Looking for mic for live performance. Is there anything better than a 58?

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pj11

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Hi all,
Looking for some recommendations if possible

Looking for a 2nd microphone to have for live gigs. I do solo acoustic at local bars/restaurants in my area but also at some private yacht clubs and private parties. At the private events there is often times where folks want to come up and sing, to which I don't mind as the folks consist of club members or friends and relatives. And they all love it and have a good time regardless of how well they sing. And I still get paid.
I was thinking of getting another 58 as they are reliable and durable. But was also thinking of something else that may be a better mic for me to use and have the other singers use the 58. Years ago in my band days I had a Senheiser that I used live that had a better response than a 58 and looking to see if I can find something in that vein that isn't too costly. At the time the Senheiser cost about $20 more than a 58. I've been out of the game in purchasing a mic and when I'm looking through Sweetwaters site, the descriptions they give for their stuff makes all their stock sound simply wonderful. And there's a lot of varying opinions in reviews.

So I'm reaching out to the forum for suggestions of what is possibly out there that would fit my needs. Looking at a budget around $200. Any responses are greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Pat
 
There is the Shure Beta 58 of course (beware of cheap imitations! see another thread) but there has been flood of low sensitivity, close working capacitor mics around in the last few years.
A capacitor mic will have a flatter, more extended response and give more accurate rendition of the singer's voice, although that is not always what is wanted! Such mics are also about 6dB more sensitive than say a 57/58, matters little most of the time but could be useful on a feeble voice and a not too quiet PA rig?

They start at about $150 iirc. There was a magazine feature about them recently I shall see if I can find a link.

Dave.
 
I've been partial to the Senn e935 and e835. The 835 is similar in price to a 58 but had a different tonal balance from the Shure. My mic box currently has SM57, e835 and e935s for live use. I don't have any 58s.
 
I use either the Electro Voice ND76 or the Sennheiser e845 (or something like that) when I gig. I have a 57 as a 3rd backup. Both the ND76 and the Sennheiser have a tighter pattern and reject more from the sides. On stage, that helps to prevent monitor feedback. Both mics are hotter than the 57/58. I like that because it gives me more distance to work the mic when doing backing vocals or singing lead. With 57, you're kinda stuck right on top of the mic.

Saying all that kinda makes me think that the 57/58 would be better for guest singers. Not have to worry as much about levels or mic technique, etc.
 
I've been collecting mics for years, and have a big collection. I have to admit that if I rush to the mics I'll probably grab a 58 when I don't know who is going to use them. A gig recently has 'singers'. No chance for proper sound check, so I grabbed the 58s - they did the job.

That said, the others tend to suit different voices. High, low, male, female, loud quiet - so you can always improve on a 58, but it's a 58 or .... something else, not a generic upgrade.

I think the Sennheiser 845(or 835?) is probably as close to a generic non-58 do anything mic, but they have a tendency to be a bit 'dark' on some voices?

I like the Shure condensers - in particular the SM86.

What I did do a while back was a video where I set up a floor wedge like on stage, and then sang (sorry) one of the parts I sang with the band, repeated on each different mic - it maybe shows how they sound kind of individual. I used the floor wedge on purpose so you could assess how they cope with spill - as in hypers that have different pickup pattern
 
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ecc83 said:
But the SM57 is not really close vocal mic?

Dave.
Click to expand...
Yeah they have been used for close vocals for years. Before that they had the 545 which I remember people using for vocals in the early late 60s and early 70s.
 
The advantage of the 58 is that it can take a beating and still works. The 57 is more of an instrument mic.
 
There is no general "better" response. There is more accurate response and there is better response for a given source. They aren't necessarily the same thing.

The SM58 is fine, but the e835 is pretty nice, too. Different but nice, and affordable. I had issues with e935s, but I don't know that they weren't damaged or counterfeit, and it was in high volume conditions. Beta58s are okay, but a little edgy, and narrower pattern mics benefit from more skilled use to stay in the sweet spot.
 
rob aylestone said:
Unless you are the President of the USA
Click to expand...
Well yes, a bit but. POTUS does not suck the mics! Then politicians very quickly learn/are trained to "PROJECT!" something anyone who has ever done PA for AGMs and the like will know helps enormously, you struggle to amplify the 7ft, 20 stone Hon Tres' who sounds like Bob Harris!

There has also been a conspiracy theory that there is a Chinese shotgun mic under Pressis' lecturn!

Dave.
 
rob aylestone said:
Unless you are the President of the USA
Click to expand...
using a Shure Mexico-Chineese mic...lol ....Shure is about as US as MXL mics are.

its like the guy at work had a Trump MAGA hat, someone saw the label and it said Made In China...(true story)
 
or buy a fake 58 and save some money.
the fakes are clones and from what Ive read they aren't that bad.

its just a live mic, no one cares or can see the brand label.
most people don't even know how to tell the difference and don't care. ...just do some homework and get a good fake one.(y)

$21 Pyle 57
https://www.amazon.com/Professional...057ec5c327181bc164a4e8cffaa&gad_source=1&th=1

Review

For shits and giggles, we swapped out an SM57 with a $20 Pyle lookalike while recording distorted rhythm guitars. Imagine the looks on our faces when we had to struggle to hear the difference.
 
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Well, if we are talking 'whale ***t' mic prices the Behringer XM8500 is really quite good and comes in a really sturdy plastic case with a clip. Take no notice of the advertised specification. It is way more sensitive than -70dB! My two were almost exactly the same as an SM57.

Yes the Shure mics are very tough but so is this Behrry and if you want a mic that might get run over, dropped in the mud or nicked buy a couple.

Dave.
 
CoolCat said:
using a Shure Mexico-Chineese mic...lol ....Shure is about as US as MXL mics are.

its like the guy at work had a Trump MAGA hat, someone saw the label and it said Made In China...(true story)
Click to expand...
They've had those 57s for many years. If you go back and watch speeches by Reagan from the late 70s. They had a pair of SM57s with the windscreens. It wouldn't suprise me if they had 50 of them in a box somewhere that have been sitting for 40 years or more.
 
CoolCat said:
or buy a fake 58 and save some money.
the fakes are clones and from what Ive read they aren't that bad.

its just a live mic, no one cares or can see the brand label.
most people don't even know how to tell the difference and don't care. ...just do some homework and get a good fake one.(y)

$21 Pyle 57
https://www.amazon.com/Professional...057ec5c327181bc164a4e8cffaa&gad_source=1&th=1

Review

For shits and giggles, we swapped out an SM57 with a $20 Pyle lookalike while recording distorted rhythm guitars. Imagine the looks on our faces when we had to struggle to hear the difference.
Click to expand...

I have (and have used this mic on a recording) but unless you're going to swap the top with an SM58, this SM57 clone isn't what you want.
 
Thanks everyone who responded for their input. Looks like the Sennheiser e835 was the most recommended besides another 58. I do own a 57, but that is strictly for recording purposes or for micing an amp live, to which would be extremely rare for me these days.
Thanks again and hope everyone has a great day!
 
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