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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Recording Corner »

Permalink Sm-58 vs. SM-57 for recording guitar

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We've been recording some of our live performances using a Korg MD-1200 (4 channels at a time). Don't have any SM-57's but plenty of SM-58's. Anyone have any experience using the '58 as a close recording mic on a guitar amp?

It's good, but the 57 is much more uni-directional, while the 58 is more prone to picking up bacground noise. At stage volume it shouldn't make THAT much difference, though.

~B~

as far as I know, it's the same mic with a different grill. Supposedly the effect of that is that the sm57 is more unidirectional, and has more or better high frequency response.

that's what's in the books. from experience, Ive recorded with both, both sound fine. bit some observations: the best recordings I made were with an sm58. part of that is, I * think* that in a recording situation where you only record the guitar amp, you pick up more room sound when the mic is less focussed, plus I would guess that esp when recording at a short distance, mic placement becomes less critical. so maybe the sm58 doesn't sound better, but it's just that it's easier to record with.
also, Ive noticed that in front of an amp in a band situation the sm 57 gives a bit less bleed form other instruments, but it's not a night and day differnece, and when using it on the snare, the difference is zilch as far as bleeding is concerned.

anyway, both great mics and the diferrences are subtle . btw Ive heard of people using an sm 58, but taking the grill-bulb off and putting something (an empty roll of toilet paper? Very Happy ) aorund it to make it more sm57-like) but Ive never done that.

fwiw, we used to have two sm58 in our old space. One was mint, the other had a heavily dented grill. that one sounded best to my ears. alas, neither were mine.

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I do believe most people use SM58s for vocals and SM57s for everything else. I don't think many of us have the luxury of comparing an SM57 and SM58 in a controlled space.

Here is what Shure says is the difference:

http://tinyurl.com/28ue9r

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This would be a good time for me to put an SM57 in my wish list, huh? Perhaps buy one around the same time I get the Peavey Classic 50/212 out of lay-away, so I can start moving (somewhat) out of the digital realm, for future recordings. Smile

Matt

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

Thanks for all the good info, Brian the Shure link was especially helpful. My take is that the differences are very subtle and most likely the Sm-58 will work fine as a close in guitar mic. Casey

I prefer Sennheiser MD421’s as far as dynamic mics are concerned.

KK

The Exotic Guitar of Kahuna Kawentzmann

You can get the boy out of the Keynes era, but you can’t get the Keynes era out of the boy.

I quite often use SM58s for mic'ing up guitar amps. I don't think theres a lot of difference in sound from the 57 used like this.. The first two tracks on our Myspace are 58s on the guitar amps.

Both mics are very versatile for live work - you can get a great PA sound with just a box of 57's & 58's. I admit that neither are ideal as drum overhead, but they work Ok - and they both make reasonable bass drum mics at a pinch too.

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Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

I favor the Audix i5. What a mic! Guys, if you are playing a 15" cabinet, it would behoove you to check this one out. LINK

SSIV

The best mic is the one that sounds good to you. A 58 will sound great on a guitar amp in the right position. Don't get caught up in "whats the best for" its all in the placement, a simple move of a 1/2" can change the sound drastically, use your ears.

www.cutbacksurfband.com

I have also understood that the two mic's have essentially the same cartridge. There is one huge difference though. The screen on the 58 is electrically isolated and as such, is MUCH less likely to fry you on stage if your amp ground and PA ground are on different potentials. I've used nothing but 58's for vocals for about 30 years. In my old Top-40 days, I did all the falsetto parts and worked literally right on the mic screen. I always carry a 58 to every show and when the sound guy puts something else up for us to hassle the audience with......I swap it for my 58. Mitch carries one all the time as well..........ed

Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?

Oooooops egg on my face. Now just how did get the two numbers backward.....dislexeia probably.....we carry 57's. I still haven't recovered from my weekend trip to Maryland for the Motocross of Nations.......sorry........ed

Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?

This post has been removed by the author.

Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 14:48:47

The 57 and 58 are basically flat through most of the responce curve, the 57 has a little better low end responce, and both have the same cardiod (heart shaped pattern). The basic difference between the two is the rising top end. the 58 has about a 6bd rise, starting at about 2k which is why vocalist like it, crispies it up a little, but is a little tougher to get loud in a touchy stage monitor system. The 57 has a much flatter responce throughout most of the responce curve till about 8k then rises rapidly. Sooooo, by the numbers if you have a mellow amp sound the 58 will brighten it up at a lower frequency, if you have a bright guitar amp then the 57 will be truer to your sound. The real answer is it depends on what your looking for in your recording. The 57 is a favoite snare mic because of the high end pop, but because of the plastic windscreen, they usually become projectiles, but I digress.

www.cutbacksurfband.com

For live situations we've been using Audix i5 mics for instruments and Audix OM5 mics for vocals. I have 57s and 58s as well and have a/b'd them in different settings and I have found the Audix mics to be superior. I have used the i5 exclusively for recording guitar amps as well.

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Confused ......which is the conclusion?! Which is better for a guiatr amp? The 57 or 58? I'm totally confused!
Does anyone else have the Audix i5? Two members over here claim that is far better than the SM57 or 58...
....and the difference in money is some $$$$

Every word is like an unecessary stain on silence and nothingness.

spy
Confused ......which is the conclusion?! Which is better for a guiatr amp? The 57 or 58? I'm totally confused!
Does anyone else have the Audix i5? Two members over here claim that is far better than the SM57 or 58...
....and the difference in money is some $$$$

I think my conclusion would be that there is, at most, a subtle difference. For sure, other factors - like the acoustics of the room you are recording in, the mic pre-amp, placement etc etc. - will all have a much bigger effect than whether you are using a 57 or a 58. I'd go with the 58 if you want to use it as an occasional vocal mic too, or a 57 if it's just for guitar.

I haven't used an Audix so I cant comment on that, but I have used a wide variety of mics for recording electric guitar - including some that are supposed to be unsuitable (ie: vocal condenser mics) and got the result I wanted when the 'correct' mic didn't sound so good.

I'd say - don't get obsessive about gear choice. Get something decent and after that it's what you do with it that matters:

It ain't the wand, it's the wizard that's waving it that counts....

http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns

Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

Last edited: Dec 11, 2007 13:49:48

Estreet is right, I've been mixing live sound for thirty years, in the beginning I wanted answers. What you have to accept is that there is no specific mic for anything, to many variables. The SM-57 is the standard for guitar, probably the most used, but its really up to experiments. Try to borrow a couple of mics and listen, there in is the answer grasshopper.

www.cutbacksurfband.com

I say get one of each (a SM57 AND a SM58) then march down to your local music store and trade them in on a Sennheiser 421! Very Happy

A 57 is a great mic for live performance (takes abuse well) but I'd prefer the Sennheiser 421 or a cheapo condenser mic (MXL V67 or Oktava 319) with a good preamp for recording.

www.apollo4.com

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