disassembly of an sm86

L

LiamSmith

Freshman
Jun 5, 2012
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6
Ulster, NY
I got my hands on an sm86 for next to nothing 'cus its not passing signal. After messing around with it a bit I'm pretty convinced it would be an easy fix with my trusty soldering iron. Plus, I've got more time than I have money. So, I'd rather not spend the 70 bucks to send it to shure. Unfortunately, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the thing open. The usual usual screw holding in the xlr connector doesn't seem to loose the connector (as it does on the shure beta and other mics that I have).

Has anyone disassembled this mic successfully before? Any hints? 'Cus I'm dumb out of ideas.
 
Re: disassembly of an sm86

Have you tried both directions on the set screw? Some have LH threads, some have RH threads.

Just a guess.
 
Re: disassembly of an sm86

Yea, I've tried both directions. When screwing it down the xlr connector becomes slightly loose in the mic. But, I can't budge it forward or back. Just feels a little loose. And, when I screw it out it becomes stiff and unmovable.

Thanks, though.
 
Re: disassembly of an sm86

LiamSmith said:
I got my hands on an sm86 for next to nothing 'cus its not passing signal. After messing around with it a bit I'm pretty convinced it would be an easy fix with my trusty soldering iron. Plus, I've got more time than I have money. So, I'd rather not spend the 70 bucks to send it to shure. Unfortunately, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the thing open. The usual usual screw holding in the xlr connector doesn't seem to loose the connector (as it does on the shure beta and other mics that I have).

Has anyone disassembled this mic successfully before? Any hints? 'Cus I'm dumb out of ideas.
Click to expand...

An SM58 splits about a 1/3rd of the way down the body, you should be able t see the groove in the body. A firm grip and twist and it will unscrew. Once split you can get to the connections on the capsule and also the transformer. The XLR should also come out if you release the set screw.
 
Re: disassembly of an sm86

Yea, that groove is there... but, try as I might I can't seem to find an actual seam or separate the two parts. I guess I'm just an absolute weakling. Hahahaha.
 
LiamSmith said:
Unfortunately, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the thing open. The usual usual screw holding in the xlr connector doesn't seem to loose the connector (as it does on the shure beta and other mics that I have).
Click to expand...

I don't know for sure, but the 86 could be like the 87 in which where the xlr is a subassembly that does pull straight out(woth a little tug of pliers), not like just a xlr connector in a 58

BRad
 
Re: disassembly of an sm86

First, unscrew the silver windscreen and set aside. Then screw the single screw on the body you've already found clockwise until well recessed. Then gently but firmly push on the XLR pins and the whole assembly will push out the other side where you removed the windscreen. It doesn't push all the way out, as there is some sort of retaining clip that prevents this.

EDIT: I just discovered that if you push from the mic end (not on the delicate mic element, however, but on the foam under it), the assembly will push all the way out toward the pins. I wouldn't use a pliers to pull on the pins as there is a fair amount of resistance, and I wouldn't want to damage them. Also, note that there is a loose copper grounding tab that will fall off when you pull it out. Its location is exactly opposite the screw.
 
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Re: disassembly of an sm86

Thanks Andrew! It worked! I did not expect to see that many resistors in a microphone. It'll be really annoying getting the values and checking each of those. I might just spend the 60 bucks and send it back to Shure.

Thanks to everyone!
 
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