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bad luck at GW--but should have picked this up?

theblackknight

theblackknight

Mikes off! No recording!
I was going around to a couple different GW's around my house and all I found (but didnt get) was a very old symphonic cdp. should I have gotten it?
Besides that the only other electronics I found were some very crappy speakers and a couple of small BPC systems that you could not pay me to take. In each GW, I also found stacks of old VCRs as tall as the eiffel tower.:sigh: :no:
Is every GW this way?:no: How do some of you find treasures there? :headscrat
 
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never had any luck here. But have had luck with some nice vinyl 59 cents an album can't be beat.

tomorrow i'll be hitting some yard sales for speakers.
 
You just have to keep going back. Don't quit you day job, but when you drive by one - pull in. Even when your wife screams at you about how she doesn't like those kinds of places.

Good stuff doesn't sit long. The last good score I got at a thrift was a Marantz 2275 w/wood case, an Akai X-150D R2R deck, and a set of Pioneer CS-911A's for $40. They guy said the stuff had been sitting there about two hours.

Be patient, and good luck to you.

:smoke: herbs
 
I have to agree with herbman. Never found any good electronics but I have picked up a lot of vinyl. Just by stopping in whenever I pass by.
 
The last good score I got at a thrift was a Marantz 2275 w/wood case, an Akai X-150D R2R deck, and a set of Pioneer CS-911A's for $40.
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$40! :jawdrop: I might have to keep checking my GW.:yes:
 
Yup, just a matter of persistance. Its important to know your manufacturers ames and for the majors the model naming conventions, cause if you hesitate to go home and check online sure enough it'll be gone by the time you get back. When in doubt check the weight.

Once passed on a vintage Pioneer graphic equilizer because I really never looked into them before. Got home and checked it out online and there was one on one of the auction sites that was still being bid on but up to 300+ already. Raced back, and it was gone. Snooze ya lose.

I'll go to a GW or SA 20 times and see nothing, but once in a while you'll hit the jackpot.
 
Persistance is correct. Here are some of my finds (goodwill only) in the last year.

-Luxman C-120A and M-120A combo (preamp and amp). 9.99 if I remember correctly.
-Celestion SL-6 monitors (one tweet out,...I still need it if anyone has? supposed to retail about 1g US). 5.99/pair
-Realistic Mach Ones (amazing condition, still in regular use). 40 bucks.
-Odd collection of speaker stands that always come in handy for placement issues (about 4 pairs for total 20 bucks...A steal).
-about 250+ albums in mint condition for the rugular price of 1 dollar a pop, and about 500 at half price.


Stop at goodwill every chance you get, you only increase your odds of finding something of value.


On a side note....I aint found anything in over 2 months. So persistance is definately the answer:yes:
 
Just keep going, over and over again... Eventually you might find something but its not something you'll do on a daily basis. This year I got...
Marantz Esotec SM-7 $19.96
Realistic Mach Ones $10
B&W DM110s $19.96
B&W DM4s $25
Sansui QRX-3500 (don't remember the price but it was cheap)
Technics 5560 (was around $20 if I recall)
Sanyo JCX-2600K
Boston Lynnfields $45
Sayett Mediashow XC8999 LCD video projector (I just found this last week, was like new, with carrying case, cables, remote, bulb etc. probably was used less than 100 hours, the fan inside didn't even have dust on it, gonna set up a little movie theater for myself on Sunday)

Other good finds of the past
Bang & Olufsen Beovox S45s (forget the price but it was cheap)
Sansui 990DB $25
Technics SA-616 $14.96
Sansui SP3000s and 70wpc Kenwood receiver $50
Sherwood 70wpc integrated $5 (mint condition too)

If I thought about this long and hard I could go on for a good while, the moral of the story? Just keep trying.
 
GW has been pretty good to me lately as far as vinyl, but I've found the same assortment of VCRs and BPC that many other people speak of. Today was my first gear score in a long while, and even it was just a single set of speakers. Still, a set of Paradigm Atoms for $5 ain't bad. :banana:
 
I was out and about yesterday and the day before, though I didn't hit all the stores I did see some Boston speakers for $3.99 each that needed a refoam. There were some Optimus speakers of an older vintage. Generally speaking there have been a lot of decent speakers out there lately. Saw a few CDPs that weren't that bad but I really don't need them. Saw one of those 110wpc Technics New Class A amps again, but it had the tuner and cassette with it neither of which I wanted. Stuff is still out there just have to take a look around.
 
If you don't have all the desirable items memorized (I sure don't!), a good rule of thumb is: "Heavy is good, heavier is better." :yes:
 
FWIW, CD players at thrifts really aren't anything to worry about, unless of course you run into something REALLY unique like a Studer or a Nakamichi.
It's a pretty general consensus here that old CD decks really don't age well. This is one component where technology really has improved and while they may work just fine for casual listening, there really aren't any "scores" to be had with old CD decks, especially when modern DVD decks under $60 can play some really sweet music.
And Symphonic???? Well, that's just Wal*Mart quality goods; 'nuf said.
 
It's streaky. Sometimes there will be a productive spell and you can just drop in and find nice stuff. Other times you run into dry spells and there's nothing except junk, and you see the same junk languishing week after week.

I don't think there is any preferred time of day, because the staff in the back are constantly bringing items out. I once was busy inspecting a unit and when I turned around, a seventies era Technics receiver had shown up. However, that's not true after they've gone home for the day.

I agree that there seems to be no end of VCR's.
 
Just when you are about to give up on thrifting, that is when you score! My recent scores are:
JBL Aquarius IV's very nice, $29.00 (the wife let me put these in the bedroom!)
Pioneer SG 9800 mint $14.99
Beovox S-45 2's $7.99 each
Hafler DH 101 preamp $4.99
Hafler DH 110 preamp $14.99
ADS L780's (blown fuses, perfect) $29.00
KEF C95's (need one driver) $39.00

Other memorable scores:
Luxman L-80V, Denon DP 47F, Pioneer SX 950, SG 9500, CS 99A's,
Marantz 2238B, SAE A502 amp, P102 preamp, T102 tuner, many mint records, etc......

Don't give up, don't quit! It is all timing and you need to increase your odds by stopping in whenever you are close and have an extra five minutes! Happy Turkey Day.........
 
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