Essential Things to Know When Using the SM58 Classic Microphone

When asked what the go-to microphone is, almost everyone will mention the Shure SM58 first. It’s an iconic and widely recognized mic.

Shure / SM58 Dynamic Microphone

A key feature of any classic piece of equipment is not only its sound quality but also its durability. Many devices that achieve ‘classic’ status are built to last.
However, even the toughest equipment can break if used incorrectly.

With that in mind, I’d like to share a common issue that can occur when using the SM58.
Please note that the images I’m providing show the microphone in its normal, functioning state, as I don’t have any pictures of the faulty state.

Look at the center section I’ve circled. This part is threaded and can be opened by twisting. If this section becomes loose, it can cause noise, so it’s important to make sure it’s securely tightened during use.

When you open it, you’ll see two wires inside.

You can see that these wires are twisted.
It makes sense since you have to twist the part with the grille to attach it. This part is threaded, so even with normal use, it can loosen over time.

If it does loosen, it’s usually just a matter of tightening it again, but you need to be mindful of the state of the wires.

If you screw the microphone back together with the wires twisted like in the picture, the wires will continue to twist in the direction of the arrow, eventually leading to them snapping.
Before putting it back together, you should untwist the wires...

And lightly twist them in the opposite direction 1-2 times.

In this state, you can securely attach the parts by turning them clockwise.
If you feel any resistance while twisting, stop and loosen it again before trying to reattach it. Forcing it could cause the wires to break.

If you look closely at the picture below, you’ll notice that the ends of the wires are sealed with resin.

If the wires snap due to twisting, they can usually be reconnected, but if they break at the resin-sealed end, they can’t be soldered, making repairs impossible.

If you’re skilled at soldering, you might be able to fix the wires yourself. However, I’ve seen cases where people tried and ended up making the wires too short to repair. So if you decide to do it yourself, please do so at your own risk.

Some people try to melt the resin, take out the wires, reconnect them, and reseal them with hot glue, but this is quite labor-intensive and can be expensive. In many cases, buying a new microphone costs less.

If you’re involved in music, there’s a high chance you’ll encounter the SM58 at some point, so it’s good to be aware of this issue.