Old vs. new SM57's

blackcom · 17th January 2005, 11:18 AM

Hey!

I've been hearing alot of people mentioning new 57's not sounding as good as the old ones.

Would anyone care to enlighten me a bit on this matter?

I can notice that my older 57's are a little different in tone and has a hotter signal, but I can't really tell what's better or worse.

doorknocker · 17th January 2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blackcom
Hey!

I've been hearing alot of people mentioning new 57's not sounding as good as the old ones.

Would anyone care to enlighten me a bit on this matter?

I can notice that my older 57's are a little different in tone and has a hotter signal, but I can't really tell what's better or worse.

I just got a new Shure SM7b, when it arrived I was mildly shocked reading the 'Made in Mexico' label as I've heard the talk about the old ones too.
Used it on 2 really good singers later.....awesome, this thing sounds GREAT.

Lately on live gigs during soundcheck, I've been paying attention to this too. One 58 or 57 will sound very different than another one, mostly it's about dirt buildup though.

I think the 'vintage' Shure theory is a load of crap, seems like people try to make money with anything old, sometimes with stuff that is clearly inferior to current lines:
A 70ies Strat used to be (in most cases) just a horrible, shoddily made guitar. Now it's an 'affordable vintage guitar that won't break the bank like a 50/60 Strat and therefore is a great value. All major credit cards are welcome.'

Andi

www.doorknocker.ch

Jack Pettit · 17th January 2005, 04:22 PM

I was recording a harmonica player and we decided to swap
his 57 for mine. They sounded completely different !
I guess because they are so common I thought that they
all sounded the same. Now I wonder.

bobby yarrow · 17th January 2005, 05:01 PM

I have some pretty old ones -- while I can't quite sort out how to date them, I think I might have one from the 60's. Anyhow, while they do sound a little different, the difference seems to be more mic to mic, rather than by era. The output on my oldest is pretty well identical to the output on my newest, for example.

toledo3 · 17th January 2005, 05:04 PM

When did they switch to Mexico... I think it happened longer ago than people think- I have seen some pretty old Shure's that were made in mexico.

I really don't think there is a tremendous difference between new 57's and old... but there is a pretty significant difference between 57's and the old 545's and 546's....

BTW, you can still order 545's from Shure.

max cooper · 17th January 2005, 06:22 PM

My SM7 was made in Mexico and it's third hand, don't know how old, but it's not very recent.

Sounds great.

I didn't know if the new/old 57 thing was like 2004 vs 1994 or if it spans decades.

I have yet to plug one in and think "this doesn't do what it's supposed to" which I think is a sign of "so far so good".

frist44 · 17th January 2005, 07:23 PM

I can see it now in the classifieds section:

WTB: pre '80 SM-57

Kestral · 17th January 2005, 11:11 PM

I just sold a brand new SM57 plus a couple of brand new SM58's.

Comprared to the old SM57 and old SM58's I had, the new ones are horrible.

imo it should be illegal for Shure to call those mics by the same name. They are not the SM57's and 58's they used to be (the ones I have that are good are from the very early 80's).

jbuntz · 17th January 2005, 11:27 PM

I'm pretty sure they didn't change the components when they moved the factory to Mexico. I do know that my SM7b rocks but I've never been a big fan of a 57 except on snare drum. I should give one of those Unidyne III's a spin. I think I know somebody who's got one laying around. I think those have some different components...

Anybody remember the first time you plugged in a 57 and stuck it in front of a guitar cab and thought "this is supposed to be that great mic for guitar cabs?" They havent wowed me since either.

Jim Williams · 18th January 2005, 03:26 AM

I heard the difference years ago between the Unidyne III's and the Mexican 57's. A Shure engineer told me that when they moved the factory to the border, they didn't change out the stampers for the mylar diaphrams. If my old record cutting days are right, you need to change those or the pressings become deformed. Could also be different transformers in there?
I just notice an old one in great condition has better low end and a clearer top. The Mexican ones sound more like a megaphone in comparison.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

thermos · 18th January 2005, 04:08 AM

Hey Jim!
How is Carsbad treating you? LA is like 1/4 as cool without you around.

OzNimbus · 18th January 2005, 05:44 AM

I've got an older one that sounds like crap compared to the brand new one I just bought. Go figure.

-0z-

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Alternatives to SM57's on Guitar Amps	octatonic	So much gear, so little time!	30	15th March 2008 07:20 PM
Shure SM57's FAKE !!!!!!! ?????	cosmos	So much gear, so little time!	45	10th September 2006 09:04 AM
US made Shure SM57's vs. Mexican SM57's?	chessparov	So much gear, so little time!	6	26th August 2006 03:38 PM
Classic SM57's	Harley-OIART	Low End Theory	53	18th July 2006 09:17 AM

17th January 2005, 11:18 AM	#1
blackcom Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 616	Old vs. new SM57's Hey! I've been hearing alot of people mentioning new 57's not sounding as good as the old ones. Would anyone care to enlighten me a bit on this matter? I can notice that my older 57's are a little different in tone and has a hotter signal, but I can't really tell what's better or worse.

17th January 2005, 04:22 PM	#3
Jack Pettit Gear addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Reno Nevada Posts: 313	I was recording a harmonica player and we decided to swap his 57 for mine. They sounded completely different ! I guess because they are so common I thought that they all sounded the same. Now I wonder. __________________ Jack P

17th January 2005, 07:23 PM	#7
frist44 Gear addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: West Chester, PA Posts: 488	I can see it now in the classifieds section: WTB: pre '80 SM-57 __________________ www.bigbluesound.com

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

17th January 2005, 05:01 PM	#4
bobby yarrow Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 360	I have some pretty old ones -- while I can't quite sort out how to date them, I think I might have one from the 60's. Anyhow, while they do sound a little different, the difference seems to be more mic to mic, rather than by era. The output on my oldest is pretty well identical to the output on my newest, for example.

17th January 2005, 05:04 PM	#5
toledo3 Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Funky Town FL Posts: 1,190	When did they switch to Mexico... I think it happened longer ago than people think- I have seen some pretty old Shure's that were made in mexico. I really don't think there is a tremendous difference between new 57's and old... but there is a pretty significant difference between 57's and the old 545's and 546's.... BTW, you can still order 545's from Shure.

17th January 2005, 06:22 PM	#6
max cooper Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: tx Posts: 8,819	My SM7 was made in Mexico and it's third hand, don't know how old, but it's not very recent. Sounds great. I didn't know if the new/old 57 thing was like 2004 vs 1994 or if it spans decades. I have yet to plug one in and think "this doesn't do what it's supposed to" which I think is a sign of "so far so good".

17th January 2005, 11:11 PM	#8
Kestral Lives for gear Join Date: May 2004 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 1,516	I just sold a brand new SM57 plus a couple of brand new SM58's. Comprared to the old SM57 and old SM58's I had, the new ones are horrible. imo it should be illegal for Shure to call those mics by the same name. They are not the SM57's and 58's they used to be (the ones I have that are good are from the very early 80's).

17th January 2005, 11:27 PM	#9
jbuntz Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,650	I'm pretty sure they didn't change the components when they moved the factory to Mexico. I do know that my SM7b rocks but I've never been a big fan of a 57 except on snare drum. I should give one of those Unidyne III's a spin. I think I know somebody who's got one laying around. I think those have some different components... Anybody remember the first time you plugged in a 57 and stuck it in front of a guitar cab and thought "this is supposed to be that great mic for guitar cabs?" They havent wowed me since either.

18th January 2005, 03:26 AM	#10
Jim Williams Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: beautiful Carlsbad, CA Posts: 4,335	I heard the difference years ago between the Unidyne III's and the Mexican 57's. A Shure engineer told me that when they moved the factory to the border, they didn't change out the stampers for the mylar diaphrams. If my old record cutting days are right, you need to change those or the pressings become deformed. Could also be different transformers in there? I just notice an old one in great condition has better low end and a clearer top. The Mexican ones sound more like a megaphone in comparison. Jim Williams Audio Upgrades

18th January 2005, 04:08 AM	#11
thermos Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,964	Hey Jim! How is Carsbad treating you? LA is like 1/4 as cool without you around.

18th January 2005, 05:44 AM	#12
OzNimbus SawSlut Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: 22 Acacia Avenue Posts: 244	I've got an older one that sounds like crap compared to the brand new one I just bought. Go figure. -0z-