Double Bass Shure beta 57 option?

[neddyrow]

After using this wonderful forum, I have been able to get a lot closer to the sound I'm looking for in all the different situations I play in.

I have a k&k pickup through a couple different preamps and a gk mb12 for some of the louder shows I play. All from advice on here. Luckily I have been playing more traditional bluegrass and I have been using the trick I picked up from some of you guys where I wedge a shure 57 or a 58 in my tailpiece with some foam or a towel. I like it the best so far all around with sound, ease of setup, and especially, staying low maintenance with the sound guys

I really like the 57 better than the 58 for my bass and really like the beta mics for vocals and I've used a 52 beta for recording. I'm curious if a 57 beta will be good upgrade. Anyone out there using a 57 beta and have any input?

 

[Happy Steve]

I have tried both these mics. The SM seemed too boomy for me - the Beta seems to have better compensation for the proximity effect resulting in less boom / more balance with the woodier mid tones. The Beta gives a little hotter signal.

I was mounting both with the rubber bands method, with the mics around 30-40 deg from the top and pretty close in. With a louder bass, and allowing more distance from the top these differences might be less (?)


The Shure FAQs point out that the difference between the 57 and 58 is the grille over the capsule. The 57 allows closer proximity, so maybe the bass boost that causes is something you like/works better with your bass.

Steve

edit: p.s 1: I mount the xlr onto the strings first, then add the mic, I find there is less chance of dinging the top with the mic grille that way. 2: The XLR is on a short cable that I can walk on/off with so I don't have to bend down and fiddle onstage to make the bass portable.

 

[Marc Piane]

IME the beta 57 has more air but less meat than the 57 or 58. I found it to be a great mic to pair with a pickup but kind of lacking by itself.