Karaoke Forums

It does seem like there are a lot of fake microphones about.
I have just got another beta 87a to replace a fake I paid good money for.
I bought the mic. for a female voice after much research.
I had never heard or seen the mic. before so had no reference.
I have to say though the fake sounds excellent.

Which one is the fake?

the one with the blue stripe

What makes you say that Bruce?
I am actually a bad photographer.
They actually look identical.

A real Beta 87C has a blue stripe. I'm guessing an 87A would too!

The one with the blue band is the real one, all beta's have a blue band.

Should have sent the fake back the moment you got it but oh well, it does happen.

It did have a blue band, it came off.
I was trying to upload a better pic.
My mobile broadband is not letting me do it at the moment.
From the outside they look identical.
There is a difference where the ball screws on.
Unless you can compare you wouldn't know.
Since I always had phantom switched on I would never have known.
I found out when the phantom was switched off.

Left mic with blue ring is real. I posted this last year from another forum. I cannot find the original site but I was able to retrieve my saved copy.

Beta87’s & Beta 58’s come with a Blue rubber ring, so I will say the one on the left is real, fake is on the right. I own one bought at a refutable store, Guitar Center. I’m not saying what you have is real. Fake ones look so real nowadays. Here are some differentiations:

Pictured below – left is real, with brighter blue ring and a “rough look” paint coat. Fake on right is smooth. Using a tiny screwdriver, disconnect the XLR connect housing & pull it gently. Check the wires. Should have red & blue wires soldered cleanly with a rubber heat shrink fitted. Fakes are red & black & no heat shrink. Also check the end XLR 3 pins, should be gold connector & not silver.

Unscrew the screen. Top of capsule is a tiny plastic word embossed “Shure”. Couple of white letter initials also present.

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To be fortunate enough to derive an income from a source as fulfilling as karaoke music has got to be as close to heaven as we can get here on earth!

I lost the blue rubber band.

Another attempt

3 Mobile is not letting me do much.
When I can I will uploadthe pics.
What I am getting round here is...
I would like us to keep a database of genuine mic pics
so we have something to referance to when buying.
I sent two SM58's back this past year because they were both fakes.
The 87a I got 4 years ago.

Just to be clear, all Beta series mics with silver wire mesh wind screens have the blue rubber ring. So that also includes the Beta 57, the Beta 52, and the Beta 56 as well.

Another giveaway in this situation is the color of the case of the mic iteself. Notice the real 87 is blue-grey in color whereas the fake on the right is more of a charcoal color like the SM58.

A smaller detail that only becomes apparent when you open up the picture full size is that the fake mic actually has a poor quality windscreen on it. There is more spacing between the wire mesh and where the mesh meets the threaded ring at the bottom, the wire spacing is very uneven. That's not something that would get past an reputable manufacturer's QC department.

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DJ Tony
Let It Rip Karaoke

Ive had a similar experience. I bought 5 Beta 58s for 500 dollars from a local DJ/KJ company who said they didnt want them because they were too high end for their application.

I cant tell from you photo but the little symbol for the cardioid pattern on mine was a little bit different. Also when disassembled the guts of the fake were just a regular dynamic cartridge. The fake actually sounded pretty good really, but not when placed side by side with a real one.

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Sergeant J. Travis Miller
Harrison Taylor County 911

The colours are identical.
Ok the shock mount rubber is so poor
it actually ruins a really good fake.
The only difference you can see is where the ball screws on.
Other than that You really would not know.
That is on this one. I bought it about 4 years ago.
What they are like now I don't know

http://jerry12x2.webs.com/

Should I stair them up.
No. Don't do it.
But I feel like mischief.
Don't do it.
Just a little.
Oh go on then.

HeHe.
I recon 10% of the SM58's you guys are using are fakes.
No. You cant tell them that.
But it's probably true.
Yes but you can't tell them that.
Hey some fakes are binnable but some are better than the shure.
Well be very low profile when you tell them.
They wont like it.
Test the water first.
Good idea.

Anyone got an SM58?
How good is it?

Does it really matter? After all, it is only karaoke!

I agree.
Karaoke. Humbug.

I find it is. Otherwise I will just look for knock offs and save the money. I bought my wired SM58 straight from Shure. I am assuming it is the real deal!

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KingBing Entertainment C'mon Up! I have a song for you!!! [font=MS Sans Serif][/font]

Looks like Captain Patch can't spell. ARRRRRRR

I have both a Beta 87A and Beta 58 sitting right in front of me both are the real deal (bought when they were first released) and both have silver XLR pins