[Harp-L] RE: Jonesin for another mic

[John Kally <jkally3@xxxxxxx>]

Hi,
I know the feeling, I still get gear-hungry on occasion and I have  
more stuff than I need already.  My main mic  at the moment is a  
vintage  pistol grip 545 with the on-off converted to a volume pot,  
and I think that's a cool setup, although the switch is just as  
useful most times (and honestly, I use the volume control  like an on/ 
off anyway, unless  conditions force me to work with  the volume more  
than usual).  Like others, I have tried a new one and didn't notice a  
real difference.  But I'm sure there are people with more  
discriminating ears than mine.  Previously, I was using a 540s,  
shorter barrel than a 545, not the same cartridge  but similar sound  
(and no longer in production.  Dave Barrett is a fan of the 540s   
mics, see the Harmonica Masterclass vintage mic museum).  Since the  
540s has a pistol grip with the on/off switch, it's a light,  
versatile piece of hardware, and I'll probably go back to playing  
mine again some day.  Another Shure that I don't see mentioned much  
is the SM77, the "Starmaker" model,  and I was given one of these a  
couple of weeks back by one of the guys I play with.  Similar to an  
SM57 but only weighs 6 ounces!   This is because it doesn't have an  
internal transformer like the 57, the barrel is a little shorter and  
some other minor details.  Worth seeking out, unfortunately  it's  
also out of production but doesn't seem to go for much used. The SM77  
has an "ebony" (black) finish, looks cool although it scratches  
easily, but more important it sounds good, and especially  great for  
low octave on 64 chromatic . I use a peavey on/off XLR cable with it  
since there is no switch, and I have a decent Audio Technica  inline  
transformer at the amp end.    Anyway, just a reminder that there's  
lots of cool stuff out there with the Shure label besides the Green  
Bullet.