Solid workhorse 
by Micah d. from Campbellsville, KY, April 2007
Music Background:  Live Sound Engineer

The SM58 is a legend in the live sound industry. It's reptuation is not without merit. It's solid, reliable and can double as a hammer when necessary. It's cheap, every live sound pro should have several standing by at all times.

  Best budget dynamic microphone on the planet! 
by sabianq from Washington D.C., October 2006
Music Background:  Live sound engineer

This Microphone is built!
Shure Brothers out did themselves when they came up with this little gem, If you are a stage performer, or just a hobbyist and have a budget to stick to, you wont go wrong owning this piece of equipment.
I have seen this microphone thrown, dropped, stepped on, driven over and even dropped in a toilet. The darn thing just keeps on working.
And if it stops working for what ever reason, The people at Shure will do everything in their power to get you on the road again!

If you are looking for a great priced, Awesome sounding, road worthy microphone, look no further, this microphone will become a family heirloom you give to your children's children.

  You may not have thought of this reason to buy an SM-58 
by Andrew Koenig from New Jersey, USA, September 2006
Music Background:  Semi-pro musician

The SM-58 is too well known as an industry workhorse to need further elaboration here. However, I saw an article in Acoustic Guitar magazine some time back that pointed out an important reason for owning one that hadn't occurred to me.

Their point: Because the SM-58 is so popular, most venues use them. Which means that unless you bring your own microphone to every gig, sooner or later you are going to have to use an SM-58. So you might as well get started right away in learning how to sound good through one.

  YOU MEAN YOU DON'T HAVE ONE YET? 
by Jimi Krystofiak from san Leandro Ca, September 2006
Music Background:  recording enginer w/ BA

AGAIN LIKE THE 57 YOU GOTTA HAVE THESE. GOOD MIC CLEAR AND TAKES A BEATING. TO SUM THIS MIC UP I WILL PUT IT OUT THERE... SO YOU ALL KNOW OF U2 THE BAND. EVERY SINGLE SONG RECORDED WITH THAT BAND THEY USE A 58 ON THE VOCAL. NONE OF THESE 50000DOLLAR TUBE MICS, SIMPLE 58. WHY? BECAUSE IT WORKS AND ALWAYS GIVES THAT SAME LOVABLE SOUND SO MANY ARE USED TO HEARING .

  I keep coming back to it 
by Dean Drake from Bellingham, WA, July 2006
Music Background:  Semi-pro musician/recording engineer

I've given other microphones in the same price range, (and even some that are pricier) an honest test drive, but I just keep coming back to my SM58. Some of the competitors have a lot more definition and are more sensitive, etc. - but to a fault. I can get right up on this mic and sing as loud as I can and it doesn't get harsh like my other mics do. So, until I find something I like better (and I doubt I will), I will keep on using my SM58.

SM58 - great all round mic 
by Justin Miller from Bedford, England, April 2006

The Shure SM58 is one of the most recognisable microphones in the world – and for good reason. It is the main stay of many a hire companies microphone hire stock, including mine. Practically unbreakable, and if you do manage to drop it from a high stage / skyscraper, you can also buy a replacement pop shield. Very suited to rock, or other musical styles that need powerful vocals. Make sure your singers lips are touching the pop shield to get the best results, though, unless they have very good mic technique. The proximity effect (increase in bass when you sing or talk close to the mic) makes this important. If the singer is a foot away from an SM58, the chances are they will sound thin, and you will also have gain before feedback issues...


Sonically the response has a nice presence peak in the upper mid range, but the top end rolls off quickly after that. Opinion is split about whether that is a good or a bad thing – it helps keep a lid on feedback, but it doesnt sound as hi-fi as some other mics. I have had some singers complain that their vocal top end is not quite right - sometimes asking for more top end. I guess they are used to the sound of expensive condenser mics on their recordings. My solution is normally to give them another mic, like a Beta 58, or Beta 87a maybe, rather than use EQ. If you A/B test an SM58 verses these mics it will always lose. But it can still be a better mic in some cases, such as when you are looking for a cardioid rather than hyper-cardioid response (the SM58 has a cardioid response, which means it has a wider pickup pattern at the front). But most vocalists will be more than happy with the sound the SM58 gives.


The SM58 also does a pretty good job on drums (not really bass drum), and other loud things like guitar cabs. It uses the same capsule as the SM57, one of the best mics for guitar cabs.


In conclusion, yes there are a lot of mics that sound better, and some of these are quite a bit cheaper – but ask yourself the question are they as durable as an SM58, and if you are a professional, will your clients want to use a mic they have never heard of?


Take care,
Justin Miller
http://pa2hire.co.uk

<A href="http://pa2hire.co.uk">pa2hire.co.uk</A>

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