Setting the standard

The Shure SM58S is a workhorse designed for the stage and studio.

It's not by accident that Shure's SM Series microphones are the "industry standard." For decades, these microphones have helped artists deliver legendary performances in both live shows and in the studio. This model, the SM58S, features an on/off switch unlike the classic SM58.

I've got a couple of these in my mic collection. One of them has mysterious origins — I wish it could tell me the stories that explain its nicks, scratches, and dented mesh grille. I love it because it works every time and sounds fantastic.

A great choice for vocals

If you've watched a live performance, you've most likely seen an SM58 microphone in action. Shure engineered the SM58S with a curve that accents the upper midrange and rolls off the lows, which makes it great for live vocals.

The dynamic cardioid design is uni-directional, so it picks up what you say, sing, or scream straight into it, and does a great job of rejecting extraneous noise from other instruments. That's the key to its versatility — it's not only for live vocals. Dig into its history and you'll soon learn that plenty of classic studio vocal and instrument tracks were recorded with a '58, too.

Heavy, metal

The SM58S is built like a tank, so it can reliably deliver clear audio signals every time. The internal pneumatic shock-mount system cuts down on noise transfer — like the sound of your stomping foot on a hollow stage floor. The spherical filter behind the steel mesh ball grille cuts out wind noise and plosives like those notorious popping P's.

This mic has proven itself over millions of miles of touring and millions of gigs. Every band needs a few of these in its quiver.