Mic for bassist/vocalist

[Danbass7]

I know this isnt the ideal place to post this, but I know you guys would give me good advice !

I've started doing main/shared vocals in my band whilst holding down the bass duties and now need a mic that is going to be built well and last touring/ intensive gigging.

I dont know a hell of a lot about the different standard of mic's out there and would really appreciate a bit of insight from anyone with more knowledge than me in what would be a good buy.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Danbass7

[yorick]

You can't go wrong with a Shure SM58 :wub:

[OldGit]

[quote name='Danbass7' post='337185' date='Nov 26 2008, 12:57 PM']I know this isnt the ideal place to post this, but I know you guys would give me good advice !

I've started doing main/shared vocals in my band whilst holding down the bass duties and now need a mic that is going to be built well and last touring/ intensive gigging.

I dont know a hell of a lot about the different standard of mic's out there and would really appreciate a bit of insight from anyone with more knowledge than me in what would be a good buy.[/quote]


You'll not go far wrong with a Shure SM58 or SM58 Beta .. or on a budget an SM58PG

Tough as old boots and sound pretty good too, specially the Beta version.

"Ha, the excellent Mr Otway - for those who don't know of him, he has a
habit of violently "nutting" the microphone with such force that he
flattens the mesh against the top of the capsule.

I did a gig a couple of years ago with him and that well known 'punk
poet' Attila the Stockbroker, they play SM58 tennis by having a mike on
a boom stand and nutting it to each other garden swing ball fashion -
the look on the venue managers face was priceless as the mike flew off
into the crowd. I somehow neglected to tell her that Otway always
supplies his own mikes ;o)

Amazingly, as battered as they are, his mikes still sound like 58`s!
read into that what you will."

Edited November 26, 2008 by OldGit

[thedontcarebear]

Indeed, just get an SM58.

[Deep Thought]

John Otway, the man's a genius.

I have a Shure PG58-basically a budget SM58. The chap in the shop where I bought it told me that to most people's ears there's very little difference in the sound, it's in the longevity that the difference lies-he reckoned an SM58 ought to be good for 15-20 years' use, whereas a PG58 will probably only last 7 or 8. How much of that is true I don't know. The PG was about £50 ish packaged with a lead, although not a particularly long one. I see GAK do them on their own for £34, and you need to get a lead for it. The SM58 with a lead is £80, the Beta (which I understand is excellent) is £120ish. I have no complaints with mine-obviously I'd like a more expensive one, but it does the job fine.

[OldGit]

[quote name='Deep Thought' post='337244' date='Nov 26 2008, 01:52 PM']John Otway, the man's a genius.

I have a Shure PG58-basically a budget SM58. The chap in the shop where I bought it told me that to most people's ears there's very little difference in the sound, it's in the longevity that the difference lies-he reckoned an SM58 ought to be good for 15-20 years' use, whereas a PG58 will probably only last 7 or 8. How much of that is true I don't know. The PG was about £50 ish packaged with a lead, although not a particularly long one. I see GAK do them on their own for £34, and you need to get a lead for it. The SM58 with a lead is £80, the Beta (which I understand is excellent) is £120ish. I have no complaints with mine-obviously I'd like a more expensive one, but it does the job fine.[/quote]


My fellow front man has a PG58 (boot sale £20!) and on some nights it's much better than my SM58 for clarity and stuff for both of us ..

What are the good Sennheisers? I know they are good but I don't know which ones are the better vox ones.

[lowhand_mike]

+3 for the Sm58. the beta is worth the extra though all our mics are now 58's with a couple of betas for the main vocalists

[Danbass7]

Thanks guys for your thoughts on this

SM58 seems like a decent option I'll probably pick up one on the weekend if I dont come across a better deal by then

The beta is going to be a bit out of my price range at the moment but I will look into those in the future.

Is there much difference in the quality of the cables and if so, what sorta thing should I be looking at ?

[OldGit]

[quote name='Danbass7' post='337311' date='Nov 26 2008, 02:41 PM']Thanks guys for your thoughts on this

SM58 seems like a decent option I'll probably pick up one on the weekend if I dont come across a better deal by then

The beta is going to be a bit out of my price range at the moment but I will look into those in the future.

Is there much difference in the quality of the cables and if so, what sorta thing should I be looking at ?[/quote]

OBBM on this forum does top quality cables of all kinds for very reasonable costs and fast delivery.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=78&hl="]OBBM's feedback[/url]

[Danbass7]

[quote name='OldGit' post='337318' date='Nov 26 2008, 02:50 PM']OBBM on this forum does top quality cables of all kinds for very reasonable costs and fast delivery.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=78&hl="]OBBM's feedback[/url][/quote]

Cheers OldGit !

[Sean.Robinson]

Again +1 to the Shure SM58, its the industry vocal mic, especially for live events, its cheap, got a frequency response to flatter most vocals and dam hard to break

[Finbar]

I have a Sennheiser equivalent, though I forget the model number. Its been excellent - well built and REALLY clear so far, but I don't treat it like poop, so I wouldn't expect it to pack up on me. Cheaper than the 58 too....

[steve-soar]

[quote name='Sean.Robinson' post='337592' date='Nov 26 2008, 07:16 PM']Again +1 to the Shure SM58, its the industry vocal mic, especially for live events, its cheap, got a frequency response to flatter most vocals and dam hard to break[/quote]If you don't own your own and have them supplied by the house, on no account should you sniff them, 10 years of rancid saliva doesn't smell too pretty.

[leschirons]

[quote name='Danbass7' post='337185' date='Nov 26 2008, 01:57 PM']I know this isnt the ideal place to post this, but I know you guys would give me good advice !

I've started doing main/shared vocals in my band whilst holding down the bass duties and now need a mic that is going to be built well and last touring/ intensive gigging.

I dont know a hell of a lot about the different standard of mic's out there and would really appreciate a bit of insight from anyone with more knowledge than me in what would be a good buy.[/quote]

Had my SM58 over 15 years and ran it over with the car at a gig. Changed the mesh top (£3.00 on Ebay) good as new.

leschirons

[crez5150]

Sennheiser all the way!!

[JD1]

Don't just get one on spec. Try a few out in the shop. Which one works best for you will depend on your voice and you'll hear it staight away.

[alexclaber]

SM58 is the obvious choice not least because sound engineers won't give you any hassle for using it. However I've found that as I tend to sing lower than many vocalists the SM57 works better for me as it's less boomy in the lows and a bit smoother on top so the midrange comes through better. The SM58 is voiced very effectively for typical tenor rock/soul/etc vocals but on higher (female) or lower (baritone/bass) vocalists the flatter response of the SM57 can be more flattering/audible.

Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic and AKG probably make even better mics for the money but I have no idea where to start with them! (I guess when it comes to vocal mics I'm acting like those bassists that automatically buy Ampeg...)

Alex

[OldGit]

[quote name='crez5150' post='337890' date='Nov 26 2008, 11:46 PM']Sennheiser all the way!![/quote]

Ha ha well you would say that Does your boss read BassChat?

What are the model numbers of vocal mics in this kind of area Crez?

[OldGit]

[quote name='alexclaber' post='338091' date='Nov 27 2008, 09:05 AM']SM58 is the obvious choice not least because sound engineers won't give you any hassle for using it. However I've found that as I tend to sing lower than many vocalists the SM57 works better for me as it's less boomy in the lows and a bit smoother on top so the midrange comes through better. The SM58 is voiced very effectively for typical tenor rock/soul/etc vocals but on higher (female) or lower (baritone/bass) vocalists the flatter response of the SM57 can be more flattering/audible.

Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic and AKG probably make even better mics for the money but I have no idea where to start with them! (I guess when it comes to vocal mics I'm acting like those bassists that automatically buy Ampeg...)

Alex[/quote]


Ah now that's an interesting point .. As a baritone I may try my SM57 next gig to see if it works better for me. My sm58 does sometimes lack clarity with my voice, especially for the talky bits.

I know sound engineers have got out the Sennheisers for women singers I've worked with but, again, no idea what model of mic it was.

[crez5150]

[quote name='OldGit' post='338100' date='Nov 27 2008, 09:21 AM']Ha ha well you would say that Does your boss read BassChat?

What are the model numbers of vocal mics in this kind of area Crez?[/quote]

I have no idea what your on about...... ahem.... but if you were to look at particular models the following would p**s all over the OP brand -

Evolution 835 - Cardioid Dynamic
840
845 - Super - Cardioid Dynamic

If your funds run to it, try the e935..... outstanding!!

Edited November 27, 2008 by crez5150

[OldGit]

[quote name='crez5150' post='338105' date='Nov 27 2008, 09:25 AM']I have no idea what your on about...... ahem.... but if you were to look at particular models the following would p**s all over the OP brand -

Evolution 835 - Cardioid Dynamic
840
845 - Super - Cardioid Dynamic

If your funds run to it, try the e935..... outstanding!![/quote]

Well there you go,
Senn 835 is only £40
840 is £70
845 S (with switch) £37

Got to be worth a go, especially if you are on limited funds...

[crez5150]

[quote name='OldGit' post='338109' date='Nov 27 2008, 09:29 AM']Well there you go,
Senn 835 is only £40
840 is £70
845 S (with switch) £37

Got to be worth a go, especially if you are on limited funds...[/quote]

Blimey where did you see the price for the 845s???? that s way too cheap? one thing I will say is watch out for e-vilbay..... you would not believe how many ££££'s of couterfeit stock we've
had come into the UK this year......

[OldGit]

[quote name='crez5150' post='338112' date='Nov 27 2008, 09:31 AM']Blimey where did you see the price for the 845s???? that s way too cheap? one thing I will say is watch out for e-vilbay..... you would not believe how many ££££'s of couterfeit stock we've
had come into the UK this year......[/quote]

Blige yeah it does seem to be a good deal +£5 shipping though .. Still about half price c/f others
Amazon
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/detail/offer-listing/-/B0002H0RCW/new"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/det.../B0002H0RCW/new[/url]

Now don't go telling on them til we've bought all their stock OK?

[Annoying Twit]

SM58 - the world's toughest microphone

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33QPLbQi9FI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33QPLbQi9FI[/url]

There are lot of counterfeits around though. Someone on HC was ranting about an SM57 he bought which turned out to be a POS. Turned out it was a fake.

[RichardH]

Without wishing to cast aspersions on that particular seller on Amazon, I'd be wary of Amazon marketplace sellers too - I bought a Shure 58 Beta from one, and it was a fake - weight was nowhere near that specified. They were very good about the return, though.