AT> The 3K peak was designed into it because that emphasises the
 AT> consonants and sybilance (SP?) required for intelligability in PA
 AT> (Public Address) situations.  In other words, you can understand the
 AT> words more easily in a high-noise situation, or where you don't really
 AT> have an optimal sound system.  It may not sound GOOD, but you can at
 AT> least hear it. 
Works for me.  Besides, sounding good is in the eye of the behearer (?). I 
think they sound great.  Would I use one in the studio if there was a better 
one available?  Probably not, but I've preferred the 58 to other mics costing 
well over $500.  But I wouldn't cancel a session if the studio only had 58's. 
 I've gotten great sounds with them in studios before.
 
 JM>  do a lot of gigs at a lot of different places and I need a mic that
 JM>  isn't a wussy.  All other mics are wussies.
 AT> Yeah, the 58 is one of the most bullet-proof mics around.  They make a
 AT> good part-time door-stop/wheel chock.
;)  Well, versatility is a good selling point!
 AT> You can paraphrase an old racers' phrase:  Quality costs money - how
 AT> good do you want to sound?
I want to sound great.  And when I go to a studio, I expect to see some 
expensive mics there.  But having only 58's at your disposal is no excuse for 
not sounding great.  It's not as easy as using a Neumann or Telefunken, but 
it can be done.  On the flip side, using those types of mics live is 
extremely difficult.  Sensitive mics are great in a controlled environment 
but I've noticed that they can be difficult to control live.  More 
sensitivity = more feedback problems.
 AT> When I was doing sound for a living, it wasn't uncommon for us to have
 AT> $40, 000 in mics with us (only four of which were SM57/58).  We carried
 AT> a handful of Neumanns (84s and 87s), a lot of Beyer, AKG, a couple of
 AT> Telefunkens.  We also carried a few spares, since a U87 will generally
 AT> last only until the first time it gets dropped.
Ouch!  Well, if you're getting top dollar for your services, it's not so bad.
 AT> It's all about compromise.
True, but I honestly don't feel using a Shure is compromising.  I've got 20 
years of using them behind me and I've never felt they were in any way 
inadequate.  OTOH, I've used more expensive mics like Beyers and AKG's and 
EV's and hated them compared to the 58.  
Jim
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