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Any other Sources other than eBay or Craigslist for Audio

M

Moby2

Active Member
Are there any other sources besides eBay or Craigslist to find used audio equipment? I am looking for a used Yamaha single cassette deck under $20 and when I asked a couple of neighbors, I've received sarcastic responses like I'm living in the stone age. Have you all had luck at garage sales (stopping at random ones when out driving) and is there an ability to test out the equipment at a garage sale?
 
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There's the US Audio Mart, or Canuck Audio Mart if you are in Canada.

You can also make the rounds at the thrift stores on a regular basis until one shows up. I've seen some turn up in stores in my area over time.

Good luck.
 
Moby2 said:
Are there any other sources besides eBay or Craigslist to find used audio equipment? I am looking for a used Yamaha single cassette deck under $20 and when I asked a couple of neighbors, I've received sarcastic responses like I'm living in the stone age. Have you all had luck at garage sales (stopping at random ones when out driving) and is there an ability to test out the equipment at a garage sale?
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You could try putting in a wanted in CL, or local Freecycle and see what might show up. Cassette players at garage sales are hit and miss, you'd best search CL garage sale listings or local estate sale listings for "cassette" to narrow down your search and driving - its very inefficient to drive around randomly for specialized stuff like this. Search for electronics (sorta generic terms for stereo) or stereo, tape, tape deck, etc. You can use Estatesales.net for your area.

As for testing, bring a set of earphones or headphones with 1/4" stereo jack or adapter for the mini-plug if that's what you have, and a few pre-recorded cassettes that you don't mind might get lost or chewed up - they're for testing only. If you can get the unit plugged in, you can check for basic FF/rewind, stop, play, and whether any signal goes to the meters, or to the headphone jack, which will hopefully tell you if the electronics are working and the alignment is roughly ok. Of course, the big thing is the mechanical mechanism and whether the tape/capstan/rollers work ok, and whether the take up reels work. Intermittent or scratchy volume, so long as you get some on each channel, might clean up with DeOxit cleaning to controls.

As for under $20, yeah you might find decks for that, but you'll have less likelihood that they work, unless someone is just getting rid of stuff and they just want it out, regardless of whether it works. Sure, testing may help weed stuff out, but really good decks by good makers are worth getting and repairing, but that assumes you have some type of budget for that purpose, IF you want a superior high fidelity deck.

As mentioned, US Audiomart will have stuff but its mostly higher dollar, but a want ad might shake out something.
 
Check out your local electronics recycling center. Most PC recyclers take in audio gear too.
 
I have seen an awful lot of cassette decks in the thrifts some not working others perfect. Several years ago I found a nice single Yamaha cassette deck for 7 dollars that still works perfectly. Your best bet is to just keep hitting the ones in your area as frequently as you're able. Once you get to know where they put the audio stuff out you can duck in anytime you happen to be driving by. A quick several minute check and if nothing your are on your way. You will eventually hit something, just takes patience as long as you tell yourself you can wait for the right deck.

Good luck in your quest!
 
Subscribe to AK which opens up barter town - which has several sub-categories - including Equipment, Parts and Media - trusted sellers and very little BS.
 
Also you can search Shopgoodwill.com website for audio gear. There's a lot of junk listed, so unless you perform a name search there is quite a bit to weed through within the categories. Unfortunately, there's no way to know the operational condition of the items listed, other that the typical "verified it powers on" comment. Most items worth watching end up selling for ePay prices and sometimes higher, which completely puzzles me. The other issue is that the heavier items are not shipped and are local pickup only. Despite those drawbacks, I have seen a fair amount of nice gear listed...Adcom separates, Marantz/Pioneer/Sansui/Yamaha receivers, Polk Monitor speakers, JVC/Sony high-end turntables to name a few. Most of the good stuff seems to be listed in the Pacific Northwest Goodwill locations. Those who are into BOSE products, or crappy surround systems...it's paradise. Good quality vintage 2 channel gear...not so much.
 
I posted on BT a pile of free stuff about 2 weeks ago. In the pile was a Yamaha tape deck. Pretty sure its gone. Entry level decks are easy to find, a quick trip to a Salvation Army should deliver one.
 
Almost all except the most expensive tape decks had at least one belt; most have several. Belts tend to get dried out, stretched or sticky over time, and the deck will need an overhaul that costs several times more than it's worth. Take a recorded cassette you don't care about with you and check out all transport functions. If they all work, and meters deflect in play (even better if you bring headphones with you, as mentioned above; don't forget the 1/4" adapter) then you're probably in good shape.
 
I have found lots of decks at thrift stores. Garage sales are really hit and miss. At least at thrift stores you can typically plug them in and try tapes.
 
Hey Moby
I'm sure if you hunt long enough you'll find one. But do you really want BPC that was cheap when new and worth little,if anything now?
A better idea would be to look for one that was relatively expensive,in working order from someone who hasn't used it in years and make an offer.
They are a tough sell on that auction site with buyers removing parts or claiming it doesn't work. Plenty of Naks,NADs and Yammies out there.
Spend a few more bucks and buy it once.
Jimmy
 
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