As a public service to RO and its potential visitors, I thought I'd research this topic and post a thread explaining the differences between real Shure SM58 mics and counterfeit models. In the last few years, a serious number of fake 58's have hit the global market. This isn't a myth, these fake mics are indeed out there, so here are some things to look for:
First off, feel the mic. Genuine 58's are solid, heavy. Real 58's weigh in at around 326 grams. Fake 58's feel light and cheap and weigh-in far less, sometimes as light as 180 grams.
All genuine SM58's are now made in Mexico ( there are some real Shure models, such as the Beta, that are in fact made in China). But, if any Shure SM model mic says "made in U.S.A." ...it's a fake.
On a real 58, the metal mesh on the ball will have a matte/dulled metallic finish. Fakes will often appear very shiny ... some fakes may even appear to have a chrome-like finish on the mesh of the ball.
Just below the windscreen capsule/ball, a real SM58 will always have a wrap-around label with the Shure logo and model number. Fake 58's rarely have this.
On a real 58, the silver trim below the ball will be beveled/contoured, on the fakes it is not.
Opening the windscreen capsule, real 58's do not have a silver 'warning" sticker that describes voiding the warranty if opened, where the fake models do. Real 58's will have a sticker with a bar code, but no warning label.
Real 58's will always use Yellow and Green wires on the inside; fakes will use Red/Black wires (although recently, some fakes have been found with Yellow/Green as well, but most fakes will use Red/Black).
On a real 58, the circuit board on the lower half will have a quality control stamp in red lettering. This rarely, if ever, appears on the counterfeit mics.
On a real 58, when you unscrew the ball, the threading is silver - on fakes, look for black or dark grey threading.
On the bottom of the mic, where you connect the XLR cable, real 58's have both the Shure logo ( not just the word "Shure" but in the same font style as the logo) and the pins will be numbered ( 1/2/3); and the XLR section is one solid piece, whereas fake models will leave off the logo, or the pin numbers, ( sometimes both) and the XLR section appears as a separate "insert" piece inside the body of the mic.
Real 58's will always have a serial number, which you can register for warranty on the enclosed paperwork. Fake 58's will often go as far as to include the factory paperwork and warranty card, but there is no serial number included/printed on the box or within the documentation.
On a real 58, the bag which holds the mic will have the Shure logo embossed on it, which you can feel. On fake models, the logo is not embossed.
Real standard 58's do not come with an XLR cable... (the only Shure microphone that includes a cable is the Shure SM58-CN). If the box includes a cable but isn't labeled with the proper model number, then you may have a fake mic. Also, some fake SM58's come with a switch attached; the model number for this should read SM58S. The "standard" SM58 (with no switch) will be listed as SM58-LC. These come with a mic clip, a strap, and a brass 3/8" clip insert, for use to adapt to any mic stand.
Finally, know that some of these counterfeiters are getting to be good at copying the real deals, and are now covering many of the neglected details mentioned above... so in the end, use your ears... real 58's sound like, well, like a 58 should sound - full, rich, nice upper presence without harshness, and can take serious amounts of SPL before distortion ... fakes will sound brittle and harsh with even only low to moderate gain applied, will have a distinct lack of lows and low mids, and will distort easily.
FWIW
-d.
Comments
They are also moving to Beta 58s, I note. Many years ago, I got
They are also moving to Beta 58s, I note.
Many years ago, I got some friends to compare their 58s, and I figured I'd found a quick solution - weight them, but it became clear that genuine 58s all weight quite different amounts. Not huge differences, but just weighing my own, I found a big swing in the weights - heavier tended to be 'older'. One big PA company last year had bought and entire batch of dodgy ones, and the give away was how prone to feedback they were when eq'd to sound nicer.
The same goes with the Shure Beta 58A's...I recently viewed 3 li
The same goes with the Shure Beta 58A's...I recently viewed 3 listed together "as new" on the ebay Oz site and the first thing that caught my eye was the price.
The price should have been enough of a red flag.
The three were listed together for $300 AUD where at retail here in Oz they are anywhere between $249 to $349 AUD each... even with our exchange rate being $1 AUD to 0.73 USD we are still getting royally screwed on the price buying the real deal at retail here. (Hey, if your'e going to screw me, at least buy me a drink first...) ;)
On a closer inspection these ones listed on ebay just didn't look right, from the color being slightly lighter than the factory finish (although it could have been the flash photography at work in this case, but I seriously doubt it) to the attention to detail of the badging looking a tad amateurish.
Add the fact that there were no accessories such as the Shure mic pouch, mic clip, lead or velcro strap...or any warranty documentation whatsoever...just a box.
Ebay actually have a warning page about counterfeit Shure mics that also have some helpful links to pages that have pics that show the difference between the counterfeit and the real deal, and what to look out for to avoid being caught out with a fake.
They even admit there is a widespread problem with counterfeit Shure mics as well as other brands being copied and listed as the genuine article as well.
But as stated above by my esteemed collegues, the counterfeiters are paying a closer attention to detail with product packaging, accessories and details such as the gold pins on the XLRs' to fool you into believing its the real thing.
For peace of mind paying a few extra dollars at a retailer that is a genuine Shure dealer is a small price to pay for the guaranteed quality that comes with the real thing...
- even if it does mean getting royally screwed here in Australia on price for the privilege.
FWIW.
Sean G, post: 438628, member: 49362 wrote: Ebay actually have a
Sean G, post: 438628, member: 49362 wrote: Ebay actually have a warning page about counterfeit Shure mics that also have some helpful links to pages that have pics that show the difference between the counterfeit and the real deal, and what to look out for to avoid being caught out with a fake.
I had no idea this was a real issue, with software piracy always being the main focus of fraud these days, I had no idea people would fake, what is essentially a budget mic. It's like counterfeiting a Honda Civic. But I guess the strength is in the raw numbers, and when you get into Neumann and AKG, those are mics, where you would/should register the seriel number.
Its not just limited to Shure mics, other recognised brands are
Its not just limited to Shure mics, other recognised brands are also being copied although it appears Shure tend to be the most popular mic of the counterfeiters whose copies surface on sites such as ebay, most likely due to their brand popularity within the marketplace.
The more popular the brand the more appealing it is for the counterfeiter to copy and also to sell to the end user who is duped into believing they are buying the genuine article.
You would not believe how widespread the range of counterfeit products that come out of China and India alone. Its not just limited to such items as designer handbags or watches. One of the more alarming trends recently is pharmaceuticals, especially expensive medicines that are being counterfeited at an alarming rate and finding their way into the common market.
Another example, here in Australia there has been a rush on baby formula bought off supermarket shelves in the last few months to be sent back to China by expat Chinese and sold on the black market, as there was a huge counterfeit baby formula scare in China recently.
The counterfeiters were faking baby fomula over there with a substitute product that contained powdered melamine. That stuff is toxic.
It got that bad here with how much baby formula was being bought up and sent to China by post that there has now been a limit on how many tins each person could buy at any one time...as soon as it was on the shelves it was gone...organised groups of Chinese shoppers strategically descending on supermarkets buying up as much as they could and blantantly loading into the backs of trucks in the supermarket carpark onto pallets to be wrapped and sent overseas on the spot.
If it wasn't so serious it would be laughable.
All because someone thought it would be a good idea to counterfeit baby formula in China with a substitute melamine product, now no-one over there trusts the local baby formula so a growing black market in formula sourced from places like Australia has emerged. Crazy stuff.
Sean G, post: 438641, member: 49362 wrote: You would not believe
Sean G, post: 438641, member: 49362 wrote: You would not believe how widespread the range of counterfeit products that come out of China and India alone. Its not just limited to such items as designer handbags or watches. One of the more alarming trends recently is pharmaceuticals, especially expensive medicines that are being counterfeited at an alarming rate and finding their way into the common market.
Man that's crazy. I gotta watch the news more. It's so scary because so much comes from there. Personally I'm still concerned about the nuclear meltdown they had in that area of the globe a few years ago. It's cooled off as an issue, but damn, the results of that accident will be felt for many many lifetimes.
Your comment, reminded me of the first time I went to NY. Back in the mid 90's, you remember those bright yellow Sony Walkman Sports? They were like water resistant, they were the sh*t.!!! I always wanted one in the worst way, but got the rca, or Sanyo version lol. Back then $100 was a lot, especially for a 10 yr old. Anyway, we were walking down Times Square and every other window front had all of the counterfeit electronic look a likes. I was like pllllleeeeeaaaaaasssssssseeeeeeee mom?!?!?! No Kyle, those are bootlegs. Pleeeeeeaaasssssseeeeeee!?!?!? No. Lol. I haven't thought of that memory in like 20 years.
I guess this is nothing new...
Sean G, post: 438641, member: 49362 wrote: Another example, here in Australia there has been a rush on baby formula bought off supermarket shelves in the last few months to be sent back to China by expat Chinese and sold on the black market, as there was a huge counterfeit baby formula scare in China recently.
Ya know man, those are the types of organizations, I would feel okay with using the US's absurd defense budget to fight. That's real terrorism. It's one thing to attack grown people, but to poison children. Nothing good about that.
QC is crazy. Over here there's a huge lumber chain, lumber liquidators, and the import budget, flooring. Essentially that snap together hard wood 'pergo' covering. They got sued for having like 5x times the accepted amount formaldehyde on it.
The American never admitted, but the Chinese plant manager said that they printed stickers stating falsely, that the formaldehyde was 'tested and safe'. Since it falls out of American jurisdiction, all was well for quite some time. I wasn't happy when I realized I had installed a couple thousand sqft of the stuff in the studios overt past few years.
The more and more I learn the less and less I trust the mainstream. But the baby formula thing takes it to a new level. Aisan people buy canned air, and they also pay big bucks for used clothing worn by athletes, and not washed. Maybe they should consider the lives of children, ahead of these novelties. But who knows really who's exactly to blame.
That's wild stuff Sean.
here is some of the press regarding it http://www.news.com.au/fi
here is some of the press regarding it
http://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/parents-outraged-as-chemist-warehouse-buys-into-chinese-baby-formula-racket/news-story/45a8d54dd88ae7bc1fa9f780ff3549aa
Even the Washington Post ran this story
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinas-hunger-for-baby-formula-feeds-an-underground-market-in-australia/2016/01/16/3386be2e-bba2-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html
All this is the consequence of a counterfeit baby formula racket in China. Counterfeiters will go to any lengths to make a buck besides counterfeiting goods like microphones.
Apologies to DonnyThompson the OP for getting off the original topic...but this highlights how widespread the trend is
I bought some fake Sennheiser 835 about 12years ago. The fake mi
I bought some fake Sennheiser 835 about 12years ago. The fake mics risk wasn't public as today back then.
Bought an order of two and both sounded very different from each other (both different sounds of crap) even tho they were bought at the same time.
We are all dreaming of the best deal. Please a U87 for 100$ !!!
If it's too good to be true, chances are it's not ! ;)
As a talking point I have in my theatre venue a free gift I got
As a talking point I have in my theatre venue a free gift I got as a sample from one Chinese supplier. A shure SM86. I have a few of these and like them. The free one was half the weight and when I plugged it in, it sounded very thin. Then I discovered the phantom power was off. Screwing off the grill revealed a dynamic capsule! You have to be very careful. metal - Shire was a typo!
dvdhawk, post: 438608, member: 36047 wrote: For a mic that is s
dvdhawk, post: 438608, member: 36047 wrote:
For a mic that is so universally useful, they are such a bargain at $99 USD. It's not worth the gamble buying one at any price, whether it's new or used, from Craigslist or eBay.
Beat me to it. If you can't even afford $99 for a mic, wait until you can.
Personally I would never buy any mic used and this is but one reason.
joey2000, post: 439825, member: 49915 wrote: Beat me to it. If
joey2000, post: 439825, member: 49915 wrote: Beat me to it. If you can't even afford $99 for a mic, wait until you can.
Personally I would never buy any mic used and this is but one reason.
Bold statement...that puts a lot of classic original Neumanns, Telefunkens & AKG's out of the mix that are far superior to anything made now under the same name, if you would never buy a used mic...
Its not like you can just roll up to your local Guitar Centre and buy an original U87...original ELA M 251E...or an original c414 with the brass capsule new over the counter now...
"You have much to learn, young grasshopper...";)
I'd have no troubles buying a mic used, ( I already have, severa
I'd have no troubles buying a mic used, ( I already have, several times, my U89i was used when I bought it) if it was from a seller that would be willing to back up the purchase.
I don't think I'd bother with buying a used 57 or 58, because brand new ones are just so inexpensive to begin with; but for more expensive mics, or for mics that you can't get new anymore, then sure, no problem... if the price is right, and as long as the seller offers a MBG if it turns out that there's something wrong with it.
Sean G, post: 439827, member: 49362 wrote: Bold statement...that puts a lot of classic original Neumanns, Telefunkens & AKG's out of the mix that are far superior to anything made now under the same name, if you would never buy a used mic...
As Sean mentioned, that scratches a lot of great mics off the list - Coles, Beyers, Sennheiser's, EV's ....
You're not gonna find a new 414EB/CK12 Brass anywhere anymore, or an original U87 ... or, even if you wanted a simple but great sounding dynamic mic - something like a Senny MD409 with an original U3 cap - you'd have to buy a used model...
You just have to make sure that the mics are in decent-to-good condition, that the price is fair for what you are buying, and that the seller is offering an MBG. Most sellers who have mics like these for sale have taken good care of them, are honest about their condition, and are willing to back up the purchase with some kind of guarantee; unless the seller is selling these mics for parts, or "as is", (which they will generally specify), those who have and are selling these types of mics have generally taken good care of them - and those buyers who are familiar with these mics expect there to be at least a little cosmetic wear and tear.
You just need to use common sense, and do some research on what you are buying. Educate yourself on the models you are interested in, know the differences of the models over the years, know the average pricing.
For example, unless there's been some kind of a mod done, there's no such thing as a 1985 414EB with a C12 Brass Capsule, and I'd even be pretty suspicious of something like a "mint condition" 1974 EV RE20, as well.
Just use common sense, and be informed. ;)
As somebody who buys quite a lot of Chinese product for resale,
As somebody who buys quite a lot of Chinese product for resale, you have to understand that any advice on what to look for fails after the next batch is produced. Reviews of good Chinese mics often fail too, because the next batch will not be the same. From what I have seen, all the fake Shures and Sennheisers use identical components inside for short periods. A 57, 58, 835 and now the 900 series too will have the very same capsule - for a while. Then, the next batch start to use the current one. There are very few critical component factories - most Chinese products of this kind are assembled into the 'unique' things we buy.
The latest product is the Shure 545 - the CN version with a switch. Clearly they don't realise it's an ancient product, so they produce it, but package it in the same zip case and box design as the latest 57/58s! It's been produced from photographs, not the original, so everything about it is wrong. Weight, alloy, finish, size. It uses the same capsule as the current 57s they produce. Clever idea, but rubbish, of course.
I service one particular client where the microphones need to be there 24/7 for people to bellow through, but are easily stealable. Since May they've lost 7 or 8 and what they have actually lost are Chinese fakes, not Shure originals. They're disposable. The current 57s are actually quite good - a nice sounding capsule, the 58s not so hot, they seem to have the older capsule that is a bit spikey making feedback more of an issue. To keep my morals in order, I scratch out the 'Shure' on the wrap around.
The trouble of course is that a huge proportion of Shure mics out there are not genuine, and while some are very obviously fakes, many are close enough that users don't notice. I know of a PA company who only discovered many of their new ones were fake when they had trouble with eq and feedback. No idea which supplier provided them - too late and all mixed up.
joey2000, post: 439825, member: 49915 wrote: Personally I would
joey2000, post: 439825, member: 49915 wrote: Personally I would never buy any mic used and this is but one reason.
If you're referring the hygiene issue, I agree. I wouldn't want an SM58 of unknown origin, because it will eventually be touching my lips. If you get a studio caliber LDC that's been slobbered on, it's obviously going to have other problems as well.
Especially if we're playing a gig where I know there's a chance we'll have a guest singer(s), I've packed a spare 58 just for them. If we're doing a bigger show through a house PA, or a multi-band outdoor festival, I always ask the stage crew if I can use my own 58, and mutter something about cold and flu season.
I'm not a germ-o-phobe, just germ aware, and I KNOW where some of these musicians have been. Sometimes I see the crew going around wiping down the grills of the vocal mics with sanitizing wipes (which is a good idea) - but sorry, too little, too late.
I had a client who repeatably banged a whore and came back into
I had a client who repeatably banged a whore and came back into the sessions. No showers at this particular studio, barely a working sink. Client then felt comfortable sitting all over the chairs, touching the gear, and sharing joints. All this with no mention of the previous 'activity' from just moments ago. Thank goodness I was intuitive/suspect enough to not share the joints. Germs are good for building immunity, bodily fluids are just gross. This is why I changed my whole outlook on an open to the public facility of my own, and why I don't but used computers. I was never very lucky with used gear in the past, I tend to get lemons, but definatly don't buy used now. Who's knows where these things have been. Call me crazy, because I am, but man that's the ugly truth, at least around these crappy city streets anyway.
kmetal, post: 439850, member: 37533 wrote: I had a client who re
kmetal, post: 439850, member: 37533 wrote: I had a client who repeatably banged a whore and came back into the sessions. No showers at this particular studio, barely a working sink. Client then felt comfortable sitting all over the chairs, touching the gear, and sharing joints. All this with no mention of the previous 'activity' from just moments ago. Thank goodness I was intuitive/suspect enough to not share the joints. Germs are good for building immunity, bodily fluids are just gross. This is why I changed my whole outlook on an open to the public facility of my own, and why I don't but used computers. I was never very lucky with used gear in the past, I tend to get lemons, but definatly don't buy used now. Who's knows where these things have been. Call me crazy, because I am, but man that's the ugly truth, at least around these crappy city streets anyway.
Was this in Revere by any chance? Haven't been in Boston in a good while, but the "grapevine" still works....
kmetal, post: 439850, member: 37533 wrote: This is why I change
kmetal, post: 439850, member: 37533 wrote: This is why I changed my whole outlook on an open to the public facility of my own, and why I don't but used computers.
While shopping for a new computer keyboard a couple weeks ago, I saw one that was marketed as "dishwasher safe". I had no idea there was such a thing. I ended up getting something different, but I haven't ruled out getting one later incase we ever have any guest typist(s).
I'm certainly all for hygiene, but if you walked into any public
I'm certainly all for hygiene, but if you walked into any public place - and I'm not referring to the obvious places like restrooms - and were able to actually see all the germs and bacteria around you, you'd freak and not want to move an inch in any direction.
Anyone who eats at a restaurant, tries on clothes, takes the trash out, or even breathes the same air as others do, is susceptible to all kinds of bad-nasties. This is why our bodies have the immune systems that they do... and studies have shown that people who isolate themselves away from the world - germophobes - end up getting sick more often, because their bodies haven't come in contact with germs and bacteria enough to build anti-bodies against them.
Again, I'm not saying I'd be happy about sharing a bathroom with someone who was sexually "loose", but you can't sequester yourself away from the world, either.
dvdhawk, post: 439854, member: 36047 wrote: While shopping for a
dvdhawk, post: 439854, member: 36047 wrote: While shopping for a new computer keyboard a couple weeks ago, I saw one that was marketed as "dishwasher safe". I had no idea there was such a thing. I ended up getting something different, but I haven't ruled out getting one later incase we ever have any guest typist(s).
The amazing thing I've learned is just how much stuff, particularly electronics and sneakers is washer-machine safe. I've washed USB drives, CDs stuffed in a sock, sneakers, which I do regularly (don't use a dryer for sneakers it melts the glue). All that stuff I've washed in the machine time and time again, in disbelief that it still works. Some stuff gets broken, particularly the 'dollar store' type phone chargers get the connections messed up. But an amazing amount of stuff had been cleaned up in the washing machine by yours truly. Hand tools, my Milwaukee power drill, Even those little portable Harbour freight tools led lights, solar chargers, have made it thru plenty of cycles, even e the batteries in. I usually take batteries out whenever possible.
I think the two rules are they cant be 'on' when getting wet, and must be completely dry before power up. Salt water kills.
Ocd/ptsd crap aside, I've been washing my new shoes before they get that first 'browning' fort layer that never comes off, so like every 3-4 wears, and I swear I've got shoes over a year old that look almost new, like very close to new. Must air dry them tho.
It's weird that 'common sense' says you can't wash shoes, or belts, but they're leather (or fake leather) which is cow skin, and gets wet all the time.
Ditto for electronics. The first thing dan z does with many things is stick them in his ultra sonic cleaner, with a bunch of water and some chemical solution I'm not aware of, probably soap or amonia if I had to guess. Remy bathed a neve in soap and water for a week.
I'm not defending my rediculous ways (not all of them anyway) but rather sharing some tips for clean shoes, and stating that a lot of what people belive as truth is simply not true. It's worth questioning things...
I will say, I've yet to try anything super valuable or expenaive, of delicate like a laptop. I have a harddrive case I power washed lol and I'll see if the drive inside still works. I also power washed two guitars, thinking they'd warp and fall apart, to the countrary, they just look new, no dents.
These will be being trDed in soon. Another reason why used gear frightens me. I guess it's 'let the buyer beware'. Lol for the record I really am as unsane as I sound. But I think that a lot of commonly accepted things are a bit insane myself. Again dirt and germs aren't really bothersome to me, I worked at enough restaurants to know. Lol my old boss used to have me jump in the dumpster to make space instead of calling for a pickup, then gave me right out at the counter collecting cash and serving food. There's a range of tolerance for dropped silverware, unwashed hands after the bathroom, that stuff is supposed to be common sense, but isn't common as it should. That's one thing, but there's a whole other level out there I wish I wasn't aware of.
I still wonder how to clean a mic diaphragm. I've yet to try.
DonnyThompson, post: 439856, member: 46114 wrote: Again, I'm not
DonnyThompson, post: 439856, member: 46114 wrote: Again, I'm not saying I'd be happy about sharing a bathroom with someone who was sexually "loose", but you can't sequester yourself away from the world, either.
I hear ya. If you'd at a bar or strip club that's almost to be expected. But when someone leaves and re enters a studio, and tries to share food or weed without saying anything that's a bit much. It kinda takes away my right of choice. I love strippers, lol. And I think prostotion should be legal. There's a time and place.
Frankly I've done some things I find unacceptable.
The reason I left that studio was because beyond that cleint using it for his sack shack, there were multiple other prostitutes there, as well as drug growers, hardcore addicts, stabbings, shootings, and people unloading u hauls full of brand new tools regularly.
I went out to grab a cable and actually saw a prostitute and John getting it on in the next space over from my car, actually my dads truck.
All that combined was quite enough for me. Plus the gear was always broke lol.
I vowed to never be in the position to have something I love be over taken like that again. The police knew, landlords jnew, boss knew, nobody cared.
They actually just ended up locking the bathrooms instead of fixing them. Giving people no option to clean up. So that same guy filling the soda machines at that building, is going right on to some innocent restaurant down the street. I've seen people bring there kids to the facility.
So I may still over react about things because of that whole thing but it's not without reason. Hell I went to s counseler and they were located on the same street. Counselor had no idea, wasn't from around here. I stopped going because I kept seeing in the paper about people overdosing in the parking lot. It was one of the only places around that took my insurance.
Fwiw New Bedford, and purchase st itself, (lol ironic name eh) has a 'reputation'. It was once the richest city in America, back in the whaling days. Now it's an ansolutely brutal place to be a 'nice guy'. A rough place to grow up. It's not everyone, there's a lot of kind people, but a lot of evil. It's like way too impoverished. And the bad people ruin it for people like me who'd rather just mind their business, or put oblivious people into bad situations.
Lol to top it off. One of those nights w my client, his long time girlfriend of like 18 years cooked us dinner. That's how he thanked her.
Sorry about the tangent, this stuff gets to me. Soon enough I'll be in a better area, with people and places I can't identify and it's back to Buisness as usual.
At lest the other studio has its own private entrances, an is in a different town/state. We built a whole apartment in the back with beds a kitchenette and shower. A place for the times.
For the record I knew something was bad about that guy when he flashed a few thousand in hundreds at our first meeting. I was desperate to work, not wanting to turn anything down. I should have trusted my gut.
The strange thing, is how fast that facility went from run-of-the-mill dumpy practice spot, to full on carnage. As soon as the building, an Old mill, changed ownership, the management got fired, and the guy who used to keep things in order was let go, and it all went downhill. Within one year that place one from dumpy, to downright disgusting both behaviorally and actually.
Our immune systems can combat most of the everyday bacteria we e
Our immune systems can combat most of the everyday bacteria we encounter on a day-to-day basis. Our immunity is built up from an young age and continues over our lifetime with resistence building due to exposure.
As kids we played in the dirt and swam in the creeks, albeit not the too polluted ones, all adding to our resistance...as well as regular bathing and proper hygene like washing your hands after using the bathroom and before eating. Exposure to other human beings actually helps us build immunity from a young age...especially as children where we can catch the measles and chicken pox and the like from being around and in close contact with other kids at school, which helps build a resistence to catching it again when we are older.
Now its fashionable for mothers to have 'measles parties'...where if one child gets the measles they throw all their kids in a room together so all the kids can be exposed to it, catching it young so they have a greater resistence to it when they are older. This goes with other similar infections we are prone to as children as well.
Those parents that shelter their children, not allowing them outside the house but preferring them to contantly stay indoors are actually not giving their children the time or ability to build up an immuno-resistence. the phenomenon of kids nowdays always being inside and infront of a screen, be it a tv, ipad or the like, is actually having the same effect. Its actually can be detrimental to the childs' long time health and we are seeing kids today with higher rates of allergies and asthma and weaker immune systems with lower immuno-resistence levels.
Environmental exposure allows kids to build up resistence to common allergies and helps build stronger immune systems to fight off illness.
Our skin surface carries the bug MRSA, which is a multi-resistence bacterium of the staph family which can also be found in our noses and mouth.
With regular bathing and good hygene our bodies can keep this under control, but its when it enters our bloodstream through open cuts and the like that there is a cause for concern for more serious infection and complication to occur.
Most anti-bacterial solutions and disinfectants found in anti-bacterial wipes and off-the-shelf products claim to kill 99.99% of germs and if used correctly they do.
The 0.01% of germs they do not kill fall into the catagory of those 'superbugs' such as the golden staph virus, which survives and can only be found in ultra-sterile environments such as hospitals. This is an anti-resistant form of bacteria that only thrives in these types of environments and why most people who catch this bug are in-patients post surgery.
The use of many antibiotics over a long period of time can also lower your resistence to many germs and infections your body otherwise would normally build up a resistence to.
We are seeing an emergence of more antiboitic resistant infections appearing now more than ever, the jury is still out on whether this correlates to a link to mankinds use of antibiotics over the last century.
Sean G, post: 439861, member: 49362 wrote: Those parents that sh
Sean G, post: 439861, member: 49362 wrote: Those parents that shelter their children, not allowing them outside the house but preferring them to contantly stay indoors are actually not giving their children the time or ability to build up an immuno-resistence. the phenomenon of kids nowdays always being inside and infront of a screen, be it a tv, ipad or the like, is actually having the same effect. Its actually can be detrimental to the childs' long time health and we are seeing kids today with higher rates of allergies and asthma and weaker immune systems with lower immuno-resistence levels.
Environmental exposure allows kids to build up resistence to common allergies and helps build stronger immune systems to fight off illness
Yup, my sister was one of those parents, I kept telling her, you got a let those kids get some exposure, nope uncle Kyle doesn't know better. Guess what? Her Kids are always sick.
I heard on the news recently we've maxed out vaccines and basically we can't make them any stronger without them being harmful.
Humans have an amazing ability to adapt.
kmetal, post: 439850, member: 37533 wrote: I had a client who re
kmetal, post: 439850, member: 37533 wrote: I had a client who repeatably banged a whore and came back into the sessions. No showers at this particular studio, barely a working sink. Client then felt comfortable sitting all over the chairs, touching the gear, and sharing joints. All this with no mention of the previous 'activity' from just moments ago. Thank goodness I was intuitive/suspect enough to not share the joints. Germs are good for building immunity, bodily fluids are just gross. This is why I changed my whole outlook on an open to the public facility of my own, and why I don't but used computers. I was never very lucky with used gear in the past, I tend to get lemons, but definatly don't buy used now. Who's knows where these things have been. Call me crazy, because I am, but man that's the ugly truth, at least around these crappy city streets anyway.
when i was about 7 years old, i got blood poisoning really bad. by the time my Dad got me to the hospital, i was almost dead. the doctors told him if i hadn't gotten there within the hour it would have been dirt nap time for meee!
the up side is i never get infections and i have an immune system that seems to be able to fight off almost anything.
i don't believe in hand sanitizers or any of that stuff although i probably would have asked that particular client to wash his f*%kin hands even at the risk of insulting him as imo his behavior was insulting in it's self.
I'm well aware of the fact, we're surrounded by, inhabited by, a
I'm well aware of the fact, we're surrounded by, inhabited by, and literally crawling with bacteria good and bad. Up until last Fall's shoulder injury, I'd been to the doctor twice in the last 35 years and those were injuries rather than illness. I rarely get sick and have a strong immune system myself, but I don't invite trouble and know the points of ingress are mouth, nose, eyes, and wounds. If you exercise common sense you don't need to sterilize everything around you. So to that end, I'm not going to French kiss Courtney Love, or let her use my vocal mic. That's all I'm saying.
(Shure's known for torture-testing their mics, I wonder if they've ever put one in an autoclave….hmmm.)
I went through a bit of an OCCD (obsessive compulsive cleaning d
I went through a bit of an OCCD (obsessive compulsive cleaning disorder) stage a number of years back. Totally obsessed with cleaning everything I owned.
It was great in a sense that the house and car were always spotless and my hands were always clean, considering I was washing them about 30 to 40 times a day as well as showering twice a day minimum.
Even when I would walk in to sit at my desk at work, because I was only in the office once or twice a fortnight, the first thing I would do is meticulously wipe down my desk and phone with antibacterial wipes...it raised a few eyebrows with the odd manager or two. At the time I was living on my own and kept my house meticulously clean due to my obsession and would travel for work being away sometimes up to a week. If I came home and walked through the front door and couldn't smell the bathroom cleaning product that I had used to clean the bathroom with before I left the week before, I was compelled to literally drop my bags and the first thing I would have to do was clean the bathroom. And I mean forensically clean the bathroom.
Now having that level of cleanliness and being a guy is not a very common combination which concerned my very conservative mother who thought I "must be gay or something" ( her own words).
Soon the cleaning obsession disorder passed, I met a sweet girl, we got serious and she moved in with me, to my mums' relief. Now she was not the tidiest woman in a sense that she loved to leave clothes and towels on the floor which absolutely did my head in to no end, or never really washed up because she knew that before she could put her plate down I was ready to wash it up...but we worked out.
She taught me that its ok to have a little bit of disorder in your life and you don't have to forensically clean the bathroom every few days...or wash your hands 20+ times a day for them to be clean.
The best part was we didn't have to buy any cleaning products for the next two or so years as I had cupboards full of them....literally.
I look back now and think the long-term exposure to the excessive amounts of cleaning chemicals I was using to satisfy my obsession with cleanliness and their effects on my long-term health were probably doing me more harm than the germs I was trying to eradicate.
Kurt Foster, post: 439863, member: 7836 wrote: i don't believe i
Kurt Foster, post: 439863, member: 7836 wrote: i don't believe in hand sanitizers or any of that stuff although i probably would have asked that particular client to wash his f*%kin hands even at the risk of insulting him as imo his behavior was insulting in it's self.
Ya know now I would. I'd tell him to take his sweaty self home shower up and come back. It's about respect. I've grown confidence in my skills and self since the last year and a half. No job is worth that much compromise. And don't ya know this hiatus has found me some consulting work. These aren't Julia Roberts ala pretty woman were talking, straight scratchy missing tooth night walkers.
Thing is that dude still had a woman who loves him at home and I've been the rebound dude for most woman I've been involved with. There's days I'd trade anything for a caring woman. And people take that for granted. All in due time I guess.
dvdhawk, post: 439864, member: 36047 wrote: So to that end, I'm not going to French kiss Courtney Love, or let her use my vocal mic. That's all I'm saying.
That kiss killed Kurt!!!!!
All in all I've found most of my clients to be genuinely decent people with typical habits. I attribute my many years of smoking/sharing and former years of alcohol (ab)use to keeping my immune system good and strong. I rarely get sick. Lol kissing Courtney would be the taste of failure.
Lmao I was just thinking of that smell of a well seasoned pop filter. Ahhhh the life.
Kurt Foster, post: 439863, member: 7836 wrote: i don't believe i
Kurt Foster, post: 439863, member: 7836 wrote: i don't believe in hand sanitizers or any of that stuff although i probably would have asked that particular client to wash his f*%kin hands even at the risk of insulting him as imo his behavior was insulting in it's self.
I would have turned the fire hose on the festy bastard !
- After I doused him in something like Mr Muscle or bleach
Nicely done Donny, very thorough! For a mic that is so univer
Nicely done Donny, very thorough!
For a mic that is so universally useful, they are such a bargain at $99 USD. It's not worth the gamble buying one at any price, whether it's new or used, from Craigslist or eBay.
The first red flag should be a ridiculous low price. There can be subtle differences in boxes and packaging too. On newer SM series mics, the genuine Shure clip will say 'Shure' on it, and they include a black 8" velcro cable wrap with 'Shure' silk-screened on it in white. There are some excellent independent YouTube videos too, where they show real & fake specimens both side-by-side, '">for the more visual-learners.
Of course the folks at Shure will tell you only way to be sure you're getting a genuine Shure, is to buy it from an authorized dealer. So stick to highly reputable online/catalog stores, or search for your nearest dealer with the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.shure.co…"]Shure Dealer Locator[/]="http://www.shure.co…"]Shure Dealer Locator[/]. Naturally, I'd recommend buying it from your local dealer. They'll have it for the same price as the big-box store, and obviously depending on where you live, you might be surprised to find there's a dealer nearby you didn't know about.
Even if you buy one second hand from the little old Sunday school teacher down the street, who's to say she didn't innocently buy a fake and now wants to sell it because it sounds terrible.