chicks' Goodwill Systems
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Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
You mean, that's it? That's ALL you have? 
Jeez, I feel like I just read a vintage-audio catalog from some huge vintage-superstore. Looks like you've had a lot of gear pass through your hands. Damn, I wish I understood electronics-theory better than I do. I'm horrible. I just can't make any sense out of it.
Jeez, I feel like I just read a vintage-audio catalog from some huge vintage-superstore. Looks like you've had a lot of gear pass through your hands. Damn, I wish I understood electronics-theory better than I do. I'm horrible. I just can't make any sense out of it.
chicks
Lunatic Member
You mean, that's it? That's ALL you have?
Well, not ALL I have, but I won't bore you with the little stuff.
You can always join the Navy, which is where I learned electronics.
Pepa
Well-Known Member
I do not know what to say except ... I like it :thmbsp:Spotted a Yammie CR-820 on CL this morning for practically nothing, called and talked them down to less than nothing. Face is in perfect condition, not a scratch. Veneer needs some TLC, or ... to be replaced with Rosewood to match the big JVC... :scratch2:
Offset measured <10mv on both channels. Just needs some lamps. Cleaned 'er up and stuck 'er in the system for a listen. Like what I'm seeing and hearing... My first Yammie - I think I'm in love.
I would like if we just had all that CL,TS,GW...
Andy_H
Behind the Wall of Sleep
You mean, that's it? That's ALL you have?
Quite a lot of awesome stuff here, and to think that most of it was rescued from thrift shops
Good work! (and nice photography as well)
lico
Super Member
You have come across some very impressive gear, no doubt. But I guess I don't get the "going to the thrifts to find stuff so I can sell it at a 3x higher price". I too have been smitten by the thrift bug to find things to try them out - and get excited if I stumble across something I've wanted, but when I'm done it either goes back to the store once I've tried it, or I keep it after fixing (usually after investing 3x more money to get it working if it's something I really like).
Selling thrift items at a profit doesn't seem right to me, just saying. Maybe I'm jaded - but people give that stuff away to start with - with the intent that somebody who might not have the money can afford it.
seek/destroy
Active Member
The kitchen "system", a $5 GW grab, just missing a foot.
This is mine $5 kitchen system also! Just about the best table radio I've ever experienced. I had it hooked to my main system as the tuner for a while until I found my current Sansui TU-717 and Kenwood KT 8300. GREAT stuff you've got there.
chicks
Lunatic Member
I guess you're not aware of shopgoodwill.com, where Goodwill tries to maximize profits on the items it gets for free. I don't think too many poor folks are shopping online. The prices that some of the Goodwills around here are starting to charge for untested, often non-functional gear puts it well above what poor folks can afford. Then they are often stuck with a non-working item, because Goodwill won't accept returns.
I love playing with the gear too, but I also put a lot of time into cleaning and fixing it, something Goodwill does not do - I'm surely entitled to charge for my labor
Goodwill gets their asking price from me, so I have zero guilt about reselling at a profit after putting my time into an item. After all, I'm hardly rich, this is the only way I can afford nice gear.Edit: Did I mention that most of my profits go right back to the Goodwill to support my real passion, the music? Hundreds of LPs and CDs in my collection from the GW, so they're doing quite well off my labor.
I fully support their mission, which has nothing to do with selling stuff to the poor, it's all about providing jobs to those who might not otherwise be employable: http://www.goodwill.org/about-us/our-mission/
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Audionerd
Active Member
I guess you're not aware of shopgoodwill.com, where Goodwill tries to maximize profits on the items it gets for free. I don't think too many poor folks are shopping online. The prices that some of the Goodwills around here are starting to charge for untested, often non-functional gear puts it well above what poor folks can afford. Then they are often stuck with a non-working item, because Goodwill won't accept returns.
I love playing with the gear too, but I also put a lot of time into cleaning and fixing it, something Goodwill does not do - I'm surely entitled to charge for my labor
Edit: Did I mention that most of my profits go right back to the Goodwill to support my real passion, the music? Hundreds of LPs and CDs in my collection from the GW, so they're doing quite well off my labor.
you must be the audio version of christ our savior bring sound to people who dont have it and give back so people can get jobs and eat! you are definitely
doing it right in every since of the work karma my hats off to you
Audionerd
Active Member
to me if someone has the knowledge to do something and make money on it let them thats why we were once a thriving economy i guarantee the units ive nabbed at thrift stores 99% of them wouldnt know how to fix a unit anyway even if it just needed a deoxit treatment and cleaning most of my units go to friends for the price i paid at goodwill or some other thrift store plus parts i never charge labor because that is what i really get off on making and fixing things i love putting cheap great sounding gear together for my friends that believe "old" is junk needless to say i should start a church with all my believers ive converted to vintage gear
also alot of people give stuff to goodwill because they dont want it in the house and would like it to go to someone who could use it not just a trash heap thats where the real waste comes in people taking consoles to the dump and so forth if i drop some clothes off or a sub and some millionaire gets it I really dont care that he could go out and get a new one im just glad someone got a great deal and can use it clearly econophile has put his time in at the thrifts and deserves profit and the equipment for his efforts
DonQuixote99
just give me some truth
People give stuff to Goodwill to get rid of it, with some non-specific feeling that they are getting some 'do-good karma' or something in return, as opposed to just trashing it. Goodwill makes it's money and does whatever good it does when it gets it's asking price. Buyer acquires full ownership with no obligation to anyone (and no guarantees of anything). If he can sell at a profit to a willing buyer, perhaps after further investment of labor and materials, there is nothing wrong with that.
If there is no deceit or coercion, a mutually-agreeable sale is a fair exchange. Any other way of doing things must involve coercive transfer of benefit to one of the parties, or someone else.
If there is no deceit or coercion, a mutually-agreeable sale is a fair exchange. Any other way of doing things must involve coercive transfer of benefit to one of the parties, or someone else.
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chicks
Lunatic Member
Replacement lamps arrived from AK member dgwojo yesterday, so the Yammie CR-820 is going on the bench for minor cosmetic surgery. Its case will soon be headed off to Merrylander for some major cosmetic surgery - Rosewood veneer to replace its vinyl walnut.
Meanwhile the very heavy HK-930, which has never actually been in the system, is pulling duty. This was from the SPCA thrift, where they actually test gear and mark what's not working. This one had a failed output pair, and a couple of blown fuses. Came with the factory box for an extremely good price. A pair of On-Semi output transistors, and it's good as new, twin powering the DCM's quite nicely.
A decidedly more conservative look that the Yammie, but much heavier, and solid metal knobs like the Yammie. Two phono, two aux and two tape loops give plenty of input options. FM section is really good on this beast.
Meanwhile the very heavy HK-930, which has never actually been in the system, is pulling duty. This was from the SPCA thrift, where they actually test gear and mark what's not working. This one had a failed output pair, and a couple of blown fuses. Came with the factory box for an extremely good price. A pair of On-Semi output transistors, and it's good as new, twin powering the DCM's quite nicely.
A decidedly more conservative look that the Yammie, but much heavier, and solid metal knobs like the Yammie. Two phono, two aux and two tape loops give plenty of input options. FM section is really good on this beast.
chicks
Lunatic Member
Live in Sacto, home of the Kings (at least for now). Used to be two large Air Force bases here, and an Army Depot; might be why there's some decent gear to be found. GW is prospering here, they seem to open a new store in middle-class neighborhoods every 6 months, and they have their GW Express storefronts everywhere, so it's extremely convenient for people to give their unwanted stuff to them.
Used to be two large Air Force bases here, and an Army Depot; might be why there's some decent gear to be found. GW is prospering here, they seem to open a new store in middle-class neighborhoods every 6 months, and they have their GW Express storefronts everywhere, so it's extremely convenient for people to give their unwanted stuff to them.
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That h/k 930 is looking sharp, Chicks.:drool:
I too have been known to flip thrift finds after minor or major rehab. If they undercharge me it is not my doing and the next savvy browser would certainly be all over it. I certainly never felt any guilt or bad Karma from doing it.
I too have been known to flip thrift finds after minor or major rehab. If they undercharge me it is not my doing and the next savvy browser would certainly be all over it. I certainly never felt any guilt or bad Karma from doing it.