[Harp-L] 545 vs. sm57 comparison?????

["John F. Potts" <hvyj@xxxxxxx>]

A couple of weeks ago, i got a 545 Ultimate from Greg Heumann ("Blows  
Me Away Productions").  Very light and ergonomic.  Before i got it, I  
would only use a 545 if i was l playing through an amp.  But lately,  
I've been using the one i just got from Greg going into the PA board,  
too. (playing with my new toy).

Last night i was playing on a large stage, with house sound (and a  
sound man who was attentive and knew what he what he was doing).   
WOW.  The 545 sounds really great for harp.  Very responsive and  
versatile.  I've also used it on a smaller stage into an on stage  
board a couple of times, and was totally satisfied. You can play very  
clean or overdrive the mic element for texture and grit. And you have  
full bodied tone and adequate cut, clean or dirty, at any volume.  A  
player who knows what he is doing can make himself sound however he  
wants to sound with this mic.

i always knew the 545 was terrific for playing into an amp.  But this  
is a terrific all around harp mic.  The stock 545 is a little heavier  
than the stock 57, which is why i got an Ultimate. Neither the 545  
nor the SM 57 have the most convenient grill design for cupping, and  
that is another reason why i got an Ultimate since the shorter barrel  
and lighter weight compensate. i think the frequency response spec  
for the SM57 goes a little lower than the 545, but the 545 is  
certainly not lacking authority on the low end.  I like it.

JP