Repair or Replace?
The Pros Weigh In

Planned obsolescence.  We’re living in a world where the repair shops that were found in every town – large or small – as recently as ten or twenty years ago no longer exist.  Manufacturers of consumer products aren’t eager to fill the gap, either, so most Americans have found it easier to replace. 

The good news:  it’s not true when it comes to microphones. Free help only a phone call away, with a number of easy fixes you can make on your own. (See the article in this issue.)    

We asked a panel of pro audio experts for their advice on what to do and when replacement is a better option. 

When you’ve had problems with a 57 or 58, what’s been the usual cause? 

Kent Morris

On those rare occasions when an SM57 has failed, the usual culprit is strong physical impact, either from the tip of a drum stick or a drop at an offset angle onto concrete. A perpendicular hit is almost never fatal, but the outer shell casing may crack. For SM58s, the rounded grille protects the element from almost every impact, as noted by the number of dented grilles on working mics, but failure comes from excessive moisture over time entering the head. 

Danny Duncan

After years of using these mics on the road at live recordings, and in the studio, it seems that accidentally dropping the mic, or the mic getting the occasional whack from a drum stick (if it's miking your snare drum or toms) are unlikely to cause problems with the mic breaking. It is more likely that the connections inside may become loose just from plugging in and unplugging the mic over time. This is especially true if that little screw at the bottom of the mic that holds the male XLR pins in place isn't tight.  If the screw is loose, it allows the connection inside to move slightly each time you connect or disconnect your mic. Take some time to go through your mic collection to check for basic maintenance like making sure the connections are tight, and while you're at it, see if the windscreens need to be cleaned. Just be sure to take the screens off of the mics to clean them. When these windscreen grills get "gunked up" (and they will over time), the mic will not sound like it's supposed to sound. You'll be amazed at the sonic difference this can make. 

Scott Nelson 
I started out exclusively in the studio and used some SM57s.  In the last 20 years of live church work, I've used a few hardwired 58s, but mostly wireless mics.  In all that time, I only had one 57 go down.  The XLR connector pulled out and broke a wire.   

Fix it yourself or send it in? How much technical experience is required if it’s a mic problem? What tools do you need?

 
Kent Morris
Shure's engineering driven mentality is showcased by the company's willingness to ship replacement parts to users. Replacing the SM57 and SM58 elements is straightforward and requires only a soldering kit, screwdriver and small pliers. For owners wanting to have the work completed professionally, Shure's service department offers quick turnaround at a reasonable price.

Danny Duncan

If your SM57 or SM58 stops working, and you’re technical enough to plug a microphone in, then I'd say you should feel comfortable at least getting into the mic and seeing if there is anything obvious that has come loose. If it has, like in the case of my 57, this will be an easy repair for you.

 

But if there’s nothing that appears to be out of order on the inside of the mic, it could be something more complicated and will need to be in the hands of a knowledgeable repair person. You can also send it back to Shure and let them check it out for you. 
 

At what point is replacement a better option? After all, these are only $100 mics.

 
Kent Morris
Replacement trumps repair when time is short or when the mic body has endured years of abuse and no longer meets aesthetic standards. Plus, with the price of shipping continually escalating, sending a mic in and paying for its return reduces the financial advantage of repair even further. 

Danny Duncan
Shure has had a reputation of excellent customer service and my understanding is that for about $50 they will actually repair your mic for you and send it back.

 

Hey, that's half the price of a new one, so in my opinion, repair is the way to go! If you need to use it right away though, or you're just the impatient type, then go buy a new microphone. After all, they are only a hundred dollars tops.  In the meantime, send the broken one back to Shure for repair and in a few weeks you'll have an extra mic on hand. 

Scott Nelson
I haven't yet had one go down with a capsule-related issue. If I have a wireless go down, I would send it in.  A hardwired I would check it myself.  If I couldn't fix it I would probably order a new one and save the old one for parts.  You always need a spare wire mesh screen.