[Harp-L] RE: SM57 AND DUCT TAPE

["A. CATASUS" <acatasus@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I don't have an SM57 but I have it's brother, the 545. While he was  
fitting it for a volume control, Greg Heumann secured the grill for  
me with some kind of glue. If the darned thing moves around and the  
element underneath decides to move with it the hair-thin wires  
underneath will disconnect, rendering the mic inoperative. (It  
happened to mine. Thanks for the repair, Greg.)

When I got the mic back, I wrapped a few rubber bands from bunches of  
asparagus and broccoli around the body of the mic just below the  
head. I then slid a 1 inch length of bicycle inner tube over the  
bands overlapping the head of the mic by about 1/8 inch. This gives  
me a nice ridge to help me hold the mic. With the volume control  
adding to the length, it's a bit of an exertion to hold the 545 and  
this helps. Of course, the tone is worth any exertion. It honks like  
a sax, trumpet or trombone, depending on the key and on your playing  
style.

I plan to change the rubber bands frequently to prevent them from  
deteriorating and gumming up the works.

Don't use duct tape. By the way, don't use duct tape on ductwork  
either. Look it up. It is singularly unsuited to the task!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape

Al