The Beatles In Mono boxset - How to spot a fake
Vložit
- čas přidán 8. 09. 2012
- In an attempt to purchase The Beatles - In Mono box set, I ended up with an unofficial version. Here are some details to look out for to whether you have an official version or not.
- Hudba
Wow I had no idea someone could pull this off... a re-print of a re-print of an entire box set
Great video. True story -- I bought one of these from CEX in Bedford and they had quite a few at the time. I then sold it on Amazon to a guy who returned it saying it was a fake. I refunded him and took it back to CEX who refused to refund me and said basically I was lying! I then asked the police who referred me to the citizens advice bureau who informed me that unless you can prove this is the same one that is on the receipt, which is actually very hard to do, you're screwed. At the time I was dealing directly with EMI so I sent pictures of it to them and they confirmed it was a fake but didn't seem very interested in investigating it (no wonder they went bust!). I played the discs are they were OK quality, but I decided I didn't really want the set so I went on to CEX's website and sold it back to their central warehouse for pretty much the same price as I paid for it!
Interestingly the other boxes that CEX had in their Bedford store disappeared shortly after my encounter...
Cex is a bit of a junkie trading post/crack convertors so I am not surprised at all you got sold a fake there. They aren't the kind of store to ask questions about a product being sold to them
Some other poor sod will end up buying the shite you sold back to CeX
Thanks for posting this video so consumers can spot the difference. I got the mono box set when it first came out, and I got it from people who are authorized to sell only officially licensed Beatles merchandise, so I got the genuine article.
Thank you for this review Very happy to find I have an official version I would hope so I bought directly from the Beatles website when released in 2009
I didn't know that fake versions of this set was a problem. I bought mine from Amazon and I'm happy to say that mine is official.
Thanks for your post. It was helpful to see that my copy which I got in 2010 is official. I would’ve been pissed if it wasn’t!
I’ve had a cheap fake for years and it’s brilliant.
Great video. My official version doesn’t have the apostrophe either. I was watching the video and did a double take for a sec (I bought mine the day of release from a store so I know it’s official. It comes with everything). Also, the offical version box IS slightly off centre, but it’s more over to the right and not the left like the one in the video. This is because the official box has a round edge rather than a straight one.
Nice catch. It is great that there is more info about these fakes.
Thank you for sharing, very thorough.
I do have the official version and it does NOT have the apostrophe on the spine of SPLHCB. In my video, I was pretty frustrated and may have jumped to the conclusion that there should be an apostrophe; however, I do not believe that the original packaging (from the '60s) had it either. So, I think you are good.
Oh thank goodness 😅 had me thinking mine was a fake just because of that little thing.
Hahahah I just made a comment stating about this that I don't have the apostrophe and everything else looks legit and now I see this one so I'm very happy 🥰
Yep! My Sgt Pepper's didn't have the apostrophe either, but all the rest showing an official version. That was the ONLY thing that in your video suggesting a fake where I'm pretty sure I have the real deal. Everything else matches with what the official versions have.
Confirming this is the case. The original vinyl in the 60s didn't include the apostrophe either. Notably, Sgt. Pepper's is the only album in which the text on the spine reads from bottom to top. On the rest of the albums, it reads from top to bottom.
I was worried because my used copy didn't come with the paper sleeve for Sgt. Pepper's. However, the rest of them did include them, so all is good... *phew*
VERY HELPFUL review. I used it to confirm what was obvious. The Mono set I ordered from Barnes and Noble (!) was one of the classic FAKE editions. To the Company's credit, when I walked into a retail store near my home, they exchanged it without hassle. But will make me think twice about mail order even from the BIG HOUSES.
Errors are egregious .... not even close.
(wparkermusic: There is STILL no apostrophe in Sgt. Peppers --- I blame the BEATLES for that one!).
I love the REAL set!
Great video. It's amazing the lengths these scumbags will go to to recreate so many of the details, yet have the outer box border completely off-centre!
Always send a message to the seller before buying. Make sure things sound to be in order.
Also,the words "In Mono" on the front and side of the box is in a different font than the real one. The font should be the same as the words "The Beatles" not in generic block letters.
Agreed. This set was for $100, which was only $40 cheaper than what I ended up paying for a real set, so it didn't seem really that good to be true, but enough for me to jump on the chance. The seller had either 2 or 3 that they were selling, so I figured maybe they got them wholesale and was trying to unload them.
I used to have the fake one too back in 2013, I first got it when I was 9 and I was really exited at first when I got it but then after a few weeks I thought wait a minute! this isn't the right one but I thought the disks sounded fine but the white album disks were both sepperated in it's own sound. (What I mean by that is disc 1 is disc 2 and disc 2 is disc 1) which super sucks. I also kept begging my parents for the real one but they kept on saying no and that it's fine and I got more and more upset each day and insted of returning it to it's owner I wrecked it because I was super young back then but thank god I got the real thing for christmas 2015!
Cool box man! ❤️🎸
Glad it helped and even more glad that you got an official version. It is a very warm and rewarding feeling to have in your hands, isn't it? :-D
I just received my fake mono boxset yesterday from China & they've corrected almost everything you've mentioned in your video.I had to re-glue a couple of cover edges but not a prob.It was $28 bucks & I knew it was fake but I collect bootlegs.I also got the stereo box-set for $38 bucks. It's very nice too! If anyone complains that I'm buying a bootleg from China?Give me a call on you're 'iPhone' next time you're in Walmart and we can discuss lol. All of the Chinese Beatle Boots sound great too.
Newbury Comics on Amazon (free shipping). The price is a bit more than what I ended up paying for it back in Sept '12, but if you want this release, it is really the only way to go.
Good video... very informative.
mine is a fake too but it has a few differences from yours first of all it does have the plastic wrapping sleeve cases for the cd's but the inner sleeves are missing second of all I was able to take the wrapping off no glue third of all the discs for a hard day's night and sgt peppers were switched around so I had to switch them back fourth of all all the discs played right in mono fifth of all discs 1 and 2 of the white albums had the opposite labels sixth of all the backflips only had 2 just like yours seventh of all the apple on the front had was missing just a tiny part of the bottom and eighth of all the discs came out of order just like yours so yeah
Thanks for making this video as I am thinking of buying this set to go with my stereo versions. Glad you got your money back, the rip-off bastards.
Thanks for this video. I nearly purchased a fake set today but looked for your warning signs (the dark apple, the fuzzy type) and declined. The seller seemed almost to expect it and just walked away. A close call; shady and gross. I hope you got the real thing in the end.
the border is off center...and ok you mentioned that oops... Thanks for sharing
Great video there was a guy that did a video on the fake stereo box set I have the real stereo and Mon box set I have two of the stereo and one the mono i had two of the mono box set but i had to sell one let people know if youve seen the one on the fake stereo box set you're video was good keep up the good work!
Good catch. Luckily i got an official version recently and the difference was immediate.
Also, in the official version of 'Magical Mystery Tour,' the book is all inside the gatefold sleeve. I am sorry that you got this fake set. I hope you got your money back and got an official version. I've seen a LOT of videos about this, and other Beatles boxes. The only box set I got is the US Albums, and it's official.
Is the title printed upside down on your Pepper album ? On the spine?
Awesome!
I have a fake one - and what I believe to be a real one from Barnes & Noble. One thing I noticed, is that when you look at the back of the disc (where the music is) you will see the catalogue no. + "IFPI L153" "154" etc written near the centre of the disc. This is on the box purchased from B&N and not on the obviously fake one.
el video mas claro, excelente!
wparkermusic Thanks for the video. Where did you purchase your box set? I'm looking to buy the set on eBay and want to make sure the seller's is not a fake. Also, what country did you purchase it from? Thanks!
I apparently got one of the damn things, too, through eBay. Curious how you went about getting your refund and who you reported the counterfeit to. Also, did you have to pay shipping costs on it? Thanks
Where did you buy this? Is there a chance I might get a counterfeit version if I order from Amazon?
Thank you for confirming that mine is indeed a fake! Looks like this has been going on for years, then. I bought mine for a 'bargain' on Fishpond...and yeah, despite bargains from there being legit in the past, mine is a fake. Certainly going to hit the seller up for a return and refund. Even if the CDs sound fine, I refuse to support counterfeiters! Thanks again, mate. My box set pretty much has al the same flaws, except in 6 years they have decided to individually wrap each CD to trick us!
Also, the print job is horrendous. I was advised by Beatles fans to get the Mono albums in the boxed set and buy "Let it Be" (Naked) and Abbey Road separately in stereo. The production quality of the legit CDs is amazing, beautiful paper stock, sharp printing etc; with this fake box, the CD sleeves almost feel gritty and/or sticky, and the colours are often drab. Kinda chalky, even. And they are not cut and glued square in a lot of cases of...cases. Terrible.
Was the audio correct?, i mean, are those in mono versions?
Magical Mystery Tour is supposed to have that white edge on top, right side , and bottom
I purchased this box set on the day of release. I checked all the items you mention and mine seems to be authentic. Except for one thing. The front cover of the box has an apple that has more of a blue tinge. Everything else seems official including the sound of the cd’s.
Hey there - I bout the counterfeit version from ebay. I got the official version on Amazon (through Newbury Comics seller). I see Amazon is selling directly though, so get through them and get it quick before they are gone. Good luck and Enjoy!
Great video I just got this for $1.60 at deseret industries.....I'm so confused because the cover of the box is straight unlike yours, but there's no apostrophe in the spine of Pepper's, but the white album doesn't open up likes yours does but I do admit there's some darkness in the printing on the white album discs but I still have to look up the matrix numbers. So idk if I got a really good bootleg or one that is mixed with legit and not.
Thank goodness I checked. It was still wrapped. Played it and touch wood, it is all real. The Sgt Pepper did not have the sleeve, nor the cut out cards.
Hi just saw your video. Not sure if this was mentioned but the White Album should also have two replica black inner sleeves. The Help! & Rubber Soul disc should each have 28 tracks as the original 1965 stereo mixes were included on each of those. The fakes of these might only have 14 tracks.
I bought the stereo box on Ebay in 2009 and it came back fake. I was able to return it and get a refund.
i received my mono box set last 01-18-17 from amazon.. and its legit...
Sorry you had to go through that. It is a shame, but at least you came out on top. Did you receive a refund on the counterfeit?
Neither of you guys mention sound quality; did you play any of it?
Nothing to sue for, since I got my money back (I was made whole), but I understand your frustration.
How is the sound? Any audible difference?
Thanks very much! I just got one on eBay for a great price and was paranoid it was Made in China. After I watched this video I was able to confirm it was legit. I asked one seller who was selling the stereo box for about $89.99 so I emailed to ask him if legit and he never replied. I saw a comment from a buyer a couple days later that said "legit set" so I did a "Buy It Now" and he quickly refunded the money saying since I asked the question he didn't want me to return it opened, meaning it was a boot. Gotta be careful out there!
Bought mine from B&N too. And I believe I got a legit one. ;-) And yes. The only thing I wondered about was the apostrophe in Sgt Peppers. But thanks to you, I realize it's not supposed to be there. ;-)
Thankfully i got the official version, but this looks exactly like my Pink Floyd box, which is indeed a fake, unfortunately.
My question is: beside the packaging, is there a difference in the actual audio quality?
Nice Video.......Great job :)
Whether or not you get a fake does seem to matter as in some instances, the fake ones have had a couple of albums missing from the box set.
Thanks. No worries though; I got my money back and was able to buy the official version.
I must say - however - that when I put the discs in my computer (to upload them to my iPod), they do make one hell of a noise......
Hey thanks. I just bought the box set for $61 new on Ebay. I'll be checking to see if it is real...
How do the CDs sound?
Does anyone know if there any bootleg copies of the anthology series?
are there fake versions of the vinyl one?
There is no apostrophe on the side sleeve on the wording of Sgt Pepper's. There is a period after Sgt though, but thats it
Hola. Es lamentable que la compañía EMI Records (antes de que fuera comprada por Universal Music Group) lanzara las cajas The Beatles Stereo CD Boxset y The Beatles In Mono CD Boxset con algunas incongruencias. La primera es la inclusión del álbum Magical Mistery Tour en ambas cajas siendo un compilado originado por Capitol Records para el mercado de U.S.A. No respetaron las caratulas originales de la caja de los álbumes en stereo perdiendo así, autenticidad con respecto a los vinilos. En el Boxset The Beatles In Mono no se incluyo el álbum Yellow Submarine de la película lanzado originalmente en 1969 en versiones mono y stereo. En cuanto a The Beatles U.S. Albums Boxset se excluyo el álbum Magical Mistery Tour (originalmente lanzado por Capitol Records en 1967) y el album Let It Be de 1970 que es diferente en la caratula con respecto a la versión inglesa. Ademas Universal Music cometió el grave error de no tomar los masters originales americanos en la gran mayoría de los CDs, unificando los audios de UK. con los de USA. Esto pierde valor.
I bought the set recently, and according to the discrepancies you described, mine seemed to be an official version - until you got to the White Album and MMT discrepancies, which describe the ones in my set. Also, mine had some weird stuff. First, the Hard Days Night cd was in the Sgt Pepper sleeve, and vice versa (I switched them back, easy enough). Second, on the White Album, my disc 1 is labeled as disc 2 and vice versa - can't switch those! Put one in expecting to hear "USSR" and get "Birthday" instead! SOOO weird... One question - do you think the sound quality is better on the official version than on the fake ones? Because I am not worried about the collector aspect, I just want to experience the music. (If mine is bootleg, at least it is definitely in mono, and with the different-than-the-stereo versions intact, which is edifying.) And - it came from China.
Oh My GoD! My HELP cd says:
Songs from the fihn "Help!" ----- fihn?????
My copy of the box set has all those things that you mentioned and It was an Amazon Germany warehouse deal. I did a side by side comparison on the Help album and I used a (not so legal) downloaded copy as a reference and to my ears they sounded almost the same. I noticed that the physical disc had some strange crackling sound on the '65 stereo mix of Yesterday, but other than that they're identical and why wouldn't they, when you can nowadays easily make a copy of a digital file.
all of these are correct except for one thing the apostrophe on peppers on the side of sgt peppers album is really missing even on the original set but for the rest of his review is correct
Although they have a plastic sleeve for each cd, it is very thin. Not like the real ones resembling a neat rice paper sleeve that does not look all crumpled.
would you say its worth it, if you can get it really cheap?
are all discs supposed to have sleeves my yellow submarine and MMT albums don't have one. They're not part of the set.
feel bad for you friend thanks anyway
Actually, the official version of Sgt Pepper shouldn't have the apostrophe on the spine, but that is how it is on the original Parlophone LP.
Thanks Adam. I realized this after I made the video. I was pretty frustrated with the whole ordeal and may have jumped to conclusions at the time.
That is true, I have the LP. Even though it is a reissue on the spine it did not have an apostrophe
+wparkermusic did you get the real version after you got this fake
Joseph Murrieta yep. I've since gotten the official version. While these people did a great "replica" job, you really can't compare with the official version.
wparkermusic
do you the stereo box or just mono P.S. will their ever be a review
I never listened to find out. I knew the moment I looked at them, that something wasn't right. Just sent back to the seller for full refund.
I saw your video before purchasing what I thought would be a reliable seller on Amazon. Got it today, as soon as I slid it out and saw the font in “Mono” and the weird looking apple, I went “oh no...” and remembered your video. Hoping to get either a full refund, or a full refund and the real box set sent to me. That would be nice.
cheers ;)
Bles their hearts!
In the 2nd disc of white album says "2. Yer bles" also lol
Paul McCartney49 what do you mean? It's meant to.
it's supposed to say "yer blues"
i have the stereo version. It says "2.yer blues"
yeah, but in the video says "bles" without the "u"
sorry. didn't notice
I got one of these today from a 3rd-party seller on Amazon.ca. Amazon refunded my money, but I still have the boxset.
Re. Sgt Pepper's: The original Parlophone LP sleeve does not have an apostrophe on the spine. The dark printing on The White Album label is a faithful reproduction of the first LP imprint. But I'm not disputing that you unfortunately have a knock-off.
In the counterfeit copy I have, Beatles For Sale is missing half of the inside gatefold photos (blank white). Also, it came with two copies of Rubber Soul and both are missing all the printing on the discs except for the Parlophone logo. And the White Album doesn't say the Beatles on the front ( embossed or printed). All of this irritated me so much that I hunted down an official copy and I was happy to pay the inflated price, just to have a real one. So, everyone please be sure you are buying an official copy as you will be disappointed with the counterfeit.
I got a fake, the audio was all correct mono & all albums were downloaded to my Ipod nicely & sounds great, I got a full refund & got to keep the box set aswell so i was pretty happy....
I had a fake one and NOTHING PLAYED. I tried all the discs in a few CD players I had lying around, including my car, and NOTHING PLAYED. I had a real one and wanted another copy as a "play copy", so I bought it on Ebay, but I got a refund.
Who’d you buy it from?
How Do The CDs In Your Counterfeit Sound?
Are the mono versions sold separetely or only the box? I only prefer the first albums in mono and Sgt. Pepper's I see no reason to buy the full box in my case...
They are all sold separately
no they're not. the versions you buy seperately are the stereo mixes. the super deluxe version of sgt peppers has a mono CD, and so probably will the super deluxe of the white album when that comes out in november. you can get please please me in mono if you find one of the older masters.
I knowingly bought the box set from China for like $30. Of course it's not so hot. But I got what I paid for. The worst part of this "China" printing is the extreme variations of sound levels and sound quality from disc to disc and in some cases, song to song. My "White Album" has the Apple and the Inside the Apple labels switched. I've learned my lesson though and I'm going to make good and plan to purchase the authentic set before the year is out!!! Oh, by the way, I am an Audiophile and I'm also getting the set in vinyl in about 3 weeks!!! Much, much better on vinyl!!!
A diferença é mínima vale a pena yes
i bought mine for a mere 20 pounds a few years ago
I was highly skeptical and spent a long time going through it to check if it was fake, because surely at that price it must be a fake
well I can find no indication that it was a fake, everything is perfect, but it seems that the seller, a local shop, used the internet to find prices for things. And when there are loads of fakes floating around for super cheap it's no wonder he thought that was an appropriate price
Sorry to hear about this. My suggestion to anyone thinking of getting the mono or stereo box set is to go to Amazon.com because you will save money and they are a legitimate company. That's where I ordered mine and you're exactly right about the order of the CDs being wrong in this set. Also, there aren't any plastic sleeves on the CD covers.
*****
There's a difference between the Amazon Store itself and the Amazon Marketplace. If you don't want to take risks, it's just a matter of not buying things from Amazon Marketplace...
Did you try to get a refund?
Hi Wayne, I feel so bad what happened to you. Did you ever get the real version?
Rick Cox - Thanks. Yes, I eventually got a legit version and very pleased ☺.
I'm so glad
wparkermusic just must be nice I didnt😤
One easy fast way is the fake inner plastic protector sleeves are cheap vegetable bag quality whike real ones have that rice paper feel to them and hold up better.
You don’t look at the back of the telly when you view it,so why should a cheap not much wrong cd set worry you
How do the fake sound
I fell for this version on eBay bout 10 yrs ago, cost about £30 and can’t find much wrong with it.it’s vastly cheaper than the Rip off Proper version.I’ve been a fan since Please Please Me and all I can say is The Beatles Never Give Me There Money.
To be fair, the top loading cover of the White Album is faithful to the original.
Can’t figure out why Apple does not print it again, due to demand...
I thought I had a real one. Every single thing mentioned here is true to the official one except for the missing apostrophe on the Pepper's sleeve and that no song titles are shown when put into Foobar, so I guess they got better at faking them.
Mine is the real one. The Pepper's doesn't have the apostrophe on official releases either.
im following you
I don't know dude. What you're telling me at the beginning saying the back of the box printing isn't sharp looks pretty sharp to me.
louis borselio I assure you bro. It wasn't. The camera used just couldn't pick it up. I wish I had the official version at the same time in order to show the comparisons.
That Apple on box set looks like a swollen olive 🤣 That green is too damn dark. Its sucks they sold you this fake crap. I hope you we’re able to get your hands on the official one.
Never listened to it. Since I knew it wasn't official, I wasn't interested in finding out.
lol it was kinda funny how I was able to tell right it's fake the moment it was shown on camera. It is so off-centered. I bet they used stock photos to entice you, this box just looks odd. I am interested if they are really that cheap though. I have vinyl, digital and stereo versions of these but never bothered with a mono CD boxset.
Thank you. Yes mines fake.
Too bad mate. I know what you mean when you say "something just isn't right..." That's fake stuff down to a tee. How did that sound, by the way? Better than they looked??
Who cares if it's not the official version; it's cd. CDs have no resale value, you can just downloaded the 25/96 flacs and have much better quality of the same exact mixes without all the worthless, watered down psudo-vinyl junk taking up space. If you cared about having a beautiful, high quality physical reproduction of the Beatles library, you would have bought the mono box set on vinyl.
I believe ur wrong about the apostrophe not being on the real 'Sgt Peppers' spine in the Beatles in Mono sets. I believe it was just a misprint from the manufacturer. Yes there is an apostrophe in the Beatles in Stereo sets, but not the Mono sets. Everything that u said was a fake in this video, DOES NOT come in my set. My apple is light green, I have all the inserts, paper sleeves, booklets, no ink stained inside box, the black goes always to end of inside discs, there's no fading or anything. The only thing my set is missing is that apostrophe on the spine of 'Sgt Peppers'. That's it. Is there anything else I should check for? Please tell me what u think? Thanx.
KJRawX Hi, same here! I THINK (I'm not sure) the apostrophe was missing from the original mono LP, so they included the mistake in the mono box, because they faithfully recreated the original covers...I don't think we have a fake, but would be cool to know if the apostrophe was missing in the original mono LP...
mrkite89 I just recently came back from the Beatles store at the Mirage in Las Vegas & analyzed their Beatles in Mono set. The apostrophe is *NOT* on the album at all. This is complete proof that the apostrophe does not exist in the Beatles in Mono set.
KJRawX I just got Sgt Pepper on mono vinyl and there is no apostrophe. :P
Jack Stedron Then it should be real. :)