need a new stage mic

ginormous

ginormous

Understatmentologist
I've been borrowing a friend's Shure SM58 for some time; this past week, he came by and asked for it. :sad:

So, I'm in the market for a new mic. Mid-price ($50 US give or take a few), dynamic, low impedance, XLR connections.

Here's some of the ones I've seen on the various websites. Tell me if you've had any experience with these models, and your thoughts on their sound quality, durability, build quality, etc.

Samson: R11, R21
Electro-Voice: Cobalt Co5
Audio-Technica MB3k/c, MB1k/c, M4000S, Pro 31, ST90mkII
M-Audio: Sound Check
AKG: D8000S
Shure: SM48S-LC, PG58
Peavey: PVi 2
Senheiser: E815 s-c

and, yes, I had to say it... Behringer XM8500. :argh:
 
Re: need a new stage mic

The toughest and best sounding mic I've ever owned was an EV N/D267. It just sounds really full and perfect for vocals, no matter who's singing and I always use it to record my guitar amps because it sounds better than a 57 or a 58.

Musician's Friend was blowing them out for $39 last week, a quick googling found them as low as $65 at some places.

I can't say enough good about them, they just plain sound better. This one lived through college with me and it still sounds better than the Shures and everything else I have access to.
 
Re: need a new stage mic

andrizzle said:
exactly what I was gonna suggest....... a beaten up/slapped around/neglected SM58 is STILL an SM58 and it'll get the job DONE! they're legendary for a reason
Click to expand...
Agreed, but a used 58 is like a peep show floor; everybody that's ever used it left some of their DNA behind. :eek::barf::ugh1:

No dis of the mic itself, however. It's damm near bulletproof. There's a YouTube clip of one being dropped from the 7th floor atrium of the company HQ in Evanston, IL... and still working after the grille gets pancaked.

My only hassle is price. Trust me, if I had a Benjamin lying around, I'd just stroll over to the guy down the street and scoop one up.

Shures are rarely discounted, and they don't budge on wholesale prices even for the big sellers (GC/MF/M123 et al, Sweetwater, Sam Ash, etc).
 
Re: need a new stage mic

I hear ya. For the price Id only get the 58 and just save up, its worth it. I just got my sm58, havent had one in awhile, so Im pretty stoked for my next recordings of da vox :) Id spray lysol and go used but thats me :)
 
Re: need a new stage mic

ImmortalSix said:
The toughest and best sounding mic I've ever owned was an EV N/D267. It just sounds really full and perfect for vocals, no matter who's singing and I always use it to record my guitar amps because it sounds better than a 57 or a 58.

Musician's Friend was blowing them out for $39 last week, a quick googling found them as low as $65 at some places.

I can't say enough good about them, they just plain sound better. This one lived through college with me and it still sounds better than the Shures and everything else I have access to.
Click to expand...


+1. Why no comment from the ginormous one on this?
 
Re: need a new stage mic

^ I'm sure it's A+, Shure and E-V have been industry leaders for decades. The budget's killing me though.

I made just enough over the weekend to get a sweetwater.com special. They're selling Samson R21 3-packs for about $50; shipping included.

I'll have to get the offshore gear for now, and save up for the good stuff.
 
Re: need a new stage mic

How do you sanitize a mic diaphragm? (I know how your minds work, you freekin' pervs!!! :nono: )

Has anyone ever seen a used 58 with the screen removed? The filth gets down even past the mesh ball, and the inside fabric layer. (This was one used with the old black foam outer screen... used to belong to a harp player. He must have drooled on it every night.)
 
Re: need a new stage mic

Ive used house mics. At junior high and high school they just assign you a trumpet so I used that...never got sick from it...
 
Re: need a new stage mic

I like EV mics. I currently use a N/D 767 and I've had nothing but good luck with it, loads of gain before feedback and they have a nice proximity effect on the bass end. But if you were happy with the SM58, stick with THAT. They're the industry standard for a reason.
 
Re: need a new stage mic

everdrone said:
Ive used house mics. At junior high and high school they just assign you a trumpet so I used that...never got sick from it...
Click to expand...
Most of the time, band directors rent from local music stores. The stores go over the valves, pads (for saxes, etc) and all, and clean the instruments out every season. Not to mention that students are taught proper maintenance at the beginning of each year.

Mic instructions:
1) Plug in and holler.

Hellion said:
I like EV mics. I currently use a N/D 767 and I've had nothing but good luck with it, loads of gain before feedback and they have a nice proximity effect on the bass end. But if you were happy with the SM58, stick with THAT. They're the industry standard for a reason.
Click to expand...

The 58 is standard because it's as common as bubble gum. It's got a sound that engineers know how to deal with, and it's quite durable.
 
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Re: need a new stage mic

I have a couple of the Sennheiser E815s, and they're not to bad for a cheapie, though thy are not as loud as my
Shure.

I also have a couple of e822s - a little better mic.
MF has them for $79, but you can get two for $89.
 
Re: need a new stage mic

Update:
Pulled the trigger on the Samson R21 3-pack. Free shipping by ground; they should arrive in time for my next gig.
I'll let you know what the deal is, sonically and construction-wise.
 
Re: need a new stage mic

I hear ya on saving up for the good stuff...just recorded with my sm58 the main verses for my new song "we're alive" ...sounds like heaven to me :)
 
Re: need a new stage mic

bump for news:

I rehearsed with the Samsons this weekend, and from what I could hear (some old Peavey floor wedges that have most likely had the HF drivers blown out), the Samsons are slightly rolled off on the top end, but still very good for vocals -- even baby grand piano! We had a Yamaha, and the keyboardist said "Eff it, I'm playing through this!" when she had brought a whole trunkload of gear.

Free hardshell case, with three adapters for those stupid small-diameter poles.

3 for $50 US, and free shipping! (USA only, sorry everybody else. Sometimes we can be so provincial.) Can't beat it with a stick. Now on to my guitar and bass rigs...
saving up for them, that is.
 
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