tf10music
160 posts
Jul 13, 2012
1:49 PM
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If I'm interested in one of these two mics to use for both vocals and harp, which would you all recommend? Also, I'll be using the mic for recording purposes just as much (if not more) as I will for live performance. Thoughts?
Thanks!
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Check out my music at http://bmeyerson11.bandcamp.com/
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Joe_L
1926 posts
Jul 13, 2012
1:56 PM
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I use the SM57 for both. I could easily use an SM58.
To me, a SM57 is like a Swiss Army knife. It's not the greatest microphone ever invented, but it is handy and highly versatile. I keep one in the trunk of my car at all times.
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The Blues Photo Gallery
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2012 3:09 PM
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Rick Davis
514 posts
Jul 13, 2012
2:01 PM
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Whichever one sounds best to you is the right one. Both are great. The 57 sounds darker.
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-Rick Davis
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Greg Heumann
1696 posts
Jul 13, 2012
5:52 PM
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Hmmm. Just to play devils advocate - assuming you're doing vocals then you're going to plug into the PA. Scratch dirty fat tone - so perhaps there's no advantage to the 57. For acoustic harp and singing, I like the 58. It has a wider pickup pattern so you can drift off center a little without as much drop off. (I close my eyes often when I'm singing or playing - I open 'em back up and damn if I haven't moved a bit......)
If you intend to use it for vocals through a PA, and harp through an AMP at different times, then you can definitely get a dirtier sound from the 57 - it is the better mic through an amp for most people.
Lastly - no matter which you choose, switching between harp and vocals through the same mic can create volume issues. There are two cases. In my case, I eat the mic when I sing, but I want to get my hands in between the harp and the mic when I play. I use an Ultimate 58 - do my vocal sound check with the volume control turned down 1/4 turn. Then when I play harp I turn it up. The other case is for people who sing several inches away from the mic, but cup it when they play. Now the mic is too loud for the harp. Again, a volume control can be very, very handy. If you leave the mic in the stand all the time, you don't really need an Ultimate mic - you can use my in-line XLR volume control - as hand holding comfort isn't an issue. If you DO hand hold the mic, an SM57 or SM58 is already long and heavy and an inline volume control makes it worse. At that point, an Ultimate 57 or 58 is a LOT nicer to play.
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/Greg
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2012 5:53 PM
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CarlA
69 posts
Jul 13, 2012
6:02 PM
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Pickup an ultimate 57 from Greg. I got mine a couple of weeks ago and it's priceless. Lightweight, built-in volume control, versatile, better ergonomics and looks cool as heck;)
Just yesterday at our local blues jam a harp player from charlestown was visiting and played through the wood bullet I got from Greg, he also saw the ultimate 57 and was really impressed by the compact size, etc. he said he was calling Greg when he got back home.
You can't go wrong IMO with either
-Carl
Last Edited by on Jul 13, 2012 6:03 PM
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tf10music
161 posts
Jul 13, 2012
6:35 PM
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Thanks for the responses guys.
I wouldn't be cupping, especially not for recording purposes, but Greg's XLR volume control sounds useful. Sadly, I don;t have funds for an Ultimate mic. The mixer/interface I use for recording is a Focusrite Saffire S6, and I was thinking of doubling up tracks recorded on a condenser and a dynamic mic...maybe setting up a bit of stereo recording. The wider pickup pattern on the 58 is attractive to me because I feel like I'd achieve a warmer sound for vocals or for acoustic guitar recording (currently I use a Kel hm-1, which is fantastic for guitar, but not quite as good for vocals and harmonica). That said, as evidenced by my music, I love me a 'dark' sound. For those who believe the 57 is more versatile, why is that?
Thanks again!
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Check out my music at http://bmeyerson11.bandcamp.com/
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Greg Heumann
1697 posts
Jul 13, 2012
11:47 PM
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The 57 is more versatile because you can cup it well and get a much dirtier sound - but it is very similar to the 58 in clean air.
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/Greg
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Destin
36 posts
Jul 14, 2012
7:29 PM
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I just had to make the same decision . I went with an ultimate 58. I'm not singing just going into an amp. I chose the 58 cause the 57 has an extra boost in the mid range that isn't appealing to me. As far as recording vocals the 57 has been the vocal mic for many hit records.
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A440
17 posts
Jul 15, 2012
2:16 PM
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Currently using both. Not a huge sonic difference in open air on a mic stand, but the 58 sounds a bit smoother (better) in the upper mid and treble. But, as others mention, the 57 is more versatile -- it works better cupped, drives a tube amp nicely with an impedance transformer, and also excellent to have in your kit for micing amps.
I'm currently looking for something better than the 57/58 for singing and playing acoustic harp (on the mic stand). Seems to be some nice alternatives in the same price range from Rode, AKG, EV, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, etc. Looking to get out to some shops to sample some.
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