Karaoke Forums

I bought some PG-58 mics for $21.00 at the kroaky store.. (3 of them)

Every day..

I would look long and hard at those mics and take them apart. I also am pretty savvy and bought 20 Shure Microphones for a "Great Price" only to find out they are knockoffs that were previously purchased on Ebay and without checking the internet I would not have noticed the very small details that are different. On the outside there wer only two differences...inside cartridge was completely different. So do youself a favor and look up info on counterfeit Shure Sm58's and what to look for. I hope you did get a great deal, but from the looks of it you may have gotten ripped off.

It was a lucky find on his part that's all (I hope) but if he didn't know the seller, well, this is a HUGE counterfeited market, yet if he has been doing this for 8 years I assume he'd know not to buy randomly on Ebay regarding something so widely shipped from the UK, and China that is a knockoff since this type stuff has been going on for YEARS. Do they have the Shure warantee ? Does he know or care about the telltale signs ? I know dang well I have never seen a new Shure SM-58 sold new by a trust-worthy retailer (within the past 5 years) for under $79.95, and even at 80 bucks that's a freakishly uncommon deal ANYWHERE (You can get them for 10 bucks more with Shures rebate for 10)... They retail for 100 bucks now. Personally I like the Shure 565's because a flat mic like the SM-58 doesn't currently work well for me... I can't use a flat microphone yet, need the help of a microphone with some characteristics. The best I have ever done on a microphone were my two 565's used for twenty bucks a pop in 1979 (and at that time I thought I was overpaying, never thought I'd be dependant on these microphones 30 years later (these are similar to SM-58 but older mics- and for me they work better than my 58 or 57)- If I saw a 565 again with or without the switch or cable for under 60 used in good shape I'd grab it... They work well for *me* and are a decent sturdy microphone. Who knows the Sennheiser e series that many females find to be more compatible with their voices might work best for me, wish I could sample every microphone out there and find the best one for me, just not an easy thing to do.

Since certain businesses are hurting due to the lousy economy I've been bird-dogging most areas of the Music Industry regarding "Black Friday" sales. If I find something I think will be of interest to those of you in the entertainment or singing areas I will share my find.. I think there might very well be killer deals from certain music chains and audio chains because they will be affected this year.. Retailers that anticipate a rough time (since they are in areas of luxurious commodities) yet do not wish to advertise what might be in store for them this upcoming 2009 year. I think we all know MANY retail businesses (of luxury items) are banking on this holiday season as a sink or swim point.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Chuck from this site lucked out about 2 years back and got a few SM-58's really inexpensively on Ebay... I think I was joking with him while he was waiting for them to arrive because at the price he payed I was pretty sure he'd get "Shore S&M 58's" on some knockoff.. Yet he stated he got the real deal.. I too am skeptical and wouldn't risk getting those from Ebay because as the saying goes if it appears too good to be true, it likely is.... Speaking of which...I wonder if Circuit City will be blowing out microphones at a good deal this season

ADDED IN:

Yet also in defense of the individual that stated "be careful" I concur. I have been buying musical stuff of ALL types for over 40 years and will still be taken by counterfeiters because they are a cunning batch. There's are seldom discernible signs to the unsuspecting buyer..

So this should be read

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Shure Against Counterfeiting


Did you know many popular Shure models including the SM58 and Beta 58 are illegally manufactured and sold around the world as authentic Shure products? If not, you are not alone. This problem, which affects many pro audio manufacturers, is largely unknown among musicians and pro audio professionals.

Despite all superficial similarities to authentic Shure products, counterfeits, on average, use much lower quality materials and are very unreliable, much less rugged, and offer significantly lower performance and sound quality. Counterfeits are also not covered by Shure’s warranty policy should you need it.

While Shure is taking action to protect you and our brand and intellectual property, there are things you can actively do to reduce the chances that you purchase a counterfeit:

Be a wise shopper. Familiarize yourself with signs of counterfeit products, be cautious of incredibly low prices offered by on-line auctions and merchants and, when possible, inspect merchandize before you buy.


Buy only from authorized Shure dealers.




For more detail and additional information, please read on.


What is a counterfeit?

How can I tell an original from a fake?

How can I reduce the risk of buying a counterfeit product?

What else is Shure doing about counterfeiting?

Where can I find further information?


(Keyword search- counterfeit Shure SM58 and these become hyperlinks from
Shures site discussing this matter)

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

I can get an sm58 for less than $25 here. On the top of that the shop guarantee that it is genuinely made in china.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Sure hehehe

Yeah Jian, there is a huge chinese blackmarket, and the UK clamped down too on fraud.. It's HUGE.. The differences would require a person KNOWS what to check for, and checks prior to purchasing.. Now assuming a person gets taken by a scam, I haven't read yet what the options are, or whether or not there is recourse to date. I doubt a shooting star Ebay seller with 99.6% positive feedback who has been selling for 10 years will be a blackmarket seller but who knows ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

Btw, If you open your new Shure SM-58 Microphone and on the inside rim it states

"Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel Co., Ltd "


You might not have an actual USA Shure microphone. What some of these importers are doing is scaring the xit out of guitar collectors too... It really is buyer beware, the intricate detail used to counterfeit "vintage market" instruments is at an all time level of sophistication due to technology. Some imports are great quality these days of course, yet somebody thinking they are getting a vintage guitar by a big brand name better damn well know their market THOROUGHLY ! Better yet, make certain there are MANY credible references for a seller of a costly item, and chat at least on the phone to make certain "George Gruhn" on Ebay doesn't have a heavy foreign accent and can't remember how many strings are on a standard 6 string electric guitar.

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".

The real sm58 is made in Mexico; no more in US.

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I can neither confirm nor deny ever having or knowing anything about nothing.... mrscott

Jian, True, most production isn't in the United States, I found that out when I bought classic United States Instruments and even Electronics that were once known to be manufactured AND distributed assembled etc in Chicago USA... But wouldn't all markings indicate Shure Global HQ's (still Illinois United States)? They have authorized distributors in every country for the most part, probably are assembled all over, but there would be classic Warantee cards and disignation Corporate Illinois wouldn't that be the case ?.. The box and warantee would still be USA would it not ? Now the deliveries Asia gets would likely be different regarding origin, yet your Shure SM-series would still have the USA stamped someplace since HQ are United States right ?

Wouldn't it all still be protected by emblem and USA Copyright and designated as such on the box, warantee, and microphone someplace itself since it's a registered patent and trademark of Shure Inc United States ?

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Northeast United States runner up for the "Singing Hall of Shame".