Give some, get some, lose some

[Zed Simon]

I''m convinced now that you find better things in thrift stores on days you donate things. Thursday I donated records at one store, and got 25% off at my Goodwills. Today I returned the favor by donating my Christmas tree to one of those Goodwills, and guess what: they returned the favor right back to me!

I got myself a pair of ADS 570/2 speakers for $30. Nice black 2-ways with removable perforated metal grilles. The tops have some scuffs and scratches, but they''re otherwise intact and most importantly, the drivers look good. They''re significantly bigger than the Design Acoustics speakers they may replace, so I''m figuring out just how I''m gonna place them. Can''t wait to get ''em rockin''!

If I were really crazy, I could''ve gotten a pair of Sansui SP-100s, which I''m just finding out now were one of Sansui''s first US speaker designs. No price on ''em, and even bigger and heavier then the ADSes. Now I''m wondering. But for now I''ll enjoy what I got. 

[Good Buddy]

Go vintage audio!
You and Troy McClure shouls talk, he''s a super audiophile geek like us.

[Zed Simon]

Michael, the speakers indeed do rock. And considering how much bigger they are than the DAs, they''re actually not a bad fit right where they are. A no-regrets purchase for sure.

On vintage audio: I had a very nice day in New England last Saturday with some fine folks from an audio forum I frequent (the host loves his pair of 570/2s). You wouldn''t believe the stuff those guys had - and how little they paid for some of it!

[Troy McClure]

If I were in an audio society, I would go broke....
Nothing in the world to me worse than a case of speaker envy. 
I have kept my stereo habit in check recently, been on a guitar kick instead.
I ran out of room for all the speakers I own, although I have an ear for Midfi rather than
high end stuff.

[alexandra]

The guitar thing can take up a lot of room too... I''m only my fifth (this one, though, was a new purchase) -- and feel you can never have enough!  I am always on the lookout for junior size guitars -- gotta buy them and give them to the nieces and nephews in order to get those small hands used to holding them.  I was envious a few months back when someone beat me to a nice old hollow body.  The shop I frequent usually overprices instruments, so I didn''t even bother to ask.  But they sold this one for twenty bucks!!! So, now I am always gonna ask.

Anyway, the prices for small/play/junior guitars are outrageous -- when you can pick up a small one (which could double as a backpacker, I guess) for much less at a thrift store.  And even if you buy an instrument that isn''t in perfect condition, you can use it as an organ donor if you decide to repair, or become a guitar Dr. Frankenstein and build from scraps (I once knew someone who would do that).

I am curious -- do you see many amps when out thrifting?  The ones I have seen seem to be overpriced.  I wish I were as handy as some of yous guys -- then I''d buy gear and try to fix it.

Thriftily,
Alexandra
www.livingwithoutmoney.blogspot.com

[Zed Simon]

Guitar amps? I think I''ve seen maybe one or two real cheap Esteban-quality ones. But there was a SalArmy (or Salami, as we call ''em here on the Island) that had a Peavey head, and that was the only quality thing I''ve seen. Good guitars aren''t easy to come by either.

(PS: I only sound handy.)

[Troy McClure]

I have never thrifted a guitar or amp. I found a 12 space rack wth a slant mixer head for my ome studio. $6.99 at goodwill.  3/4 and 1/2 size guitars are either  totally unplayable or too expensive. The martin backpacker is the best alternative is you need an acoustic.  there are a ton of acceptable  $99 electrics brand new.