The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

[Rich_S]

I'm thinking about a mic for live use on my 18 Watter combo (Celestion Classic Lead 80, open back). We're looking ahead to the big college reunion gig in May, and we're short on mics, so I'm thinking about grabbing myself another. My guitar sound is jangly 80's - clean to crunch (no really high gain) lots of chorus & delay, BB Preamp for solos. Think Summers, Marr, Honeymann-Scott.

First under consideration is the old standby, a Shure SM57, which has the dual advantages of being pretty durn good, and being free (since I already own it).

But I've heard some positve comments about the Audix I5, so I'm wondering about that one as well. In what ways does it differ from the SM57, and to what degree?

Of course there's the WahWah option - the lauded Heil PR30, but do I really want to put a $250 mic on a $500 homemade amplifier!?!

Enter your vote, and explain yourself.

OR... is there another mic I should consider?

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I offer no input, but I also need a mic and appreciate you posting this thread.

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

There's also the Sennheiser MD421MkII, but it's the most expensive out of those 4.

The i5 isn't for everybody, but the 57 will work. I've READ good things about the PR-30, but I haven't tried one.

So, to give you an answer, I would probably just use what ya have for this one gig. (just one gig right?)

 

[Rich_S]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Well, I'm not going full-time, but presumably the mic will be used for additional future gigs, not just a one-off.

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Neither. Look at the Sennheiser e609, the guitar amp/cab mic. Just drape it over the front of the amp and place it where it sounds best.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...9-Silver-Dynamic-Guitar-Microphone?sku=276668

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

the e609 silver I have never used, but I know they are the cheaper version of the OG real deal.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

The good thing about the 57 is that if a soundguy sees one, he'll know exactly what it will and won't do, so he's already got a frame of reference to go off of. They're the industry standard for a reason.

 

[Virtual Kevorkian]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Grab a 57, work with it, save up for an MD421, buy that, and you're set!

 

[wahwah]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

No surprises here....try the Heil PR-30.




Cheers.................................... wahwah

 

[J Moose]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

None of my favorites are listed...

And I really dislike SM57s.

Sennheiser 609/421 gets my vote & consistently bring smiles to the faces of guitarists on playback...

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I can't compare the Audix to a SM57 but I can tell you Sunday the bar I was at for open mic had SM57s for vocals, and I quite liked it for that purpose, and I've heard them mic a few cabs and they did it well.

Seems to me that the SM57 is all-around good mic for any dynamic mic application. Maybe not the best, but it seems to be the standard for a reason.

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I gave a nod to the SM57, but I do like the i5 much better for higher gain tones and metal type stuff. It offers better definition in the lows and upper mids, but doesn't add that touch of low-mid dirt that a 57 will for the low and mid gain tones.

I wouldn't say that the i5 is better, but it is a little different and most of us sound guys know what it does. i5's sound great on snares too.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

I'd pick the SM-57.

Another popular guitar cab mike these days is the Shure KSM27.

Bill

 

[Rich_S]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

...And I really dislike SM57s.

Sennheiser 609/421 gets my vote & consistently bring smiles to the faces of guitarists on playback...

I almost put the 609 on the list, too. How is it different/better than the SM57 and/or I5?

 

[lex666]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Rich,

I'm also using the Senn e609 for my home recordings. I debated long between this and the Shure 57, both of which came highly recommended and regarded as 'standards' as far as guitar mic's go... anyways, the e609 won basically out of conveneince. I like being able to hang the mic over my amp and I don't need a mic stand. Unfortunately, I was not able to compare their recorded sounds.

I guess I have no real advice other than my opinions on the e609. Which I guess would be technically biased since I have nothing to compare it to. All I can say is that I'm very pleased with the e609. It records my wanna be heavy tones thru my Marshall without coloring it. There's no additonal distortion from being placed so close to the amp - but mic placement is key. I found that it sounds best off center from the cone.

I have considered picking up a Shure 57 to record my acoustic. I tried it with the e609 and it didn't really work out for me.

 

[jeremy]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

a 57 isnt going to record an acoustic well either. you want a condenser for that.

a 57 is a workhorse and i keep one in my guitar bag all the time. they have a certain sound which is good but not great. i feel the same way about the 609, its a good mic but not great. the 421 is a great mic that ive used a bunch and really been happy with it. i am jonesing to get my hands on a pr30 though

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

SM57 - it's the best all-rounder, for a bargain. It delivers predictable - and usually pretty good - sound of almost everything that a dynamic microphone can handle. Also try a Beta57. It has more presence and bottom, that can make wonders on guitar tracks, with the footnote that the Beta57 might not apply to as many things as the SM57.

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

e609 Silver is not the same as the e609 Black, which I bet is what J Moose uses.

 

[J Moose]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

e609 Silver is not the same as the e609 Black, which I bet is what J Moose uses.

Nope. You'd be wrong there...

I have a pair of 609s with silver faces... and I cant' ever recall seeing a "black" 609. There's another model that looks similar, being a flat square with a different number but I can't ever recall seeing one in the field... and the original variant that ALL of them are based on is called the 409 and has a gold side and a black side. The 409s are really great mics, but long discontinued (decades?) and hard to find...

Now I also own (4) SM57 but never use them... or at least rarely use them. Only time they come out is when I work with drummers that like to hit mics; talkback on sessions... or sensitive artist types who just HAVE to have a 57. I often think about selling them but never do...

The 57 has a nasal midrange, harsh top & murky bottom... not a great sound and plugging 'em into an inexpensive IC micamp like Smackie or Maudio just exaggerates those qualities.

609 sounds nice & full, has bottom end and an overall character that I'd describe as smooth & creamy. I like 'em a lot on guitar amps, toms, and right now they're on the top rotor of a Leslie 147 & some Neve 33114's...

I also own a pair of old 421s and a 441...

Shure Beta 52 is pretty gnarly on cabs too... especially rock/metal/detuned stuff.

 

[supernosher]

Re: The Microphone Poll: SM57, I5, or ???

Oh ok. You're not as cool as I thought then... Not that I've "seen" one, but there's plenty of talk around about the black ones that were more $$$ - and then the old 409 and the 906 are around too.

Have you tried the TAB transformer in a 57 that Mercenary sells?