Beware of phoney refurbished MMC 1 and MMC 2!!!

23 replies


Some resellers and private sellers, at eBay and other sites, offers these two models for sale.
Some are ONLY renovated as a MMC 4.

The red "dot" at the back side of the needle tube indicate it's a MMC 4

If you fall across a MMC 1 or MMC 2 with green "dot" it is fitted with a Shibata diamond. Is often chosen instead of a CL



This is actually quite an issue.
I have just recently come across one of these "counterfeits", and from (what was until recently) a reputable cartridge reseller/retip'er.
I will of course return it.

But it does bring to mind what dear old Anthony Garza in TX once told about.
He called it "cartridge rustling", in comparison to "cattle rustling"
(the "art" of adding to the already burned marking on other peoples cattle to make the signature mark look like yours),
- the latter I suppose being far more common in his neck of the woods than the former.

Anyway, the thing was, that a certain cartridge seller found that by carefully scraping away some of the white paint, he could
make the lettering MMC 4 read MMC 1.

The color on the "neck" of the cantilever (as shown nicely in the photo above) will tell the truth.
And of course, MMC1 and MMC2 should have a glass-like cantilever. Not a metal (aluminium) one like the one in the above photo. 

Worth keeping an eye out for these counterfeits.

Martin

Just to make the point of my above post clear;

The point is not whether you have an MMC2 rebuilt to a 4 or not. That's completely for the owner to decide.
Personally I would never dream of downgrading a 2 to a 4, - rather I have had many cartridges upgraded. - There simply isn't enough original 2s around here.

And the point is not to flame a specific reseller or retipper. The reseller who sold me the "fake", is one I have
bought dozens of cartridges from previously, so it came as a bit of a surprise when he suddenly turned wrong.
I don't think he is the actual retipper - and that's not important, but it seems he deliberately started having
all cartridges retip'ed as 4s and then sell them priced according to the number on the nose.

The point with my post (and the OP, I believe) is to make buyers aware and have them check, that they get what they pay for.
Not all people know enough about this to tell right away if they are being fooled.
I didn't get what I paid for when I ordered an MMC2 and received an MMC2 housing with aluminium cantilever and red dot.

Martin

having followed this topic with interest, could someone point me in the right direction for a refurbed mmc2 thats genuine please for my beogram 6500.  im based in uk but happy to purchase from a reputable overseas supplier.

 

many thanks.

If any of my MMC1 or MMC2 cartridges ever go bad I would most likely buy a brand new SMMC 2 from Soundsmith in New York. They are reputable. 
In the case of a still good MMC1 or MMC2 that needed a suspension repair only I would use Soundsmith in New York or Benny Amina in Georgia.
If you absolutely have to have an original B&O MMC2 then I would watch on Ebay. Insist on detailed photos of the cartridge so you can make sure it is genuine. The fakes are pretty easy to spot as described in this thread. Just be aware that it is very common in the B&O MMC line for the suspensions to need repair at this point of their life. That is why it is safest and easiest to just buy a new SMMC 2 from Soundsmith.

-sonavor

hello sonavor - many thanks for taking the time to respond and help - its much appreciated and i will indeed go to soundsmith to get the required cartridge and take my old ones to him for refurb.

thanks once again.

many thanks sonavor for your reply - i will go to soundsmith in new york as ill be visiting New York next year.  many thansk for your recommendation and help - its much appreciated. 🙂

Seems they have UK distributor as well... 

Ah, Georgia in US, not Georgia in Caucasus 😁

Orava wrote:

Ah, Georgia in US, not Georgia in Caucasus 😁

Land of peaches, pecans, and Southern Belles. 

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