The 7 Best Shure Instrument Microphones (2023 reviews)

We consider a shure instrument microphone to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Shure Solid Microphone READ REVIEW

Best For Snare: Buy: Shure Instrument Microphone READ REVIEW

Best For voice: Buy: Shure Professional Quality Microphone READ REVIEW

Best For those intended purposes: Buy: Shure Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone READ REVIEW

Best For metal: Buy: Shure compact Drum Microphone READ REVIEW

Best For cajon: Buy: Shure versatile Microphone READ REVIEW

Best For Drum overhead: Buy: Shure multipurpose Instrument Microphone READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Shure Solid Microphone

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The shure solid microphone's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. This mic is so perfect theres no words to describe. It's brighter without that sharp 'nag' lesser mics bring. Sounds great, it has a lot of gain before feedback, and a very bright sound, all in a very solid structure. It comes with a shure mic clip a25d, a 5/8"-3/8" thread adapter (shure part #95a2050, which will connect the clip to a european-designed stand), and a vinyl zipped carrying bag, named shure part #95a.

Sound quality is good but it easily picks up acoustic feedback. On the plus side, this microphone's supercardioid polar pattern helps to isolate the sound source and cut down on background noise, which is a big plus at trade shows and conventions where there is a lot of noise. These are definitely a step up and allow you to turn up with less feedback, nice, full sounding, and don't have to play as hard to get the mike to pick up.

• Great vocal microphone for live performance but equally good in the studio for recording
• Excellent performance, very clear sound, works great with tenor voice
• Delivers what they promise

Best For Snare: Shure Instrument Microphone

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The shure instrument microphone's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The tone of this microphone is phenomenal whether as a vocal mic. It offers a complete family of wired microphones to meet any audio need. It includes a swivel adapter, carrying pouch and choice of xlr cable, or without. It has a design for clear reproduction of sound source.

The original talkbox effect like Joe Walsh, aerosmith, and peter frampton use has a tube that you put in your mouth to create the effect. It's crisp, full, round tone works great no matter the type or style of music. It has good sound quality additionally it is a great microphone for miking an amplifier. It catches a little bit of the room noise mostly due to how the enclosure is made (this is where the sm57 really shines), but if you have a quiet room you wont even notice it. It comes with a 15' cable really is the icing on the cake.

• Excellent mic with great sound field
• Performs well as a snare mic, or for commercial voice overs
• Featuring highly durable design and construction that delivers excellent sound
• Works great, using it on two stomp boxes

Best For voice: Shure Professional Quality Microphone

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Compared with other products by Shure, the shure professional quality microphone has a convenient design. Shure Microphones have always delivered unmatched sound quality and durability, making them essential for stage performance and studio recording around the world. The PGA57 Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone is a professional quality microphone featuring highly durable design and construction that delivers excellent sound. Featuring a sleek black metallic industrial design and cardioid polar patterns that reduce feedback and background noise, the PG ALTA family delivers rock-solid sound and reliability that sets the bar for accessible, professional-caliber gear for performance and recording.

The Cardioid pattern picks up audio from the source while rejecting unwanted noise. It includes a swivel adapter, carrying pouch and choice of with XLR cable, or without. The cardioid pattern is well defined and allows good separation between the piano and the choral voices.

• Tailored microphone cartridge design for clear reproduction of sound source
• Updated industrial design with black metallic finish and grille for unobtrusive visual presence
• Stand adapter for mounting to a microphone stand
• Zipper pouch included for additional protection during storage or transport

Best For those intended purposes: Shure Dynamic Kick Drum Microphone

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The Shure PG52-LC is a high-performance cardioid dynamic microphone tuned to capture the low-end punch of a kick drum. It includes an integrated stand mount, 5/8 to 3/8 inches thread adapter, and a storage bag. The cardioid polar pattern picks up the most sound from in front of the microphone and some sound from the sides. It is smooth and extended and has a simple, rugged coil.

The LC dynamic kick drum microphone ensures that you don't miss out on your kick drum's low end.

• Hardened steel mesh tapered grille that resists wear and abuse
• Tuned specifically for kick drum applications
• Less susceptible to feedback in high volume settings
• Killer, warm, meaty, airy and just right

Best For metal: Shure compact Drum Microphone

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If you often find yourself confused about convenient and suitable microphone, this product is your solution. This older series looks and feels more like a pro Shure mic and also has a superior swivel lock, though it is slightly larger than the Alta and it's not enough to make a difference IMO. The PG56s are super directional and pickup almost nothing from other drums when mounted on the supplied A50D rim mounts and pointed towards the drum head. They coume with a killer clip on drum mount that's made of hard rubberlike material that won't mar your rims.

This mic design is great for any drum application. It includes an integrated stand mount, 5/8 to 3/8 inches thread adapter, a50d drum microphone mount, and a storage bag. It includes a neodymium magnet for high output level.

• Great compact solution for tom recording
• Dynamic cartridge has a simple, rugged coil
• Internal shock mount for reduced handling noise
• Picks it up very clean and clear

Best For cajon: Shure versatile Microphone

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The shure versatile microphone is capable of outshining several other products featured in this list in overall features for the price point. This model is for instruments and miking amps. It features an on/off switch and includes a 15 ft (4.57m) xlr to xlr cable, mic clip, 5/8" to 3/8" thread adapter, and storage bag. The off/on switch is handy for PA announcements, but should be taped over for other applications. It works real well with a plugged in recording laid on top because it picks up the tinniness people look for with the acoustic. The mic sounds very good for speaking and feels substantial in your hand. The sound from it is great.

• Tailored frequency response is smooth and extended
• A versatile microphone for use with amplified or acoustic instruments
• Handles extreme volume levels without distortion

Best For Drum overhead: Shure multipurpose Instrument Microphone

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The shure multipurpose instrument microphone's high-end materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The Shure Beta 181 is a multipurpose instrument microphone with a small diaphragm design that provides superior audio with textbook polar responses in a form factor compact enough to get close to the source in the tightest conditions. It has a precision-engineered, side-address design that features an innovative locking ring to provide secure connection between capsule and preamplifier with integrated xlr connections. It will operate with slightly decreased headroom and sensitivity with supplies as low as 11 vdc.

There are four different capsules available for the Beta 181 microphone. It allows the user to interchange capsules according to the application. It allows for discreet positioning in tight performance and recording settings. This makes the Beta 181 an extremely versatile and cost-effective mic that allows the user to interchange capsules according to the application.

• Premier live performance microphone with shure quality, ruggedness, and reliability
• Comes with mic clip, zippered carrying case, and windscreen
• Frequency response tailored for wide dynamic range for use in high spl environments