beyerdynamic M 88 (2023)

This is one of the best dynamic all-around mics. Very good for guitar amps, sax, acoustic guitar - it turned to be good for everything I tried to record, but mainly I use it for recording electric guitar.
Make sure you've plugged it in a decent mic preamp for the best results.
This microphone needs proper handling, it is not a 'plug & play' device, therefore, you are to spend a certain time experimenting in positioning this mic. For some of you, it might be an advantage or disadvantage so it is worth mentioning.
Finally, it is a dynamic microphone and it suits fine in a live environment.
However, it is not a chip microphone in its every aspect, so M88TG can distinguish itself in a wide palette of different microphones available on the market nowadays.

Beyerdynamic recently updated all their "M-series" mics. The M88 now gets a different grille, all other M-series have only cosmetic changes.
They have essentially gone back to the older M88 design with one coarse and one fine steel mesh and no foam. Pop filtering is less effective, but clarity for vocals is improved. There is more handling noise than more modern vocal mics but the HPF mostly fixes it. The front half of the grille is held on with 3 screws and on the old model these sometimes came out and the grille fell apart esp. on kick drum. Beyer have spares and you can use thread locking compound. It still has the heavy brass handle, coil and humbucking coil. Build quality is first class but the mic clip is all plastic, IMO needs a brass insert for the thread.

It has a better vocal sound than a 58 with less EQ and very good feedback rejection. Neodymium magnet produces high output. I've been using some pretty good vocal condenser, but when I tried the new M88 I couldn't believe how good it was! I would buy these for every singer if they were not so expensive. It is also well known how good the M88TG is for kick, snare, toms, guitar, bass cab, brass, woodwinds and more. For kick drum then definitely buy the WS59 wind screen to protect it.
Just a pity they've almost doubled in price in a year.

There 's no such thing as a bad mic. Even a "bad" mic. It all depends on how you use it and what sound you want to achieve. Even a "bad" sound. But this could also lead us to another discussion. I love Beyerdynamic microphones for their clean an true capturing of the sound source. Have a few: M201TG, MC-930 and the M88. The M88TG has perhaps fewer situations for which I use it for than some other mic's. On bass cabinets I prefer the EV RE20 in combination with a Royer R122. On vocals (narrative I don't know) I also prefer other options, like the SM7B if you want a dynamic mic. But if you only have dynamic microphones and want to be able to have some different sounding backing vocals, this mic would surely do the job. On percussion, on toms, especially if you seek some low end, I like to use the M88TG. And when it works on an instrument, it's great. If the low end is too much, just back off the mic a bit as the proximity effect can be big. Built quality is perfect, as always with BeyerDynamic. Like this brand.