Looking at a vintage Shure 55 microphone
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- Опубликовано: 3 окт 2024
- Since I pulled out my vintage Shure 55 a few weeks ago for the microphone comparison, I thought I'd take a closer look at it.
The Shure 55 was one of the most iconic microphones ever designed. As they said in their advertising, it's been "photographed with the most celebrities of any microphone".
Or at least it was until their newer SM58 took over that honour.
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My tip jar: / pileofstuff
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This isn't the only way to do it.
It's probably not the best way to do it.
But it's how I do it.
![OsamaSon - ik what you did last summer [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4DIQDnu3mr4/mqdefault.jpg)
Very informative. I just picked one up and need to get a cable and test it. Thanks for taking the time to put this up!
Have fond memories of this microphone. Not limited to any city, state, country or famous person (except pileofstuff). Thanks for showing
It's realy nice to see inside this mike. Amazing how they use to work those days.
Happy to have found this video! I just came across the exact same unit with the a83b switch. Mine actually sounds just as good as the 14a I had to compare. I was shocked. Not only does it sound good and look amazing, I only paid 50$ from an older gentleman who held onto it for many years and just decided it should go to someone else. I lucked into being that someone!
Thx for opening it up and satisfying my curiosity so I don't have to.
Great video resource for Shure mic owners.
Thank you.
That really means something coming from a channel like yours which is such a great resource for people interested in cool and often obscure guitars.
Beautiful vintage piece of kit. They really knew how to make stuff to last back then and the looks are so classic. Thanks for sharing.
Shure still hosts the 1951 version of the user guide for this mic on a page on their web site called "Discontinued Microphones User Guides." They have a bunch of period catalogs too to see what else was being made at the time. Nice job on the video. The two 55s I've purchased were both damaged beyond restoration (one was a completely empty shell), so it's great to see what the inside is supposed to look like!
fantastic bit of history and fine art
Those were beautiful mics. I'm in a kind of unique location because I live a few miles from the original home of several different companies from the music and sound industry. Electrovoice in Buchanan, Michigan, Conn Organ, Crown Audio in Elkhart, Indiana and several more. Many famous musicians and actors were from that area Like Tommy James and Perry Como.
I have a Shure 730 B that belonged to my wife's grandfather. It is from around the same year as the one you showed in this video. Unfortunately the crystal element wasn't working. I took it to a repair shop and had them install a modern dynamic capsule. Had a lathe operator near my house make a stainless steel base for it. I use it everyday on my PC. Looks awesome on my desk. I wish I had a 55S too.
I have the exact mic. I’m trying to find out more about it. Great video!
thanks so much for the tour... I didn't have to take mine apart.
So sad to hear such a nice old school Microphone sounding so bad, i got one of the 1967 gold versions. I custom made a cable xlr to amphenol for it and it sounds amazing even on the high setting wich isn’t the usual input resistance of a modern console.
Very nice! ... The blues brothers! ... I lived in Schaumburg for 6 years (just outside Chicago) these mics look amazing... I m glad you had wired it up so we could hear it!! I have a few SM58s and some R0DE NT-1s ... I wonder how many words have been said into this mic?
Cool thank you A Legend Shure !
Nice video 👍
Thank you, good information
Very nice my Friend
Man if only there was a way to re magnetise/replace those old magnets... This is such a cool piece of gear that probably saw thousands of people come and go. Have you thought about trying to restore it to working condition? Maybe hack that capsule a bit? Or contact Shure and ask them to do it for you?
At one point Shure had what was essentially a rebuild kit for these, but as far as I can tell they don't offer it any more.
You can remagnatize
I just picked up my second "fat boy" 55 today (55C, high-impedance only) and although it sounds marginally louder than my multi-impedance 55 they are both quiet, tinny, and resonant. Yours sounds hi-fidelity compared to them. I suspect you're right in that the magnets in the capsules (and maybe the transformers) have likely lost strength over the years, leading to reduced frequency response and output. I wonder if there's a way to re-energize them without destroying the capsule?
You had me worried there, I thought you were going to butcher it. Haha
I've got a few similar style mics around but I don't think mine have the switch. They had line impedance shifting transformers you could plug between cords too. The last new line transformer I bought was in the 80's. A P.A. system I purchased in the 80's had on board phantom power but it also had 1/4" phono jacks for instruments or older style microphones. At one time they made adapters for all those different mic connectors. Probably have to hit a vintage shop to find one today but we know the internet has everything these days.
I've got a few old Turner brand models that don't work and I think I may stick some modern guts into them to bring them up to speed yet retain the classic Buddy Holly and Elvis look.
Did the mic sound good? Is it against the law to change the capsule? If you want the vintage look but modern sound?
You could change the guts to something modern if you wanted to. I think Shure even made a kit of parts for that at one point in history.
Do you think I can open the cage of these similar Shure vintage mics and spray paint it and then put it back? Would it affect the mic in any way?
If you are only spraying the metal casing it shouldn't change anything.
If paint gets on the cloth or screen it may muffle the sound somewhat.
hi , did you ever came across a Phillips EL 6030? can yo tell me something about it?
I haven't encountered one in person. Damn cool looking mic, though.
It looks great but it sounds like a built in laptop microphone 😂
Im wondering if your selling that mic im wanting to buy it
Nope, sorry.
I enjoy having it myself.
What's written on your cup?
Musique de l'Aviation royale Canadienne
Its from the Royal Canadian Air Force band. You happen to be looking at the french side of the mug.
old video?... no subscription counter....
I recorded this before I made the counter, but I didn't get around to editing it until this week.
That counter is going to cause all sorts of confusion if people pay attention to the numbers from week to week...
I don't understand why anybody uses this mic.
I have yet to hear one that actually sounds good.
Wow, I've only been watching this video, so far, up to a minute and I can't believe you are whining over a mic that is in absolutely BEAUTIFUL condition. Man, you've got a GEM find there! If I hear you make even one more slightly negative comment you're gettin' a THUMBS DOWN from me.
My only real complaint is that I really would like to be able to actually record with it.
@@pileofstuff I'll buy it off you if you want to get rid of it.
@@MBurrellstudios Sorry, I really like having it - It's such a cool thing and a piece of history.
I will never buy a Shure mic again... They are total crap...especially the cheap pieces of crap they are putting out now...