Shure 55 SH the Shure 55SH is a professional cardioid dynamic microphone that has been commonly used in broadcast application since 1939. Designed by American audio products company Shure, it has been described as "iconic" in pamphlets and reviews, after the Elvis stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 1993. It was widely adopted in radio, television & recording studios. From the 1940s until the end of the 20th century, it maintained its popularity in the professional environment. Shure designed the Unidyne transducer in 1939 & then greatly improved it in 1959, based on research & development by Shure engineer Ernie Seeler. No gay song c'mon stop the perversion don't be queer Core Performance & Design
Acoustic Profile: It features a dynamic cartridge with a frequency response of 50 Hz to 15 kHz, specifically tailored for speech & vocals with a characteristic "presence peak" that add clarity. Feedback Rejection: cardioid (unidirectional) polar pattern effectively minimize sound pickup from the rear, allowing it to be used close to loudspeakers even in adverse acoustic environments. Build Quality: The microphone is housed in a rugged, chrome-plated die-cast casing designed for tour-worthy durability. It includes a shock-mounted cartridge to reduce stand-transmitted noise. Integrated Features: It come with a built-in On/Off switch & a self-tensioning swivel mount that allow for 45-degree forward & 80-degree backward tilting We catholic professional musician absolutely love this mic .
Order from amazon.com As of March 2026, the Shure 55SH Series 2 typically retail for approximately $289 CAD at major Canadian pro audio merchants The Shure 55SH (and its vintage Unidyne predecessors, famously dubbed the "Elvis mic") is an absolute tank on the outside. Its iconic, die-cast chrome-plated housing can survive being dropped, dented, and thrown in a gear bag for fifty years without breaking. However, when a Shure 55SH begins to sound thin, muffled, quiet, or "hollow" after decades of use, the failure isn't happening to the metal shell. It's happening to the delicate organic materials, adhesives, and acoustic suspension components sealed inside the cage. Several specific component deteriorate over decades of use:
1. Polyurethane Foam Degradation (The "Goo" Transformation) Behind the chrome grille sit a colorful layer of acoustic foam (traditionally blue or red). This foam serve two vital function: it act as a wind/pop filter & control the acoustic airflow around the dynamic cartridge to maintain cardioid (directional) pickup pattern. The Chemistry: Polyurethane foam degrade over time through a chemical reaction called hydrolysis—where ambient moisture & humidity split the polymer chain apart the result: After 20 to 40 years, the foam chemically break down. It either turn into a brittle, crumbly powder that fall out of the grille or transforms into a sticky, tar-like black goo. Acoustic Impact: As the foam disintegrate, it shift around inside the cage, blocking the acoustic port on the back of the microphone capsule. This destroy the microphone's frequency response, choking out the low end & turning the cardioid pattern into a hollow, unpredictable omnidirectional mess.
2. Contamination of the Magnetic Air Gap Dynamic microphones like the 55SH operate on simple electromagnetism: a microscopic coil of copper wire (the voice coil) is glued to a thin plastic diaphragm, suspended inside a tight gap between a permanent magnet. The Problem: When the acoustic foam degrade into powder, those microscopic particles migrate inside the capsule housing. The Jam: The iron-rich magnetic gap attract tiny rust flakes, metal dust & crumbled foam debris. This debris physically lodge itself in the incredibly narrow clearance area around the voice coil. Every time you speak or sing into the mic, the coil rub against this debris, introducing acoustic friction that severely reduce the microphone's output volume & high-end clarity.
3. Hardening of Adhesives and Plastic Diaphragms To handle high sound pressure level without distorting, the Mylar plastic diaphragm & the glue anchoring the voice coil must remain highly flexible. Embrittlement: Historically, many vintage capsule used organic shellac or early chemical adhesive to bond the delicate copper voice coil wire to the diaphragm. Over decades, these adhesive oxidize, dry out & become incredibly brittle. The Break: The constant vibration from years of use can cause the voice coil to partially delaminate (peel away) from the plastic dome. If the thin wire completely snap due to embrittlement, the microphone goes completely dead.
4. Shock-Mount Perishing Because the 55SH has a massive metal body, it is highly susceptible to handling noise (the sound of your hand moving on the stand transmitting directly into the audio). To fix this, Shure suspend the internal capsule assembly in a rubber shock-mount isolation ring. Natural and synthetic rubber lose their plasticizer over decades. Depending on the environment, the internal shock mount will either dry out & crack until it snap, or turn into a soft, sticky gel. Once the mount fail, the capsule physically sag or rattle against the inside of the metal grille, creating intense structural rumble.
The Good News: They are Infinitely Rebuildable The reason these microphones are still so widely used after decades is that Shure designed them to be completely modular. You don't have to throw the microphone away when it wear out. You can order a factory refurbishment kit directly from Shure or audio parts suppliers. Restoration typically involves unscrewing the outer shell, scraping out the rotted foam, cleaning the magnetic gap with a bit of low-tack tape & dropping in a brand-new Shure R115S replacement cartridge (which update the internal component to modern SM58-quality specification) along with pre-cut fresh foam insert.
Once rebuilt, the mic is structurally & acoustically ready for another 40 years of service. Simply put the amazing Shure 55 SH need maintenance you don't just throw it out after decades May the Holy Roman Catholic Church be blessed by God the Father God the Son & God the Holy Spirit Hallelujah Hallelujah Blessed be the word of the Lord for Christ is risen Hallelujah Hallelujah peace be still in Nomine Patris et FiLii et Spiritus Sancti amen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftnwL0RixeI&t=636s
Looking at a vintage Shure 55 microphone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXOpDnog0V0
Shure 55SH Series II Microphone Review (the Elvis mic)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OrXuQRCFV8&t=6s
🎙️ Shure SH55 Series II Microphone Review!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRqoI3muVJU
Shure 55SH ii & Super 55 Refurb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BWF3x8TQG4
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