Guides / Buying

How to spot a fake Shure SM58 or SM7B

The Shure SM58 is one of the most counterfeited microphones there is, and fake SM7Bs turn up too. Here's how to tell before you pay. Updated September 2026.

The short answer: a genuine SM58 is heavy for its size, has a thick, matte grille and a crisp, well-finished body, and sounds full rather than thin. Fakes are lighter, shinier and brighter. If the price is well below what used ones normally sell for, be suspicious before you even pick it up.

Start with the price

A used, genuine SM58 in the UK usually sells for £40-£80, and an SM7B for £200-£340. A "brand new" SM58 for £25, or several new ones from the same seller, is the classic sign of fakes. So is a listing that uses stock photos instead of pictures of the actual mic.

Six checks for an SM58

• Weight. A real SM58 weighs about 300g without the cable, because of the solid body and the transformer inside. Fakes are usually noticeably lighter; some are well under 250g. Kitchen scales settle it in seconds.
• The grille. The genuine grille is thick, matte, brushed metal that holds its shape. Fake grilles tend to be thinner, shinier wire mesh that dents easily.
• Under the grille. Unscrew the grille. Look for a grey foam lining, and silver threads where the grille screws on. Black foam, dull black threads or a "CAUTION" sticker wrapped round the capsule are all common on fakes.
• The body finish. The join between the body and the handle should be a clean, defined seam. The Shure logo and lettering should be sharp and evenly printed, not blurred or uneven.
• The XLR end. Look at the connector at the bottom. The markings should be crisp and the pins neatly set; rough plastic or missing markings are warning signs.
• The sound. Plug it in and talk into it. A genuine SM58 sounds full and warm in the low mids with a smooth top. Fakes typically sound thin, bright or harsh, and they feed back more easily.

If you can, compare it side by side with one you know is genuine. That's the most reliable test there is.

The box and accessories

• Genuine boxes are well printed, with a serial number on the label. Poor printing, spelling mistakes and missing serials point to fakes.
• The genuine pouch has a matte finish and tidy stitching; fakes are often shiny with rough stitching.
• The genuine clip is sturdy and comes with a thread adapter. A loose, flimsy clip with no adapter is a warning sign.

Plenty of genuine used SM58s come without a box, so a missing box on its own proves nothing. A bad box does, though.

The SM7B

Fake SM7Bs are less common than fake SM58s but do exist, and they cost a lot more to get wrong.

• Weight: a genuine SM7B is heavy, at about 765g. A fake that feels light for its size probably is one.
• Finish: the casing, yoke and nuts should be solid and evenly finished, and the switches on the back should click firmly.
• The label and serial: check the label on the body is sharp and evenly printed, and ask the seller for a clear photo of it before you travel.
• The sound: the SM7B needs a lot of gain, but once it has enough it should sound smooth and full. Hiss, thin lows or a harsh top end are warning signs.

If you're buying on Marketplace

• Ask for photos of the actual mic, including under the grille, before you arrange to meet.
• Take kitchen scales, or ask the seller to weigh it.
• Test it through something: a small interface, a PA, or even a phone adapter.
• Pay on collection, once you've checked it. Never pay a "deposit" to hold it.

The flipper extension flags listings priced far below a model's usual range, and it lists the checks for microphones on every mic listing you open. It's free while it's in testing: join the testers.