Shure RK244G Replacement Grille for SM57
The Shure RK244G is the replacement head for the Shure SM57 instrument microphone: a complete screen and grille assembly, supplied with a new retainer ring and a nameplate. It replaces a cracked, dented or lost head. Shure also lists it for the 545SD, another dynamic microphone from the brand favoured for instruments.
What sets it apart
- Complete screen and grille assembly, genuine Shure
- Spare retainer ring and nameplate included
- Listed for the SM57 and the 545SD
- Fitted with a small screwdriver, following Shure's guide
A grille that rotates, and that's normal
On the SM57, the grille should rotate freely: Shure specifies that this is not a defect. It is polycarbonate, over a stainless steel screen. In some uses, such as very close drum miking, it can rattle. A windscreen or a very small piece of foam slipped under the grille stops the noise. No tape on the vents: blocking them changes the mic's directionality.
Fitting it, step by step
The RK244G guide calls for great care: the clear plastic diaphragm is fragile, and bending or tearing it changes the mic's response, to the point of needing a new cartridge. Peel off the old nameplate, turn the grille until its two metal tabs are centred over a flat area, then press them in with a small screwdriver, 1/16 in. blade at most, while lifting the grille.
To fit it, the new retainer ring wraps around the cartridge groove, its hook goes into a slot in the grille, and the tabs tuck under the rim until they lock the ring. Properly assembled, the grille turns while the collar is held. The new nameplate sticks over the retainer ring holes, without covering the index mark.
Specifications
| Part | RK244G, screen and grille assembly |
|---|---|
| Contents | Screen and grille, retainer ring, nameplate |
| Compatibility | SM57 and 545SD |
| SM57 head materials | Polycarbonate grille, stainless steel screen |
| Tool | Small screwdriver, 1/16 in. blade at most |
What it's for
- Replacing an SM57 grille cracked by a stick hit
- Putting back in service an SM57 whose head was lost
- Keeping a spare head for the snare mics
Compared with other manufacturers
The RK244G fits only the SM57 and the 545SD. The table therefore places the SM57 among other dynamic instrument microphones from other manufacturers, using the data each one publishes.
| Microphone | Polar pattern | What the manufacturer publishes |
|---|---|---|
| Shure SM57, with the RK244G grille | Cardioid | Polycarbonate grille that rotates freely, 40 to 15,000 Hz |
| Audix i5 | Cardioid | 50 to 16,000 Hz response |
| Audio-Technica ATM650 | Hypercardioid | Multi-stage flat grille, for guitar cabinets, snare and percussion |
Frequently asked questions
- Why does my SM57 grille rotate and rattle?
- Rotating is normal, it is by design. If it rattles near a drum kit, Shure suggests a windscreen or a small piece of foam under the grille, never tape on the vents.
- How do you remove an SM57 grille?
- Centre the two metal tabs over a flat area, press them in with a small screwdriver and lift the grille, without touching the diaphragm.
- Can you use an SM57 without its grille?
- Shure does not intend it: the grille protects a fragile plastic diaphragm, and a damaged diaphragm can mean replacing the cartridge.
Avis clients
Which stick hit finished off this SM57's grille? Comments are open.
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