Shure SM58s VS Shure 55SH Series II

bassrocker521 · #1 03-23-2008, 06:24 PM

Alright I'm buying a microphone and I'm wanting to know your opinions on the two mic's in the subject title. I know that the 58 is the standard, but that 55 is just so damn beautiful...If you've used the 55, how did you feel about it? and if you've used both, which did you prefer?

Links:
The 58: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tch?sku=270104

The 55: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Mic?sku=270169

anomalybass · #2 03-24-2008, 07:21 PM

actually the sm57 is the industry standard instrument mic. are you looking for an all around good mic or just vox ect? i think the 57 and 58 are the same with a dif screen. but im not really sure. i personally dont like the 58 that much compared to other mics ive used. i have a peavey mic that was about 60 bucks that sounds alot better. never used the oldschool shure. try em out before you buy. everyone has a different ear. use what you think sounds good. -joep

projectMalamute · #3 03-25-2008, 08:55 AM

I've never seen a 55 in real life. Never heard of anyone recording anything with it. I'm not the most experienced audio engineer in the world but I've worked on a lot of different set ups, everything from a handful of 57's and some duct tape up to a commercial studio with an SSL. Could be the 55 is a hidden gem that I have just not crossed paths with yet, but I think it would have come up by now if that was the case.

And yes, as I understand it the 57 and 58 are the same capsule with a different screen design. I'm not really a fan of either, but they are damn cheap and tough. If you are only going to have one mic I'd get a 57 over a 58.

bkbirge · #4 03-25-2008, 09:17 AM

The 55 reissues have the same capsule as the 57/58 mics from my understanding. The older 55's don't and also don't sound that great. If you are just getting one microphone and want it to be as versatile as possible *and* your choices are only 55, 57, 58 then get the 57. The Shure SM-57 is a desert island mic for sure.

hunta · #5 03-25-2008, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

If you are only going to have one mic I'd get a 57 over a 58.

+1. Or a 55. My impression of the 55 is that it's basically the same as the 57/58 but it "looks cooler". Aka vintage. Or something. I don't think that's worth paying an extra $50 for unless you're shooting a music video.

You can do a lot with a 57.

anomalybass · #6 03-25-2008, 03:41 PM

cad makes good studio mics in that price range. ive got the trion 8000 tube condenser and it sounds amazing..really. the trion8k is the most expensive one they make, im pretty sure anyway, and i picked one up on ebay new for 250. i think it lists for 5 or 6.-joep

Matthew Bryson · #7 03-25-2008, 04:06 PM

My choice for shure mics for vocals would be the Beta 58.

I've been using an SM58 for vocals, the other two singers both use Beta 58's and now I HAVE to get a beta 58. They crush me vocally because the Beta's really do have more highs and lows and can achieve higher gain before feedback.

Kirkowitz · #8 03-25-2008, 04:16 PM

I bought one of the recent 55's for my wife to sing into a few years ago. It sounds good and looks great. It may have the same capsule as a 57/58 but the casing affects how it behaves. After working with it for a while, we switched back to standard 58's. The 55 was more prone to feedback on stage and also has an "open" or "softer" sound. The "open" sound is actually pleasant at lower volumes. Maybe it's just a reduced proximity effect. Anyway, it doesn't punch through the mix as well as the 57's and 58's. And my wife is a LOUD singer. But it does sound good. I did some home recording with it and it was nice for vocals.

bluestarbass · #9 03-25-2008, 08:14 PM

It doesnt say anything on Shures website about the 58 and the 55 using the same capsule, and if they do thats the first ive ever heard of it. Their frequency responses are completely different. I like my 58 on vox and some drum work. The 57 gets more use cuz well, its a 57. The 55 is the biggest piece ive ever used. Its completely useless for anything but live vox, and it does a bad job at that. Most people get them cuz they look cool, and end up flipping them on ebay a month later. Ive used one probably a half dozen times live and in the studio, usually chosen by someone who chose a mic based on looks over tone. Its an aweful mic in my opinion.

projectMalamute · #10 03-25-2008, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

It doesnt say anything on Shures website about the 58 and the 55 using the same capsule, and if they do thats the first ive ever heard of it. Their frequency responses are completely different. I like my 58 on vox and some drum work. The 57 gets more use cuz well, its a 57. The 55 is the biggest piece ive ever used. Its completely useless for anything but live vox, and it does a bad job at that. Most people get them cuz they look cool, and end up flipping them on ebay a month later. Ive used one probably a half dozen times live and in the studio, usually chosen by someone who chose a mic based on looks over tone. Its an aweful mic in my opinion.

I have no real information as to what capsule is in that thing, and I've never heard the thing, but my first thought when I saw the frequency response plot was to wonder if they were using the same capsule as the 57. Bass roll off starts in about the same place and it's got a presence boost like the 57. The 55 has a sharper and narrower peak up there, could be a consequence of the goofy case the thing is in.

These things are more money than a 57?

Stihltygre · #11 11-24-2010, 09:40 AM

i've used 58's 57's and i currently use a 55 as a live/ recording vocal mic. they may have the same capsule but i know that they capture my voice ( which is pretty deep for a vocalist) more accurately than either, my other singer works better with a 58 as do most tenors/ female singers. I can get close with a 57 but the 55 really brings something out without getting too boomy ( with a 58 i get all bass if i'm too close or i'm singing in a tin can and there is no sweet spot). i wouldn't use one for guitar really as you WANT those high mids but i could see using it for a mic'd bass amp... actually doing some recording in the next couple weeks so maybe i'll give it a try.

Doll · #12 11-24-2010, 09:52 AM

I used 58's and as far as hand held go its a fantastic mic for the price. I am a filmmaker who used to specialize in location audio. I use my 58's to record no, I do have a lot of experience with the 57's as well and honestly they are a very similar mic, pick-up patterns are close to identical if not, there is almost no audible difference between the two. I use 58's because of the look of them as they are less distracting on screen with the dark small end vs the shiny wire ball. I haven't had much experience with the 55's. A singer used one in a music video I did but it wasn't actually plugged in so hard to say haha, it does look very nice though.

D.A.R.K. · #13 11-24-2010, 09:54 AM

the 55 is basically a cool looking sm 58 housed in a casing that makes it sound worse than an sm 58.

Charling · #14 11-24-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.A.R.K.

the 55 is basically a cool looking sm 58 housed in a casing that makes it sound worse than an sm 58.

Thats what I've heard from a few different sources, its a pretty 58 in a body that doesn't work so well for that capsule.. The old ones certainly sound different though, but thats a whole different mic!