Karaoke Forums

I just checked ebay and the price was down to $64.

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

LMFAOAPMP!!!!!

I'm thinking that that's what he paid ($64). The original auction he gave the URL for was a different seller. This 2nd auction by karaokesurplus sounds like it may be a store. I know there is a store in Buffalo, NY called TSC Karaoke, and they have been doing a lot of e-bay auctions (I think TSC might be this seller... although I'm not sure).

I found Velvet Elvis cheaper from a different vendor than the one I first provided. So that's who I purchased from. The first link is from a different seller, unless the same seller is selling under two different names. According to the e-mail receipt I received, the seller is KaraokeCdgs.com (http://www.KaraokeCdgs.com), located in Buffalo, NY.

Thanks for the kind words- but the problem is that there's nothing to look at. The seller doesn't show a pic of the discs, a label, a jewel case graphic, or anything else.

I have to say that combining the facts that they don't show a disc, the ridiculously low price for what many consider a collector set from a label that won't be producing any more, and having ten such sets at that price makes me extremely suspicious.

One of the major counterfeiters of Music Maestro makes discs with no graphics, just single colored labels. and no ring code. Another does the same, but has an actual ring code etched- but it's the same code on all discs. They seem to make most of the MM sets ( R&B, Doo-Wop Club, etc..) rather than just single discs, and sell them as such. That, at least would be a dead giveaway. I'd like to get a detailed description when the things come in...

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

No problem.

I received the CDs today. Below is a description:

1. There are no paper labels; rather, all labels are printed in blue raised ink that is clear. All the CDs are the same in this respect.
2. The CDs are silver (or the natural CD color) with blue ink as the label.
3. At the top it says, "Forever the King" and then underneath there begins a list of songs that continues on the bottom.
4. On the left side is written, "Seventeen" and underneath is "Velvet Elvis" in a script-like writing.
5. On the right it says: "CD" and underneath it says "MUSIC MAESTRO" and then underneath MM it says "GRAPHICS" in all caps.
6. Under GRAPHICS it says "compact disc" and "DIGITAL AUDIO GRAPHICS" in small caps.
7. The CDs came in white sleeves. This may be viewed as a bad sign; however, here is a response to a person's claim that white sleeves are associated with fake Music Maestro CDs:

http://www.amazon.com/Music-Maestro-Karaoke-Disk-CLUB/product-reviews/B000Y02DJC/ref=pr_all_summary_cm_cr_acr_txt/186-2056694-1166002?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

I'm curious as well, as how to tell if they are original or not. I purchased a set from a major karaoke retailer. That retailer sells for one price on web site, but when I went to their local store I was able to purchase for $40.00. They are listed for $80.00 but said half off. They still had some when I was there today.

The discs are silver with raised blue print. On the right side is a cursive Velvet Elvis label right below the disc number. On the left side is the Music Maestro logo. There is a ring code that says Velvet Elvis and the disk #. The top of each disc has a title like: Hits of the King (The Aloha Concert and More). Mine came in a box, and inside the disc are in a plain white plastic disc box. Not the original velvet disc book.

Sound quality seems good.

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If you don't love what you're doing for a living, then you're making a killing. (YOURS)

These are what the originals look like. These were purchased from Mr Entertainment in Calgary back in '92 or '93, if I remember correctly. Sorry, I don't have the invoice sitting in front of me (packed away) so I could be wrong on the year purchased, but I know I'm not far off.
Some of the discs have a slightly darker color ink, like the bottom two in the pic of the page of four, but it's hard to tell unless you're in just the right light. It could be from age or it could have been like that originally. I don't know, but these ARE originals. Wish I could remember a ball park figure on what they cost at that time. I do seem to remember it was quite a lot.
Anyway, hope these pics help you.
(PS: For those that insist in their own minds that I'm a pirate and don't own any discs, please ignore the following two photos. They are only a figment of my imagination and should be ignored altogether.)

That's exactly what mine look like. Thanks. Since I paid only $40.00 I can't complain.

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If you don't love what you're doing for a living, then you're making a killing. (YOURS)

I was sent the same type of CDs that you are showing in your pics. It looks like I was sent legitimate Music Maestro CDs. At this point, I will consider my CDs to be legal unless someone can explain why they are not.

Unfortunately, MM changed their labaeling a few times. These could be legit, as MM did use this sort of labeling as well. Here's the only way that may tell: If the ring codes are identical for every disc, then they are NOT legit. If they differ on each disc, then they probably are, despite the cheap price and multiple set availability.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

This evening I'll take a look at the ring codes and report what I find.

UPDATE:

I checked the ring codes and found that they have different numbers that correspond to the respective CD number, such as:

"#7818 THE ELVIS COLLECTION DISC 18"
"#7819 THE ELVIS COLLECTION DISC 19"
"#7820 THE ELVIS COLLECTION DISC 20"
"#7821 THE ELVIS COLLECTION DISC 21"

Some of the disk ring codes will correspond to its disc number as follows:

"VELVET ELVIS DISC ONE"
"VELVET ELVIS DISC TWO"

Disc three says:

"#7803 THE ELVIS COLLECTION DISC 3"

While the the ring codes are not uniform throughout, none of discs share the exact same code. In all cases, the ring code will always correspond to the respective disk number.

well there u have it then, i guess this store bought a bunch in bulk and just wants to get get rid of them.

congrats on you purchase. For that price its an AWESOME deal

Thanks. I'm convinced the CDs are legit. I'm glad because I can feel good knowing that I did not purchase pirated karaoke music. I know from pricing karaoke that I purchased the Velvet Elvis collection at an excellent price.

I just purchased a Velvet Elvis 2 set off of ebay for $40.00 including shipping. It comes in the original Velvet Elvis black velvet book. It's much like the Sound Choice Foundation 3 ring books. This set is definately an original. I thought I got a great deal. HOWEVER, as soon as I made the bid I thought to myself: "What am I doing? Who needs 400 Elvis songs"?

I think the VE set was really made for Elvis shows and Elvis impersonators, not so much for karaoke. The price was right, but I think I jumped the gun on this one. Chip, you're welcome to come over and kick me in the butt if you want to.

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

Why would I want to do that? You can buy whatever you want.

Well got 'em this week. Hey, they're not Sound Choice, but for 40 bucks I'm happy. Even came in the original black velvet three ring binder. Then, on the other hand, who needs 400+ Elvis songs. Aaahhh what the heck.

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My first choice IS Sound Choice.

Well, here is the terrible truth--there is another host in the area who is an Elvis impersonator and he was always bragging about having the biggest Elvis collection around. So when I saw Velvet Elvis on sale I bought it just to irritate him. Well, actually we have several Elvi so it was for them, too. But the host was appropriately awed except he then went about pointing out the songs we still didn't have--like "I Want to Be Free" which I had to order via SBI to please him. The only payback on that one is now he has to sing it and it is only a 1 and a half minute song.

But it is surprising how many odd ones get chosen out of that collection. We have a special ELVIS section in the book so we don't have to print those same pages each time we update. It just gives me a laugh for some reason to have that section and promote it. Like Skid says, who needs them--especially who needs the live tv comeback version, the aloha concert version and the movie version of the same exact song--but in our area people get a kick out of the fact that we have them. It's a conversation piece.