The Beta58A is a nice mic - for vocals. The Beta 57A is also a nice mic - for instruments. Same mechanism in both, but the 58 has the ball end to keep the sound source (mouth) at a respectable distance.

I've done A-B tests with a Beta57A and SM57 on snare, and would choose the SM57 almost every time. Save your money.

Check out Bent's snare mic sample comparison:
(Dead Link Removed)

Another mic to consider for snare top mic'ing is the Audix i5. It has a bit more top end than the 57, simply another color to choose from...roughly the same price ($100 USD).

Boswell wrote: I've done A-B tests with a Beta57A and SM57 on snare, and would choose the SM57 almost every time. Save your money.

I tried an old version of the Beta57 (had the vertical grill?) on a snare for a gig and preferred it much more to the regular 57. Someone also told me that the new beta's aren't built the same as the older ones. (I have no evidence that backs this up, so consider it hearsay)

I guess it really depends on the snare.

Is it just me or did the price of an sm57 go up in the past five years?

They sell for like, $100CAN, which is about $20 less than they were a year ago...