Can You Tell A Fake Neumann U87 By The Box?

I have a theory that you can identify a fake Neumann microphone by just looking at the details of the wooden mic box. You can definitely tell by the insides of the mic. But what if you can't look under the hood?

[@alanpearce4133]

I bought a U87 Ai this past weekend. Thanks to this video, I KNEW it was real based on the pictures of the case itself. I drove 2 hours to get it. All of the details in the 1 pics I saw just made sense. Wood grain, latches, logo, etc. I was determined that it was real. Then I opened it up to see the correct insides as well. I am beyond stoked to add a Neumann U87 Ai to my small but growing mic collection!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Congrats! You are going to love it. Glad the video could help.

[@DruG-561]

I found a year old one on Facebook marketplace for 2k and it had the sticker. You saved me!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Glad I could help!

[@casemcdonald2152]

My 103 didn't come in a wood box. I bought it from Sweetwater, so I know it's not fake. Just putting that out there.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thank you for adding your experience to the conversation. Buying new from Sweetwater is the best way to know you’re getting the real thing.

[@TheRecordist]

This is a fantastic video and any and all mic consumers need to watch it. Thanks for this!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

My pleasure!

[@thesameeffect]

Just remember look at one of those screws that you have to unscrew before taking apart the grill has “wax” on the screw to seal or tamper proof it from factory. This I believe was put there for warranty purposes and to see if the mic has been tampered with. Just a heads up. I always look for that wax seal before buying my first U87. It’s a sure way to know you are buying a real and secure unit. Also look at all the flat head screws on the body and make sure it doesn’t have any scratches or minor stripping. That’s a tell tale sign someone took the unit apart for whatever reason to repair or swap out parts. A friend of mine bought one and found out he had a real Neumann but a Chinese capsule. Be careful out there. Good luck!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Thank you very much for adding to the conversation. Very good tips, indeed.

[@YTvKevin]

I just ordered one from a pawnshop online for $1600 with a 14 day return policy… let’s see what I get in the mail🤣 the pictures looked real though

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Congrats! Return policy is the only way to go when buying a used Neumann.

[@TheMoyWonder]

Oh I differentiate by the way the boxes open too! My real places the mic display on the right, hinge on left, opening box from right to left, like a book. My Ali one places the mic display on the left, box opening from left to right. I think it’s an Eastern culture thing. The way everything is packed in the cardboard boxes is backwards too. Also dead giveaway are the teeth on the polar pattern switch. The real ones have very defined grooves, while the fakes grooves are way less. If I can’t see grooves or a box in pics, I skip!

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Excellent points. Thank you for adding these to the list of things to look for.

[@BeatsByDezea]

They are easy to spot as fake, actually easier than listening to a recording made with one and telling it apart from a real u87. It's a pitty there are dudes trying to sell these as the real deal; just sell them for what they are: great sounding mics that look like a u87.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

You’d be surprised how many people can’t spot the fakes. And yeah, they’re actually pretty good on their own. Even better when modded.

[@BeatsByDezea]

​@@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff Sure, what I meant is that they are easy to spot as fakes for mic aficionados like us, not for the general market. I'm only surprised that there are people trying to pass them off as the real deal in marketplaces. I live in Romania, and all the Chinese U87 listings I've found on OLX explicitly mention that they're fake. However, the laws against selling counterfeit goods have become stricter here recently. Obviously, most people who aren't familiar with microphones could easily be fooled, and your video sheds light on this issue.

[@innercynic2784]

I've seen someone mention that the real boxes have the embossed Neumann logo and the side boards have a box joint style. The fake? More simply put together... though, as usual, once it catches on that they can be "spotted" as fake due to something as simple as the box, they'll adapt to it. But not before enough unwary buyers are burned. Good advice to buy from reputable sellers and save yourself the headaches. And if you plan on selling your own... keep the packing materials, boxes and even the invoices. Think of it as a "title" for your microphone.

[@MarkYoshimotoNemcoff]

Unfortunately, the outer cardboard box packaging they’re using looks so authentic that it alone can’t be used as a reliable measuring stick. I also don’t think the wood boxes will be changing soon. All these fakes are coming from the same couple of factories and have already been manufactured and packaged so they won’t be swapping boxes out until all of these current units are sold. I’m sure they will eventually try to make something that looks more like the real box down the road, but it’ll still be a cheaper knock off with visible flaws.

[@innercynic2784]

They'll definitely work their way through their stock of boxes before moving on. I once purchased a Sennheiser MD46 that was upon closer inspection a fake. The giveaway? The logo printing on the body of the mic wasn't straight. Germans, like me, are too anal to do that. Got my money back.