What do you think about SM 58 vs. SM57 for guitar cab miking?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Seeker of Rock
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Seeker of Rock

Seeker of Rock

Let us be unburdened by that which has been ?
I have an SM58 I have had for awhile and used to use it for live vocals when I was playing out a few years back. I have heard, and read, the specs are pretty similar on the two, and used both for vocals throughout the years. I always used 57 for my cabinets live. Something just in the construction of the windscreen, and maybe that is all it is, obviously look more unidirectional on the 57 though maybe it is not. With the round ball windscreen of the 58, it just appears to be more setup for straight on as well as (though the diaphragm is flat towards the front) sources from the side, though they wouldn't be hitting the diaphragm straight on. Anyway, I have an SM58 now, but don't have an SM57. I want to get the best, most direct sound from by cardioid mic, using the condensor back for the surrounding "ambience". Any thoughts on whether or not SM57 are better for straight on miking, more "focused" on the signal in front of them with less pickup of surround signals not directly in the path? Again, I have heard they look different but perform the same, and just curious if any with a little knowledge on the two can share any thoughts.
 
I have a condensor I love already, Joemeek JM47, though I would like to get something like an AT or AKG when I decide to buy a non-vocal mic, but the JM47 is my hands-down choice for vocals on my voice tone. Looking for the up close cab mic. I know Rode NTK is a tube condensor (I'm already running tube amps, btw, no pods or modeling machines, JCM800 and Fender Super Reverb), not sure about the Sennheisers you mentioned off the top of my head and one too many Sam Adams right now to be motivated to search, but these are condensors too? Sennheiser makes that one mic, not sure the model, but flat screen, advertises as the end-all-be-all up close cabinet mic. I will probably stay with Shure because I love their sound. Any Big Kenny, any thoughts on differences between 57s and 58s for up close studio cabinet miking? I've read your posts before and know you are reputable. Don't let that go to your head, now. :D :D
 
I've used a Beta SM58 on guitar cab and it was pretty sweet. I'm sure the normal 58 will do pretty much the same as a 57.
 
None of the senn's are condenser, they are all dynamic. The one you are thinking of is probably the 441. I use it frequently but often get as good a result (not as full but that's not always the best) with the 201.
As far as the shure thing, either one is fine, I prefer my 545 but haven't tried any betas on anything but live vox. Sounds interesting though.

Check that, the flat screen senn is the 609 and I would say I use it as often as any but not the be all by any means
 
Alright, so my situation. I have an SM58, I think but not know I may be able to get a better focused signal (read: more pure classic tube guitar sound coming from my amps and guitars to tape, LP Std./Amer. Strat/'86 Jackson Custom Soloist, the amps I've already mentioned, so obviously guitar tone representation is big to me) from the 57 or a flat-faced screen which would assume to me, as would be likely marketed to the consumer, that there is a more focused, more overall directional input to the diaphragm. Same with the Sennheiser model. Maybe it is just a marketing ploy, but both the 57 and the Sennheiser E609 (sorry, I hate loose ends and I'm the one who brought it up, so had to forgoe my insobriety for a couple of minutes and get the exact model number) look like they are engineered to be placed to get something like a 10/12/15" or whatever sized cone. Maybe it is just me. Anyway, I've got this 58 that I love, but maybe it is more sensitive to signal pickup from the sides as portrayed by the 360 ball screen than the more uni-directional looking 57 or E609, or is it just a marketing ploy? And if it is, does anyone here use a 58 or similar for miking speaker cabs in the studio?
 
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come on now, I'm sure there is more to this than that.

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Sorry, had to have a little fun.
 
You are correct sir. The 57 is better on cabs simply because it has better rejection from the sides. They are the same mic other than their screens
 
Thought so. I owe you a drink, sir. Should you ever make your way to South Florida's East Coast (Miami/Lauderdale area) PM me and I'll make good on that offer.
 
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