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[Ted Christensen]

Wondering if this is a good classic mic or some standard 57 sort of mic..anyone ever use one?

[g'bye, Dick Rees]

Wondering if this is a good classic mic or some standard 57 sort of mic..anyone ever use one?

No, nobody ever bought or used them, so EV discontinued them.

Seriously, I liked the 50 series better than I like the replacement 60 series.  The 457's I have are all worn out, likewise the 857's which to my ear were some of the best dynamic mics ever.  I believe it has something to do with the suspension or mounting of the element.  Too bad, but although they are very good mics, they are probably past their prime.  All 5 of my 457's have been put in the junk drawer.

If you've got one that works, you're in luck.

[Tomm Williams]

Yes indeed, I have one of the 857's and it sounds wonderful. Better than the 967 that replaced it.

[Geoff Doane]

I owned 6 of them back when they were a new product (late 1980s), replacing SM57s (with windscreens) for vocals.  They had more output and "sizzle", although some times, (depending on the voice) a little too much.  They were my primary vocal mics for a number of years, until they started failing (don't like to be dropped, who woulda thought?), and were replaced with Beta 58s.  I sold the last one to a singer in a metal band about a year ago.  With a tight pattern, and articulate top end, they're probably a good choice for metal, although they probably pick up more cymbals than you'd like. 

GTD

[Weogo Reed]

Hi Ted,

A friend had four 457s.  They sounded ok the last time I worked with them, more than ten years ago.

I have 257s, 357s, a 757 and a couple 767s.

Things to look for on these vintage mics:
) Cracked 'warm grip' plastic part that you hold.  EV still has replacements.
) Cracked bumper ring between the two halves of the windscreen.  If you are lucky, EV might be able to get you one.
) Disintegrating foam in the windscreen and the around the element.  Carefully dig out the rotten foam.  EV can get you a 767 windscreen top with foam.
) Loose element housing.  Glue back in place.
) No or distorted sound from element.  Good luck!

Have fun and good health,  Weogo

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