JPF Home Page Forums Musician Gear and Techniques Microphone and Vocalist Forum sm58 v the rest of the world

The costs of the SM-58's and the company's promo of the industry Standard has a lot to do with it too.

Many top artist and others use mics designed well above the SM specs in all areas. Some ae EV's,,,some are Sennheiser's, (which our band went to, and WOW,,,side by side,,,,big difference in every aspect you could think of.

The list price is much higher for our Sennheiser 845's, as are the good EV's and some other mics. If at the same price, with the same promo statement,,,,who knows that mic would have been the "standard". But with higher end components and features, comes a higher price tag. That alone will have many go the hundred dollar mic,,,especially with the name, as Shure is good of course.

WE happened to get our Sennheiser's on Ebay new for a steal through one store on New Years Day, (no bidders but me!),,hangovers I guess. So, having already a fleet of SM 58's, we tried the upscale Sennheiser 845's. Did our first show with them, and what a nice difference. Even at practice in this little room, we could all tell. And we tried every setting and all with the SM's before,,,,for two years! Ask Iggy and Roon,,,,and specifically the people who heard us before.

Yamaha pianos also became known as the Industry Standard, from promo work, (logo on the sode of their grands when they GAVE the pianos away at events or for some colleges), and a good price. But Steinway, Bosendorfer, Baldwin SD-10's, Schimmel, Heinstman, Bluthner, and even Kawai, (the "other Japanesse maker"), are preferred by many in the industry.

For there are many products with higher quality parts and craftsmanship than the very good standard. Depends on what you want to spend, and for what the application,and for ones own preference.

For us,,,,the standard has changed to Sennheiser.

Shure's good,,,,These are even better. And there's better yet, (mics in the 300 hundred dollar range and up).

Some might not need the better or the best, for whatever reason.
Just don't let the tag Industry Standard mean anything more than good promo and a good product.

John