Shure SM57

Showing one of the pieces of tape

My brother lent me a Shure SM57 for a gig, and I noticed in practice that the screen rattled at the slightest touch. These sorts of problems are easy to research online, see the references.

My first attempt was to detach the screen, put the tiniest piece of packing tape (3mm x 6mm) in a corner of the cylinder where the shoulder of the diaphragm would rub, making sure not to block any ports, and reattach the screen. One piece of tape didn't quite do, neither did two.

Removing the perforated collar, I noticed glue spots on it where it contacts the brass body. If, as it appears, these glue spots gave way, then the perforated collar would no longer push up against the retaining ring, and that might allow the rattle. I added two pieces of tape to the perforated collar in such a way as to help the gasket it sat on push it against the retaining ring and screen. I also removed the two pieces I put on the screen. This was only a temporary fix.

I made sure the perforated collar was pushed up as far as it would go, and added a daub of cyanoacrylate glue to it where it touched the four corners of the brass body, hoping some glue would go through the perforations and attach to the body. I waited a few minutes, typing this. Getting it on was very difficult, the perforated collar being more in the way of the retaining ring. The struggle loosened some of the glue bonds, but the final system was much tighter than ever. And now, when I turn the screen, the perforated collar doesn't move, and there's no rattle, so I think I'm done.

Anyone might duplicate this repair without removing the screen at all, just pushing up the collar in place, and carefully applying glue only where it touches the four corners of the body. See the replacement instructions below to understand better the structure of the body and parts.

Showing glue that had kept the collar of a Shure SM57 mic from moving, but then failed, causing rattle.

Resources

RPM210 Replacement Screen and Grille

Instructions from Shure to detach the screen. Note it is unnecessary to remove the label, only tear away the small part of it covering each hole, one near the letter D of DYNAMIC and the other directly opposite: http://www.shure.com/idc/groups/tech_pubs/@global_managed/documents/webcontent/us_pro_rpm210_ug.pdf