Oktava: Attention – Fakes | Fake Oktava MK-012 Photos
How to identify a counterfeit, Chinese-made Oktava MK-012.
This information was originally published at
http://oktava.tula.net/fake/
| Original Oktava
produced in Russia |
Oktava from China, so-called "new revised series". These products are not related in any way to the genuine Oktava products. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
Original MK-012 microphones produced by OAO Oktava earlier can also be labelled Oktava MC-012
MK-012 microphones manufactured before 2002 don’t have serial numbers
Bryk
October 9th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Thank you!! That made it quite simple. Fortunately, I have real MK-012s.
brian
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:34 am
hi, i have a couple of Oktava MK-012A-01 that i traded for a few sm57’s
both have all of the qualifications as stated on this page to be considered “real”, the serial number stamped in the bottom, flat head screws holding them together, silver sputtered dimpled contacts and that copper leather looking contact (as seen in the last photo on the left).
even the hand painted looking polar pattern on the microphone element housing.. (not a printed one like the china version has)
only difference is the microphone has A.S.M. printed on it.
does simply having an A.S.M. printed on the body mean that the microphone is a fake?
thanks
matthew mcglynn
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Lots of genuine Oktava mics had “ASM” printed on the body. Those were the initials of the original importer, Andy S. McKay, whose offices in the UK operated under the name Oktava Ltd. You can read more about the McKay brothers’ claims about the MK-012 here: http://debris.com/journal/1280
will
January 25th, 2010 at 10:51 pm
I’m interested in knowing if my Oktava is real. My mic seems to be half-and-half when it comes to the traits of a real and Chinese 012. It has the metal holder, paperwork, dimpled bonding area, silver flat-head screws, and silver sputtered contact pin. However it has no serial number, reads “Oktava” and not, more or less, “Oktaba,” and has the A.S.M. logo. I bought it recently and is supposedly “new.” Is this an older, real Oktava or a rip off? Any thoughts?
matthew mcglynn
January 26th, 2010 at 5:02 am
Will, I’d guess yours is a real MK-012 produced before 2002. As the page says above, “MK-012 microphones manufactured before 2002 don’t have serial numbers.”
Konstantin Zaitzev
June 9th, 2010 at 4:32 am
Don’t mind A.S.M., I live in Russia and have bought the microphone from an official dealer, and it has A.S.M. mark. Made in 2004. Most genuine mics have an individual frequency responce chart, made on something like a plotter with a ballpooint pen.
It was surprise to me to know that these mics are being forged.
Chris
November 11th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Back when Guitar Center got caught in the whole mess of selling the wrong ones, I went and bought a pair (they were $100 for the pair, I believe), not knowing that there were fakes out there (I just saw the screaming deal advertised on some nice, but cheap mics). They had actually sold me the real Russian versions of the mic, which I didn’t realize until a couple of years later. I was very pleased, and have been very pleased with the purchase. Use them at home for overheads and acoustics, and for the price, I certainly can’t complain!
Neal Money
January 3rd, 2011 at 8:38 pm
I bought a pair of what I see now are definitely the fake Oktava MC012’s from Guitar Center so far back I don’t recall the date. For reasons I won’t boor you with I have not yet used them but plan on doing so in the very near future. Obviously I will let MY ears decide if I like them or not but I’m interested in other opinions of these “fake” mics and also what is their value on the open market. Just because they are fakes doesn’t mean they can’t have a reasonably good sound and have a reasonable value. I think I paid $99 a pair, I would think in brand new condition they would certainly be worth that. Inquiring minds want to know.
Thanks to all who respond.
matthew mcglynn
January 3rd, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Neal, my understanding is that the Chinese-made MK012 copies sounded good. In the A/B test created by the people who manufactured the mics, I couldn’t hear any difference at all, but then the source of that test was not entirely unbiased.
The price of Russian-made MK-012s has gone up sharply over the years, so I suspect you’ll recoup your investment pretty easily.
Dave
February 11th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Was looking through at buying a pair of these and thankfully I found this link on another listing, nearly wasted some good money on these fakes (final 3 minutes of ebay) Thank you Thank you Thank you for this!!!
Dave
February 13th, 2011 at 2:25 am
Me too, thanks for the info, I am after a matching pair right now!
ANd didn;t realise they were being copied.
Ryan
October 9th, 2011 at 6:30 am
I had also purchased the MC 012 from Guitar Center in 2000, however my mic looks identical in almost every way to the MK except for the labeling and no serial number–No black screws, has silver contact, has -10db pad, same case etc.. I guess it didn’t come with documentation tho. So it seems not every MC 012 is a fake. Thanks for the article!