Karaoke Forums

Hi All

I run a karaoke show every weekend and every once in a while some drunk banshee grabs MY Shure SM58 instead of the bars cheapies and sings in it.

6 months in, my mic STINKS worse than crap - ciggies and booze x 20 drunk peoples breath and spit. I would rather sniff rotten arse!

Anyway - is there a way to destink a microphone without damaging it? PLEASE HELP!

Thanks

Vic in Sydney

you can buy a new grill for the mic, it comes with a foam liner. will be just like new. I bought a gold one, just to distinguish between the singers mic and mine. they go to the gold mic every time. so mine has the chrome top on it. I never have to worry about them using it.

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I'm Not Dead yet...... But every day Im getting Closer !

I think cleaning the mic topic was touched on in this thread
http://www.karaoke-forum.com/viewtopic. ... ean#237324

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Quickness of mind will deceive the eye

Yup....you could try cleaning, etc but it would be faster/easier to just buy a new SM58 grill for $14.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pr ... sku=422415

I wash the grilles on my PG58's and Beta 58 at least twice a month. It's pretty simple. Unscrew the grill, soak it in hot water with some dish detergent in it for a few minutes then rinse and let dry. Just make sure you check the foam inside to make sure it is completely dry before you put it back on the mic.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

One more thing. There is s small foam covering over the top of the mic element that can eventually break down and it just disintegrates. It can get smelly too. This small foam internal wind screen can be pretty easily removed and replaced. Definitely clean the internal foam that's just under the ball as was mentioned. Eventually it will need to be replaced after many cleanings.

You can get a good one for $5.00:

http://audiopile.net/products/Microphon ... ball.shtml

I can't tell the difference between it and a Shure one.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

I had one 58 that had accumulated gunk under the foam on the "element" I carefully cleaned it out and it made a huge difference in the sound of the mic.

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the voices arent real, but they have some good ideas

You know it's funny, I hear everyone talking about cleaning out the inside of their mics on a regular basis and how it is so gross inside the mic.

I use inexpensive foam windscreens on my mics. I can use a set for 6 months or more before replacing them. I know forum posters are polarized on the windscreen issue, some use em, some hate em. The windscreens do get smelly and dirty and I clean them in hot soapy water every couple of weeks, but when I open the microphones, they are reasonably clean inside. Maybe a little dust, but nothing smelly or gross at all.

Or maybe the drunks at our shows are just more courteous?

Those things cost $2.00 or more. If you buy $5.00 SM58 balls, like I do, you can change those out every night and wash them periodically as well. Much better looking, and they don't kill the sound for low-voiced singers like those ridiculous foam windscreens do.

I actually use the foam windscreens to -- get this -- protect against wind in outdoor shows.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

ok Mickyj, now find me a good deal on the oblong balls used in my EVs and my Senheiser 835s and we will be in business.

I wish I could. Then I could use my Sennheiser 935 for karaoke. Alas, they don't exist that I know of (replacements for the 835 are $18.00 from Sennheiser).

That is one of the main reasons I recommend the SM58 for karaoke -- the low-cost ball. I like my mics to look good, and I can replace dented balls cheaply and easily to do that.

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[color=#ffff55]Mickey J.[/color]
Alas for those who never sing, but die with all their music in them.
-- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

External foam windscreen I won't use at all - nor sing at a show that will not let me remove it. These are breeding ground for every germ in the book (and especially with this Swine Flu scare) - at the very LEAST, without one, I can wipe the mic off. Feel how wet one of the external foam is at the end of a night - if you dare. Every 6 months you replace them? Again, feel one at the end of a night - you'd want to do it after every singer.
If you are going to use them, sell them to people individually so that there is no 'communal' wind sock (which is what these really are for - not hygene purposes because there is absolutely NOTHING hygenic about them) is being used by everyone.

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

I use windscreens. They are replaced with clean ones after each show. DURING the show, mics are usually alternated being held in a UV disinfecting sleeve. I also carry spray sanitizer.

Expense? 28 screens for 28 dollars at Northern Light FX http://www.nlfxpro.com/cart/product.php ... MCF_ODJTWS

This is also a great place to find equipment at a good price.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

smells like arse. Too funny! Did you see anyone farting in them? What a thread that was!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Haven't had any problems yet.

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

I can never recall any of our mics ever smelling. Four mics in use six nights a week for the past 8 years at least.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

I wash my balls after every show !

OK MIC balls - ie metal screens!

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LIKE Lonman on Facebook - Lonman Productions Karaoke & my main site via my profile!

When I stuff the pouches in the books with slips and pens I spray a shot of air freshener then zip them up. A stage with carpet should be sprayed with anti static spray. Mic cords should be wiped through a towel every now and then. I carry a paint brush to dust off the mixer and rest of the stuff esp after an outside gig. Monitors have to be cleaned periodically. I use furniture polish on the speakers. and stands.

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Wow Lonman! Nice to meet someone with such good hygiene!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]