Buying Mics on eBay

[PreppieNerd]

Would you consider buying mics on ebay? I understand there's always some risk. What should I look out for? I'm trying to bag some condensers (1 large and 1 small diaphragm) for under $50 each. Is this a reasonable expectation? Thanks.

 

[xcrunner28]

I'd be careful buying on ebay watch out for fakes but as far as condensers go I use MXL 990s for large diaphragm and you can get those for 50$ each off any music store website.

 

[grimtraveller]

On the other side of the record, I've bought lots of stuff (including musical stuff, a car, a couple of basses....) on ebay and in six years I've only had one problem and that was a shittilly recorded DVD ! You can only be as careful as the conscience of the seller or the carefulness of the postie/courier.

 

[xcrunner28]

I've bought a lot of good stuff off of craigslist too

 

[Richard Monroe]

My best mic choices on ebay are for new condensers from people with good feedback who really are authorized dealers, and older dynamics that are used, but just unusual enough to not be copied. I will admit I bought one of my AKG C2000B's on ebay, a D320B, and a D770. All work fine. Oddly enough, I've had some troubles on ebay, but not with audio gear. Remember the old cliche-If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.-Richie

 

[kcearl]

there's loads of SM58 chinese knock offs etc...I dont see a problem with buying from an online music store..but I guess its like monitors...Id only buy new without testing them

 

[M1Fanatic]

I've bought every 441 and 402 I own on e-Bay. I've also bought tape machines, mixers, effects, etc.

Never been burned yet. Been at it over ten years now.

 

[antichef]

I've bought a ton of mics on ebay and never regretted it. Click on the bottom link in my sig - I'd say 50-60% of those came from ebay. I'd stay away from SM57s and 58s, since those are indeed faked a lot, as KC's saying.

 

[c7sus]

Ebay rocks used gear.

And new gear too.

Craigslist if you want to stay cash and local pickup.

There is literally tons of cheap used music gear available right now. I saw a Hammond M100 w/o vibrato for $120 yesterday.

 

[miroslav]

I just scored a Groove Tubes AM61 tube condenser on eBay.
That mic was $1200 List new...I got it for $161 shipped.

 

[austinm08]

It's ridiculous to NOT buy off eBay. If you buy a knockoff/fake, you're not paying much attention.

You're not going to get scammed if you take a look at their feedback percentage and amount of items sold. There's an incredibly small chance that someone with a very good reputation is going to scam you. You would have to be the FIRST person they do it to if they've made a decision to "retire" from eBay. Also, eBay has buyer protection now and will reimburse you for the purchase price and shipping if you don't receive the item or it's not as described or something.

 

[kcearl]

I just scored a Groove Tubes AM61 tube condenser on eBay.
That mic was $1200 List new...I got it for $161 shipped.

good deal

It's ridiculous to NOT buy off eBay. If you buy a knockoff/fake, you're not paying much attention.

You're not going to get scammed if you take a look at their feedback percentage and amount of items sold. There's an incredibly small chance that someone with a very good reputation is going to scam you. You would have to be the FIRST person they do it to if they've made a decision to "retire" from eBay. Also, eBay has buyer protection now and will reimburse you for the purchase price and shipping if you don't receive the item or it's not as described or something.

yup, its all about their rep..you could be the first they burned but its unlikely

I just won 2 UAD cards and $480 worth of plugins for $130...the guy emailed me to say hed been robbed basically, but the cards and plugs have been transferred...good on him


I <3 used gear

 

[austinm08]

I just won 2 UAD cards and $480 worth of plugins for $130...the guy emailed me to say hed been robbed basically, but the cards and plugs have been transferred...good on him

Haha... wow. Poor guy. Should've set a reserve or started the bid higher, eh?

 

[kcearl]

Haha... wow. Poor guy. Should've set a reserve or started the bid higher, eh?

im still shocked...had it finishing at 5am too

 

[moresound]

I just scored a Groove Tubes AM61 tube condenser on eBay.
That mic was $1200 List new...I got it for $161 shipped.

SO............... your the one that out bid me!

 

[kcearl]

by a dollar

 

[miroslav]

SO............... your the one that out bid me!

Was that really you?

Sorry...............NOT!

I have a bunch of those Groove Tubes AM mics....
(2) AM40, (2) AM51 , (4) AM52, (2) AM62 and now (1) AM61

I bought 6 of them new (2 pairs each) when Alesis decided to part ways with Groove Tubes after their short love affair and then lots of music stores practically had a fire sale on the AM mics. I got them real cheap!!!
Then I found two more AM52 mics one day on eBay...grabbed them for even less...like-new. I had the opportunity to get the AM61 mics new at the time of the sales...but I just ran out of funds, so I decided to pass on the single-pattern AM6 mics.
They are pretty sweet mics, but little known 'cuz of their short production lifespan.
Here's a nice Sound On Sound review:

http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/feb99/articles/alesisgtmics.127.htm

by a dollar

Actually...it was by $1.26

I've lost my share of eBay bids by a buck or less... ...but that's how it goes sometime.

 

[kcearl]

i used to use auctionsniper...but now I barely care if i win...still get the odd good one though

 

[moresound]

Was that really you?

Sorry...............NOT!

There is always next time.