Shure by Gator is a licensing partnership between the famous microphone manufacturer Shure and Gator, one of the leading manufacturers of audio equipment stands and cases. These two big-time brands have teamed up to make high-end premium audio accessories like boom arms, mic stands, and equipment bags created specifically to support the legendary Shure equipment and microphones like the SM7B and MV7—but they’re perfectly compatible with just about any piece of equipment.
We got our hands on two products—the Tripod Microphone Stand with Telescoping Boom and the Low-Profile Boom Arm Articulating Desktop Microphone Stand, both featuring a sleek white finish—and put them to some rigorous (perhaps even destructive) testing. So, does the quality and craftsmanship live up to the brands’ pedigrees (and the products’ price tags)?
Shure by Gator Tripod Microphone Stand
Out of the Box
A $100 mic stand comes with expectations of high-quality material, robust build quality, and an easily manipulated and storable form factor. Finding a balance between studio versatility and stage durability, this model weighs in at 5.4 lb and comes with a classic twist clutch for height adjustments between 41” and 70”—there is also a version with a pistol-grip clutch for one handed adjustment for a few extra dollars.
The telescoping boom arm is surprisingly robust for its size (it’s almost strangely small when pushed in) and did wonders on saving storage space—extending it fully and attaching a Shure MV7+ at the gave it excellent flexibility in the studio from micing snares to grand pianos. The top thread has a standard 3/8” thread with a 5/8” inch adapter for vintage and European mics.
The hardware is robust and weighty-feeling—no need to overtighten any screws or sags and I experienced no wonkiness with slipping or unevenly loosening clutches. The tripod base comes with normal nonslip rubber feet with removable white trim to help with stage visibility.
Reviewing a Mic Stand?
So, question is, how does one even review a mic stand? They’re unremarkably functional accessories, and they all do pretty much the same thing. Well, I felt like the only thing to do was to put it to the rigors of an actual stage/studio environment.
I started by adding weights to the top and fully extended the boom as to let it tip over—it was actually pretty evenly-weighted when the tripod legs were fully extended as well—it was able to secure the Shure MV7+ without tipping at nearly a 90˚ angle (though bumping into the stand would be a for-sure fall at such a sheer angle). After letting it fall more than a few times, the powder-coated steel held up beautifully with barely a noticeable scratch and zero dents. Then I went outside and slammed it on the pavement a few times—some scratches here and there, but if you’ve ever seen a studio locker or been backstage, you know that mic stands must endure this brutality. I experienced no structural issues after abusing it.
I did find that some of the plastic components were starting to show signs of stress after deliberately overtightening and adjusting the stand around high-tensions joints—something you should absolutely NEVER do in a real-world situation—but even after knocking it around some more, there were no cracks, no breaks, and no stripping of any threads. Treat this with kindness and it won’t let you down.
Overall, the stand is worth the money—it’s stable, lightweight, small, robust, and (with the white powder coated finish) quite handsome. While I doubt you’ll go full Office Space on a mic stand like I did, it looks like it’ll hold up to the intense rigors of dive bar punk venues, basement rehearsal rooms, and back-of-van road trips. This is a definite pick if you’re looking for a premium mic stand.
Shure by Gator Low-Profile Desktop Microphone Stand
This desk mounted mic stand can be either drill-mounted into your desk for a permanent installation or use a clamp to attach to surfaces up to 2.17” thick, sports a 4.4 lb weight capacity, and is made of the same material as the tripod stand.
A Different Approach
The Shure Low-Profile Boom Arm stand eschews the traditional form factor of a desk-mounted mic stand for a low-profile model that sits low and tight against your desk, saving room while also leaving your face and upper body completely unobstructed for live streaming, podcasting, and other kinds of video work. The interiors are entirely housed withing the powder-coated steel casing, which also features removable magnetic covers on each segment for in-body cable management; this stand hides any unsightly or cluttered cabling from the desk and your video while making adding/removing XLR or USB cables a breeze.
It had nearly zero noise when adjusting the positioning of the mic—I did not miss the pings and zings of my old spring-loaded arm, and you won’t have to worry about removing any unwanted noise in post (though it did make for some cool sounds to throw in a granular synth).
I must mention one thing—and it’s not necessarily a problem as much as it’s something to keep in mind when considering this stand for your setup. The nature of the low-profile arm gives it a unique desk footprint; the lower segment only has 360˚ horizontal motion (though the upper section has 90˚ movement), so you’ll have to have a clear path in your room or on your desk to reposition the stand. If your desk is flush against a wall or you have an extremely cluttered space, the stand can bump into obstacles.
Final Thoughts
At $112-$139, the Shure by Gator Low-Profile Desktop Mic Stand needed to be of exceptional quality—and it does not disappoint. Its sleek appearance, silent readjustment, and built-in cable management make it perfect as a professional camera-ready mic accessory. It’s robust and well-crafted like the names Shure and Gator suggest, and I absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a high-quality premium desktop boom arm stand.
