This Budget Mic Test has Ruined my Expectations

I put Budget T-Bone Dynamic Mics up against the Mighty Shure Pro Mics and the results are very surprising. If you are thinking about buying a new mic you should watch this first.
Links to all the Mics and Gear HERE - thmn.to/thocf/d6noozlk0d
T.bone mics are the house brand microphones from Thomann. I have used them here to mic up a Palmer Guitar cab fitted with a Celestion Vintage V-30 and then done the same with the original Shure equivalents such as the class SM57. All Samples were re-amped and re recorded with exactly the same audio so the mic comparison was fair and as scientific as i could make it.
00:00 The Ultimate Shure VS T-Bone microphone Guitar Cab shootout intro
00:42 Prices - Shure SM57 vs T.Bone MB-75
01:00 Prices - Shure SM58 vs T.Bone MB 85
01:18 Prices - Shure SM7B vs T.Bone MB 7 Beta
01:59 What's in the box? T.Bone MB-75 vs Shure SM57
02:24 What's in the box? T.Bone MB-85 vs Shure SM58
02:51 What's in the box? T.Bone MB-7 Beta vs Shure SM7B
03:22 How I recorded the Sound Samples and what is the cab and speaker
04:09 Sound Samples - All Mics on a clean guitar signal with the Revv D-20 + V-30
06:44 Sound Samples - All Mics on a Mid-Gain guitar signal with the Sherrif 25 + V-30
08:15 Sound Samples - All Mics on a High-Gain guitar signal with the Engl Fireball 25 + V-30
09:47 My Final Thoughts... Are we being ripped off?
This is the best Mic test for comparing budget dynamic mics against the more expensive models like T.bone from Thomann versus the Shure models like the MB-75 vs the SM-57 or the MB-85 vs the SM58 and the MB-7 beta vs the SM7B but also there were clean guitar samples using a telecaster guitar, mid-gain guitar samples using a Les Paul guitar and high gain metal sound samples using a Vola Guitar also the palmer cab has a vintage v-30 speaker from celestion which is a classic speaker for putting in a guitar cab and also do you need to spend a lot of money on microphones? Shure, Sennheiser, lewitt, se, t-bone, behringer.
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#theguitargeek #Shure #tbone #guitarcab #guitar

[@deangullberry5148]

Longevity, and durability, are key. A guy I use to play with has had the same SM57 for around 15 years. It's been drenched in alcohol countless times and run over at least three times. Other than replacing the head and foam underneath it still runs strong.

[@ithemba]

well thats true and the former generations of cheap clones really were way worse in longevity. I had to resolder SM 57 knock-offs countless times. However, the T-Bones are rock solid. I have been using them for years and years on a stage, with several shows a week and they are still going strong.

[@Sentientfx1]

@@ithemba I've had a T-bone SC-950 for over 20 years and it's fine.

[@vasotoe]

Are there differences? Yep, but so subtle to the ear and it's ridiculous how good mics have become nowadays. Great demo video Andy! Would love to see them on some vocals too 🙃

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I’ll do that for you 🙏

[@imfattcracker6511]

Yes Please that would be awesome..

[@ralphhathaway-coley5460]

If/when you do another version of this test could you do a quick EQ trace of the mics? To get a good idea of the differences in sounds for those that do not do 'EQ traces' you could record one channel using the T-bone and another channel with the Shure at the same time, then reverse reverse the phase of one of the channels and play them both at the same time, this will show you the actual differences in the sounds picked up as the similarities will cancel each other out.

[@mastersuntzu]

This was "mictastic"! Being new to this stuff, I'm learning a lot! Thanks for the awesome content!!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I see you! I would certainly say that from a sound point of view I was shocked at how close they sounded.

[@saarangnarayan123]

Tbh there was some difference that I caught with my (fairly good) headphones, but the similarities are down to the intention of the designers. The only difference between an SM57 and an SM58, IIRC, is the dust cap design. And the SM7B was Shure’s attempt at making a very refined SM57. So yeah, they all have the same basic DNA and the differences are all basically minor ones. There is definitely a honky-ness in the 7B tho that is quite characteristic. And the T-bone alternatives sounded surprisingly close, but the big difference was in the low-end. The T-bones sound like they have a high pass filter which makes them sound “thinner”.

[@Mullewarp]

That's what i thought. The Shure mics sounded fuller in the low-end. But apart from that the T-Bones where very close.

[@BeepBeep2_]

The SM57 and SM58 definitely seemed to have some more roll-off in the high mid / treble that made them a little more pleasing to listen to for me with the rock/distortion sounds. I actually preferred the MB-7 Beta over the SM7B (and all 5 others), which felt too dark there. On the clean tones, I couldn't really tell a difference.

[@ChrisMartinsMusician]

The Sm7 has distinctively more low midrange/bass... BUT... it's something that will need to be tamed and brought back to the level of the MB75 with EQ. If you really want a great deal, check out the T-Bone RM700. It's a 80€ ribbon mic that sounds every bit as good as any ribbon mic that costs 4 times that. Pair that with the MB75 and you have a 500€ ultra classic mic combo for 100 bucks. ( But I just found out you have a video comparison with a TLM.... Great mic on cabs, give it a go. :) )

[@mycosys]

They all sound the same because theyre all Unidyne II clones, the SM7 is just transformerless.

[@ChrisMartinsMusician]

@@mycosys I think the 7b has a slightly different capsule, but yes it's based on the Unidyne III as well. That being said, not all clones sound that close to the original designs.

[@mycosys]

Certainly, @@ChrisMartinsMusician but at that SPL in a high distortion sound, you are gonna want something that isnt trying to be the same type of mic if you want more than nuanced change in sound (as long as the mic is minimally ok to start with)

[@ChrisMartinsMusician]

@@mycosys Indeed. Then again, tons of minimalist sessions have been done with just a few 57s, and they do sound fine as the mic color doesn't overcome the instrument's in general. But if you're going for 2 or 3 guitars in a distorted amp, yup. Vary the mics or at least give yourself some color option by putting two different mics on the cab and mixing them to taste and need. :)

[@mycosys]

Absolutely, @@ChrisMartinsMusician - or you could use a few high end LDCs that capture everything and spend an hour f*ing around to get them to sit in in the mix if you really need perfection XD

[@denishaberley2509]

This confirms my suspicions that there is little difference between cheaper (but still good quality) mics & expensive mics. I'm a long-term user of Shure SM 58s for vocals - give them their due: they're still working after many years of playing. Greetings from Australia.

[@Fl4ppers]

58s were great for vocals in the 60s/70s. But for the same price there are better vocal dynamics. Ones that dont roll as much off from 15k and have that low mids slight dip. I dont know the gys name, but there is a live sound guy who does a video comparing them all.

[@Morstad64]

Wow, that was surprising. I would have expected much bigger differences! Not just between the originals and the "clones" of the same type, but also between the different types. Good and interesting test!

[@esquared232]

If anything , this is a wonderful video for the engl fireball 25!!!!…good show mate!

[@PetraKann]

Also need to look at reliability and durability. I have a few Shure beta SM57A mics that I purchased in the early 1990s. Indestructible dynamic mics. I still use them today for recording vocals, instruments and amps. Worth every penny

[@GuitarGearGyan]

The T-Bone MB-75 was the best overall for me. Getting one for sure. Thanks for the Demo.

[@GitShiddy]

Has Glenn Fricker booked the flight for part 2 yet? 😉 The differences are subtle but they are there to my (admittedly shoddy) ears. Shure's are all a bit fuller and a bit more pleasant. The 7b types where my favourite tonally, with the 58s being least favourite. I dig that Thomann made these clones they'd be a perfect purchase for young/new bands, or underfunded establishments trying to get a well rigged setup without the removal of organs (metaphorical or literal) to afford to do so.

[@christofdonat2702]

Of course, there's psychology involved. I hear the biggest difference with the 57s on the clean, and with the 7Bs on the high gain tone. The difference between the 7bs were so small, that I'd happily use the T-Bones, but between the 57s, the difference was bigger for me. I'd just buy the Sure mics in that range.

[@nachobeerhunter8713]

It's refreshing to be surprised every once in awhile! 🤙

[@TheGuitarGeek]

It really is!

[@scottybrowndotca]

Hey Andy .. I had always heard that a 57 and a 58 had "basically the same" capsule, and thus sounded similar .. But holy smokes was I blown away (a) how much the knockoffs sound like the Shures and (b) how much the Tbone could pass for an SM7 .. Makes me think that two T-Bones would be a great way to get the "SM14" sound and if they got a little beat up in the process one would feel a lot less bad than if the same happened to the $500 (Canadian) original ..

[@DanielPepin]

Wow thanks for the heads up! I think my only concern would be longevity. I have Shure mics I bought new 30 years ago that still work. But that price point is exceptional! Thanks for the info 🤟🦄🤟

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Good point! Thanks

[@PalmerGermany]

7:43 - magic cab, innit 😎 Mictastic video though, Andy!

[@needsLITHIUM]

Behringer, Nady, Peavey, Superlux, Zoom, Monoprice, and Samson are a few more examples of great cheap instrument mics. I use Behringer B906, SA78a, BA85a, and XM8500 mics on cabs, and the GLS ES-57 makes a great off axis or rear openback pair mic for an actual SM57, or somethin like an e906 or e609. Zoom ZDM-1 works great for close mic on a guitar cab, as well, though it tends to be a bit harsh and bright on guitar, like halfway between an SM7b and an Audix i5 or Sennheiser 421 - would probably pair great with a darker mic, like a ribbon or the GLS ES-57.

[@ryanthenormal]

Fascinating video, and it has probably simplified an upcoming purchase for me. But (and there's always a but) how do the mics perform if placed differently? Say, off-centre or towards the edge of the cone? Or a little further away from the grill? Or at 45 degrees to the grill? I'd better interested to hear the differences with more or less air moving in different ways in front of the mics.

[@stereotyped8586]

great video, honestly couldnt really tell much difference between any of the mics (at least nothing note worthy) might have to look at these mics

[@needsLITHIUM]

The actual SM58 has noticeably more bass on the mid gain and distorted examples through my logitech hi-fi speakers. The SM7 had about 1/3 to half the bass increase from the MB85 to the the SM58 and a rather large increase in upper midrange. The MB-7B just sounded halfway between the SM57 and the SM58 in the same application.

[@W9TSB]

Great job Andy! I know that Shure mics are built like a tank and will survive lots of gigs. But for the home studio user, you can’t go wrong with those mics for mic’ing your guitar or bass. Use them, then put them away. Not sure if they work survive getting hit by a drum stick, so I might steer away from mic’ing drums with them.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

The mb75 was surprisingly sturdy. Definitely good for a backup or people on strict budgets

[@W9TSB]

@@TheGuitarGeek do you have or know the specs of those mics? Like frequency response and response pattern.

[@NeungView]

​@@W9TSBFor what it's worth (not much), the Thomann ones come with the frequency response graphs.

[@W9TSB]

@@NeungView Thank you! I didn’t scroll down far enough. 😂 By the way… I’ve been using Pyle’s version of the SM57 and 58 for years and have no issues with them. They sound just as good as my real 57’s and 58’s. But I don’t do carpentry work with my microphones.

[@garyoneill5648]

There seems to be a significant difference in the bass response, but does that mean they sound better? not if I'm looking for mostly guitar mids for a mix and as you say bit of post eq would sort that for sure. nice demo Andy

[@mikecumbo7531]

My $0.02, these mics show that the gap between the high end equipment and the budget gear is closing, much like many “entry level” guitars and the big name big price tag guitars. 30-40 years ago I don’t think anyone would have considered that the case. If these budget mics allow a musician or band to save money and continue, great. I would love to see how these survive for a touring band.

[@glenclifton4563]

According to the doctor,my hearing is great. That being said ,the clean you could hear a difference but,the other two were the same! This was a great test and i appreciate you doing this.

[@randydean23]

I think the differences are brought out in the way the mics sound for a person's voice. Especially the proximity effect. But in the case of the shures they are all 3 dynamic mics with the exact same capsule and the honest to God only difference being the housing.

[@marktemebel]

Can you do a vocal test as well?

[@Grid21]

it's weird, is really subtle, but some how, I find the tone and sound of the T-Bone MB-75 almost better than the Shure SM57, and that's one of the ones I own. But also, maybe a SM57 isn't a good mic to use with my Fender Blues Jr. Also, HI ANDY! I remember talking to you via Instagram about this video! Glad it's out and thanks! I still feel like there are better mics than the SM57, but I am unsure what else is out there to try.

[@MartinBlasick]

Did mean you’re unSHURE?

[@FabiansTinyWorkshop]

I also use some budget t-bone mics besides my trusty SM58. Speaking from experience: What about handling noise and susceptibility to feedback?

[@MikeLute]

A mictastic video - and I thought it was my vintage ears because I could not hear a significant difference.

[@insearchoftone9602]

I heard the most difference between the sm7b and the mb 7 beta. The mb 7 seems to have more high end information but a relatively balanced sound where as the sm7 had more low/ low mid and seemed almost muffled in the high end in comparison. All the other mics seemed very close to their counterpart and the one thing seemed to stay constant, the shure seems to have more low mids. I can't really say one was better than the other other again they all had a decently full and balanced sound.

[@mrskint55]

I purchase a proel mic earlier this year on recommendation from my local guitar store. And was not disappointed at all I think it was about £27 .

[@jimwake1123]

I think just on the high gain one I could hear a little more low end on the 7b and 7beta than the 57/58 styles but not that I could set the two apart from each within that style if that makes sense? The thing I would be curious about though is the long term durability, the amount of great sounding budget mics I've gone through where after about the 10th time using them the socket has gone loose and crackles anytime anybody touches it or moves it or anything (not so much an issue for recording for live application, particularly vocal mics are gonna end up getting moved about). If these ones can go the distance durability wise though I'd defo consider using the t bones!

[@andyrharris]

This video dropped at the perfect time for me. Really having a mics moment right now and watching lots of reviews and comparisons. If I had to walk away with one mic I’d take the MB75 for sure. I didn’t like the MB85 to be honest and I did find it noticeably the weakest. The SM7B really coloured the sound in a way I didn’t like. I’m glad I’ve not bought into the hype of that mic.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Glad I could help!

[@ThatMattGoodMusic]

To my ears (on headphones) they sound very similar, but the real deal 57/58s have a bit more around 200hz-1khz and a bit of a dip in the high mids that sounds a bit more pleasant. The 7b has a notable bump in bottom end as well, especially noticed on the high gain tone - which actually is undesirable for this context.. I'd be intriuged to see how they stack up on something more dynamic like brass instruments and vocals! I suspect on vocals the thomann mics might come up a little thin sounding. I think if someone just wants to cheaply bolster their recording/live arsenal however these are great options! Especially for live on cabs etc where you'd barely hear the difference. Certainly better than my knockoff 'Pyle' 57 copy.

[@GabrielOgama]

I played on my KRK monitors (5') and I swear I can hear more Bass from the Shure mics. I think is a marginal difference that if you want to match the sound you can correct in post or on the EQ on the mic if you run it on a mixer. But I do hear a different. Not a lot of it. But something.

[@dalescriven]

Great video, the Tbones would do the job for eveything that a band would do apart from a proper recording studio session. Can even buy a couple extra of the tbones than you need to live in a gig bag, for spares at that price. If you cant really tell the audience at the local dog and duck wont be able to either.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I think this is the key element. There ARE differences but the t bones do a great job and I will now take one of each as a backup

[@robrobertson2661]

I'd like to hear a comparison between the shure sm7 and clone, for voice use.

[@calbrockocat8728]

If you are a home recorder with a pro bent, you're likely to spend for tried and true. Home recording folks on a budget will be happy with the "cheap as chips" mics.

[@The_True_]

This is a problem I just ran into, and here you are with the perfect video to answer my mic purchasing questions! Well timed, and well done as usual! P.S. The T-Bone MB-85 was my favorite. It had a brightness to it that the others didn't, and it's cheap which is mad! Thanks Andy, you saved my family money and me some stress in picking a mic!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks! Glad it could help

[@The_True_]

​@@TheGuitarGeekI had to add to my previous comment, thank you very much for the vid!

[@mickfaragher7897]

Thank you 👍

[@kutnersuicide]

I must say I bought an early MB75 like almost 18 years ago (f me) and I think I still have it but it sounded like ass. I'm kind of impressed at how they improved it over time. It sounds a lot closer (yet not exactly like) to the real deal.Didn't really think much of the other two.

[@BrentAdams]

I use a Shure SM58 (I've had it for at least 5 decades!!!!!) for a whole lot of my recording....of many types of things that "make sounds". I also use an couple of even older Shure Unisphere "A" mics for the same things...but when I need to use more than one mic at a time. Talk about rugged durability! That would be the test as far as I'm concerned. Build quality & long term normal use durability. Yes, they all sound pretty great! Today.....

[@TheGuitarGeek]

It’s a great point. Sound is not the only factor here but it’s shocking how close the sound is

[@BrentAdams]

@@TheGuitarGeek very true! The "sound comparison" by itself is amazingly close. Having not tried either of the larger mics....do they just plug in like the SM58 or SM57? ... or do they require phantom power like a large diaphragm condenser mic? Just curious....THX!!!!

[@riccampbell]

Like others, I hear a slight bump in the lows on the Shures - but then one of the first things you tend to do in a dense mix is roll off excess lows. So in application, the difference is....?

[@MikeSingSing]

Think all the t.bone mics lacked a bit of bass response. Which can be a good thing, depending on the guitar sound you want, but generally I preferred the Shure mics. What would be interessting would be to know how loud the actual amps were and if the t.bones could handle that situation. Wish t.bone would make a copy of the Sennheißer E609/906. That would be a really practical amp for live setup on a budget.

[@dumdubbs2427]

If you have a subwoofer, you can hear that the bass and lower-mids aren't captured to the same extent as with the shure stuff. But they still sound good

[@Paul-D]

I recently gave up on the rabbit hole of mic'ing cabs and bought and Opus lol - choose your battles and all that

[@TheStrykerProject]

To me, the MB-85 has more presence (a bit 'tinnier') than the others. Over all, though, I agree that all six mics are very close to having the same sound. While I do love the SM-57, I am happy there is a cheaper alternative. Even used, the SM-57 is only $10 or so less than the requisite $99+ price tag.

[@MikoSquiz]

I've used a bunch of 57 and 58 budget knockoffs, and in my experience they're always better than the real thing. The 57 and 58 are the prototypical good bad expensive cheap mics, and manufacturing technology's advanced enough in the past half century that you can make a better one for half the price now, and most mic companies do.

[@Steven_SK]

Well that was eye... uh.. ear opening. Nicely done!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks mate. Keep those ears open!

[@moonelfcosmo]

People seem to leave comments here as if the venerable SM57 is practically indestructible but I have two dead ones here in my studio. Yes they did last a long time. I’m handy with repairs but the internals are encased in a hardened glue that make them impossible to service beyond the most simple possible fixes. No I would not hammer nails with them contrary to popular belief.

[@kamil3910]

It is amazing! Maybe I am noob and I don't know what about I'm talking, but I think that may be interesting to test: how it will record acoustic guitars? If it stupid for some reasons, please let me know, I'm starting with homerecording and need knowledge 😋

[@struanrobertson3417]

Got to see how they handle a live stage.. SM58 always the go to I used because of how they managed feedback. Do the cheaper ones squeak?

[@timdriscoll8712]

I've got a 40 year old sm58 that still produces a sparkling result. It's been thrown in and out of my kit bag a hundred times and has only ever needed a new grill. I'll stick with shure.

[@mosestalbot]

Yeah, they all sounded good. Not all identical - although the clean one was closest to my ears. Put any of those guitars in a mix with other instruments, though, and you'd never be able to tell which mic was being used.

[@jeebsa4m3]

Hi, listened in my car with decent sound. The shures all have more bass in the clean section if that means anything to you

[@ChrisFineganTunes]

In general I’d say that the Shure mics sounded a bit more robust in the lower frequencies and less brittle in the higher frequencies. The most pronounced difference was probably on the t.bone 58 clone compared to the rest. But in a mix with different instruments, different mic placement, a bit of EQ and with no idea what the original sound source sounded like you’d be unlikely to have any idea whether the mic had cost €25 or €400.

[@Johnnybananass-_]

A bunch of cheap clones put weights in their mics to make them feel heavy and solidly built I opened some fake 57s that someone gave me to fix and it was crazy the difference inside . I opened up my own Shure 57 to check side by side .

[@OutstandingBill1]

With all three riffs, the bass seemed punchier with the SM7B, and the MB87 sounded a bit tinny. The others sounded pretty similar. I'd definitely consider the MB75s if I was looking for instrument mics.

[@Fl4ppers]

Do the cheap mics have a transformer? I have another brand (Subzero) that is basically the same design. The capacitors are obviously different so it has a slightly different EQ curve to my regular Shure stuff.

[@Yooper_eh]

How about testing the mics on a Leslie? They present some additional challenges, as I'm sure you're aware. Don't be shy about asking your favorite organists for their pointers.

[@philipcoats335]

Small differences, like really small. Any differences can be changed with some judicious equalization, if so desired. Good comparison overall. Cheers!

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

I think the best bang for buck is the mb-7b as it just sounded the best of all the T-bones and still is cheap.

[@loeffel999]

Sonically they're very near, but that's not everything. In my first band I was singing and I had a t.bone MB85 Beta at first. It sounded roughly the same as an SM 58 or Beta 58 to my untrained ears at that time, but the the key difference was resistance to feedback. The MB85 Beta was way more likely to produce mic feedback at higher volumes. Durability was not that great either, I handled it with care and still managed to break it after some years of very light usage.

[@oldcrackadated]

I’m a strong believer in the t-bone mics , I even use t-bone remote in my first KZbin video

[@mark.guitar]

How well do the cheap ones reject unwanted sound in a loud environment? Cardioid, super cardioid, etc? The sounds that you've recorded show that they would be excellent in a home studio. How's about on stage?

[@wilmathewisp8252]

I own the three Shures. But if I listen to the T-Bone alternatives... I would take them. This minimal difference doesn't matter. And I'm not even sure which sound i would prefer..

[@nachobeerhunter8713]

Mictastic!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I see you!

[@JoEyReptilia15]

The TBone SM7B “clone” sounds great and you can’t really tell the difference for that kind of difference in money.

[@damasterkarej]

I've heard cheaper mics have issues with handling noise when you hold them and move while singing. But I might be wrong :-)

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That could be the case for singing but not for micing up guitar cabs

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

6:44 just listening to those clips on youtube in FHD(4K is better bitrate) though a $100ish bose sound bar(Which is blocked.) I could tell a massive difference in clarity and richness but nothing else... Which I think is less due to them being L'cheapos to OGs but the cost of the mics with shure they cheaper out with the packaging T-bone doubled down on it for much cheaper MSRP... Also on KZbin an audnance won't notice that difference so if someone likes the sound those are great options in gernal much less to get started with... Like I whent from cheap $25 best buy special headphone mics in the 2010s' to Hyperx headphones to finally a Blue Yeti Studio and my audnace NEVER noticed! So, yeah the T-bones are nice.

[@FlorinChiriacHippie]

I really really hope I'm not the only one that hears the lack of bottom end of the t-bones! compared the the shures that is

[@EchoToVoice]

After hearing the MB 7 Beta, I kept expecting to hear the biggest difference against the Shure SM7B, but the Shure was underwhelming.

[@chrisofnottingham]

Yep, for micing up guitar cabs there is little difference beteen pro mics. The differences appear in live singing and studio talking. Just the absence of a pop shield makes the 57 unusable for many singers.

[@Justin_the_Analog_IC_architect]

Regarding the 57's . I could hear no difference at all between the Shure and the T-Bone. I have an even cheaper 57 clone that I've never used, so now I'm going to have to try it! I heard a bit more low end in the 58 and 7 from Shure compared to the T-Bone's but curiusly those 2 mics sounded the same. The T-bone equivalents while sounding a bit different from the Shure's also sounded the same, which makes me wonder what the point of an SM7 is. I wonder how different an SM 58 sounds to an SM 7 on vocals or other sources? As for favorites, I heard a difference between 4 of the 6 mic's, but different doesn't mean good or bad. I'd use any of those 6 mics.

[@Mikey__R]

I often feel that if normal people, who don't have the ears of Mozart, can't tell a difference, then you're probably wasting your time trying to please Mozart, because he's dead. Anyway, the difference between mics probably comes down to EQ, which can be applied in the mix.

[@kenabi]

sliiiiight rise on the bottom end of the shures, but yeah, functionally the same in a mix, i'd imagine.

[@mixa3]

It so funny to me, that everybody suggest to use SM57 because it's really cheap. I just got into the real amp micking. I got soviate dynamic mic and chinese ribbon mic. The whole setup costed me less that 80 euros.

[@ChurchOfTheHolyMho]

My ears suck, but in general with the high gain, the t.bone 57 58 have a ummm maybe "flabby" sort of response in the mids... Seems like some of the detail gets lost - but not much... Ridiculously close tho... I've already established that I prefer the brighter MB75 & MB75Beta for snare from some other videos. It may be time to try some myself. Nice video comparison.

[@castleanthrax1833]

The differences are so minute. I think if you're recording something that was going onto a professional recording and onto a CD for millions of copies, I can see why you'd go with the Shure, but if not, the copies do a more than adequate job. #mictastic 😊

[@r.r.r.5529]

Soooo. T-Bones - have a more air and highs, originals Shure's have more lo-mids and bass, but, my opn - if U know what to do, U can use 1 EUR karaoke mic. So, check the Behr 75C (using this one) and you will also be surprised. Good review)

[@bm63]

I could only say the SM58 sounded just a tiny tad louder but almost identical in tone. As the rest if I closed my eyes I’d never know…

[@johnbotsford6897]

The difference is in how they look NOT how they sound. Someone who didn't research the purchase has to pay more for the Shure.

[@Fergieguitar]

Any difference in eq is not worth stressing about, a tweak of the eq on a desk or computer will sort it...and live, the difference will be goid as soon as 2 people walk in the room.

[@paulstewartmedia1206]

In my control room and even on my TV, albeit with a Polk sound system, I can hear that the difference, which is i grant you slight. That being said, what was the SPL of the recording? I also would never mic up a guitar cab like that, you are getting none of the cab resonance, which at a reasonable sound level provides a lot of the magic of the sound. Also, I assume that the Shures were modern Chinese built examples? Vintage 57s and 58s, USA or Mexico built are way better in my opinion. A good 4x12 ramped up with two 57s, one front and one back of the cab, out of phase and your cooking. Happy to work with you on a video about mic technique.

[@carwynvan]

In the context of a mix I don't think anyone would be able to tell any changes at all. For the isolated tracks I also think people wouldn't be able to tell exactly which mic is which without your visual cues

[@Buzzel-NL]

The SM57 & SM58 are identical mics except the grill, so it make sense that these sound almost identical. And to me the SM7B has just a little bit more low end to me. The T.bone's seems to have less gain? All the T.bone clips sound a bit more focus on the top end to me. I don't know how you came to the conclusion that they sound the same... Neither are bad, that is just a matter of taste. I Listened with some Sennheiser IE400's and my hearing is, according to the hearing care professional still close to 100% oké, if you are wondering :D Have you seen the video from Jim Lill comparing like 100 mic's? Even different SM57's don't sound the same. (look for: Tested: Where Does The Tone Come From In A Microphone?)

[@TheGuitarGeek]

The difference in all sound samples is negligible

[@ulriceriksson]

But would the MB 85 survive the Lux Interior treatment?

[@ReffreyS]

The Shures sound a bit sweeter.

[@giovannimaterno9988]

The sm57 and the cheap copy are almost identical. The sm58 seems to be more "full bodied" has more bass frequencies than the t bone. Regarding the sm7b, i think the difference with the t bone is clear but yes, i agree that this difference is not worth 300€

[@mycosys]

The reason they all sound the same is they are all clones of the Shure UniDyne II capsule form the 1940s. There are a LOT of other sounds out there, a lot of modern more interesting sounds. If you want some cheap thrills, try an AKG P5, airier and more bass extension, AKG have quite a different sound. Also come off axis to get more of the sound of the cabinet.

[@mycosys]

Oh and i truly hate the 'andys pick of the week' music, so its probably perfect. Blobby. BlobbyBlobby

[@mikemorgan4774]

If they sell em that cheap, just imagine what it costs to make.

[@daviddobson4006]

I’ve used a bunch of mics over the years, 50 plus years and I couldn’t hear the difference.

[@bosoundaries]

This minor differences could also happen by wrong placement!

[@donbishop6994]

The biggest difference i could hear is the shure mics sounded a tad louder, the tonal shift between brands is nearly nonexistent. Once in a mix, nobody would be able to tell any of them apart from ano other that you demonstrated.

[@Chemist1076]

Nice licks on tele...

[@MrMystery666]

Very likely they are using pretty much the same/similar capsules

[@bigtguitars7312]

Come on Andrew we need to hear you singing old boy for the full spectrum and make a informed decision

[@bluesriff418]

Well for a musician on a budget i’ll say go whit the cheap ones. Even if They fail at some point you will save some$ and you can replace them easy to my ears i didn’t hear much différence whit the cheap version and the expensive one so