[A_B_C]

I bought a fake 57 on eBay two weeks ago for $60, and I'm keeping it as an alternate to my other SDD mics. It's well-built and yields a hot signal with no audible noise. As you'd expect it's bright (there's no x-former), but it has some depth and character, all usable qualities that differ enough from my real 57s and Audix i5 that I decided to keep it. I let the seller hear about it, though, as did another buyer.

It's a shame they don't just come out and call these "Fake 57" mics, sell 'em cheap and dodge the law like other self-respecting criminals. Trying to pass them off as authentic creates a lot of confusion and consternation, and wastes too much time!

Anybody remember those great old Tokai Strats? The Fernandes wasn't bad, either.