Shure SM58 buried in the ground, unearthed and plugged in

This SM58 can add some dirt to your sound.
This SM58 can add some dirt to your sound.

In 2007, Swedish magazine Studio asked a simple question: is Shure's SM58 the world's toughest microphone? What's more, they attempted to find an answer by subjecting an SM58 to all manner of abuse.

The mic was used as a hammer, dropped on the floor, frozen, submerged in water and even driven over by a car… but it still worked, as this video clip proves.

Now it emerges that the SM58's suffering wasn't over: the Studio team buried it in the ground and left it to endure rain, snow and freezing temperatures.

Now they've pulled it out of the ground, washed it down and tested it again - check out the video below to find out if it still works.

(Via Create Digital Music)

Ben Rogerson

I’m the Deputy Editor of MusicRadar, having worked on the site since its launch in 2007. I previously spent eight years working on our sister magazine, Computer Music. I’ve been playing the piano, gigging in bands and failing to finish tracks at home for more than 30 years, 24 of which I’ve also spent writing about music and the ever-changing technology used to make it.