Re: Can't believe it: an SM58 beat my bullet.

[Steve Price <sprice@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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On 3 Feb 1995 BEERE_MARK@xxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Rkt (rocket@xxxxxxxxxxxx) and Mike Curtis (wd6ehr@xxxxxxxxxx) are
mid-discussion on the virtues (or less thereof) of the SM58.  I've got a Blue
Bullet (The Hohner Astatic) and *THOUGHT* I had the right weapon.  But last
night at the end of jamming I picked up the bassist's SM58 and played a few
licks.  To be honest, I think it sounded better than my omnidirectional bullet.
Maybe it sounded better only because the sound was different.  But it sure did
seem to give a richer sound in the bass and less in the high (mic cupped) which
would help get to that holy grail LW sound.  Maybe sensitivity issues also
affected my opinion- one mike was "Louder" and hence better.  So now I'm all
bent out of shape and starting to hyperventilate because I don't know whether
I should change mikes or just pretend it never happened.  If you've got a
consoling comment, I'm all ears.  Maybe I could just equalize my bullet to get
it to sound like the SM58 when I want it to, I dunno.  Thanks.
> 
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Actually, Rkt & Mike Curtis got into this because I rather mean 
spiritedly poked fun at all the gear talk, because I just use the my 
vocal mic on a stand, and I back away from it so I DON'T get the LW 
sound.  My point was, remember how harps used to sound--meaning, the 
Chicago sound isn't the only blues sound that's desirable.  

I have a folkier sound in our FOLK BLUES group, more reminiscent 
of Sonny Terry than LW.  I frankly get a better LW sound from a Green 
Bullet, but it's inappropriate in our group, it sticks out badly (to me) 
when I use it against acoustic guitar and bass, or mandolin, or 
whatever.  

BUT I played last night and was very consciously thinking about tone from 
all the discussions here (THANKS EVERYONE!) and really did get a super 
mellow, buttery sound when I wanted it out of my SM58.  It was really 
quite gorgeous if I do say so myself.  So I'm thinking the people are 
right who say that it's 80% you and 20% other stuff.  Still I won't try 
for that Sonny Terry sound out of a Green Bullet!