Customer Reviews

Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Vocal Microphone without Cable

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The first rule of microphones is that, "No one microphone is perfect for every purpose." Rule two is, "Experiment with different mics in different applications to find your signature sound." I've used Shure SM58's along with their ancestors and relatives back to 1968. I primarily used them for broadcasting and recording spoken word content but I have used (and still do use) them for singing some back up vocals. The SM58 does one thing well and that is vocal performance when used very close to the mouth for public address use. Some people, me included, actually sound better and more comfortable in a live performance setting when using another mic, the Shure SM-57. The SM-58 is a very good vocal mic and for some people probably the best choice. For example, anyone who can not resist putting the mic right up against their lips while singing will probably want the SM-58. People with softer or weaker voices will want the SM-58. The SM-58 is highly directional and has a noticable yet manageable proximity effect (which means the bass increases the closer you get.) This mic does not pick up well from much over 8 inches away. The reason so many singers think you are supposed to shove microphones practically inside your mouth is because the ball type Shure vocal mics require you to get them very close or they don't sound right. On the other hand, the SM-57 sounds best several inches away from the user's mouth and works fine up to 12 inches away. While the SM-58 is certainly the number one professional PA vocal mic, there are precious few other uses for it because it has a colored sound with a prominent frequency response boost in the upper midrange plus a sound source has to be very close before it is picked up clearly. It works ok for conga drums and the like, but the SM-58 is about the last thing you'd want to use to mic a sax or guitar. Personally these mics are not the best for my mic technique or the basic nature my voice, but for some people they sound great. The live vocal mic that works best for me is the Shure SM-57 with a windscreen. However for other people the SM-58 works better. It depends on your voice and what you want the mic to do. If you have a very deep voice, the SM-58 might be the second best choice after the SM-57 which has a better low frequency response. One certain advantage of the SM-58 is the excellent gain before feedback capability. This mic can be turned up louder than almost any other mic without that annoying PA squeal. Another advantage of the SM-58 is that it is still available (at a slight extra cost) with a built-in on/off switch. The SM-58's ball shaped grills are very sturdy and even if you should dent one you can get a replacement which screws right on for about ten dollars. I've seen SM-58's dented, rusty, dusty, smoked up, spit into, with pieces missing and slammed into a hardwood stage with the full weight of a boom stand adding mass to the fall and yet I've never seen but one stop working and that malfunction was due to an on/off switch that got dirt in it. All the pro-line Shure mics are top quality. The pro line Shures also hold their value well. If you buy one and decide you don't like it, you can get about what you paid for it on eBay. I would compare as many mics as possible before buying one. Senneheiser's EVOLUTION mics sound really good too and are worth a look. The SM-58 will be the number one on-stage vocal mic for the forseeable future because most people follow the crowd instead of actually trying out different mics and picking the one that works best for their particular voice. These things are so durable that even if they stopped making them today they'd still be around for another 20 years at least.

This is an excellent, general purpose microphone at a reasonable price. I'm a classically trained vocalist, and I use the SM58 for rehearsal and "scratch" recordings. It delivers clear, true, and warm sound under all standard conditions and requires essentially no fine tuning or signal processing. I still prefer the crisp detail of a condenser microphone for formal demo recordings (my favorite is the Studio Projects C1), but it's hard to beat the simplicity and reliability of the SM58 for everyday use.

The Shure SM58 is one of the most recognisable microphones in the world - and for good reason. It is the main stay of many a hire companies microphone hire stock, including mine (pa2hire.co.uk). Practically unbreakable, and if you do manage to drop it from a high stage / skyscraper, you can also buy a replacement pop shield. Very suited to rock, or other musical styles that need powerful vocals. Make sure your singers lips are touching the pop shield to get the best results, though, unless they have very good mic technique. The proximity effect (increase in bass when you sing or talk close to the mic) makes this important. If the singer is a foot away from an SM58, the chances are they will sound thin, and you will also have gain before feedback issues....
Sonically the response has a nice presence peak in the upper mid range, but the top end rolls off quickly after that. Opinion is split about whether that is a good or a bad thing - it helps keep a lid on feedback, but it doesnt sound as hi-fi as some other mics. I have had some singers complain that their vocal top end is not quite right - sometimes asking for more top end. I guess they are used to the sound of expensive condenser mics on their recordings. My solution is normally to give them another mic, like a Beta 58, or Beta 87a maybe, rather than use EQ. If you A/B test an SM58 verses these mics it will always lose. But it can still be a better mic in some cases, such as when you are looking for a cardioid rather than hyper-cardioid response (the SM58 has a cardioid response, which means it has a wider pickup pattern at the front). But most vocalists will be more than happy with the sound the SM58 gives.
The SM58 also does a pretty good job on drums (not really bass drum), and other loud things like guitar cabs. It uses the same capsule as the SM57, one of the best mics for guitar cabs.
In conclusion, yes there are a lot of mics that sound better, and some of these are quite a bit cheaper - but ask yourself the question are they as durable as an SM58, and if you are a professional, will your clients want to use a mic they have never heard of?

Take care,
Justin Miller
pa2hire.co.uk

I have been using the Shure SM58 microphone for over two decades of live performance. It is simply the best affordable microphone available for lead or backing vocals. It's so durable, you could literally use it as a hammer then perform a sweet ballad with no ill effect. I have never had one break down in hundreds of shows.

My current primary SM58 has a couple dents from rough use in rough venues but sounds just like it did brand new. The only reason I've ever replaced one is because they were stolen. If you're just starting your professional career, this is the microphone you need. If you're a seasoned veteran of the music biz, you've probably already got one in your gig bag.

Get a Shure SM58, don't use some crappy thing that costs half as much, you won't get enough level into the board. Your sound guy will thank you, they know just exactly what to expect.

Any other comparable quality microphone will cost you at least twice as much.

This is an excellent, general purpose microphone at a reasonable price. I'm a classically trained vocalist, and I use the SM58 for rehearsal and "scratch" recordings. It delivers clear, true, and warm sound under all standard conditions and requires essentially no fine tuning or signal processing. I still prefer the crisp detail of a condenser microphone for formal demo recordings (my favorite is the Studio Projects C1), but it's hard to beat the simplicity and reliability of the SM58 for everyday use.

Are there other dynamic microphones that are better sounding than the SM58? Yes. Then why have I given it a 5 star? Well I am glad you asked. It's a legendary piece of musical equipment. The microphone has existed for half a century, and I am willing to bet for all of you that are reading this that it will still exist when we all pass away. There are three things that will survive a nuclear bomb. Roaches, Keith Richards, and the SM58! The durability of this microphone is amazing. Just youtube SM58 and you will see some durability experiments that will speak for it self. It can stand abuse like no other microphone period. SM58 are standards live microphones in the industry. Do they sound better than some Beyerdynamic Opus models or Sennheisers? My opinion would be no, but you take to consideration when you have a Sound company they will use 80% to 90% of the time a SM58. The reason is most soundmen have learned to eq around it and they are familiar with that microphone. A sound guy that does not know a SM58 is not a sound technician to begin with. If you know a little eq you can make this mic sound very good. You buy a fancy dynamic mic and you run the risk of a sound guy screwing up your sound. Anybody bashing this mic has to be reminded that legendary singers have all sung on a sm58 at one point. From Robert Plant to Sinatra. Not to mention every time you see a major festival it's the main mic on stage. This mic has not changed it's specs or design since the 1960's. What does that tell you? For about $99 you have invested in microphone that will be with you most of your life.

In the immortal words that John Cameron Swayze used when hawking his Timex watches during the early days of live television, the Shure SM58 Vocal mic fits perfectly into that same category.

Before I found a career as a film and television sound recordist and mixer, I played in rock bands and did live sound mixing. One of the very first mics we truly fell in love with was the SM58. Introduced by the Shure Brothers Company in 1966, the SM58 quickly rose to become the industry standard in rugged road mics that actually sound good to the ear and are nearly indestructible.

The mic capsule is of cardiord (heart shaped) design which helps reject sound from either side. There is a 4K bump in it's frequency which helps vocals cut through stage noise. Construction is rugged, frequency response is 50 to 15,000 Hz, and the capsule sits internally on a foam shock mount to help isolate it from handling noise.

We used to joke about the SM58 in that if you needed a hammer and you couldn't find one, just grab one of these, they are that tough. I've seen some of these on the road that you couldn't believe still worked, but they did and sounded great.

The cage style pop screen gives the SM58 not only it's distinctive look, one that influenced many other mic brands from the day it was introduced, but it's part of the functionality. Internally lined with a layer of acoustic foam, the cage helps keep vocals pops from getting to the dynamic mic element. As a frame of reference, the Shure SM57LC Shure SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Microphone is the same exact mic and capsule, but without the pop screen.

Shure also sells a Performer series mic, the Shure Beta 58A Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone that looks almost identical to the SM58 but uses a totally different mic capsule and transformer and has a different sound so try before you buy.

The Shure SM58 is still considered the industry standard of live performance mics today and for the price, they really are a good deal.

This is with out a doubt the most famous microphone in the world.
It is resistant, very resistant, that's why I recommend it for live shows, gigs, talks, etc.
The sound is great!!
Compared to microphones from other great brands as jts, peavey and fender the sound of the SM58 is more clearer and more defined,.
No wonder is the choice of many many professionals for singing, for vocals and fot backround voices.
Even though is a little bit more expensive than other brands, the quality of sound and durability and resistance of the materials make the justification of the price.
I have seen that most professionals prefer the SM-58 without on/off switch. Tahe note on that detail, they say it sounds a little better, for my experience I couldn't hear the difference, but it is a point to consider.
On the other hand, if you want an even better and more expensive vocal microphone, you may want to check the Beta 58A.
Please note this microphones are made specially for vocals, not for instrument pickup, if you need one for instruments such as a guitar, harmonica, or wind instruments, you may need a Shure SM-57. It works for vocals too! but is not as resistant as the SM-58 that's why I prefer it.
In conclusion it is a good buy, and you will never repent to have the most famous microphone in the world in your studio and in your giggs.

For vocals in a live performance, you just can't beat the rugged, dependable accuracy of the SM58. Just wish the quality of my voice was as good as the quality of this microphone.

Shure microphone in place in our lunchroom. Works fine. Easy to connect and disconnect.