Shure SM57: Underappreciated Harp Mic? ( aka a piece of Jason Ricci's tone signature)

[Don Zeller <dzeller@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I take it from the mic threads that a majority of us use crystal vs ceramic
element bullet mics.  I've been plenty happy with an Astatic "Crystal Balls"
mic for years, but this week, after wearing out the new Jason Ricci CD "Feel
Good Funk" I've gotta say the underappreciated old SM57 contributes a
unique, even signature tone to Jason's playing, with it's sort of upper-mid
frequency peak and a brightness that seems to get lost with most "Chicago
style" harp mics with their richer bottoms, low mids, and subdued highs.
I've never A-B tested a '57 against my mic but plan to now. Anybody else
given this some consideration?  I wonder how the new ones stack up to the
old.   Seems like it (the SM57) has a wider, ?more versatile repertoire of
tones, while that of the bullets is narrower from the tonal standpoint.  The
"horn-like" riffs on Jason's CD have a timbre that stands out, and I'm
guessing the mic was a factor, (his huge tone and ease running across the
overblows is even a bigger factor of course!)
Jason, if you're watching, congrats on the exceptional CD, (especially for
the unbelievable harpwork on my favorite cut, Driftin' and Driftin'.) I'd
like to hear the details about what was used (besides Mike N's Bassman RI!)
for the tones on the CD, and maybe your two cents on how you arrived at this
mic, which the rest of us have probably used only to mic amps in the past!

Don Zeller