55SW

Hello and welcome to The House of Chrome. You are looking at a classic mid to late 1960's Shure Brothers 55SW dynamic cardioid microphone with a smooth warm tone making this one of the best dynamic cardioid mics of it's time and it still sounds incredible even today as it still works like new. This particular model came with the black foam screens, rectangular silver Shure badge and practical on / off switch. Shure Brothers changed the design of the 55S in 1961. Previously it had Royal Blue silk screens and a Royal Blue Shure badge but they gave it the black silk screen to change the look of the mic. The 55SW was only different in that Shure finally included the on / off switch once this 2nd generation design was introduced. It comes with the short cable in which to operate, data sheet and vintage storage case in which to store the contents. Pic # 2 shows this very model as well as the 556S from that era and it's basic characteristics. Shure Brothers was trying to go with a an edgier mid century look while still retaining the infamous look of the mic when the 55S model changed slightly in 1960. The actual head of the mic never changed over the 30 year run...just the lower pistol grip. It should be noted that the 55S with black foam screens has been replaced. These are new black foam inner screens. The original foam just didn't hold up as well over the years as it dries out and crumbles after about 40 years of use so these new ones will last longer and look far batter. This legendary microphone was used by many famous artists and politicians over the years including Elvis Presley and even the young revolutionary Fidel Castro. Those clean lines and deco styling make this mic stand out from all the others produced over the last century. Made in Evanston, IL U.S.A. This mic is a nice piece of midcentury Americana. It should be noted that this mic has an excellent working dynamic cardioid element with strong output and works perfectly on low and medium and high setting. Many of these older mics barely work at all or lack the bass associated with a good working 55S. This one was very well taken care of over the decades. Perfect for singing and broadcasting. 100% signal. This mic will not disappoint and you'll be very hard pressed to find a nicer example. The uni-directional characteristics on these mics are outstanding drowning out most background noise. As seen in the pictures provided the the satin chrome shows virtually no cosmetic wear. The finish has a very nice luster too. No pitting, scratches or scuff marks. There are zero bent or fractured ribs on this mic and was very well taken care of. The Shure label looks very nice as well. Overall this mic is a very conservative 9 + on a scale of 1 - 10. This mic is solid...no loose parts inside or out. I take the time to secure the inner element as it's held in place with 3 shock mounts that wear out with age. Once the element becomes loose it's almost impossible to use these live as they create too much unwanted feedback from banging around. This one is good to go. Nice and snug...no worries for decades to come. The threads for the cable are excellent and the joint mechanism holds strong. The threading for the stand is perfect as well and this will screw onto any desk or floor stand you wish to use. The mic also comes with a short 7 inch cable. Soft, pliable and free of damage. It comes with a quality Switchcraft male 1/4 inch end connector so you can use this mic with most modern and older audio equipment. Simply keep the short cable on the mic at all times and use any longer standard XLR cable as an extension. It should be noted that if you use an XLR to XLR cable you'll get true low impedance butt he high Z setting on the mic won't work. If you use an XLR to male 1/4 inch cable as an extension you'll get true Hi Z setting but the low Z setting on the mic won't work. The impedance switch gives you the settings you need but the cable determines the true tone of the mic. The original Shure 55SW data sheet is included. It's in great condition and has a ton of technical info on this mic that will really come in handy. You got everything you need and this 55SW is ready to go! The Vintage case is also part of this package deal. A durable aluminum case with two new foam inner padding pieces. A Great place to keep the mic while not in actual mic as it keeps dust, dirt and scratches away. This case shows extremely lite wear and has a beautiful golden brown vinyl exterior with a practical handle for carrying it around. The case is appx 10 inches across X 8 inches deep X 3 inches tall. It has a nice locking mechanism to keep the lid securely closed. There is more than enough room for all the contents provided. Case is an easy 9 on a scale of 1 - 10. MICROPHONE STAND SHOWN IS NOT PART OF THIS SALE...FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY. As with all my vintage microphones... I can promise you will be happy with it for the price paid. If not...I have a no hassle return policy. The shipping will be on you as I believe that's fair but the purchase price would be refunded. Simply return in the same nice condition...period. Check my rating. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS are welcome as well. Buyer must pay within 24 hours or an unpaid case will be open and item relisted. Domestic buyer will get priority shipping. If you have any questions feel free to ask and...thanks for looking.