New 57's versus the old 57's

djavid15 · 27th July 2005

I hear alot of people talking about the older sm57's sounding better than the new one's. Is there really a difference, or is this just the case of, "Just because it's older, it's automatically better?" I'm just wondering, because I know the 57 is widely used for snare, but no matter how I place it, or how I tune it, I can't get a suitable sound. I've been wondering, Is it the because I have one of the new 57's, or am I just unlucky? If, indeed, the older 57's are alot better, where can I obtain one? I'm sure ebay would have a few, but are there any other resources I could check out? Thanks alot.

David

Brad McGowan · 27th July 2005

The older one I have (SM57 Unidyne III, made in USA), sounds more different than the other Mexican made 57's sound to each other. Does that make sense? The upper midrange response seems to be smoother. Mine does sound a little tired though--the bottom end is a little flabby. It probably saw too many snare drums in its day. I'm so anal that I have gone to the trouble of characterizing the subtleties in tone between the four or five 57's I have. Each one is a little different, so I have labeled them and reach for certain ones in a particular application depending on how I have characterized their response.

Try a Sennheiser e604 on snare instead if you are having problems with the 57.

Brad

joeq · 27th July 2005

A friend of mine worked at a big studio that had over 100 SM57s. Some engineers would have favorites and would ask him to get them "Number 86" and so on. He seemed to think it had less to do with the vintage of the mic and more to do with how and how many times the mic had been dropped or not dropped and so on. That the "knocks" the mic took throughout its lifetime gave it character.

Kind of like people.

If you don't like the 57 on snare, don't use it. I doubt if an older one will suddenly convert you. There are plenty of threads on this board where people discuss alternative snare mics.

Ever since the Supreme Court overturned the Snare Act, it has been legal to use any mic you like on snare.

Kestral · 27th July 2005

Awhile back I bought a brand new Made in Mexico SM57. Sounded horrible, had to get right of it, went on eBay and bought an old Made in the USA SM57. The difference imo was night and day.

joeq · 27th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestral

Awhile back I bought a brand new Made in Mexico SM57. Sounded horrible, had to get right of it, went on eBay and bought an old Made in the USA SM57. The difference imo was night and day.

Kestral-
how can you tell where the mic is made?

Brad McGowan · 27th July 2005

The older "made in USA" mics say "made in USA" right on the mic. The newer ones don't say anything on the mic itself, but do say "made in Mexico" somewhere on the box or manual.

Any of the old Shure Unidyne III series mics are cool alternatives to SM57's...545's, PE54's, etc.

Brad

everybody's x · 27th July 2005

I have 8 545's and two 57's, the 545's smoke the shit out of the mexi 57's

C/G · 27th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by joeq

Ever since the Supreme Court overturned the Snare Act, it has been legal to use any mic you like on snare.

Beezoboy · 28th July 2005

Don't let the secret out of the bag about the 545's. I want to be able to keep getting them for $50

Beez tutt

7 Hz · 28th July 2005

What about the SM7? Is all Shure stuff shit now? Can we kick their asses until they do it properly?

Chuck B · 28th July 2005

i like the sm7 on the bottom of the snare. mhhh...beefy

7 Hz · 28th July 2005

Uh, my question was whether the SM7 sounds worse these days as well.

Anyway, I just emailed Shure asking them why they ****ed up the sound of their best selling mic. Looking forward to a canned reply that gives me no information at all :-(

Brad McGowan · 28th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beezoboy

Don't let the secret out of the bag about the 545's. I want to be able to keep getting them for $50

Beez tutt

Yeah I got one with an old Amphenol connector for like $35. What do you like to use yours on?

Brad

7 Hz · 29th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by email reply from Shure HQ

This is an urban myth.The Shure SM58 and SM57 have been fabricated in Shure's Mexican facilities since 1985. In fact, the quality has risen since then, not declined. The SM7B is also made in Shure's Mexican facility.Rumors, such as this, are often started by Shure competitors. Shure has been in business for 80 years. Quality and reliability are the standards on which Shure is built. This has not changed.However, a new SM57 may not sound like one made 30 years ago because materials age in a microphone. The old one may sound better or sound worse...just like a guitar or a piano.

Apologies to Shure for my cynicysm at receving a proper response, more power to them! Now I can get back to making music.

twotracker · 29th July 2005

But were they all made in Mexico since 1985 or just some? Why would some say made in US are they 20 years old?

For me it came down to: why should I buy a Mexican SM7 when I can have a US made RE20 for the same price. Maybe the acoustic quality is an urban myth but economic quality is not.

Kestral · 29th July 2005

They're definitely different. I've A/B'ed by Made in USA SM57 vs. Mexico SM57. Also with the SM58.

Shure has to do what they do and say what they say to stay in business. I trust my ears.

7 Hz · 29th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by twotracker

But were they all made in Mexico since 1985 or just some? Why would some say made in US are they 20 years old?

Any SM57 made in USA is 20 years old at least now.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twotracker

For me it came down to: why should I buy a Mexican SM7 when I can have a US made RE20 for the same price. Maybe the acoustic quality is an urban myth but economic quality is not.

Economic quality? WTF?!? I am in the UK, my wife is Mexican, I don't care where shit is made! Here RE20 = £700, SM7 = £400! It comes down to what sounds right for the job. P.S probably half the electronic components in any USA made gear are made in Mexico...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestral

They're definitely different. I've A/B'ed by Made in USA SM57 vs. Mexico SM57. Also with the SM58.

Shure has to do what they do and say what they say to stay in business. I trust my ears.

You are comparing a 20 odd year old mic against a new one. Yes, use your ears, but also use your brain!

Telecastr · 29th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7 Hz

I just emailed Shure asking them why they ****ed up the sound of their best selling mic. Looking forward to a canned reply that gives me no information at all :-(

I'm sure your eloquent word choice will ensure a speedy reply.

twotracker · 30th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7 Hz

Economic quality? WTF?!? I am in the UK, my wife is Mexican, I don't care where shit is made! Here RE20 = £700, SM7 = £400! It comes down to what sounds right for the job. P.S probably half the electronic components in any USA made gear are made in Mexico...

Here they're close to the same price. Given the choice I'll take a US or European assembled component over a Mexican made anytime, even if it's higher cost. I do care where shit is made and how much money a company puts into manufacturing. Since I'm not a pro but an amateur what gives me peace of mind matters more.
I'll leave the Chinese and Mexican made microphones to the professionals.

It's only going to take one engineer here to say that they have a "made in US" 57 or SM7 they bought new in the 90's to show if Shure's HQ answer was slippery or not.

Anyone have one?

bluzdog · 30th July 2005

FWIW: I bought a "made in USA" SM 57 & 58 from Chuck Levin's music in Washington DC around 1993. I paid about $100 a piece.

7 Hz · 30th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by twotracker

Given the choice I'll take a US or European assembled component over a Mexican made anytime, even if it's higher cost. I do care where shit is made and how much money a company puts into manufacturing. Since I'm not a pro but an amateur what gives me peace of mind matters more.
I'll leave the Chinese and Mexican made microphones to the professionals.

You think everything the USA and Europe makes is a peach? Sorry man, reality check, any country can make shoddy gear (USA, Japan, UK, Germany, wherever), writing off something just because of where it's made is bullshit. As I said, half your capacitors and pots in EVERYTHING are made in Mexico anyway. Mexican Strats are rated. Mexico is known for it's population skilled in handcraft. Quit being so blinkered. Please.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telecastr

I'm sure your eloquent word choice will ensure a speedy reply.

Uh, I did word the email a bit more gently :-) And I got the reply already, posted above.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluzdog

FWIW: I bought a "made in USA" SM 57 & 58 from Chuck Levin's music in Washington DC around 1993. I paid about $100 a piece.

Hmm, interesting. I am going to ask Shure when they STOPPED all US production of 57's. Can you tell us exactly where it says "made in the USA"?

Kestral · 30th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7 Hz

You are comparing a 20 odd year old mic against a new one. Yes, use your ears, but also use your brain!

Listen, asshole, it doesn't matter if one mic is 20 years old and the other is new. All it comes down to is: which mic sounds better.

Loser

Nut · 30th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestral

Listen, asshole, it doesn't matter if one mic is 20 years old and the other is new. All it comes down to is: which mic sounds better.

Loser

Eh ?

Was that neccesary ? I dont think so...

Kestral · 30th July 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nut

Eh ?

Was that neccesary ? I dont think so...

I guess some people react differently than others when someone makes a stupid comment and then tells them to "use your brain"

7 Hz · 30th July 2005

A 20 year old 57 is bound to sound different, especialy if used a lot. Thats all I was saying. Next time, please count to 10 before hitting the flame button...

Anyway, I have been recording over the last few days - used a SM58 (no 57's in the studio yet) on old Premiere timbales, a lovely hand made guiro (bought in Veracruz, Mexico!), and a Fender strat into a Polytone Mini Brute IV... all three have sounded sweet as a nut to me, sat in the track without eq, I couldn't be happier. I guess I consider the source instrument and good engineering technique to be more important than the subtlties of variations in dynamic microphones anyway, and I'm not convinced it's even worth my time to try and track down a 'vintage' 1984 SM57 in good condition to somehow get me a magic tone that I'm not even missing.

YMMV

27th July 2005	#1
djavid15 Gear maniac Joined: May 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 223 Thread Starter	New 57's versus the old 57's I hear alot of people talking about the older sm57's sounding better than the new one's. Is there really a difference, or is this just the case of, "Just because it's older, it's automatically better?" I'm just wondering, because I know the 57 is widely used for snare, but no matter how I place it, or how I tune it, I can't get a suitable sound. I've been wondering, Is it the because I have one of the new 57's, or am I just unlucky? If, indeed, the older 57's are alot better, where can I obtain one? I'm sure ebay would have a few, but are there any other resources I could check out? Thanks alot. David __________________ Dance my minions! DANCE!!!!

27th July 2005	#7
everybody's x Lives for gear Joined: Sep 2004 Location: kansas city Posts: 1,618	I have 8 545's and two 57's, the 545's smoke the shit out of the mexi 57's __________________ Dave

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27th July 2005	#2
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 5,582	The older one I have (SM57 Unidyne III, made in USA), sounds more different than the other Mexican made 57's sound to each other. Does that make sense? The upper midrange response seems to be smoother. Mine does sound a little tired though--the bottom end is a little flabby. It probably saw too many snare drums in its day. I'm so anal that I have gone to the trouble of characterizing the subtleties in tone between the four or five 57's I have. Each one is a little different, so I have labeled them and reach for certain ones in a particular application depending on how I have characterized their response. Try a Sennheiser e604 on snare instead if you are having problems with the 57. Brad

27th July 2005	#3
joeq Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: New York Posts: 9,920	A friend of mine worked at a big studio that had over 100 SM57s. Some engineers would have favorites and would ask him to get them "Number 86" and so on. He seemed to think it had less to do with the vintage of the mic and more to do with how and how many times the mic had been dropped or not dropped and so on. That the "knocks" the mic took throughout its lifetime gave it character. Kind of like people. If you don't like the 57 on snare, don't use it. I doubt if an older one will suddenly convert you. There are plenty of threads on this board where people discuss alternative snare mics. Ever since the Supreme Court overturned the Snare Act, it has been legal to use any mic you like on snare.

27th July 2005	#4
Kestral Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: The Lost Moon of Poosh Posts: 1,759	Awhile back I bought a brand new Made in Mexico SM57. Sounded horrible, had to get right of it, went on eBay and bought an old Made in the USA SM57. The difference imo was night and day.

28th July 2005	#9
Beezoboy Gear addict Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 495	Don't let the secret out of the bag about the 545's. I want to be able to keep getting them for $50 Beez tutt

28th July 2005	#10
7 Hz Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,039	What about the SM7? Is all Shure stuff shit now? Can we kick their asses until they do it properly?

28th July 2005	#11
Chuck B Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 152	i like the sm7 on the bottom of the snare. mhhh...beefy

29th July 2005	#15
twotracker Gear maniac Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 161	But were they all made in Mexico since 1985 or just some? Why would some say made in US are they 20 years old? For me it came down to: why should I buy a Mexican SM7 when I can have a US made RE20 for the same price. Maybe the acoustic quality is an urban myth but economic quality is not.

30th July 2005	#20
bluzdog Gear interested Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2	FWIW: I bought a "made in USA" SM 57 & 58 from Chuck Levin's music in Washington DC around 1993. I paid about $100 a piece.