SM57 vs SM58 vs Beta57 - #68 Doctor Guitar

In this episode I compare 3 classic and super standard microfones on a guitar cabinet, using my Mesa Boogie Royal Atlantic 100 and a Recto Cab 4x12" with WGS ET65 speakers.

You can listen to my music here:

[SejaSuaEssencia]

9:43 SM57
10:00 SM58
10:17 SM58 without grille

10:52 SM57

10:56 SM58

11:00 SM58 without grille

11:12 Beta 57

[gab_ale]

I like the sound of the 58 without the grill cap.

[punk_rock]

LOL never thought that SM58 without a grille is sounds mostly like SM57 :)

[sacstudiosargentina]

I like how beta 57 extracts more detailed sound from guitar amplifiers.

[miguelpessanha]

The beauty of the 57 is that it never gets boomy on 200hz below, and besides having a lot of 5/6K which gives the forward presence, it doesn't have too much high, just the right the frequencies. It's almost like it was made and tuned for distorted electric guitars.
The 58 is similar but with a bit more extended lows and with a presence in more of the 1 to 3K range which can make things forward but too spiky and harsh especially on distorted guitars.
The beta57 is a more refined 57 with a more even high end response - not so much on the 5K range but more of a natural shelf between 3 all the way up to around 8K. Really sounds great on snare, can sound harsher on guitars.

All this is great however context is everything. Budda you said it best, their characteristics really shine wants you starting distorting your tone and producing a more complex and fuller tone harmonic wise. They all work fine in clean sounds, even the 58 sounded really great. However in distorted scenarios the 57 really can't be beat, if your tone is right and if you have enough low end to start with. Somehow the low end always seems to be tight and just right in the mix, and the high mids have enough aggression without being offensive.

When you start layering a lot of guitars and doubling, tripling etc. that's where it also shines. The extra low end and excessive presence of different mics can really accumulate and build up and create a big boom and harsh mess.

Bottom line: if your tone is right and sounds great in the room, just get a 57 and focus on getting the best mic placement.

Bom vídeo Budda, abraco!

[kikodasneves]

good review! glad to see a comparison where the placement of the different mics is the same... really the only way such a comparison would make sense.

[thedaver]

Great video! I'm new to your channel, and I have to say, your videos are fantastic!

[Detownrebel]

Beta 57 for speaker mic but if you happen to be in a setting where there may be wash from other instruments and you lack the noise gates. go with the base 57 as it will reject more of the lower range interference.

[MonkeyZen]

This was a great video!! It really helped me out!! From listening to your micing, it sounds like the SM 57 and SM58 were warmer than the SMBeta57.

Great Video. Subscribed. I always kinda prefered the sm 57. Great little showcase for the neve too

[pelipetteri]

SM58 sounds great and maybe more natural than 57.

[mindfield]

They all sound pretty good. Different flavors of Shure. Going grillesswas almost like changing the speaker. Maybe if you only had an sm58 on hand and only one speaker you could double the guitar with a grilless option.

[pawlosek]

great episode Budda :) i wait for more compares like that :D

[bobc.]

Seems like the 58 allowed more low frequency.

[___xyz___]

People keep talking about the "sound" of these mics, completely ignoring that the main reason you'd ever use the SM57 over the two others is because it just rejects room/stage noise better. If that's ever a concern (and if you're playing a gig or recording metal guitar in a remotely untreated room you'll bet your ass it is), then you're going to want to get that. Of course, if you're going for vocals or acoustic guitar or anything in an acoustically treated studio, then the SM58 is probably (read: definitely) the better choice (YMMV), although something tells you that is not 80-90% of you.

[mauritsnienhuis]

Great video! Thanks. The SM's sound great!

[marcusatiusvirilis]

Thanks for the video! I guess I'm training myself to become an audiophile. I only can afford one all around mic so as much as I like the sm57's very direct sound with vocals and guitar, the 58 might sound more live and when you take the grill off you get a good gritty sound with the amp

[kevingriffin]

great video. I like that its edited, and a little shorter than some of your other videos.

[kbvideo]

I can never control the muddy low end on the beta 57

[billweaver]

The BIG surprise for me was how much I preferred the 58 with grill over the others - just a nastier more exciting sound. I've used my 57s and a 58 for vocals and this just doesn't align with my experience of how the 58 should sound. I've always found it darker and less, not more edgy