Another Hunt--guess what i caught!

[jimbob]

Like last week, I had another successful hunt for great effects (in my opinion)and won ( Lbp2ube/Black Finger). This week i managed to bag a new (but tubes are broken) Electro-Harmonics Wiggler! --14.95...At the same time i bagged a Carl Martin Contour and Boost pedal for 10.00--broken switch..--also new--Not sure how the tubes become broken--i dont ask-- I just barter--pay--leave--and bring to life my newest  "prescious".

Until the next hunt--may all your travels and effect building/shopping be successful!

Jim

[ExpAnonColin]

(shakes head in agony)

[sirkut]

Hunting here is pretty weak. I'm jealous!  Even the flea market here is pitiful for just old electronics.  I did on the other hand find a great old Sony reel-to-reel that weighs a TON. Has two speakers that you detach from the unit that have 1/4" plugs that you can plug into the unit. I'm going to turn it into a little stereo gem amp and just plug the speakers using the existing 1/4" so I don't alter it any. Need to fix one of the motors in the reel to reel. It fast forwards but won't play. Hard to tell what is on the tape that came with it(I LOVE finding old tapes like this that are unlabeled) by turning the wheel by hand.

[MarkB]

I think my best ever was a very-good condition (and perfectly working) Roland RE-501 Space Echo... for $40.
"-)

[Rodgre]

I recently bought a crate full of "dead pedals" from one of my favorite stores that I visit a few times a year, and I've managed to fix the majority of them so far. Included were a Danelectro Cool Cat in need of a new battery clip, a vintage DOD 690 Chorus in need of a new footswitch and a power cord, a couple of MXR Power Converters, an empty Crybaby case, a vintage early 70's Crybaby in need of a new pot and footswitch, a no-name Japanese wah from the early 70's, a still-dead Digitech Midi Pedal, still-dead Boss Noise Gate, Dod Overdrive Plus, TS-5, Dod Gate/Loop, and the great find were these two homemade "boutique" pedals from the early 90's  that, though built into ABS plastic boxes with lightweight DPDT switches (this was before 3PDTs were around, kids) are amazing. Well, one of them hasn't left my pedalboard.... a 4049-based overdrive that sounds like a Rangmaster plugged into a Hiwatt. The other is a full-out fuzz that squeals like a Jesus and Mary Chain record, 4049-based as well.

That's the last of my disposable income in that crate.... now I must dig in the sofa to buy a coffee.

Roger

[sirkut]

Rodgre, ever managed to get a schematic for those two boutique pedals? They sound interesting!

[MarkB]

Trace em!!!
"-)

[Brian Marshall]

anyone ever get the feeling that all that stuff at flea markets, and pawns shops is ill-gotten.

I avoid those kinds of places.

[TeleLesPaulMan]

On one hunt at a local goodwill/charity store, I "bagged" a black face fender princeton reverb, coded january 1964, looks brand new for..............$10 cash  :shock:

[afranks]

I bet no one can beat this:  

I picked up a GREEN TUBE ECHOPLEX at a garage sale.  It was
missing the case lid, so I chewed them down to ONE DOLLAR.

It had a broken resistor lead, which I resoldered.  It works perfectly.

I feel like I've had my share of good karma, so I don't even bother looking for stuff anymore. :-)

-alan

[Paul Marossy]

Where the heck do you find these deals?!? Pawnshops?

[MarkB]

Pawnshops are typically a waste nowadays..
usually SOMEONE who works there either knows gear or has a friend who does... when stuff comes in that's great, it goes right out the back door.

I've found a few things over the years in pawnshops.. but typically garage sales, swap meets (like ham radio stuff), goodwill/salvation army.. and surprisingly - music stores.

Ask around at your local music stores - there's always that fabled 'box of old crap' in the back room.. stuff that they may think is useless, but is gold to us.
"-)

[Paul Marossy]

In some areas, pawn shops are still a good place to find stuff. But you're right, most of the time they suck. And the ones around here where I live are trying to sell stuff for more than it would cost new! They must think people are stupid.

Garage sales around here always suck, it's stuff that should be thrown away. Now on the other hand, my brother-in-law in California finds amazing things at garage sales.  :evil:

And all the small music stores where I would be able to find stuff like that have went out of business for some years now when Sam Ash and Musician's Friend (now Guitar Center) moved into town.  

Oh well. At least I can build my own stuff if I want to.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

A few years ago I was at a school fete (miles away up in the hills) and suddenly in the distance I see.... a pile of EH boxes! so I sprint (not my normal mode) and grab them.. only to find they are all EMPTY! later I'm getting a sausage in a bun & see the guy serving on the bun stall is.. a FX repair guy whose daughter goes to the school :oops: well it got the adrenalin up anyhow. And I still have the boxes somewhere

[puretube]

...make "Real True Bypass" boxes outa them: engaged= true bypass;
bypassed= true-tone;

of course this will take a 1p1t switchee, (for the pink LED), but you can ship it off-shore, with a 20 yr-guarantee

P.S.: *edit*: hey Paul, this was not meant as any offence!!!
I know you`re not such a type of guy, who would do this kinda ripoff.

Just had to get rid of some frustration...

maybe we will have a great quadrature multiplier party with 13700 and 1496 and ..633 together, and be heterodyning heavily, one day...

[Doug B.]

Here's the state of things in this area....

I live about 75 miles north of "The City".  Dealers from "The City" know all the pawnshop owners in the area, and they have an arrangement where if anything comes in the P/S, they get first dibs and give the P/S owner a decent price because they can sell it for top dollar... in "The City".  (One of the P/S owners enlightened me about this!)

Dealers also hit the garage sales too -- real early! -- or else their acquaintances/friends who live up here.  When the garage-sale people advertise "9:00 -- please no early birds!" i try to respect that.  Oh well....  

What's really cooled off yard sales in this area though is EBay -- seems like everybody is selling anything even marginally worth something on there.  Understandable.....  

What *is* real nice is a local music store that holds a yearly swap meet.  They have an in-store sale on some of their slower-moving items, and they let their customers set up tables out in back where they can sell instruments, effects, amps... whatever.  Broken stuff too!  (Amongst others, i've picked up a semi-functioning TC Sustain + ParaEQ for $5 and a bunch of wah shells -- some with parts :^) -- for about the same.)  No dealers are allowed!

It might be worthwhile to consider mentioning the idea of a swap sale to the owners of the music stores in your area -- it could be valuable for them *and* their customers!

- Doug B.

[Jered]

Police Auctions !!! Unclaim recovered items. From mansions siezed in drug raids to a catchers mit found in a druggies trunk. And it goes cheap! Check the county auctions in your area. I've paid as little as $4 for an amp and never paid over $25. Unfortunately only SS amps that I really had no use for and just give to a friends kid wanting to learn guitar or whatever the circumstances. I've curtailed my attendance because I was cluttering up my storage unit with odds and ends that "I know I will have a use for at some point in the future"  Like I don't have enough projects to do already. Seriously, I think you could get addicted going to those auctions. :^)  Jered

[jimbob]

Pawnshops are typically a waste nowadays..
usually SOMEONE who works there either knows gear or has a friend who does... when stuff comes in that's great, it goes right out the back door.

I agree. The pawn shops here in Kc, Mo are as worthless. Its really all in who u know and no one is about to give something like that up. I know i really look forward to going to my place and making a deal. As soon as its over and no more good deals ill just move on and focus more on building effects.

I remember the last time i went into a pawnshop in Kc and found a boss flanger. I think it was about 6-7 years old. They wanted80$ for it as it was scratched up ect...So i played like i didnt know what it was and the guy explained to me that it was like a distortion pedal..Hmmm I offered 20$ and he instantly sd no. I said ok..Later..As it was time to move on. Pawn shops suck.. I see a lot of time the sell this stuff on ebay--and are listed as power sellers! Im sure they research what they have  and its worth--and there aware theres a sucker everyday--I see all the time where pawn shops will sell used items for more than the price of new for that same item. Thats when i finally said forget it.. Just as i hope oneday Montgomer Wards would go out of business--and it did--i now hope pawn shops do the same--Maybe thanks to ebay!! I say burn in hell pawn shop guys--Theives!

[jimmy]

What's really cooled off yard sales in this area though is EBay -- seems like everybody is selling anything even marginally worth something on there. Understandable.....

some guy sold a USED HB pencil for 85c plus postage of $1 - think about it, a packet of 3 pencils cost around about $1.50, you USE one, until at which point you decide to sell it, send it in a business envelope for 45 cents... that guy PROFITED! BAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

cheers
Jim