57 words of caution

[James HE]

I was getting a wierd noise coming from the mic on the 16" floor tom tonite. At first I thought it was something on the drum rattling. We ruled that out, soon we realized that it was the little windscreen/cover on the top of the 57 resonating/rattling with the drum. I put some tape around the seam and problem solved. This got me thinking... Out of the four 57's that I have, one has always sounded better to me. Part of the little metal mesh is sticking out from underneath the head piece, which makes it unable to turn. So maybe the head not being able to turn is the reason why it sounds a little better to me. (I had always thought that it was just because it is 4 years older than the rest- and was just a sentimental thing...) Even if my hypothesis is'nt right, I'm gonna tape the heads of all the 57's anyway!

What do you guys think?

Has anyone ever heard something happen like this with a 57? I'd like to see if maybe someone could put a little tape on one of theirs and see if they hear a difference.


-jhe

 

[sonusman]

All the time...

But the tape thing doesn't always improve the sound. Just on ones where the windscreen is getting a little too loose.

Ed

 

[Track Rat]

It's uncanny. I had a 57 on a floor tom this weekend that sounded like it blew out. I haven't looked at it yet to see if it's something obvious (like a loose screen) but I'm gonna. Where'd you put the tape? Around the body where the capsule joins?

 

[James HE]

yep. right around where it is supposed to turn.

The 57 that I refferd to earlier, the one with the displaced screen had stopped working after a live show a few years back, A few months later, I took it apart and put it back together (for the tenth time) and suddenly it worked. Maybe this has something to do with why it sounds the best to me. Or maybe I'm just crazy.

-jhe