How to spot a FAKE SM57 Microphone (FAKE vs REAL)

Tired of fakes? Get a real Shure SM57 here:
𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗡: thmn.to/thoprod/105768?offid=...
𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥: sweetwater.sjv.io/21kQ07
As a guitarist, you know the importance of having a reliable microphone to capture your tone and sound. The Shure SM57 microphone is a popular choice among guitarists, but unfortunately, there are many counterfeit versions of this mic on the market.
In this video, I'll show you how to spot a fake SM57 microphone, so you can avoid getting scammed and ensure you're getting the genuine article. I'll cover everything you need to know, from the appearance and feel to the build quality and sound performance.
I'll also discuss some common signs that may indicate you have a fake SM57 microphone, such as poor sound quality and differences in weight or construction materials. These are all important things to keep in mind when shopping for a new microphone for your guitar.
By the end of this video, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to spot a fake SM57 microphone, and make an informed decision when investing in a high-quality microphone for your guitar. So, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, this video is a must-watch for any guitarist looking to buy an SM57 microphone.
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𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗠𝗣𝗦
00:00 How To Spot a Fake SM57 Microphone
00:56 Looks - Fake versus a Real SM57
05:47 Size - Fake versus a Real SM57
07:22 Weight - Fake versus a Real SM57
08:06 Sound Samples - Fake versus a Real SM57
11:35 How to Guarantee that you buy a Genuine Shure SM57 Mic
𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗦
𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙙𝙚, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙜𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙩 𝙣𝙤 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪!
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙮 𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙨.
#theguitargeek #sm57 #guitarrecording

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Tired of fakes? Get a real Shure SM57 here: 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗡: thmn.to/thoprod/105768?offid=1&affid=288 𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥: sweetwater.sjv.io/21kQ07

[@TroyNaumu808]

I have a old Shure SM-57. It is 37 years old. My real Shure SM-57 looks exactly like the real SM-57 you have and passed the tests. But....how can you spot a fake Sennheiser?

[@raymota4515]

I own and use two real ones and two fake ones. I have yet to be confronted in the studio on which is which. Truth to tell, there are very few "musicians:" (ONLY musicians, not engineer/songwriter/producer guys) that know or really give a hoot. If they sound good to THEIR ears, it's a good mic and session. The tricky part is sincerely convincing that their ears don't lie and they should trust their gut. When it comes to Fake vs Real the argument gets even more convoluted since the Chinese don't honor trademarks or copyrights. I bought a Chinese copy of a Neumann TLM 103 that looks feels and is branded as a Neumann. How does the sound compare? Dunno. Never owned areal Neumann nor did a thorough shoot out in a good sounding studio. OTOH people see the mic and logo and listen to the playback and have assured themselves they sounded triple platinum coz they recorded with a genuine LDC German Neumann mic. So take off the logos and change the appearance and see how many rave reviews you get. Coloring the mic pink and putting sparkles on it and say Taylor Swift cut all her hits through that same mic and be prepared to run for the border. Personally, I'm still waiting for the day I'm sure is coming when all the Designer Names, CK, Gucci, etc start branding the mics. I'd like to sell the tickets to the runway mic shows in Paris. The best advice I can give is: Record every day until it is automatic and effortless. Trust your own ears. Promise the moon. Deliver the Cheese.

[@samcooku]

very helpfull coment man

[@PippPriss]

I already watched Glenn Frickers video on the comparison between the t.Bone MB75 and SM57. I also own 4 MB75s and 1 SM57, and although the MB75 by no means is as shrill as your fake, it does at a notch more of high-end crispiness to it and has more of a mid-scoop. I was for long time speaking myself into not needing an SM57 and "liking the MB75 more" - but once I pulled the trigger and actually recorded with it, I knew what was missing all the time, and I immediately got "the sound" I was having in my head all the time. However, I am digressing - this video is rock-solid information, thanks alot!

[@funkybunkerv-sessions649]

Nice video Andy. I recently picked up an SM57 on Ebay at a good price. Was quite pleased when it arrived in a convincing box, complete with Shure sticker, printed booklet, clip and case. Then I tried to rotate the head. Very, very stiff. And the logo was subtlety different to the ones on my real SM57s. Have not checked weight or measurements but will shortly before returning the mic and reporting the seller. The SM57s I own are several years old so at first I thought, maybe this is how they are made now - then I watched your video! Thank you. (Stop selling fakes you fake!)

[@diegoalejandrobermudezmeji6054]

Excelente demostración, felicidades por el video, queda clara la superioridad del SM57 real. Muchas gracias!

[@DavidTan-hb8mf]

Thank! Great knowledgeble and professional!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Glad it helped!

[@jerrygeist1677]

Great video, thank you!

[@ralphisgone249]

I was a bit short on money so I bought a sm57 off craigslist for $60. The guy let me look at it before buying it and first thing I did was look at the xlr pins and thankfully they were silver. Glad I looked around for a used one rather than spending $100 without thinking.

[@TheStrykerProject]

I LOVE being armed with knowledge to spot fakes - thank you for this video! I quickly whipped out my four 57s, two of which were bought via Reverb. Thankfully, they passed the tests. I did find that two were different than the other two. One thing that tweaked me was one pair had the registered symbol with the name Shure, but the other pair didn't. Looking back at the video, the real one did not have the registered symbol, either. Also, the size of the font on one pair is bigger than the other. I can attest that two genuine 57s may have different font sizes, and may or may not have the registered symbol.

[@GoodxJ]

the registered symbol seems to be on the newer ones, even the Guitar Center picture of the brand new ones show that now!

[@mark.guitar]

Just been to a UK pawn shop chain today and they had two fake 57's. The pins. and the fact that they almost blew away in ther breeze from the door, were the giveaways to me and to the manager. The label said "microphone". No mention of Shure... I guess they haven't stopped selling fakes, the fakes...

[@edryba4867]

I’ve used literally hundreds of SM57’s over the last 55 years. I don’t believe I’d need to have a genuine Shure to spot a phony. I KNOW what a real 57 sounds like. If I’d heard your fake one without anything else to compare it to, I’d say, “This mic has either been run over by a truck, or it’s a FAKE!”

[@GoodxJ]

but they do say you can even run over a shure mic with a truck tough!!! lol 😁✌🏼😁

[@dreamscuba]

Great warning video. The definitely have a genuine 57. It passed the tests. I guessed correctly on the A/B test. Thank you.

[@Fizban481]

no problem telling which was which thanks for the explainations

[@yeti8516]

That double mic twirl at 3:37 though. Nice!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thank you. I don’t even remember doing it but I really appreciate you noticing!

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

Thank you so very much for doing this comparison I just recently bought a SM 57 it was wondering why the top was able to turn freely like that I didn't know that they were supposed to and thought either mom was broke or it might have been a fake I had purchased it off of Amazon thank you again

[@TheGuitarGeek]

You’re welcome!

[@MrAdopado]

The fakes have been around for many years now so some will have the correct colour pins for example (my fake 57 does) and will be nearer/different in other ways. I picked one up via Ebay at least 15 years ago. The head spin test (lack of spin) is certainly one which applies to mine but it surprises me that the more recent fakes haven't duplicated that aspect as it's such an instant give-away. I'll give some more descriptions of my fake 57 below: My fake also shows the same join as the one shown here between the lower body and the mid section. That join on a real one has slightly different edges so the visible join stands out more. My fake is much closer to being the same weight, size and body finish as the original (in fact it would be even closer if I hadn't already dug out the hot glue and fake transformer ... which had no core and no wire connections). The top grill grill is also closer in shape and colour than the one shown here but it is slightly darker with the fake being just slightly more silver, but not as different as in this video. The plastic section is also a close match and my real 57 does not have the textured finish that your real one has, so that can't necessarily be used as an identifier for a fake. The pins are pretty much the same colour as the original. The narrow gap section between the plastic and the body with the "grill" that you can see through on the original is different on my fake .. similar to the one in this video. A notable easy-spot on my fake is an extra hole at the connector end of the lower body section. There should just be the hole with a visible screw and the latching slot ... my fake has an extra round hole between these, similar in size to the one with the screw. When I bought my real SM57 I made sure to register my purchase with Shure online and have it confirmed as original.

[@michaelomalley7270]

Thanks lad.very good

[@matzer8846]

Just a question ❓Why did you wash 🛁your JazzChorus at 90 degrees ❓ It did shrink quite a lot

[@DrumsGunsandBibles]

Thank You!

[@chrispfeifer7628]

I've owned multiple different SM57s. Haven't ran into any fakes yet, but won't be surprised when it happens

[@Crazy.Beautiful]

i cannot tell on my Nekkst k8s or KRK rokit 6s the difference on the clean at all, and a tiny bit for the distorted tones. BUT on my VSX headphones i can hear it all clear as day on all of them.

[@hydorah]

Mate! Huge thanks for this vid I've been wanting to buy a couple of SM57 mics for a while but want to buy used to save some money. Now I know how to navigate the fakes. And guess what? Most of the used ones for sale are fake!

[@richardjosephnovak]

The fake one sounds better. Where do I get one.

[@vasotoe]

Very insightful video! Counterfeits are such a pain in the a**. Stop selling fakes.....you fakes...

[@DeadKoby]

There's a number of "CLONE" mics out there that sell under other brands. I would NEVER consider buying a Shure mic from Aliexpress or somewhere like that... BUT I've bought a few of the "store brand" mics from there, and they were OK cheap mics to use for talking or karaoke singers who treat your mics like junk.

[@CopacabanaDisc]

thank you friend

[@bassblom]

yep, just got me one, all checks ok, only mine has a ® after SHURE and yes I got the A/B's right

[@MarcoPolux]

thank you! 👍

[@256k_]

bought a couple of sm57s off ebay for a good price and was really excited until someone told me they might be fakes. the first worrying sign was the plastic that doesnt turn freely, but most other tests are passed. havent had a chance to test the sound yet though but i really hope it's not a fake

[@hayden3928]

Let me know how it goes. I just bought a $45 open box mic, so wish me luck

[@MrAdopado]

If the top doesn't spin it ain't a real one ... sorry.

[@CopacabanaDisc]

same here

[@rokku87]

I got mine at sweetwater 7 or so years ago. I'm probably ok. Crazy this is happening more often lately though.

[@jerrygeist1677]

I even have a special cable that I had given to me. That Diminishes the 7K push out of a 57 so when I use it on an amp front or the back of an amp. It's really delicious.

[@fasgamboa]

Are you shure its fake?

[@ToddDolce]

I know this doesn't help on the front end but I think you can also contact Shure and provide them with the serial number and they can verify its authenticity. Again, I know it won't help us on the front end but not much else will anyway unless you can physically see and feel it before purchasing.

[@frallorfrallor3410]

ist that why they want you to register it to let customer know its authenic?

[@MrAdopado]

@@frallorfrallor3410 Yes, of course... they like to have your details for marketing as well but it's helpful to be reassured it's authentic.

[@ericctheartofnoise8613]

In the States, we have a lot of flea markets. I have dealt with a lot of car audio and video products. We don't call an item a fake, they are called clones. A lot of the clones would have an (E) or (EU) in the model or serial number indicating it's a European model. You wouldn't think there would be that much of a difference. When opening the back cover of the clones, say an amp of a brand name. Instead of finding one large chase with the power supply and amp with mosfets. There would be two smaller boards with the electronics on it. Both boxes for the two, real and clone would have the same writing and wattage, but the clone is no where near the same as what is written on the box. It's not just car audio, TVs, home theaters, coffee makers, perfumes, car parts, just about anything has a clone. It all comes from China.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

That's interesting. So are they selling this stuff as new?

[@ericctheartofnoise8613]

@AndyGuitarGeek yup, at flea market prices. It's all discounted to sell.

[@abramfedorov4483]

I got so scared at the start, my is a silver grate but passed every other test. Also I remember halfway through that I purchased mine through a music store that officially deals sure products and I had no reason to worry in the first place.

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Glad to hear it!

[@GoodxJ]

There are so many fakes out there on eBay so this video is really helpful and I verified it was legit first with these tips!!! thank you so much. cheers, -GoodxJ 🧘🏻‍♂🍵🌳☀👣

[@MilanChamling]

Thanks. I almost bought a fake one because I thought it was a good deal. There is an online platform selling one for 100 Singapore dollar. The price at the retail store is S$140.

[@MilanChamling]

Btw, the online retailer is selling the fake one. It is exactly like the fake one you described.

[@iammoog]

I got stung by a fake SM58. It looks absolutely indistinguishable, but many techs have said it just sounds terrible. STOP SELLING FAKES, ya fake

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Sorry to hear that mate. Did you pay full price for the fake?

[@iammoog]

@@TheGuitarGeek No. I paid about £40 though. It looked totally legit, from a guy who was dissolving a small home studio. There were lots of other bits for sale. Could have been a scam, but could have just been bad luck - and maybe the guy I bought it off was also done over and was selling thinking it was genuine.

[@muhammadsarmadhussain3400]

Why dont they just give a serial number to their original mics that can be verified and registered just like Rode mics?

[@RaxFx]

if you remove the basket it's even more obvious which is the real one.

[@chintimin]

was a good video. Seriously wish they'd mark the fakes. Not gonna say that thing from the end, I dun wanna.

[@skaboosh]

Gosh, you're in America.... I've never even been to America.... I think it's a bit late to go now

[@Mestavo]

but... where can we get a fake one?

[@RiffsPerSecond]

Oh god, I never thought how much worse the fake would be. But well, 10 bucks vs 100, I mean, not a surprise.

[@robertlathan4639]

What is wrong with a 10 dollar mic that is still working? Love you brother!!

[@Sevetamryn]

Nothing, as long as it does not pretend to be something different.

[@adamsteelproducer]

“Working” but sounds terrible? That’s why. The fake really sounded horrible to me. I’ve got a whole host of cheap 57 clones and most of them are ok, but not this bad…

[@Theweeze100]

Bought a fake Beta 58. Doing an A-B comparison it became obvious. Glad I had a real one from Sweetwater😅. I still felt a little foolish…it was too cheap!

[@TheGuitarGeek]

How much did you pay?

[@ezekielswiss5956]

I am looking to get one and want to make sure i get a real one. The one on sweetwater even has a silver top so its fake? what the hell.

[@MrRickPanick]

I think it would be better if you would have started out with a comparison of sound.

[@dw7704]

Never owned an Sm57, but I’ve used them. The real one sounded better Sometimes a cheaper mic is better for the sound you want I have a cheap Shure mic, but not an SM57 For some sounds it’s a better choice But even if that fake Shure sounds good for some stuff- it shouldn’t say Shure on it Stop selling fakes and all that

[@JR-lx8nn]

Nicely done. Well scripted and enjoyable narration. Stop selling fakes. And stop manipulating me as a viewer !!! :-) JT

[@benwall2466]

Glad I watched before purchasing. Thx for the info. STOP SELLING FAKES...YOU FAKES!! lol

[@VendettaAustralia]

I got 1 real and 2 fakes... they do the job...

[@bobbritches846]

The weight of one would be enough to tell. They even have fake name brand guitar strings now. Watch out folks!

[@emypena]

I bought most likely a fake sm57 because it cost only $8. It already have a silver pin like the original

[@davidclark3603]

The fakes are everywhere!!!!!

[@Sevetamryn]

All fonts used on the fake are different and lighter

[@TheGuitarGeek]

It’s not a very convincing sticker when you compare with a genuine 57

[@Sevetamryn]

@@TheGuitarGeek And that's the biggest issue of fakes. For someone familiar with the product for long time, red flags are visible even without a direct comparing. "price too good to be true and it looks and feels somewhat wonky" ... For someone buying the 1st one - convincing enough. ... And i think, you bought this with having the option for this video already in mind ;)

[@ericbaseY0]

i already spotted @0:30, lol

[@CANNIMAGINE]

So you have to use your fake SM57 to mike your Chibson😵‍💫

[@jasonwelch6306]

Stop faking the selling or something like that?

[@bruhemian]

i got a good deal on a sm57 today. was a bit concerned because i knew fakes existed but this video helped prove it is real. looks identical to the real one you used in this video. stop selling fakes... you fake

[@andrewmorgan1640]

Around the world now all the geeks are measuring their microphones

[@TheGuitarGeek]

a perfectly normal thing to do!

[@MRGTR-94]

I really hope you live in the US using the word BUCKS....

[@Amish_Trivedi]

I was a little torn on the last one but thought the fake sounded way harsh. When I got mine (used from Guitar Center, but they had checked over it etc), I thought something was broken because the top spun. But you should stop selling fakes, you fake (and thanks for the IG response earlier!)

[@TheGuitarGeek]

Thanks for sharing! I also thought my 57 was broken because of the spinning top but apparently not!

[@hethaerto1]

The fake 57 sounds like garbage. I noticed a few fakes on Ebay this morning going for $50.

[@adamsteelproducer]

Stop selling hakes! I thought something was a bit fishy…

[@TheGuitarGeek]

😂 oh my cod

[@ralphhathaway-coley5460]

Use a tuna, and it might be OK for sole music. Stop selling fakes you fakes.

[@calbrockocat8728]

The world is a knock-off, probably from some better place. The moment you think you've scored one for the home team with a "great deal" you have opened yourself up to be scammed. Be a wary consumer. And, yeah, you have to pay full price sometimes.

[@dalepal]

Great tips for telling a fake from the real SM57. That’s why I bought mine new when it was on sale at Sweetwater. Stop selling fakes you fake. 🤣

[@andresilva8444]

Stop selling fakes!! I have nothing to ad. :P

[@TheGuitarGeek]

You added a smile to my day

[@castleanthrax1833]

#stopsellingfakes

[@PooNinja]

Props to Ellen Bakes Are you taking over where Mr. Milton is leaving off? Buyers beware scammers are everywhere!!!! They even fake strings!!! WTF is the profit margin there? Know your gear… wait that’s a desert dweller Andy is more an alpine player.

[@PooNinja]

Mang I been usin the jass pre on my Fender cham pión and as a pedal platform it’s killa, unlike the Mr. Microphone known as mic B

[@PooNinja]

Who’s Ellen Bakes? They shouldn’t let her back to the flea market that’s fo sho!

[@JaniceLalla]

Stop selling fakes!

[@markpickardlife]

Fake!

[@MrMerab]

S U P E R ....

[@fofopho]

Got to love the SM57 - also... stop selling fakes you fake

[@TheGuitarGeek]

I had forgotten how good it sounds on a clean tone

[@TheMerc1950]

Stop making fakes, you faking fakers!

[@ilikeblackguitars]

Stop selling fakes you fake I never knew there were fake mics guitars yes 🎤 no thank you Andy

[@TheMorbidAsshole]

the fake one would work so good on black metal. it sounds really raw especially on the high gain

[@spankenheim]

stop selling fakes you fake! The real question is can you pound nails with the fake? I'm guessing it isn't as good a hammer as the genuine SM57 because it weighs less.

[@matzer8846]

Hm ... why do you complain about "fake" musical products These products are made for fake musicians like me You are not supposed to buy any of these You are a real musician ... just buy a Sennheiser 441 ... ‼

[@kingpriapatius5832]

Fantastic. The fake sounds really awful!!!!!!

[@xray111xxx]

Right from Shure themselves. Buy only from authorized retailers. Anyone else? No guarantees.