Recommend me a cheap mic for BVs!!

[Jamesemt]

I'm thinking of maybe singing some backing vocals eventually, but would like to practice at home before making a fool of myself in front of the band

Can anyone recommend something cheap, but which would be OK for the odd gig.

Edited March 1, 2008 by Jamesemt

[fleamail]

Try the T.bone MB85 which is a decent copy of the classic Shure 58 and a good value for money. I use it for backing vocals on rare occasions and I have blind tested it with an original 58, the one that our singer uses, and you couldn't tell a difference.

[charic]

If you dont want to fork out for a shure (2nd hand may be an option theyre indestructable ) try seinheisser or however the damn things spelt

[bass_ferret]

After 50 odd years there is still only one SM58. You can buy a cheapo copy but an SM58 is for life. You can get them now for about £70 and I really cant see the point in getting anything else.

[jakenewmanbass]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149347' date='Mar 1 2008, 09:54 AM']After 50 odd years there is still only one SM58. You can buy a cheapo copy but an SM58 is for life. You can get them now for about £70 and I really cant see the point in getting anything else.[/quote]
+1

[neilb]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149347' date='Mar 1 2008, 09:54 AM']After 50 odd years there is still only one SM58. You can buy a cheapo copy but an SM58 is for life. You can get them now for about £70 and I really cant see the point in getting anything else.[/quote]


+10000

Only ever used 58s.

[Jamesemt]

I understand what you are saying about the Shure, but what if me singing doesn't work? It's only a thought at the moment (having NEVER done it before...)

[King of Loss]

SM58....

[bass_ferret]

Unless you have got a PA at home how are you gonna try it out? You cant plug a mike into you bass amp. If you want to try it out at rehersal then see if you can hire one from your local PA hire.

[ian]

pay a little more and get a sure beta 58

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Our singer uses an SM58 and the two on BVs use Behringer ultravoice CM8500s - (as used by Alice cooper & Ann Peebles according to the Behringer web site). They're about £16 (from dv247.com). We've been gigging ours for a few years and they haven't broken yet, even with a drummer doing BVs & ocassionally mistaking it for a cowbell. I bring an old 80s SM58 along to gigs just as a spare, but haven't needed it yet.

[url="http://www.behringer.com/XM8500/index.cfm?lang=eng"]behringer XM8500[/url]

- it comes with a nice case & stand clip as well.

[bass_ferret]

?

Yeah. And I gig with my CIJ 58 precision and keep my '58 precision as a backup.

[Hamster]

[quote name='fleamail' post='149338' date='Mar 1 2008, 09:41 AM']Try the T.bone MB85 which is a decent copy of the classic Shure 58 and a good value for money. I use it for backing vocals on rare occasions and I have blind tested it with an original 58, the one that our singer uses, and you couldn't tell a difference.[/quote]

+1 on these. If you go for a secondhand 'genuine' SM58 be very careful as the market is full of cheap and nasty (but convincing) chinese copies.

Hamster

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149380' date='Mar 1 2008, 11:10 AM']?

Yeah. And I gig with my CIJ 58 precision and keep my '58 precision as a backup.[/quote]
I guess that was directed at me - I don't understand your point. Am I being accused of bullshitting or something?

[bass_ferret]

Why use a cheap knock off and keep the real thing as a back-up?

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149489' date='Mar 1 2008, 03:42 PM']Why use a cheap knock off and keep the real thing as a back-up?[/quote]
The SM58 is my mic I used in the 80s, and the Behringers are band-owned. There isn't a lot of difference in the sound or performance although the behringers seem to have more output , so require slightly less gain on the PA input.

[stingrayfan]

JTS929 is great for £20. You'll find them on Ebay.

[Jamesemt]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149365' date='Mar 1 2008, 10:48 AM']Unless you have got a PA at home how are you gonna try it out? You cant plug a mike into you bass amp. If you want to try it out at rehersal then see if you can hire one from your local PA hire.[/quote]

Guitar amp.

[Dr.Dave]

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='149359' date='Mar 1 2008, 10:30 AM']I understand what you are saying about the Shure, but what if me singing doesn't work? It's only a thought at the moment (having NEVER done it before...)[/quote]

There's another eeason to buy a used SM58 - if it doesn't work out you'll get your money back no bother. Doubt there's many mics about you could say that for.

If you do buy used - unscrew the pop shield - rinse out the bit of foam in hot water and mild disinfectant , chuck the pop shield in the same brew then scrub it with listerine. Don't buy silly specialist mic cleaning products - use what's under the sink or in your bathroom. Do make sure the foam's dry before you screw it all back up.

I had an expensive AKG. It went in the theft 2 years ago and scrambling round to put enough kit together for the next gig I bought a cheap AKG (about £60 new) for £25 used. Still using it - it's great. Can't for the life of me remember either mic model numbers. I'm anoraky enough about basses to start on something else!!

[Dr.Dave]

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='149359' date='Mar 1 2008, 10:30 AM']I understand what you are saying about the Shure, but what if me singing doesn't work? It's only a thought at the moment (having NEVER done it before...)[/quote]

There's another eeason to buy a used SM58 - if it doesn't work out you'll get your money back no bother. Doubt there's many mics about you could say that for.

If you do buy used - unscrew the pop shield - rinse out the bit of foam in hot water and mild disinfectant , chuck the pop shield in the same brew then scrub it with listerine. Don't buy silly specialist mic cleaning products - use what's under the sink or in your bathroom. Do make sure the foam's dry before you screw it all back up.

I had an expensive AKG. It went in the theft 2 years ago and scrambling round to put enough kit together for the next gig I bought a cheap AKG (about £60 new) for £25 used. Still using it - it's great. Can't for the life of me remember either mic model numbers. I'm anoraky enough about basses to start on something else!!

[ironside1966]

I am With the Sm58 or Beta57, it will last a lifetime.
If you want to go cheaper try,
[url="http://www.red5audio.com/"]http://www.red5audio.com/[/url]
They have microphones from 25 pound.
I have used there drum and valve mic.s good quality and sound far more expensive then the price suggests.

If you want to upgrade it will do as a spare.

[P-T-P]

+1 for the Behringers, they're cracking mics.

[bass_ferret]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149365' date='Mar 1 2008, 10:48 AM']Unless you have got a PA at home how are you gonna try it out? You cant plug a mike into you bass amp. If you want to try it out at rehersal then see if you can hire one from your local PA hire.[/quote]

[quote name='Jamesemt' post='149713' date='Mar 2 2008, 08:52 AM']Guitar amp.[/quote]
So how are you going to plug a low impedence mike with cannon 3 pin connector into your guitar amp?

[sticker]

And another vote for the Behringer mic - we use both Shure Sm58's and Behringers in my band and there ain't a lot of difference in it , after years of using '58s I now prefer the Behringer !

Edited March 2, 2008 by sticker

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='149852' date='Mar 2 2008, 02:57 PM']So how are you going to plug a low impedence mike with cannon 3 pin connector into your guitar amp?[/quote]

An [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=12151&&source=14&doy=2m3"]impedance matching transformer[/url] should be the cheapest way of doing the job.


mic -> xlr mic cable -> impedance matching transformer -> short 1/4" socket to 1/4" jack extension cable* -> amp

[i]*The extension cable is optional and is to prevent mechanical strain on the amp input socket due to the weight & chunkiness of the transformer.[/i]