar and snare drum. After reading the reviews on the Sm57 I bought one,..the best instrument mic I've ever owned! Crisp, clear tracks.I can use it on virtually anything.Im one happy puppy!!

Solid, reliable standard dynamic utility mic. I have several. Luv 'em all and use them for many different applications.

If you record or do live sound you always need a few of these drums, instruments, percussion the versatility is necessary. It's made to be durable so you will not make a safer investment.

I'm not a Professional Drummer by an means but I know something about the Shure SM57! I had one years ago but after using it for gigs my older one was " Retired" but it served me well all that time! I'm not playing gigs anymore but I've been recording at home and nothing sounds better than the SM57 on my Snare Drum! Thank you Sweetwater for your great service and selection and looking forward to more purchases and good times, Kudos!

Def love the mix. I can see why it is the standard. I am a beginner at home recording. Had a condenser mic from the scarlet bundle but it picked up way too much ambient sound. This def has to be a lot closer to you instrument but the noises of an active household are no longer a problem because of this bad boy. Inexpensive and sounds great

The Shure SM57 is one of the toughest, most versatile live sound mics that there is. I use these on drums, vocals, guitars and even brass instruments. They are tough as nails and flat out reliable!

Most of us don't have a ton of money for equipment. Along with the SM57, I purchased a SM58 too. This "dynamic duo" (pun intended) are a prudent purchase to cover basic needs for a Home Recording Hobbyist like myself. Additionally, I order specifically from Sweetwater because of their unwavering dedication to Customer Service. Am I happy with my purchase and purchase experience?... Most assuredly I am.

great frequency response and durability

Was looking for a mic to get my small home studio started and kept coming back to this when searching online for a good all rounder mic. So far my experience with this mic has been great. It's well built, sounds clear, rejects background noise well, and with some EQing can sound like a mic hundreds of dollars more expensive. Mainly use it for recording vocals and talking on discord, but I do plan on using it for acoustic guitar later down the line. Can't stress enough how great background noise rejection is. My room can get noisy in the summer with the AC running and neighbors making noise. Only issue is I have to turn up the gain on my audio interface near 100% to get good levels.

I am using this to mic a Marshall DSL 20c into a Behringer XR18 and it sounds great. Sweetwater service is the best in the business. They followed my purchase with an email with several stories about how to use my new microphone.

Great job.

Absolutely love these mics! I got a pair of them to record a baby grand piano and they had a crystal clear sound! I was so pleased to find such good mics at such a good price and they came so fast even with all the COVID19 delays!

Everyone knows that for guitar recording the sm57 is king, i have tried so many mics over the years but nothing compares to this mic especially at this price, i keep a few handy. Also great on the top of a snare drum.

Set it up pointed at fret 12 and the results were perfect. I see why it's considered an industry standard.

Works pretty well

Used it for guitar, trumpet, bass and vocals, and it sounds great on all 4. Built like a tank too. I would definitely recommend this microphone, especially to someone looking for their first high-quality XLR mic.

This microphone is outstanding along with my Martin and I'm shure you'll love yours along with your instruments as well...

I know this is not a proper kick drum mic but I'm not a professional and I'm not trying to be. I record songs by myself with guitar, vocals, and drums and since I usually don't use bass, I don't have to eq the kick drum too much or at all with this mic. If your using bass in your recordings I bet you would want a proper kick drum mic which picks up low frequencies better. They are more expensive and I already knew the sm57 worked for me from using it on previous recordings. I saved money and bought what works for me. I have an sm57 on snare and kick plus a condenser mic in between snare and toms. It's not professional at all but I'm not a profession and am very happy with my set up.

...t's a 57...

Does it all and does it well.

Fantastic mic. Super clear, and great pickup. Running through a 'Tube MP Project Series' and a Roland 5w Cube. What a awesome sound!

Does so many things well, and for such a modest price.

I’ve been buying from Sweetwater for about 7 months now and I’ve been nothing but happy with their products and excellent customer service. Andy Rice has been there for me every step of the way; he’s informative, and very helpful in helping me get the right product for me and my recording studio. I’ve bought midi keyboard, mics, cables, etc and everything arrived sooner than the expected date and in great condition! Really happy with my new mic; it sounds great on my voice and acoustic!

Thanks guys!!!!

I needed more mics for my studio and called SWEETWATER and spoke with my usual Sales Engineer Clint Bransteter about suggestions...He recommended several Shure SM57 mics and explained in detail why that would be my best choice...Myself and fellow band members couldn't be happier with the choice...Very pleased always about the one on one suggestions by Clint Bransteter...Clint studied in college about these things and played with a band for many years so he has alot of road knowledge about music equipment.

What can I say that hasn’t been said hundreds of times before? This is an industry standard for a reason -- Very versatile, inexpensive, high quality and near-indestructible mic. I use it to record guitar amps, snares and even vocals in a pinch. You can’t go wrong. You just can’t.

All round great mic: wonderful sound, durable - a must have for any recording studio. Thank you Chris Barry and Sweetwater for your great prices and customer service!!

I use these for miking cabinets and snare drums, they are a standard for this. Solid and can take the pressure plus good side rejection.

This is a great company! I am a small business owner and I know how important customer service is. I could not be more happy with my purchase. I did not know what to get my son for Christmas and Alan walked me through the entire order. He has handled my son's orders in the past so he knew what he would like. They kept in contact with me from order to delivery. Super fast shipping! Thanks so much Alan and Sweetwater!!!

This mic can be used on basically anything with satisfactory results, and at roughly $100, it’s a small investment that could potentially last decades. I use it for both guitar amps and voice-overs. While it (and all dynamic mics) will lack the sheer detail and clarity of condensers, the durability, reliability, and noise rejection more than makes up for it.

This should probably be the first microphone to buy and the last one if you can only have one mic. So many uses. Snare drums, guitars, vocals, limitless in its uses. Every major sound company has several in its arsenal.

The SM57 was quick and easy to set up and produced a great, bright-sounding tone for acoustic guitar. It captured all of the finger picking and strumming exceptionally well without getting too much of the high-frequency squeaks. I will definitely be coming back to this mic for future projects!

A classic and a must for my mic locker!!

This mic has been used on tens of thousands of records. It"s very bright and responsive.

I am using this for recording guitar amps, often paired with a Sennheiser e 609, and sometimes an Audio Technica AT2050. The tones it delivers vary from the other two microphones, which is exactly what I wanted: blending all three together off one amp, using different cone positions, or mic-ing the back of the amp, varying distances, mic-ing three different amps, ... the possibilities are huge. Great price, great performance, and as always Chris Barry was amazing, thank you Chris!!!

That's just plug n record! Best amp recording mic ever

49 years ago I bought my first sm57 and I"m still buying them, it"s a classic, studio mic, live mic, vocal, amp mic, she does it all, and at gear fest... love em thanks.

Always a great mic that will never let you down...It's a no brainer to get these bad boys of music!!

Sm57s are industry standards for a reason and for the 57 dollars I paid at GearFest won"t ever find a better deal than that! Useful for multiple applications guitar cab, top and or bottom snare, toms and even vocals if need be. This is an extremely versatile mic especially good for project studio owners on a micro budget. At the typical price point... any engineer or musician can benefit from owning at least one.

Great mic love it!!

In the late '60's and '70's before the 58 came out, this was the Go-To mic of choice for almost everything! That's all I/we used for many years! They can be seen on lots of old videos of famous groups, on TV! I used mine for Vocals!

The most important mic for anyone to own. Thank god it"s extremely affordable. You can do anything with a 57. It"s sound is unmistakable. If you gotta own one mic, make it two of these.

great pickup and the amp (some one elses) provide the room filling sound we needed

a little fooling to get the best match up but well worth the investment... Now I know why it is a "staple"

Bought it to mic my amp but was really blown away aiming it at the sound hole on my nylon string acoustic. Then at the sound hole of my old acoustic electric bass. Then sang through it. What a great all around mic. It shipped ahead of schedule and as always great service from Grant. Cheers!

Truly the best mic for the money

awesome mic, love it.

Best instrument microphone, the quality is great and the sound is clear.

Sounds great! Highly recommended.

What can you say? It's a great mic. Always has been, always will be.

What can I write about an SM 57 that hasn't already be written? These are the most reliable and durable instrument mics around, and work well on drums, bass, keys, and guitar amps!

Makes my trombone sound great !

I own many excellent microphones, some for recording vocals, brass, bass , overhead, ribbon, directional, omnidirectional, strings, others for playing live and they all sound good. If your serious about how your music sounds, use what the pros use. For the money you won't find a better all around great sounding mike that will last many years on the road or in the studio. There are many imitations of the Shure SM57, but at this price why settle, get the real McCoy. It will be the best money you will ever spend on a microphone.

VERY VERY CLEAN PURE RESPONSE! VOCALS, GUITAR CABS, ACOUSTIC GUITAR! YOU NAME IT ! AWESOME! THKS SWEETWATER AND MY SALES ENGINEER MR. GRANT!

Ahh, the Shure SM57. A classic industry standard, known for its durability and versatility. Well, I must say, as an owner, it stands up to its reputation! This mic will take a beating and still produce great quality audio. And, I should really point out, it's even great for vocals. With the proper pop filter for this (best is the A81WS from Shure), it sounds extremely similar to the SM7B, a higher-grade mic by Shure. Overall, great mic and would highly recommend for micing nearly any instrument and keeping on a reasonable budget.

I used SM57 to mic my Princeton amplifier and running through the house PA system sounds truly great!

If you could only take one microphone with you it should be this one.

There is a reason this mic is used in the recording industry in just about every application. I have used this to record guitar, trumpet and percussion. It sounded clear and well balanced for each instrument. No matter what I throw at it, the recordings sound great. If you are going to record an instrument, this should be the first mic to try.

You just cant beat Sure quality. The look, the feel and the sound are all perfect. I am using this mic on my vintage suitcase drum kit. I position it at an angle off the front drum face and it picks up the sound beautifully. I love it and would highly recommend it. I also use a Sure Beta 58A for my vocal mic and I am impressed by its capabilities as well.

Started recording some songs again and had issues with my existing mics. Once I got the new mic the difference was amazing! Using this for instruments and I can't believe the difference. Threw the other mic away.

Killer instrument mic! I have no problems with this product.

I've had this mic for 5 years now, and I keep meaning to buy more, because for 100 dollars, you can't do much better than these guys. For recording amps on a budget, this mic is the way to go.

What can anyone say that has not already been said. These mics excel at most anything they are tasked with. Their physical durability is unparalleled, unless you compare them to a hammer!

If I could name one microphone to do it all, it would be the SM57. What's the difference between the SM58 and the SM57? ... the grill. The SM57 is industry standard on the snare drum and is good for close miking just about anything. Oh, and back to the point of the SM58, you can also use the SM57 for vocals! Of course, the SM58's grill is more tailored for vocals, but the 57 can still do the job. The 57 is the all around workhorse microphone.

When I started in sound in the 1970's, the Shure SM57 and SM58 were the best general purpose "go to" microphones. You couldn't go wrong with them. The fact that it is 2018 and they are still a great "go to" microphone speaks volumes. Yes, there are many specialty microphone that do one thing or the other better. There are vocal microphone that cost many times more and sound fantastic. But, what soundman's "toolbox" would be complete without some 57's and 58's in it? If you do sound and walk into a gig, every band will know what a 57 or 58 is and feel comfortable! Well, almost every! Few microphone are as road tested as the SM57.

Great mic and quick shipping. The SM57 captures any type of guitar recording well, while keeping background noise at a minimum. Another satisfying purchase from Sweetwater.

What else can I say? Its the instrument mic to have for any genre.

It"s an SM57; if you can"t get an amp to sound good on tape with one of these then you"re doing it wrong. Workhorse comes to mind. I"ve already got one but they were on sale... at gearfest and I couldn"t resist saving $ on a spare!

Not that this is going to compare to your top shelf condensers on vocals but there isn't much this thing doesn't excel at !

Don't know why I didn't get one sooner!

I just recently got into using an interface to record on to my computer and Studio One.
After trying a few other mic's to capture my true amp and effects sound that I've been putting together for over 30 years , the tried and true SM 57 did exactly that.
More than happy with the results I'm getting , as well as Sweetwater's exelent service.
Thanks
David

This is a wonderful microphone, it picks up and produces great sound and clarity! It's tough, well built and ready to rock! A must for every musician! I recommend it ,5 stars + thanks Sweetwater!

Excellent value for the money .

It's a Sure-Shure Win Situation! Mic all your amps with this Shure SM57 & increase the volume without decreasing the quality of your sound! Place one on ALL my amps! No worries.

Awesome on guitars! Tried many other mics... this one sounds the most natural... I want the true tone from the amp! Also good on snare... although I prefer the Beta 57a on snare... :)

Everything I expected from Shure. Great!!

The 57 is a durable instrument microphone that works great on percussion instruments.

If you could only have one mic, this is it! It's a true work horse. It may not be a Neumann U87. But, it's in the bag and on the road. And, it's in the studio bringing drums and axes to life in the DAW. I've even run a few vocals through it too. True BEAST!

At present, I have a not so impressive mic locker. By that I mean I got no high-dollar super-pro-gotta-covet mics. What I do have are a few low cost bang-for-the-buck mics. Mostly condenser types. One USB large diaphragm that I haven't gotten around to trying yet (Rode NT USB,) A Neewer 700, a couple of Beringer c-4s, and just recently purchased dynamic Shure SM57, and SM58. When I get time, if I'm not writing, I usually play around with my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, and my DAW: the late great Sony Acid Pro 7 coupled with Sound Forge 11, and Spectral Layers Pro3. Nearly everything (except the Neewer) has been purchased from Sweetwater. Needless to say, everything I've bought from Sweetwater has performed without flaw. I'm talking guitars, bass, software, interface,and mics. All jam-up great! I'm really impressed with the guitars and bass because Sweetwater guys do a great job in setting them up. I don't even like to browse the competition (really, there is none). I just flat out wont give the other guys a shot, because I don't see a reason to.

Back to the Shure mics. I can see why very little has changed with the SM57, and 58 over the years. They work great for acoustic/vox recording sessions. I know these guys are preferred more for live sets, but just the same... I'm experimenting using the SM58 along side the Beringer c4, or the Neewer. I like how the Shures produce a warmer signal to compensate for the high and upper mids of the other mics.

I have 1 sm57, for the price it is a really good, durable instrument microphone and can not be beat.

What a great Snare Drum Mic.

I bought an SM57. Certainly not my first, and probably not my last. These are great, versatile and tough little mics. I don"t think I"ve been in a studio that hasn"t had several knocking around and don"t forget that it has been the vocal mic of choice for many top recording artists, e.g. Peter Gabriel.

I ordered mics from sweet water and altho I ordered the wrong thing I wanted to say I had no problem with my returnes and sweet water put back into my account every penny. Their customer service was phenomenal. I will be ordering from them again in the future. Thank you Sweet Water for your service's.

Shure SM57 continues to be THE industry standard. Just see any major recording studio. Most will use this on cabinets along with another very expensive condenser mic.

I own five of these mics now. I love how great they sound for a fairly low price. They come with a carrying case and mic clip, which makes this deal even more awesome. I've used them on drums and guitar cabinets live and they sound nice and clean. I would definitely recommend purchasing a Shure SM57 if you're looking for an affordable, multi-purpose microphone for live and/or studio use. I'm thoroughly satisfied with my purchase.

Thanks Sweetwater for Gear Feast and a great price on a mic i never thought i would own!
Now i have one and a dream come true. I will use it well in my garage turned practice studio!
Next year...a 58 for $58.oo?

Great value for the money. A standard for my studio.

Great sounding microphone. A must have item for any musician.

As always SEEETWATERGearfest was awesome ! I purchased some SHURE SM57 Mics from DealZone at a great sale price and am extremely satisfied. The SWEETWATER staff handled everything perfectly and professonly, as always ! Looking forward to my next purchase !

DVR

I bought this at gear fest for $57. What an amazing price for this classic mic. I'm using it on my snare drum. I have experimented with several angles and positions for the mic and love the variety that I can get from it. It's an SM57 - everyone needs one (or more).

All around solid mic...has been for years.

I picked one of these bad boys up a few days ago, and after recording an entire rock song with just this and an SM58 (for the kick drum), I can say with certainty that you will love this mic. Sounds great on drums, guitars, vocals, and even bass amps. I know I'm not saying very much ground-breaking stuff here, but I definitely recommend this mic.

While not a high fidelity microphone it does what it does well. It was never intended to be a hifi mic. However it's just right when recording a searing guitar stack. For those that don't know if you listen to metal, or just about anything with a electric guitar, most of the time your hearing this mic.

It's a studio standard and is in 99% of all recording studios for a reason. It does what it does very well and if you place the mic right, it does much of the work for you. Put it on a good stand and your all set. I've used these mics in our main studio for many years.

I just purchased my own for my home studio as part of a package deal that Sweetwater was running last month. If you record extreme metal or heavy rock guitar like I do, you need this mic. It's one of the best pieces of gear you can have at your disposal for that task.

Rest assured that this mic can handle whatever you put in front of it and it's built like a darn tank. Don't be alarmed if the grille on your new SM57 spins. It's normal and yes I get asked that question a lot!

I highly recommend this guys and gals! Get one!

Needed to mic a guitar amp, and, after watching Sweetwater's video about it, I ordered the Shure SM 57. Works perfectly!

The SM57 microphone is awesome and is everything it was advertised to be. I highly recommend it.

In ramping up my solo equipment, this was the only amp mic for me. Outstanding - again, as advertised.

Awesome deal. I put a pair of behringer c2's on the boom stand and it works great. If course the sm57 is killer and the 15' cable was a nice bonus. Sweetwater blows GC out of the ocean by far.

Still the industry standard for instruments and vocals! (along with the SM58)

Great mic I just need to order 1 more .

I've been using these microphones for years. I've toured professionally all across the United States for a long time now and Shure has pretty much became an industry standard! Tough, rugged, and always sound phenomenal! Five stars for the Sweetwater staff too! They always make sure I have my stuff on time no matter where I'm at!

I've been using them for over 20 years now. I think my point has been made. LOL!

This is just one of those microphones you just must have in the cabinet. Obviously used on guitar amps and close drum mics, but I really like how they sound on guitars, if you want a more percussive sound, and on some vocals, getting rid of excessive low end. This one is a classic.

Best mic for instruments and singing

This was perfect for recording placed a few inches from my amp! Captured the sound perfectly!!!

AWESOME MIC FOR MY GUITAR CAB,RECORDING OR REAMPING....ALWAYS THE BEST

There is a reason the SM57 have a re held with such regard. Awesome mic for a great price.

Great mic, stands up to its reputation, very warm natural sound, captures what its pointed at pretty well cutting out rest. Love it.

This is a great microphone it captured the natural tone that my cannonball saxophone produces. I'm very pleased with the quality of this microphone. I recommend it 100%. It's a 5 star from me.

I got this to mic up my 6505 mini running into the matching 2x12 cab loaded with Greenbacks.
I knew what i was getting before i even ordered this.
Looking forward to getting my hands on a rinbon to pair with the 57.
Props to my rep Stephen Oppenheim....

Go ahead, spend a thousand bucks. You still will not purchase a better sounding, more dependable instrument mic than an SM57. Just bought this one to use with my new Fender Bass Breaker 45 and it is perfect for getting that sweet rich tone to the mixer! Thanks Shure!

Needed another SM57 bought at a great price. I have used this model mike for well over 30 years with absolutely no problems. A great vocal, instrument and road worthy tool.

I own multiple Shure products and the sm57 meets the standards of Shure Products. I use it to mic my Marshall and works like a charm. Use it all the time. Amazing.

I have been using Shure Mics for over 40 years because they are the best all around live sound mics. The SM57 is great for miking guitar amps and snare drums. My rep at Sweetwater is very professional and knowledgeable about the gear he sells. I like dealing with the same sales rep on all of my purchases. The shipping is always very fast. I am a very satisfied repeat customer. I highly recommend the Shure SM57 mic and I highly recommend Sweetwater for all your gear purchases.

My first experience with a 57 was as a vocal mic. It was smooth & accurate with a very natural sound. A friend who owned a recording studio always used them on snare & toms in the drum booth. I was very impressed with the results. It seems that the higher sound levels cause a compression effect at the mic capsule. This is a very useful condition. I have no idea if that was designed into the original specs, but it works. With the drums tuned correctly, and the right amount of reverb...your drums will sound massive.

They've been making these for how many years? And they are still the best at what they do? Anyone who has more than 10 minutes behind a board knows this mic. I would not be without one, or two, or three. It's great for micing a fiddle, uileann pipes, flutes, acoustic guitars, banjo, mando, or whatever is on stage. Seriously, what more do you need to know? I'm really amazed that this is still the one everyone is talking about. Just buy one or more. I have yet to hear about anyone who is disappointed in this. I just wish I could get the same performance in a mic that is small enough for a Celtic harp. Now that would be killer.

All gigging musicians need a couple of SM-57s in their gig bags. This is the do-it-all utility microphone that is just as happy sitting in front of an acoustic guitar or fiddle as it is stuffed in a high-pressure isolation box with a crazy-loud speaker blaring into it. You can drop them, bang them, rain on them, beer on them - and they still work. All this and more for around 100 bucks? It's amazing when you consider that's roughly what we were paying for these in the 1970s - I think maybe the first one I purchased in '76 was $80 -but whatever. And the SM-57 is not just for live work - you can use them for almost anything you can think of in the studio with great results. Some of my favorite pro recordings were done not with $12,000 ribbon mics - but with $100 SM-57s. And the Shure company is as good as it gets- they've literally pioneered how audio is captured. What a great AMERICAN company.

This is my go-to microphone for screams. The polar pattern/freq response on this mic is amazing for the price and great for drums, vocals, guitar cabs, and a number of other sources. If you've never owned a microphone, start with this one. If you've owned a microphone, get this one.

This is still my go to mic for acoustic recording. Sounds great and takes away the harshness of acoustics and removes some unwanted low end because its dynamic. Price is great for people on budgets!

I recently started using this mic for my amp at my church, and I love the sound quality it produces. It is not too expensive, designed well, and sounds great! I recommend this to anyone!

Bought this at Gearfest for an awesome deal. Plan to go next year. You won't be disappointed. The mic is a work horse of the recording industry.

If I had to use one microphone for vocals and instruments it would be the Shure SM57. Whether on a budget or not, best microphone for all around use live or in the studio. For my money and sound, this one can't be beat.

I've had one for over 30 years, used for voice and amplifying acoustic guitar, still works like new. My favorite mic.

After reading an article of the five essential Micah the pro engineers had.. Almost all has the SM 57 in their cabinet.. A virtual versatile work horse of a mic...

It's glorious and everybody knows that. I've used mine for vocals, guitar amps, snare and attack-side kick drum micing, bass guitar, horns, live, in studio; pretty much everything. It's not always the most defined when capturing a sound (as in a condenser will beat it in a nuance competition), but it's always full and present. Maybe the word is darker.

That, and it's sturdier than anything else in your entire life for an extremely affordably price tag. They're standard. So buy some.

Used them for years. Excellent mic. I have stuck with them because of their quality and because they are a good company. Their prices remain the same over the years and they don't decieve the buyer with short cuts. Great company, great buy...

This is a great little mic, seems to be well built. I use it in conjuction with a voice mic, the former being used for an acoustic guitar.

Used for vocals. For my voice exaxtly what the doctor ordered!! Thanks Matt! !

What can anyone say about any of the Shure microphones except Wow?! The best mic hands down.

Being known as the standard microphone for snare drums and for guitar amps, I thought it would have a great sound. When I got it, I was blown away by how good it is! My snare drums sounded better than my triggered sound, which was amazing by itself, now is even better! My guitars sound really clear and heavy thanks to the SM57. Also, with the right pop filter, it can sound awesome in vocals too! High quality mic!

Thanks, Tony, I would have never known how good this was for recording guitars!

I'm a drummer I have tons of my SM57, of coarse I love my Shure sm57 especially during Gear fest.

It is an industry standard for a reason. If you look long enough you can definitely find mics that sound better for whatever your specific purpose is. but you won't find them that can sound as good on as many things at this price point. Everyone who records or does live work should have 3 in their closet.

the industry standard for guitar cabs and for a $100.00 you can't beat it . I have 2 or 3 of these and i think they have to be 25 years old and been thrown around a bit but they keep working .

This is a studio work horse and an extremely versatile instrument mic.
It is the best dynamic microphone in its class for this price. I use it for recording acoustic guitars. I was surprised at how well it captured the natural sound. I now know why most studios have at least one. It's very durable and is equally great for miking amps. Overall you cannot go wrong getting one of these good mics. The SM57 does need a bit more gain as it tends to be a little quiet. I have recently acquired several Shure dynamics and this seems to be the case with all of the models I own. I haven't had a single problem with it. Really, you need two!!

Using it to mic a guitar amp. What can I say it sounds great.

I keep several SM57's on hand on the road & in the studio. They are excellent on snare, toms, & electric guitar. If I'm in a pinch I also know that I can throw a 57 on almost any source and it will sound good. It's the best "do it all" microphone there is.

lets just say I own 9 of them they are solid as ever. With right preamps eq and some out board gear and even plugins. you can make up some very cool tones, it is my Go to on a lot of thing cymbals,drums guitars, vocals, bass you name it. If you have a great signal chain running through this thing you will be in awe on how much you can really get out of this guy. Some say they have moved on from the hype of this mic but this mic in every instance an with the right application is golden. this little fella has aided in some of the greatest tones, sounds, that's we have all seeked after.

The Shure sm57 is a great microphone for picking up instrumental music. It is very rugged and will give the user years of use. It's one of those microphones every one who does anything with sound should have.

Great mic to use for guitar cabs or drums. It works for anything that needs miking.

I've used SM57's in studio and in concert. These things rock. Sounds great on snare, toms, horns, vocals (with a windscreen, of course), guitar cabs, latin percussion, and a great deal of other instruments. They're practically indestructible, so I'm not too worried about anything happening to them at a gig. These are my go-to mics for micing horn sections in big bands. Nothing beats them for the price.

Not sure why anybody would have to read reviews of a mic this legendary, but here's my input. For recording vocals, I keep experimenting with large diaphragm condenser mics. I've tried everything from a cheap Rode to an outrageous Neumann. I start off loving what I believe to be a "wider, more open, more natural sound" but still end up spending hours and hours in mixdown tweaking the vocal track with plug-ins. For one thing, I don't have a good room for vocals (it's just an untreated extra room in my house), so the generous pickup pattern on those mics works against me. Recent example, I had sung about 10 takes into a Blue Spark on my latest song and had spent most of a day comping them into one track and then trying different compressors, EQs, reverbs, etc. As often happens, the end result was unsatisfactory, and in fact, I had reached a point where I just kept making it worse. I had a new SM57 I'd bought with the intention of miking my guitar amp instead or using the emulated out (turns out it DOES make a big difference, but that's another story), so while taking a frustrated break from the mix I looked over at the Shure and the light bulb came on over my head. In about three minutes, I had it replacing the Blue on my vocal stand, with a pop filter about an inch and a half in front of it. First thing I noticed in my headphones was that I could crank the input up on the 57, because the tight cardioid pattern was rejecting all the awful ambience in my untreated room -- not just unwanted reflections, but car noise, jet noise, neighbor noise... I live in a very loud spot near an air base. Anyway, having that kind of gain on the input gave me a real dose of confidence; I could hear my voice really clearly in the cue mix. I hit record and sang the song once straight through. I felt really good about it, and when I played it back, I STILL felt really good about it. In fact, all I did (besides delete the other 10 takes) was adjust the tuning on about three individual words (being able to hear myself so well helped me tremendously in staying on key note after note) and run a subtle delay as a send effect to fatten the track up. No compression or EQ needed in post (had some in the front end chain), and no comping or additional takes required! I love the sound of this track, and amazingly a week later, I'm still loving it -- which is rare... I usually hate the sound of my vocal track more and more as time passes. So, the SM57 has once again become my first choice for lead vocals (I've bought and sold many over the years), and that's not even discussing how much better my amp sounds going through the Shure than it did coming out of the "emulated" jack. Obviously, if you're doing live work, you should already have a whole box of these, but my long-winded point here is, if you've got a room that you don't particularly want coloring your tracks, I highly recommend this mic for recording work as well, especially if you're singing any genre of rock music and/or intend to get a little loud.

Blown away...no. I wouldn't expect any less. I have owned several 57s . They are the industry standard and are a reliable choice for the working studio professional. And they are a great choice for home recording.They are versatile and can be used for all studio and live applications.

Great traditional microphones with Shure Quality, can't beat a SM57.
I have two of them for live recording for Yamaha Tyros 4 keyboard.
All from a great supplier "Sweetwater". Mic's do an excellant job, light weight and a great price.

It has been said before, and I will restate it. Every studio needs a Sure SM 57. I like to mic the amp. It is excellent for that. I also like to use it on acoustic guitar. I point it at the end of the fretboard, but you can change it around to get different colors of sound. It also works great with classical guitars. It is a solid workhorse in the studio, be it home, or professional. You cannot beat the price. I have been using it through the new Aphex Project Channel. I have also used it through a 1818VSL using Auria on the iPad. It just works.

Totally Awesome-made my horrible voice louder!

No wonder why this is the undustry standard... produces perfect sound for recording and live gigs. Picks up everything you want out of an amp.

I play an American Strat through a Blues Junior (NOS) and this mic captured all of my tone.

Throw it on a snare drum and your cabinets. This is the mic that all your favorite albums were recorded with. It you need to spend more, consider that the problem may be your mixing. Simple, cheap, built well.

Not much to say about these mics. They are a standard for a reason. I love mine. Every one that does any kind of guitar recording should have at least 1 of these. I record my own stuff at home, and the only limits to my recording capabilities are my own abilities. Great mic.

My grandson was thrilled with the microphone I got him for Christmas.
He said he had done lots of research before requesting this specific one and it was the best. He assured me that this microphone would be the only one any aspiring musician would need. I bragged repeatedly to everyone about the good service and free shipping. He said he had ordered from "Sweetwater" numerous times and had never been disappointed. I gave him the catalog that came with the microphone, knowing that their would surely be something else he needed sometime in the near future. Thank you for a good buying experience. P.S. He was delighted with the stand adapter and zippered carrying case that came with the microphone.

Best mic for Tabla Indian insturment

just awesome! equaled to the customer service this company provides

This mic has been a staple in the recording industry for over 30 years now. Is it the best sounding mic in the world? Clearly not, but what it does, it does well and it's built like a tank! There is no one that has listened to music in the past few decades that hasn't heard one of these on a snare drum somewhere. If you're doing live sound, or studio recording you are OBLIGATED to have at least one in your mic locker... so get 2 now!

If you're micing a guitar cab, it has to be the '57! EVERY mic review says "with a little work, it can sound like an SM57" Just start with the real deal.
Even so, these mics are great for LOTS of other things: drums, horns, vocals, etc., even used in tandem with other specialy condensers. I've got LOTS of great mics that have their own special uses, but the '57 is ALWAYS used somewhere. Everyone needs at least a couple of them.

I'm a sax player. Been using my trusty SM58 for 30 yrs plus, and was time to upgrade. It deserves 5 stars! The difference was amazing, especially in the mid-range, clearity and dynamics are great, and it was crisp through the full range of the horn. Should have done this years ago. What a awsome mic. for the money.

Amazing mic for a variety of uses. I can't say anything more than what's already been said.

this mic works great not any feed back,picks up loud& clear.built really solid too. thanks

If there's a better way to mic a guitar amp, it's gotta cost more! These things just work - from moderate to high SPLs, right up against the speaker grille, these workhorse mics faithfully get your guitar tone into the house system. With one of these in its face, my Princeton Reverb can fill up any venue, and any sound guy can tell you that an SM57 will ALWAYS work just fine with any amp. Makes the Dobro and the J-45 sound great, too, on acoustic gigs.

Thanks to the special deal at Gearfest on these mics I now have 2 more. The SM57 is a workhorse. From micing guitars to vocals to drums and percussion they do it all.

I've been seriously recording music for the last 7 years...and tinkering around with recording on old 4 tracks for many years before before that. I purchased a pair of SM57's to use on snare since I've read so many times that the SM57 was used to record snare on so many classic albums. Somehow, against all odds, I've managed to never use a SM57 in my lifetime. I used SM58's for live vocals many times (I never cared for the muddyness) and the beta58 which was not a match for my vocals at all. Because of these experiences, I never really wanted to buy Shure microphones. The only other Shure mic that I own is an SM7 which is an absolutely fantastic mic in every regard. Anyway back to the SM57...it arrived in the mail...I hooked it up to a very clear, neutral, and natural pre (focusrite isa) so I could just hear the response of the mic....I tried some vocals first...WOW!!!! I recognized the classic sound immediately from old albums. The SM57 rolls off the unusable lows but retains warmth, it has an unbelievably SMOOTH and musical midrange, and the highs are smooth and present without making your ears feel like they are being stabbed by large daggers (like every cheap Chinese condenser I've ever heard). Honestly, the SM57 fits my vocals better than the majority of the far more expensive mics that I own. I'm not knocking Neumann because they obviously make fantastic microphones, but I'd rather use the SM57 for vocals than my TLM103. Does it matter that the specs on the SM57 are less impressive the TLM103...nope....it only matters how the mic handles the task that you throw at it. The SM57 chops off more lows and highs, but it sure does sound good doing it. Next I grabbed an old Gibson Southern Jumbo acoustic and started strumming away....the mic was 12 to 18 inches away and pointed in the vicinity of the 12th fret.....again, I immediately recognized this sound from classic albums....it's a very nice, smooth and forgiving midrangy sound that sits really well in a dense mix. If i was going to fingerpick, I'd prefer the Neumann, but the SM57 does a surprisingly respectable job on that as well. I can't wait to try these on snare and guitar amps where they have the most proven track record. In closing, I am absolutely shocked at how great this mic is! I'm even more shocked that it only costs 99 bucks. I finally get why some people are so into Shure microphones. If I could go back in time, I should have purchased this as my first microphone (actually I should have gotten a pair of them). A person could record a whole album with just SM57's and it would sound darn good. Anyway, if you're just starting out, BUY THIS MIC!!!!!! It is far better than a condenser if you are working in an untreated space because it has a tight cardioid pattern that rejects most room noise and other problems. If you have a cheap preamp and are having trouble getting enough gain to this mic (or even if you're not), buy a Cloudlifter by Cloud Microphones, it uses phantom power to generate up to 25 db of super clean FET pre-preamplification...that gives any old dynamic or ribbon mics low noise and high gain and interfaces them perfectly with modern recording systems. If you're thinking (just as I was a week ago) that this mic is far too common and old to sound as good as some people say...You are wrong...just buy one...it's only 99 bucks new or around 50 used. They are built like tanks to boot. Good Luck and Happy Recording. I wish I would have read this review 15 years ago:)

It's the classic mic. Every studio should have several!

its a 57. what can i say, you need it to start recording. any profesinal studio has at least 5. and beginer as one. dont go with a condenser if you are just starting off. just put this sucker off center to the cone and you will get exacctly what the guitar amp sounds like. run it thru a tube pre it will give u troouble standing up its so good.

The most used and versitle mic. Can be used on every thing. Drums, guitar amps and even vocals. Carry it on your person as a mugging deterent. Crack muggers upside the head, block bullets and sword attacks with it. Put a long mic cable on it and use it as a grappeling hook or a boat anchor. No matter what you use this for or how you treat it at the end of the day when you are back in the studio to record that elusive hit song this mic will work and sound great. I was going to say that every studio should have 2, but I'm thinking I would like to have 4 or maybe 6.

note: Don't try using this as a boat anchor....really!....it's not heavy enough! :)

If you are into studio recording and you don't own an SM-57, you are missing out. These mics are cheap and can be used to record anything. Vocals might need a pop filter and a little EQ, but that's not too much to ask for such an affordable, durable, and universal microphone. Every home studio should have at least a couple.

Clearly the reasons should be obvious. An industry standard that has been used by practically everyone in the business for years. This mic is nothing but practical.

This is my first real mic, so I don't have much experience with others. But, I can tell you that when I record with this mic the recording sounds the same as the live source, which is exactly what I wanted from my first mic (besides affordability!)

So I say, if you're getting your first mic and you want something that sounds great on everything and is actually affordable then get this mic!

I use the sm57 on vocal (with windscreen) and guitars. It is really hard to beat. I've tried other high priced mics that sound good but i seem to always come back to the 57's. Very warm/clear sound for vocals. I have seen them being used for vocals by many popular singers including Elvis. They knew what a good thing was. Treat yourself and buy!!

I've always known this mic was great, and have often used it for drums and guitar. But today I was in a session and the ONLY condenser I had brought started doing some goofy things. So I busted out a good old 57, and recorded all the vocals, harmonies, and guitars with it. And it heres the kicker... it sounded AMAZING. Not just GOOD, but it blew me away. It DID take work though. For use on vocals you really have to crank up your upper mids (3k or so) to clean it up, roll off some lows, and maybe add a dash around 100Hz for some extra body. I used it through an LA-610... for money, it doesn't get any better than that. Don't buy into all the imitations out there. there are some good mics, but this is a workhorse.

Listen kids...the SM-57 microphone has been around forever, and it's been used by everyone.

You can use them on virtually anything with great results (that is...if you know how to play your instrument, write good music and put the microphone in the right place!)

And guess what - you can pick one up for less than $100!

You could get a set of 12 for less than the price of 1 "Rolls-Royce" condenser mic and be set for life.

I bought a pair of SM57's in 1974. They were the lead singer's mics, and when the band split up, I kept 'em. They got stuck in a suitcase with a bunch of cables until I got a gig with a disco band in '78. The lead singer would twirl it around (ala Roger Daltry) and I'm sure he hit the stage with it at least once.

In '84, I drug them back out, and used them in a bunch of different jazz bands. They became horn mics. (Fabulous tenor sax mic.)

Then I lost one, and the one I had left turned out to be a really great live string bass mic. I rolled it inside a piece of foam and stuck it in between the legs of my bridge. (Make sure you deal with the feedback.) Turned out it worked really good on cello live, too.

Then, in '94, (after I got clean and sober) I produced a live album and we used it with my piezo on my stand-up bass going into an ADAT. When we mixed down the tracks, I begged the guy to kill my piezo channel, but he liked the edge on my solos. (He's a rock player, no offence) but, it ruined the tracks. (The 57 sounded much better by itself.)

About eight years later (2004) after I "retired" (or, got to fat to want to carry a $10,000 instrument into a restaurant only to make enough money to buy my girl friend a meal,) I decided to find out what recording on a computer was like.

So I drug out my SM57 again and used in on bass, nylon string guitar, and some vocal overdubs. The client on the vocals asked me to do it again with a pop filter (hey, how I was I supposed to know, I'm a bass player) He was right, and, I've noticed you really have to pay attention to the "proximity effect" with these mics. It doesn't just get boomier, it gets... compressed, sort of.) It's probably why they sound good on electric guitar amps, off axis.

Anyway, a friend of mine (who is a real sound guy) was storing my stuff for me, and when I went to pick it up, he offered to trade me his brand new 57 for my old one, which didn't make sense because his new one (same exact mic) sounded EXACTLY LIKE my old one. And I couldn't figure it out until recently, since I've started really getting into recording and reading what engineers always say about microphones.

This one recording guru says: "My favorite microphone ever made is the Shure SM57. It's rarely ever "genius" but it never ever totally sucks. You can point one in the general direction of a sound and you'll get a pretty decent representation of that sound that can be recorded and pounded to death later."

I realize now, that my friend just wanted to have a 57 that looked "that old" because... it would make him look like he'd been "that smart", for "that long". (It's got some major rust on the screen and the grey part on the barrell has worn off where it slides into the stand adapter.

Anyway, I nixed the trade. The memories alone would make me keep it, even if it didn't sound so good. This mike will be making someone else happy long after I'm long gone.

Buy five, (trust me.) You won't be sorry.

I got this mic back in 1997, and I still use it on every session. At this point, I am only using it on guitar cabinets. I used to use it close up on snare, but I now only use 3 mics on a drum kit, so it doesn't get used in that application anymore -- but it does a decent enough job on snare.

Combined with a 421 or a Royer 121, you can get some really nice guitar sounds happening. My 57 seems to have gotten better with age. Since mine is now almost 10 years old, it's hard to say whether a brand new one will have the same magic...but there is a good chance it will. I don't honestly know how you could NOT have at least one of these laying around. A great mic to have around...

IF YOU DON'T HAVE ONE OF THESE AND YOUR IN AUDIO, WELL YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN AUDIO. IF YOU GOT ONE, GET SOME MORE CUZ YOU'LL SWEAR BY THEM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU DO LIVE SOUND. THEY WORK GOOD ON EVERYTHING AND TAKE A BEATING. WHEN DECIDING WHAT MIC TO USE WHEN RECORDING, I ALWAYS TRY THE 57 ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHERS AND IT IS USALLY ONE OF THE TOP 3 PICS. SWEET MIC AND FOR THE PRICE PICK UP 2

I've had the opportunity to hear this mic in several different live musical settings and I'm always pleased with the way the 57 represents the sound coming from my speaker(s). It's a very accurate mic and I know that my sound from the stage will most likely be the same as the PA mix.

As expected, a great mic for guitar and not too bad for vocals either. Solid build, nice sound and not too demanding on the audio interface in terms of gain (2i2 4th gen).

While this isn't my favorite Dynamic mic that I own and use (sorry, that goes to the M80), it's a rock solid option for a multitude of sources. from vocals, snares, guitars, horns, this will produce consistent results without breaking the bank. Possibly one of the most versatile mic's out there. You really can't go wrong. I do wish Shure sold a compact version though. I know you can get a 90º one from another company, but it's not the same.

Did not have one in my equipment, but I have a couple just straight acoustic guitars that I now can mic up. Great mic !

Solid performance at a reasonable price.

This mic works grait on my snare drum, and my Cajon.
it has a grait sound, and is affordable.
Put it in a shockmount, and it works grait.
As always, thanks to sweetwater for grait servace!

Great performing equipment is often imitated but never replaced as the go to by professionals and music lovers. The SM57 is one of them.

If I could own only one microphone, in the world, it would be the 57. Instruments, vocals,amp cabs, overhead cymbals- this microphone does it all!!!
It can be dropped, kicked, used as a club, it just keeps working! If your budget is so very tight and you can only afford one mic, this is it!!!

Whether you use it for live stages or the studio, you can count on a 57 to capture your instrument, whatever it may be. When it comes to mics, there's no right or wrong answer, but having a few of these in your collection will give you versatility when you need it most. It's not a Neumann or an Earthworks by any stretch, but it's nothing to scoff at when it comes to quality. It is, without a doubt, a Shure SM57, rightfully priced within its domain. My new 57 sounds great thus far! Packaging was surprisingly a little lighter than I was expecting on Shure's part but that's not to worry considering the remarkable durability of these microphones. Once a 57, always a 57. I would say the same for 58's for vocals, among other things.

You don't need one. You need three.

The SM57 has proven itself over the years as an affordable and reliable mic for a plethora of applications, amps, drums, instruments, and even vocals. Nothing in this review should be a revelation. When using with an amp use a stand and point the mic at the desired location on your speaker cone, don"t drape it over the top of your amp as you will not realize the full benefits of the SM57.

Feedback in non existent,great sound. thanks.

While you can find better sounding mics out there, you will never beat the durability and versatility of this workhorse. I use them on guitar amps, drums (especially snares!), vocals, saxophones and even on pianos! I own about a dozen of these and have never had one let me down! They might look old and worn , but they work every time!

Great microphone to have for all kinds of uses! Staple item for any studio.

If you don't have a SM57 what are you thinking? Everybody needs at least one of these mics in their arsenal. I got mine... that makes three in my house. Fast shipping and a bag of candy too? Sweetwater comes through again! Thanks, RC

Awesome mic, responds great to my snare and you can definitely hear the legendary quality.

Always great service and fabulous equipment.
Never a bad experience.
Thanks

A great mic for the price....and...Shure is a proven brand.

I've just added two new SM57's to my gear and both perform as would be expected from an old work horse standard. I'm currently using them to mike guitar, mandolin and dobro as well as some rhythm instruments like an afuche on stage and the SM57 performs well. I'm 67 yrs. and been around music in one form or another most of my life, and as far back as I can remember the SM57 has been a go to mike for instruments of all sort.

I'm 67 years old and as far back as memory allows (being a child of the 60's) the 57 has always been an affordable "go to" for instrument mikes. And the one I just purchased is no exception. I'm currently using it in small rooms with a small system but my mandolin is present and sounds great.

It's a work horse!

this mic was lined up with a shure SM58, encore blue, and shure super 55 and a single track was recorded. the track for the SM57 was nearly identical to the two lesser mics and gave the super 55 a run for it's money.

A classic, great on electric guitars and drums.

greatness needs no review. as with all Shure audio professional products ruggedness,performance and quality have made the SM57 a choice of engineers and music professionals the world over

What can I say. I must have owned at least five of these since I began making music 40+ years ago. I bought this as a Christmas present for my son, to close mic a snare drum on one of his kits. He said it's the best present he got. Need a microphone to reinforce the sound of your snare drum? You use a SM57, that's what you do. However, the usefulness of this workhorse doesn't end there. I've also used it for other parts of the drum kit, various percussion reinforcements, vocals and as a guitar cabinet mic, (all with wonderful results). You've probably heard this microphone on more recordings than any other mic. If you could own only one microphone, the SM57 would be a very, very wise choice.

Love this thing. I use it to mic my guitar amp, Acoustic guitar and snare, HOWEVER, You can use this mic for ANYTHING! This thing is a Work horse in my studio. Always trust worthy. I would recommend this mic to everyone... as I am doing right now!
So bust out yo wallet man and buy 1000 of these things right now!
You will love them as long as you know what you're doing.
I hate when people say, "you lied to me man." Nope, you just don't know what you're doing.
You have to learn how to be badass before ARE badass. lol.
Buying a piece of 2000.00 dollar equipment and slapping it in your signal chain won't make your mic sound badass unless you know what you're doing.

Here's how you use this mic:
Buy this mic... learn how to use it... and then rock everyone's faces off... become a rock star... then take over the world and join the Illuminati or something. That's the order.
Anyway.... good mic. Buy it!

Service from Sweetwater is fantastic to start with, from ordering to receiving of the merchandise. The mic is a very well balanced in the hand, a nice smaller foot print than most. Of course this does not matter if the quality of the sound is poor. Well the SM57 delivers in the sound totally. I'm no expert but have been using mics for years in shows at the club house and also at home. I found the SM57 to have a full body sound. Don't know how else to say it. I purchased three of them and all three worked perfectly. Used them in a show this weekend with a cast of over 30 and the audience enjoyed the fine sound quality. One mic was dropped and worked perfectly afterwards. For the price you can not go wrong.

I suppose there may be a higher quality microphone for my purposes on stage, but I haven't found it. However, I'm not willing to pay $500.00 for a single mic. I'm a percussionist, and have several things I have to amplify; from conga drums to bongo drums, to my hand-held percussion items,the Shure SM57 has served my needs faithfully for decades now.

The mic is made to the highest physical standards, meaning it is rugged and able to take set-up and tear-down on a regular basis, and still perform like the day it arrived from Sweetwater. The SM57 is also made to the highest electronic standards, meaning it picks up what I want it to pick up, and leaves to ambient clutter where it belongs.

I recommend the Shure SM57 mic to any percussionist or musician who needs to mic an instrument and wants the highest quality professional microphone on the market at a more than fair price.

What can you say about an industry standard?
This is the third one I have owned. The first two I am sure are still functioning beautifully for whoever it was that swiped them from me.
This one I'm going to hang around my neck.

Very well made, rugged enough for lots of use. Great sound for this price range. You really cannot go wrong with this. Every studio, large or small should have one and its affordable. It does not break up easily and its what I use to mic my tube amps. You do have to use more volume to mic guitar. It may just capture the sound you are looking for in your recordings.

It's a 57... It sounds great!

You know what you are getting with this. Not the best at anything, but very good to great at just about everything you stick it in front of with proper positioning and EQ. Sweetwater's service, as usual, was excellent.

The industry standard workhorse. If you're not using one of these, chances are you're using a clone of it. Try this mic with your favorite ribbon for a great composite sound. I've also had great results with this and a Neumann Tlm.

if you record live music at all-you need this. snare drum, electric guitars, etc... there always "new and improved" b.s. products out there. this is a proven, time tested weapon of choice for many of my studio friends. Just ask Mick and Keith. (rolling stones for you new guys)....

its everything i thought it would be

This is a great microphone- My favorite for snares, and great for guitar cabs, too. I often use it to mic acoustic guitars, and in a live setting, it gives a great tone, with less feedback problems than any other microphone I've used. But the biggest surprise for me was that I preferred it for vocals over the SM58- I found that for darker voices, this brings out the high end and gives a more crisp sound. Built like a rock, too, it's been used and abused on gig after gig, and just keeps kicking.

Just a great mic to have. Affordable, great balanced sound. I've used it on amp cabs, snares and vocals and it works great for all of it.

First mic i ever owned. One of those mics you will see everywhere. Its a standard in any studio. Sounds good (not spectacular but good) on everything. Well worth the price.

A classic for a reason. Hard to go wrong with this. Get one.

G-5790 is a SM-57 shaped on a 90 degree angle. Gets in tight to a snare drum with out getting in the way. Great on amps too. Worth the extra 50 bucks! Get a G-5790

works great. clean, very little ambient interference. gives the jazz tone I expect when recording from my Express 5:25.

Great service from Sweetwater, best company in the business

The Good ol' SM 57. One of the best mics for all round general use.

i mean duh, it does what its supposed to do. super happy to be adding this to my collection have already put it to use in recording and performing. you could throw this thing off of a building and it would still work fine

My second 57 also purchased at sweetwater. Work horse mic and get the job done.

I love the Shure SM57 for recording drum kits, guitars, basses, and much. However, when it comes to using it live, I don't find it great for my needs. I am a steel pan player and need my mics to have high gain before feedback and this mic does not cut it for me. My live setup is very simple with a JBL Eon Pro One, my steel pan, iPod Touch, LP mic claw, mic cable, 1/8" to 1/4" iPod cable, and my Røde M3 mic. The M3 is a way better mic for me live as it is a condenser microphone that allows you to insert a 9v batter for phantom power for when you want to use it live and you do not have a mixer that has built in phantom power. Overall , the SM57 is a great mic that has become a staple in many studio and bedroom recording hub for years, but for a one man live performance rig it doesn't shine.

I"ve had only two of these throughout my career because they are indestructible. Great snare mic!

With a Shure SM57 you know exactly what you are getting - a durable, workhorse mike for guitar cabinets and snare drums. Works like a charm.

I really don't need to say much about this mic. It's a proven workhorse, always reliable and is working great on my snare. Picked it up at the gearfest! One more reason to go to this amazing event!

I have only used this once but it worked exactly the way I wanted it to. No regrets and got it at a great price.

Classic sm57. If its not broken dont fix it, this mic hasn't changed and doesn't need to. Durable and gets whatever you put in from of it through the speakers. A must have for anyone in the audio industry.

I used this mic in 1972 as a vocal mic on stage and I always liked it better than the Sm58. The quality of the sound was a little better (at least to me) than the sm58.

its ok for record

The standard of Dynamic Microphones. Couldn't be without one.

Used it for the first time in a live performance and was amazed by sound it produced as a mic to guitar amplifier. For the price, you can't go wrong as an option item for any venue of performance. The clarity and pitch at low and high volume is acceptable and the design is just small enough that the audience would barely notice it.

great for instruments, ok for vocals.

Great mic - already put to good use for both vocal and amp cab. A little funny that the end piece spins, but that's just the way they make 'em.

Picked up two SM57s at Gearfest. Great buy for a staple mic. It's pretty much as advertised. Does what it does well, and is reliable/durable.

It's simply a classic. Just right for the snare and cabinets. Works nice on rock vocals also.

This mic is surely an industry standard which explains why it's around for so long. It's just awesome. Excellent customers service from SweetWater also.

This was my first mic purchase, and im very happy with it, I got it to record acoustic guitar by sitting as close as I could to it on a mic stand pointed at the sound hole of my guitar. works great and sounds great. I've also recorded distorted,overdriven electric guitar by pointing it at the speaker grill, that sounds great too. you can tell its a les paul when you listen to the recording. Im very impressed and i wish i hadnt waited so long to get started. Get one , you deserve it.

Let's face it. Whether you are a budding engineer or a seasoned pro, you should have at a least a handful of these mics. I've found success using it with a myriad of instruments and speakers cabinets for both stage and studio. I've also witnessed these mics take abuse in live performances, yet they continue to do their duty faithfully. There is serious bang for your buck with this mic.

Basic work horse mic for home studio for me. Rugged, inexpensive and easy to use. Very dependable. These are so afordable that you can buy several for multiple micing solutions. This mic is used on counless recordings...good enough for David Gilmour, good enough for me.

Used it on Drums, Guitar, Accoustic, Banjo, it is a great all purpose Mic

I am a clarinet player. The SM57 works well since it brings out the beauty of my instrument and seems to take out a little of the shrillnes of very high clarinet notes while bringing out the lows. I noticed an improvement in sound the first time I used it. It was well worth the price.

I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't been said. Thankfully I've not tested the robustness of this Mic but its performance is great and worth probably twice its price. I'm using it on a grand piano and find I can get great response across the whole board with careful placement. It's clarity and tone are far better than most "piano mics" I've used. My other typical use is on a violin. Positioned above (pointing down toward the openings), I have never heard a microphone reproduce this instruments tone any better. Well worth the money.

The Shure SM57 delivers a consistent sound that many sound engineers know well. There are many good alternatives to this mic, but sometimes it seems that I just need the consistent sound of an SM57. It is recommended to have a few of this in your mic locker or studio or live work.

This microphone could survive the apocalypse and sound just as good. People typically use them for recording snares and guitars, but they do well with vocals, depending on your voice (like all microphones.) If you don't have the money for a $400 condenser microphone, this will probably work for you. The Shure SM57 picks up my vocal dynamics fairly well, picking up my deep end as well as it picks up my higher ranges, so I have no complaints. However, do note that you will be shipped the Shure-SM57-LC. This means it does not come with a microphone cable, so I took off one whole star because I had to go buy a mic cable as soon as my shipment arrived. Naturally, it isn't made clear that you are buying the LC version, so just be aware.

That being said, it's always a good decision to pick up this microphone. It's reputation is well deserved.

What's to say? This is a classic all purpose mic that will please. Yes, you can spend hundreds or thousands to fulfill the audiophile need for perfection, but if you're looking for an all-around general purpose mic that sounds rich, this is it.

The main reason I purchased this mic is because of a veteran audio engineer friend who told me to get it. I trusted his advice and now I know to trust it in the future.

i bought this mic after reading reviews for miking bass amps. if you dont have a bunch of money this mic can fill in where DI'ing fails. you can choose the 57 or the 58.

Love the 57. I recently obtained a great full sound while recording a cajon when using an EV 122 on the back and the SM 57 on the front

This mic has every attribute you could possibly want in a piece of gear. Its an incredible value, its virtually indestructible, and---oh yeah--it sounds great! Every studio I've worked in has at least 3 of these. Its the perfect mic to get your studio going because it can be used on anything and sounds pretty damn good on anything. Everyone know its great for snare and guitar, but I'd easily take one of these or an SM58 over those cheapy large diaphragm condensers if I'm recording vocals. No studio is complete without a 57.

I've just recently started building a home studio, and this has been my first real mic. I'm SO very glad I did the reaserch and came out with this instead of Guitar Center's "Let me sell you this AMAZING MXL Mic Starter Pack! Only $85! Buy it! BUY IT! BUY IT NOOW!"

All of you who have been out to GC know what I'm talking about. You walk in and say, "I'm looking for a microph-" "OH! HERE"S the thing for YOU! MXL 990/991!!!!! DO IT!"

Alright, most of you are not that stupid, but three months ago I was! ALMOST bought it. Almost. Then I read up at places like tweakheadz.com (great site) and came out with this. It is such a good starting point. I've been using it for acoustic, electric, vocals, etc. Give it some attention in editing, and it can sound amazing!

i think this mic is a must for every musician and engineer, it is tough as hell and can be used on practically anything

The 57 is a traditional utility mic. It's not made to make anything pop or stand out. It just is what it is. A trusted workhorse mike that gives great results especially when blended with other mics of better tonal quality.

So it's the Shure SM57. It's a great mic that works for pretty much everything. Almost every snare and electric in the past... long time... have been recorded with this. Great for live too. It handles pretty much anything you can throw at it and has a little midrange bump for that grit you been longing for.

Pros
Great Sound Quality
Rugged and durable
Handles High-Pitched Sounds
Quality Build

Cons
Requires a higher input gain for the best sound

Super solid and rocksteady! The Go To mic for just about everything. No fuss, no muss, just reliable and always ready.

Let's be fair: has the 57 been surpassed in every application by other microphones in the last few decades? Absolutely. Does it have a signature sound that is sometimes perfect for the application? Of course!!! Although I don't like them on snare, the compressed band-limited sound of a 57 is classic on guitar amps. I often try a few mics on an amp only to revert back to the 57 for that gnarly tone. I don't use them on anything else really, and while I once had six I now only have one. More than other mics I can think of, the 57 really benefits from a good pre. Once had to use them on overheads in a pinch and it wasn't nearly as offensive as I thought it might be. Got me through the night. Of course you should buy one, maybe two.

the new microphone helped out a lot with my home recording of my son's band. it helped minimize feedback in the monitoring systems.

Studio and live sound staple. I have three, maybe four of these. I'll probably pick up a few more in my lifetime. I mostly use them on guitar cabs, snare and toms. They are as tough as nails and just keep doing the job.

Honestly, there's nothing really exciting about an SM57, they're just there, they always work and they sound good. I've picked other more "exotic" mics for guitar cabs and drums, but for some reason I keep coming back to them.

The Shure SM57 is not a "bad" microphone. It's perfectly usable. However, the newer Beta 57A is so superior to it in every application I've heard, that I don't understand why people continue to use the SM57, at all. The only thing that can really be said for it, at this point, is that it's cheaper than the Beta 57A.

We use the SM57S all the time for acoustic guitars, horns, flute, just about any instrument that needs a boost. Tied into our Bose L1 PA they are a great mike. Also the Bose T1 mixer has prefect presets for this microphone and the instrument being amplified. Unbreakable!

I have used many SM57 microphones in my life, and see them everywhere. They wear really well, and when they do get broken, can usually be fixed, or replaced at any pro audio store. They work well and last a long time, but they dont sound great. They are good but not as good as my Audix i5 that i recently bought. I've been using my i5 for everything i use to use my 57 for, and it has been working out better than i thought it would.

Have heard SO much about this mic. Finally had little extra $ to purchased one. I don't know, it just doesn't scream out at me, for some reason. It does what I want it to, that is to record my acoustic guitar. O well, I ain't sending it back.

The sound is EXTREMELY quiet and the little that you do get out of it has immense amounts of white noise in the recording. I've seen so many sites recommend this mic for recording acoustic guitar and it does not work. Please don't get baited into buying this.

toured three years with 5 57's.one for lead and 4 for backup singers two bose 800 and a shure vocalmaster not one problem not one.

If it was legal to marry a microphone, I would have little baby 57's running all around. Go with the $1500.00-$2000.00 mic's if you wish, but if you want the best of the best, get the SHURE SM57. Can't beat them on snares, overhangs, Piano, and in some situations can do a great vocal pick-up. (If the U.S. President uses it there must be something good about it) SM57's are like a dream come true to me. Hope they will be with you.

Every studio needs at least a couple Shure SM57's. Simply great on snares, toms - even as overheads (if you're on a budget!). Countless recordings have been made through the years with a '57 draped (hanging by the cable), against the grille cloth of guitar amps, and it also does an impressive job on acoustic guitars and vocals.


Last year, on a location gig, I realized I had left the overhead condenser pair back at the studio (2-hours away!), so out came a pair of 57's doing duty as drum overheads. People still comment on the depth and clarity of the cymbals on that project. Hard to figure...


If you're reading this and already own '57's; you know it's all true. If you are looking to buy - buy 2...you'll use them, and they'll serve you well for years. Sure = quality, performance & reliability, remember that.