A friend got a "really good deal" on a Shure Beta 87A yesterday off of Craigslist. It turned out to be fake, and the crappy thing broke the instant he got it home.
He then checked out a few SM 57s that he bought about a year ago that have all since broken. They were also fake.
Remember, before buying a Shure Mic, read up on them. I've known a few people to get ripped off other then my one friend. He's just the latest victim.
How to spot a fake SM 57 or 58:
http://homerecording.about.com/od/mi...Shure_Mics.htm
How to spot a fake Beta series mics:
http://reviews.ebay.com.au/Fake-Shur...00000006603964
Many of the fake 87As weigh far less then the real ones, and almost all the fakes weigh different then the specs. If you check out a mic, bring a copy of the spec sheet and a kitchen scale that goes down to grams.
The fake Beta 87Cs often can work without phantom power, which means that you're not getting a condenser capsule, and you're getting screwed.
I don't know if it's related at all, but I'll pass it along: Both of the guys that my friend bought the fake mics from had Russian accents.
If you have any doubt about it's authenticity or if the deal is too good to be true, it's probably a fake, and you're getting a crappy product. They'll fall apart faster, won't have the same output level or frequency response.
BUYER BEWARE and good luck!
