After 32 years of service, my vocal microphone finally gave up...

[Oren]

...a Shure PE56D purchased new in 1981...
This puppy has seen a lot of off-key notes, cigarette smoke, spit, and beer breath.

[MarioD]

It’s like losing a family member isn’t it!

I have a pre Shure SM57 mic called a Shure Unidyne III 545SD mic that I have had since the mid 60s.  It still works!  I used it for my vocals when I was playing out and now I use it for recording guitar cabinets.

They sure or Shure don’t make them liked the used too do they?

[bvdp]

...a Shure PE56D purchased new in 1981...
This puppy has seen a lot of off-key notes, cigarette smoke, spit, and beer breath.

And I'd bet real money (If I had lots of it) that the new replacement will not last nearly as long!

[Oren]

Yes gents, it's heart-rending...
but, I'm having a riot selecting the replacement!

[folderol]

So what actually happened to it? Did it just expire or was it murdered?
Inquiring minds need to know!

[Oren]

Deterioration due to time and harsh environment, methinks.
I suspect the "beginning of the end' occurred several years ago when a thoughtful member of the road crew cleaned the ugly deposits from it by the artful application of chlorine bleach. He claimed it was a method he had used many times with good results, and the mic looked gorgeous afterward, but the interior connections looked quite corroded when I disassembled to do the post-mortem.

[elwoodblues1969]

Wow....chlorine bleach on a mic??Bleach is a very strong oxidizer and very corrosive to metals...even stainless steel...yikes! About 10 years ago...when I was financially destitute,I had to resort to buying a Radioshack brand Casio keyboard(fantastic for what it was though)...so in the interest of improving it's appearance,I wanted to remove a pesky decal/price tag sticker from it.

In doing so though,it left behind some residual adhesive,so I used a multi-surface cleaner(something along the lines of Windex) and although this was much less caustic than bleach,it was still strong enough to discolor the plastic chassis.

Since then,I have followed the maintenance warnings on all of my equipment to the letter & have been very diligent about it.

[Oren]

...I have followed the maintenance warnings on all of my equipment to the letter & have been very diligent about it.

That approach pays huge dividends in the long run.
Trouble is, it's so easy to just deploy some horrendous cleaning product - and worry about the consequences later.

[bvdp]

If you ever need to remove a sticker from something just heat it with a hair dryer first. Not a 100% solution, but pretty close.

[elwoodblues1969]

If you ever need to remove a sticker from something just heat it with a hair dryer first. Not a 100% solution, but pretty close.

That....combined with LA's Totally Awesome Orange cleaner,is the safest & most effective way to go.

[folderol]

Over here we've got a spray simply called 'sticky stuff remover' It works a treat, just leaves a slightly oily film that rubs off easily with a paper towel.

[Oren]

...we've got a spray simply called 'sticky stuff remover' It works a treat...

A formula has been recommended to me, involving vinegar (5% acetic acid) with fresh citrus peel soaked (steeped?) in it. The mild acid combined with the lime/orange/lemon oil is said to be an excellent all-round cleaner that is safe for most materials, and easy on the environment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uOv_qPLHQI

http://www.green-talk.com/2012/03/28/orange-peel-vinegar-cleaner-make-your-own-green-cleaner/