OH NO! I think I'm addicted!

[jocko_nc]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jocko

[Fergymunster]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jocko
If you stop now your not in danger.However,an addiction could last as long as your money runs out.After that it's credit cards,stealing etc......

[kelsci]

Better audio gear than drugs, tobacco or alcohol.

[Worf101]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jocko

You're absolutely doomed... Abandon hope all ye who enter here. You'll soon find stuff hidden absolutely everywhere... With me it's vintage New England Speakers. Epicure, Allison, Ohm from the City... all Orphan stuff.. God help you my friend cause there's no such thing as "Audioholics Anonymous".

Da Worfster

[bobsticks]

Yes, jocko, its indeed over for you. There might have been hope if it was just a pair of speakers--maybe experimenting with a different cdp--but a $7 tape player? Next it'll be a reel-to-reel and a spatializer. Just admit it and go with the flow...

Cheers

[GMichael]

The first step is admitting that you have a problem.

[jocko_nc]

Today it was a pair of JBL J2050's... $4.50 each, how can I help myself? The cabinets need touched up, but otherwise in great shape. I see a black-stained pair in the future...

Also, some goofy Hitachi plastic TV speakers with mounting brackets. Lightweight case and room for two 4.00 drivers. They will probably work on my boat, bolted up in the tee top. The brackets are perfect. I destroyed the last pair towing to Florida. Line with undercoating for a watertight enclosure. Only $.99.

Am I beyond hope?

Still looking for that vintage silver-faced receiver.

jocko

[jrhymeammo]

I didnt score any vinyl, but I bought a Portable PA system for $7 the other day. I had to make a choice between that and Advent Baby II speakers for $10 a pair. It only took me 5 seconds to makeup my mind. Boy, this thing can SCREAM!!!!!!! A guy in my apartment building offered me $120 for it. I could definitely put that money in a jar for DIY speakers and a new cartridge, but PA system is too much fun.

[Fergymunster]

I didnt score any vinyl, but I bought a Portable PA system for $7 the other day. I had to make a choice between that and Advent Baby II speakers for $10 a pair. It only took me 5 seconds to makeup my mind. Boy, this thing can SCREAM!!!!!!! A guy in my apartment building offered me $120 for it. I could definitely put that money in a jar for DIY speakers and a new cartridge, but PA system is too much fun.
I believe your in a state called "Mania"or a "Manic Depressive Episode".You need to take some medication such as depocote or lithium.If you contniue at this pace you'll whind up in Atlantic city gambling and after you crash from the episode you'll find your self sleeping under the board walk.Find the middle ground.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

You used stuff demon, come out of Jocko right now!!! :mad2:

[JoeE SP9]

Give him a break. He's not looking for Transparent Cables. Yet!:ihih:

[GMichael]

Give him a break. He's not looking for Transparent Cables. Yet!:ihih:

Do they really make cables that you can see through? This would be great. No more ugly wires all around the room. Just make sure they aren't out where someone could trip over them.

[jrhymeammo]

Looks like it's just me and you Jocko da Wacko (how clever is that? huh?).
Now, if Jacko starts buying pre-worn undies(tainted or not), he may need more love from his companions.
I'm gonna go hit up about 5 stores today and see whos waiting for me. They talk to me people!!!!!!!! If I dont score anything, I'll take my PA system to downtown, and harass people with a sign that says "Will fcuk your grandma for her husband's vinyl collection"

[Woochifer]

Ah! Sounds like you got one of Pioneer's "Fluoroscan" models (1981 was the last year that Pioneer made them). I grew up with one of those, and it literally made thousands of hours of recordings before the head and the mechanical parts began to show their age. The deck that I used was an unusual design in that it had auto reverse, a dual capstan transport, manual piano key buttons (no powered solenoid transport), and a completely open tape compartment with no door (this was a common Pioneer design dating back to the mid-70s). I didn't appreciate the build quality on that Pioneer until I bought my own tape deck years later.

That thing made pretty good recordings. Good thing too because while the turntable was the heart of my parents' system, the tape deck was the workhorse. I used to tape my LPs in order to preserve their original condition. Plus, I wanted to carry my music with me (can you say Walkman?). I would typically play the LP on those occasions when I wanted to do more critical listening.

That Pioneer "fluoroscan" lineup had a whole assortment of components with that same brushed aluminum fascia and blue fluorescent display. In '82, Pioneer went to a much cheaper looking dark plastic front with multicolored LEDs and enclosed tape compartments. Before "fluoriscan", Pioneer tape decks actually had fake woodgrain on the side of the case! A friend of mine had an older three-head Pioneer that used the same open compartment design, but the recording quality of that deck was astonishing (I believe that it cost $400 in 1978, which would be $1,200 in today's dollars).

My concern though about going with thrift store stuff would be the condition of the components. I can tell you that old Pioneer tape deck went through thousands of hours of use and the heads were pretty much goners, and the CD player that I just donated to Goodwill works fine, except that it skips and makes these groaning noises on occasion. But, I guess for $7, the nostalgic presence is good enough!

[jocko_nc]

Yea, its all about the lights and switches!

I got another Fluoroscan today, an earlier model with the wood sides. CR-F750, I think. Again, $10.00. If nothing more, I'll donate them to someone who needs parts. Maybe I can learn to work on them?

I just love the quality and workmanship in these things. It just feels good to work real metal switches and 100% analog signals. It feels so "organic". <jocko pukes while typing>.

jocko

[jocko_nc]

I think I am starting to get the feel for the Goodwill stores. Some stuff is abused. Some is hardly used. It all depends upon the donor and his story.

I look for stores in more well-to-do areas where there would be a lot of older folks downsizing their living. Figure much of the stuff is about 30 years old now. There had to be money these in the day to afford these expensive toys in the first place. Then there is the abuse factor, hopefully it was cared for. Hopefully, some son or daughter takes Daddy's old stero stuff in without noticing or caring what it really is. Funny, so many people cannot tell the difference between a heavy Pioneer amp and a Soundesign. ????. Maybe I'll be there that day.

Kind of like fishing. Except my car gets much better mileage than my boat.

jocko

[PAT.P]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jockoIt stop when you have no more room or the wife puts her foot down:ihih: My basement is full of audio gear and now have to choose what to keep.I need to make room for drums and cymbals for the boy.:16:

[emorphien]

I used to be that way with camera gear. Fortunately I stopped and now I've even sold a few extra items on eBay.

As far as audio gear goes, there's a bunch of things I'd love to get and play with but I have held off because I don't want my home to get more overwhelmed with things.

[jocko_nc]

Picked up a clean and function-flawless SX780 Pioneer receiver the other day. Had to go to Ebay for it though...

Great sound from the amp. Punchy and powerful, just like they used to sound. Very clean, too. Watts must have been different back then... At 45 watts it can really push a pair of speakers.

Man, it is amazing the garbage we have come to settle with regarding am tuners. Not that am is very pertinent anymore, however I do listen a lot of talk while working. That old analog tuner is simply amazing on am. I love the big flywheel. No noise. Sensitivity is outstanding.

Oh yea. I was in rural East Virginia the other week and saw another Goodwill... Found an otherwise mint CTF750 Pioneer cassette deck with a loose power switch. $9.00. Works great, sounds good.

I am definitely addicted.

jocko

[daviethek]

my third bedroom system is complete. E-bay Sherwood tuner for 8.00, Sony ss N220 power amp for 80.00, hopelessly old dyna pre and platter cd with black bag speakers. Sounds too damn good. Problem is, ...9 room house. Wife starting to look at me a little funny. Cat already understands.

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

Picked up a clean and function-flawless SX780 Pioneer receiver the other day. Had to go to Ebay for it though...

Great sound from the amp. Punchy and powerful, just like they used to sound. Very clean, too. Watts must have been different back then... At 45 watts it can really push a pair of speakers.

Man, it is amazing the garbage we have come to settle with regarding am tuners. Not that am is very pertinent anymore, however I do listen a lot of talk while working. That old analog tuner is simply amazing on am. I love the big flywheel. No noise. Sensitivity is outstanding.

Oh yea. I was in rural East Virginia the other week and saw another Goodwill... Found an otherwise mint CTF750 Pioneer cassette deck with a loose power switch. $9.00. Works great, sounds good.

I am definitely addicted.

jocko

Now didn't I excersize you of that evil purchasing spirit??? Oh, so you are one of those stubborn hard to remove devils :devil::devil::devil::devil:

[Jimmy C]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jocko

...thrift store selection as of late. REALLY bad, as a matter of fact.

I saw a nice pair of Infinity EMIT speakers, and was going to buy 'em on the spot. The store "manager" said they had to be checked out first. OK, fine, but when I returned a few hours later, he said they were sold. Bull. Someone in the store wanted them, I surmise.

Not only that, those stores smell like doom and despair... lol.

I'm ALMOST done with them...

[Worf101]

my third bedroom system is complete. E-bay Sherwood tuner for 8.00, Sony ss N220 power amp for 80.00, hopelessly old dyna pre and platter cd with black bag speakers. Sounds too damn good. Problem is, ...9 room house. Wife starting to look at me a little funny. Cat already understands.

I'm sooo jealous... Ah hates on you!!!!:mad5:
Sniff wish I had 9 rooms to play with.... HD/Surround in the bathroom.. basement, linen closet... Envious.... envious...

Da Worfster :(

[Feanor]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jocko

I made several nice scores recently, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I restrained by myself from several choice vintage receivers. :sad:

[Woochifer]

Picked up a clean and function-flawless SX780 Pioneer receiver the other day. Had to go to Ebay for it though...

Great sound from the amp. Punchy and powerful, just like they used to sound. Very clean, too. Watts must have been different back then... At 45 watts it can really push a pair of speakers.

Man, it is amazing the garbage we have come to settle with regarding am tuners. Not that am is very pertinent anymore, however I do listen a lot of talk while working. That old analog tuner is simply amazing on am. I love the big flywheel. No noise. Sensitivity is outstanding.

Oh yea. I was in rural East Virginia the other week and saw another Goodwill... Found an otherwise mint CTF750 Pioneer cassette deck with a loose power switch. $9.00. Works great, sounds good.

I am definitely addicted.

jocko


Yup, that would the exact same deck that's still hooked up to my parents' vintage Marantz/JBL system! It can sporatically play, but its recording days ended when the 80s did (the recording heads eventually crapped out). Very nice and well built deck that cost nearly $300 (in $1980) when brand new.

[Mark_IDT]

Ya know they now are saying addiction is a disease! Perhaps some antibiaudiox are in order.

[jocko_nc]

Oh well. Added another to the collection today...

I found a Sansui 2000A today while scouring the radio repair shops. I asked about "vintage" stuff, the guy almost forgot he had it. It had been around the shop for years, he had always intended to sell it.

I saw the cardboard carton that said "Sansui" and got a little excited. Did not know what might be inside. It's a little older than I would prefer and my first Sansui. However, it is packaged like it was for sale back in the day, almost like a time capsule. All the plastic shipping film is still intact on edges of the faceplate. Crazy. ???. This thing is brand new. $50.00 and no need to ship. How could I say no?

Hmmm... Maybe a new bedroom rig?

jocko

[bobsticks]

my third bedroom system is complete. E-bay Sherwood tuner for 8.00, Sony ss N220 power amp for 80.00, hopelessly old dyna pre and platter cd with black bag speakers. Sounds too damn good. Problem is, ...9 room house. Wife starting to look at me a little funny. Cat already understands.

I hadn't seen this post before. What a beautiful quote...

I do this mostly with software. I stopped at one of those "Half-Priced Used Bookstores" on the way back from lunch today and bought 29 cds for less than $100.00. I only found the damn thing because I got cut off in traffic.

[jrhymeammo]

Bought a pair of Mirage SM-3 out of curiosity for $10 a pair. These are 2way floorstanders with 1" softdome tweets and 8" woofers. Sounds pretty good, but sounds a bit boxy.

One of my friend broke up with his girlfriend and lost EVERYTHING. For that matter, I think I'll be shopping for an old receiver that is not a black plastic box, and a CD player for under $50 and give him a little gift. This will be a nice upgrade from his old boombox. Music wise, he'll have to buy them allover again.

Hey Jock_nc, where you are? Were you tricked into an intervention or something?

Fergymunster!!!!! Thanks for your thoughtful advice but I must digress.

[jocko_nc]

Still out there searching the thrifts and radio repair shops...

[Feanor]

I made several nice scores recently, but I had to draw the line somewhere. I restrained by myself from several choice vintage receivers. :sad:

Bought a Marantz 2252B at Audiogon. $160, not too bad; everthing works except the "Stereo" light.

(stock photo) ...

[PAT.P]

Too bad your not around my neck of the woods,I need to make room in basement and lots needs to go.Never knew I had so much stuff,5 turntable ,4 receiver,tape deck,reel to reel,advent speakers(never got them recone).Im setting a drum set for the boy and its time to make room:16:

[Blue Meanie]

To bringing home used stuff!

Now I find myself driving by thrift stores... that aren't on the way home.

Friday it was a 1981 Pioneer tape deck, one of the good ones, for $7. Love all that aluminum hardware and workmanship. Today a mint Mirage M490 for $20. I'll fine a use for it somewhere.

When does all this stop?

jocko

Sure, you finely hone your vintage audioholic addiction over at Audiokarma, then come here asking if there is a cure, when you KNOW there isn't a cure. Yes, I've seen through your CLEVER RUSE! You are just trying to entice the good folks at Audioreview to come over to the dark side, in an effort to make you feel better about YOUR addiction (but honey, EVERYONE'S doing it)! 'Tis the devil's work, I say (LOL)!!!

For the uninitiated, here's a link to the BEST vintage audio equipment (mostly) forums on the net:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/

Jeff
P.S. Man, THIS place is a GHOST TOWN compared to the way it was a couple of years ago. What happened???

[Blue Meanie]

Bought a pair of Mirage SM-3 out of curiosity for $10 a pair. These are 2way floorstanders with 1" softdome tweets and 8" woofers. Sounds pretty good, but sounds a bit boxy.

One of my friend broke up with his girlfriend and lost EVERYTHING.

I feel for him. Gotta be smart enough to move all your stuff out, THEN dump her. Kids these days...

Jeff

[EdgarB]

Boy can I relate. I have 10 speakers , 5 different brands, different ohms, and still look for more speakers if the "price is right." I use an Adcom speaker selector to protect my amplifer with the different makes but can't help what switching another pair of speakers would sound like. Need to join AA. Admit I have a problem.

[kelsci]

You mean you need to join SPEAKERHOLICS ANONAMYUS; electronics division.

[basite]

i don't buy old things (altough they are interesting) i only look at them when i see them (my grandfather's '57 tube radio, his warfdhales, my uncle's technics receiver, my own kenwood old receiver, my luxman pd282 tt, ...) i have this other thing, i don't like to throw them away, like this: i now have my new denon pma-700ae int amp to replace my '78 kenwood kr730 receiver. most of the people i know would not even still have it, but i used it, and i keep it, now it stands there, waiting to be used again, i'm already thinking where i could use it, apart from decent speakers, i now have a whole third system made out things i used before.