Removing the transformer will increase the bass and treble response
and cut some of the mids, cutting the characteristic SM57 honk. Removing the
transformer also drops the output by about 12 db.
After taking it apart and cutting the wires at the capsule and jack, heating the mic body with a heat gun will soften the hot glue and a tug on the wires will pull it out. The glue is easy to take off the transformer while it's still warm.
I wanted to remote the transformer in case I needed the mic to sound like it originally did or if I needed the extra gain back. I shielded it with some sticky back copper foil. I left the paper on so that it would act as an insulator and soldered the cable ground leads on the copper side. Be sure to note which of the leads is for + and - before cutting the leads. On all four of my mics, green was positive at the capsule and blue was hot at the jack. FYI pin two of XLR mic cable connectors is hot(+), pin 3 is cold(-), and pin 1 is ground.
