[Scott Dorsey]

wrote:
I just purchased a Shure 55 Fatboy, not sure when it was manufactured since=
the written material on the mike is not legible. The exterior is in fanta=
stic shape and the interier components are all in tact. It has a TS 1/4" c=
onnector and I have NOT tested it at all. I have just ordered the TS to XL=
R adaptor but I'm anticipating that the Fatboy will sound terrible thus I'd=
like to convert it to the SM58 just as you did. Any advice in doing so wo=
uld be greatly appreciated. =20

Download the manual from Shure. Make sure you get the right one... I am
assuming from the fact that it came with a TS cable that it was the multi
impedance model. For modern inputs, set the switch to position M.

Take the Amphenol connector off that cable and throw the rest of it away
because it's not useful. Connect a cable with an XLR connector to the
Amphenol connector... you do NOT want to use an unbalanced cable with this
microphone once it's in medum-Z mode. The Amphenol connector is wired
with the same numbering as an XLR... pin 1 is shield, pin 2 hot, pin 3
ground. However, the pins are not in the same positions so look at the
numbers in the plastic block. Solder hot and fast because many of these
are old and crispy.

Putting an SM-58 capsule into one of these really doesn't change the sound
very much... it still sounds terrible even with the 58 capsule in there
because what is wrong with the sound is mostly the grille and body design
creating all kinds of internal resonances. And putting a 58 capsule inside
will substantially devalue it. So if it is working, I would not touch
it... just make up the correct cable so you can use it properly with a
normal balanced line.

If it isn't working, put a 58 capsule in there, sure.
--scott


--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."