Any place to get known "good" SM57s?

[JakeAC5253]

I know the common thought these days is that newer SM57s vary greatly in their quality and tone compared to more vintage models. I own two, and have owned two for close to 10 years now, and they do sound like practically different mics. I have one labeled as the good one and one as the "bad" one. I'm thinking that maybe even my "good" one isn't as good as some that are out there, but what's the easiest way? Is there a site or something that sells known "good" SM57s? Or is my best bet just to order 3 new SM57s from Sweetwater to have 5 total and do a mass shootout to find the best sounding two?

 

[guitarklown]

If you can buy stuff from shop.ca, I just scored a legit SM-57. PayPal and Shop.ca have a deal on the go where you sign up for shop.ca and get $25 on a $75 purchase, and if you pay with PayPal you get aonther $25 so I got my SM-57 for $68!

 

[Sloan]

just buy some i5's from ebay for $60 a pop.

 

[mva801]

What? Why would a company as reputable as shure be putting out half good and half bad mics that never sound the same? Or are you worried about fakes? Just order a 57 from guitar center or sweetwater or wherever, and don't worry about it.

If your mics are 10 years old, I'd think it's more likely that one has been dropped or damaged than anything else man.

 

[Trevoire520]

I definitely find that some of my 57's/58's sound different to each other, even if they're the same age. Only thing you can do is try a few and see which you like best.

 

[JakeAC5253]

If you can buy stuff from shop.ca, I just scored a legit SM-57. PayPal and Shop.ca have a deal on the go where you sign up for shop.ca and get $25 on a $75 purchase, and if you pay with PayPal you get aonther $25 so I got my SM-57 for $68!

That sounds like a good deal! Maybe I'll try there first

just buy some i5's from ebay for $60 a pop.

Already have a few of them, I really like them for some projects, great for blending in to unmuddy a dull tone. In this price range, the Heil PR20 is pretty good too. That one can get a little muddy though, but sometimes it's just right.

What? Why would a company as reputable as shure be putting out half good and half bad mics that never sound the same? Or are you worried about fakes? Just order a 57 from guitar center or sweetwater or wherever, and don't worry about it.

If your mics are 10 years old, I'd think it's more likely that one has been dropped or damaged than anything else man.

It's not so much Shure as it is just a fact of the mass production industry, speakers are the same way. Parts suppliers are constantly in rotation due to pricing and availability. One of my SM57s has a silver grille and one has a gray grille, and that's a visible change, so imagine what difference the diaphragm, transformer, or other intermediate components can make to the sound

I definitely find that some of my 57's/58's sound different to each other, even if they're the same age. Only thing you can do is try a few and see which you like best.

Heh, yeah I figured. I'll just get a handful more and sell the ones I don't like as much. As it is now I only need two, but I want them to be two awesome ones, not just the first two I buy.