Shure 545 question

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neverstopplayin

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My first post! Thanks for all the great info so far in helping me get my project studio under way. Hope to be recording soon.

I bought a lot of mics recently and in the package were a few vintage 545s. I read that they are great for harmonica (Butterfield), but does anyone have any experience with other applications (drums, guitar, etc.)?
 
I've got a 545s that I love on my electric guitar cab. It's a predecessor to the SM57, so it's no surprise that it sounds good there.

I don't have a "modern" SM57 to compare it to, just another vintage model--the Unidyne III SM57. The two are very close on the amp, but I'd say the 545s has a bit more edge, or bite (sorry so subjective).

I haven't used it on anything else...
 
I like them better than 57's. Great for the occassional vocal, or snare drum or in front of an amp. They can be just the thing on say a 12 string guitar if it's going to be in a busy mix (lots of other instruments). And they're good on harmonica too.
 
yep, the Unidyne III 545 was the pre-sm57. so use em anywhere you'd use an sm57. vocals, amps, drums, and harmonica are where i've used mine.

fwiw, i've got two mexican-made ones and one US-made one. the US seems to be smoother sounding and requires more gain than the two mexis. who knows why....i bought them all used.


cheers,
wade
 
I have used it on vocals. The recording came out kind of nasally with a midrangy sound. Not too full sounding. I have used it on a guitar cabinet which seemed to come out okay. My guitar cabinet isn't the best judge because, well ... it never sounds too good.:rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the info. Looks like they're more versatile that I thought. I'll need variety for guitar cabs and snare, so they'll go to good use.
 
I happened into one too- heard Bonham used it occasionally on the batter side of his kick:cool:
 
Erockrazor said:
I have used it on vocals. The recording came out kind of nasally with a midrangy sound. Not too full sounding. I have used it on a guitar cabinet which seemed to come out okay. My guitar cabinet isn't the best judge because, well ... it never sounds too good.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Yep, you're description of nasally and midrangy is right on with what I've found. For my guitar cab, that's exactly what helps a lead cut through the mix with minimal post-tracking eq.

Never tried it on vocals though. Probably won't now. :D
 
WhiteStrat said:
Never tried it on vocals though. Probably won't now. :D
Click to expand...

You should give it a go just for experience if nothing else. Depending on the singer/song it sits in, I like it a lot. YMMV.
 
Well that is my main vocal mic for practice. But when recording I'll resort to something else, usually a condenser. It wasn't horrid by any means, just out performed on my voice by another mic. Don't hesitate to give it a swing on vocals anyway, it might just do the trick for the singers or your type of voice.:)
 
It's good on bluesy vox, when the singer really belts it out--when you want some grit.
 
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