sm57 or 58?

[Stert]

is there any reason i shouldnt use an sm58 to mic my drums?

i know its more common to use an sm57 since its an 'instrument mic' but i found some sm58s real cheap.

i looks on shure's website and the frequency range on the 2 mics are almost identical, but the sm58 is marketed as a vocal mic. so it must have a pop filter. would that effect the sound of drums?

thanks

[Seafroggys]

sm57s are cheaper than 58s, so I don't see the problem

[billdrum]

The 57's are designed to take the more intense vibrations associated with close up micing of an instrument. Imagine the vibration shock a mic diaphragm has to absorb when you hit your floor tom hard, for example. The 57 is designed for it, the 58 is not. Therefore the 57 will better reproduce the frequencies and last longer doing it.

[Joseph_Yamaha_SCA]

The two mics are just about identical, with the sm58 you will pick up a wider range of sound because that of the cone, with that sm57 you will pick up sound from directly where it is placed allowing for better mixing and so on.

[Chippy569]

57's are more unidirectional (sound source comes from one point) whereas the 58's are more omnidirectional (sound source comes from a sphere, everywhere)... meaning if you put a 57 on your snare, the toms and hats will bleed a lot less than a 58.

The only difference between a 57 and 58 is the windscreen shape (but no they're not interchangable, i tried that.)

so it depends on how you're micing. if you're room micing, go with 58's, but if you're close micing, go with 57's.

[Joseph_Yamaha_SCA]

The frequency response is slightly different, but doubt that many could tell the difference.

[Chippy569]

^only because of the shape of the windscreens.

...the elements within the mics are the EXACT same.

[Stert]

sm57s are cheaper than 58s, so I don't see the problem

behringer makes an sm58 copy for 20$ new.
i can tell the diff in a side by side but i would say its 85-90% as good.

the 2 mics do seem to be very similar. ill probably go with the 58 copy since they are so cheap.

since they are omnidirectional......i have 4 toms. 2 rack and 2 floor. should i get 2 mics and place one between the racks and one between the floors? then one between the snare and hats?
then i could get 2 overhead condensers and a bass mic and be set?
what do you think?

im just looking to record with protools or cakewalk or something similar without spending too much and getting a decent sound.