This microphone is a somewhat less expensive sibling of the famous M88, which it closely resembles - in fact it's pretty much the same microphone with the exception of the front of the windscreen (which is flat, not rounded) and the diaphragm. This results in a somewhat more limited frequency response and a lower SPL capacity. It is still an excellent vocal mic for live performance (this is the mic used by Ann Wilson in Heart, among many other artists) and in budget studio applications (I'd take it over a similarly priced - or even somewhat more expensive - LDC any day), and does a fine job on electric string instruments, brass, woodwinds, and most drums, although the more limited low frequency response makes in not in the league of the M88 on kick and floor tom. I'd still take it over an SM57 on those drums every time.