My Niece found this nice acoustic guitar with hard case at the dump when she went to do a garbage drop off with her dad, my Bro. The nut and bridge saddle were in the case. I really don't get why people throw stuff out like this.
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Coolest thing you ever found that was thrown away and needed fixed?
- Thread starter SubHuman
- Start date
I was buying a Peavey Foundation bass off CL, went to the sellers house, checked it out, gave him the $60 for it, and he said "Oh, and here's the amp." An early 90's Peavey Minx 110 - it wasn't in the pictures or description, but the seller was including it.
Probably because the driver was blown. And it had a half inch of tobacco and spilled beer schmutz all over it (the bass was mostly just tobacco). After cleaning it up and replacing the driver I find my Peavey basses sound their best through it.
Probably because the driver was blown. And it had a half inch of tobacco and spilled beer schmutz all over it (the bass was mostly just tobacco). After cleaning it up and replacing the driver I find my Peavey basses sound their best through it.
Ampeg BA-210SP found at the dump. Need some preamp advice.
I lost interest in trying to make it work, then listed it on CL for free.
I lost interest in trying to make it work, then listed it on CL for free.
Two things:
1. Kay M-1 plywood bass from early 60s, discarded by a high school. Turned out to need massive repair, which I did myself, and it has held up through numerous jazz and even some classical gigs since around 1983. It got me into upright, which probably kept me in bass playing, since my first love was cello.
2. ReVox A77 reel-to-reel tape recorder in non working condition. Had a number of blown diodes in its "logic" circuit, restored it to good working order. Then it was stolen from my house and covered under replacement-cost insurance policy, so I got a brand new B77 out of it. The B77 was the bees knees for hi-fi enthusiasts, which I wasn't. It was so huge and the tapes were so expensive that I rarely used it, and eventually sold it to a friend so I could buy a portable digital recorder.
1. Kay M-1 plywood bass from early 60s, discarded by a high school. Turned out to need massive repair, which I did myself, and it has held up through numerous jazz and even some classical gigs since around 1983. It got me into upright, which probably kept me in bass playing, since my first love was cello.
2. ReVox A77 reel-to-reel tape recorder in non working condition. Had a number of blown diodes in its "logic" circuit, restored it to good working order. Then it was stolen from my house and covered under replacement-cost insurance policy, so I got a brand new B77 out of it. The B77 was the bees knees for hi-fi enthusiasts, which I wasn't. It was so huge and the tapes were so expensive that I rarely used it, and eventually sold it to a friend so I could buy a portable digital recorder.
Who would've ever thought a turntable would be worth more now then when they were new?
I still love putting on my Dark Side of the Moon album. It sounds great and I travel back in time!
Not a find exactly, but several years ago I was perusing Craigslist and found a Schroeder 410 cab for a decent price up in St. Augustine. (I live in Tampa) I was going to be working in Daytona within a couple of weeks so I reached out to the gentleman and we set up a time to meet during that weekend.
I arrived, checked out the cabinet with his amp, and made the deal. Other than some cat scratch fever to the padded cover, it's in fine shape. We reached a price of $350 iirc, and as I was loading it up, he said "here" and handed me a Sadowsky SBP-1 preamp. It's missing a rubber foot, and was missing a knob that Roger's son later sent me for free with an order. It works perfectly otherwise. Probably worth about $175-200 used.
I arrived, checked out the cabinet with his amp, and made the deal. Other than some cat scratch fever to the padded cover, it's in fine shape. We reached a price of $350 iirc, and as I was loading it up, he said "here" and handed me a Sadowsky SBP-1 preamp. It's missing a rubber foot, and was missing a knob that Roger's son later sent me for free with an order. It works perfectly otherwise. Probably worth about $175-200 used.
You're lucky! Ask my wife...there ain't no fixing me! I'm broken but at least I'm out of the Dumpster!
Once apron a time, I worked with a guitarist that owned a hardly used Hiwatt Custom 100 (best amp I ever owned and the only piece of equipment I've regretted selling) that he lent to his bassist. The problem was It kept blowing fuses. He was getting ready to throw it out as he had it in the repair shop 4 or 5 times with the same results.
At the time I owned a Kustom 100 head that I paid $85 , and it worked fine. Well, bless his bones I had to twist his arm to swap me his head for mine, but he was so concerned he was taking advantage of me.
Later that day, I dropped if off at my repair tech (better known as Super Service), who had been servicing my Ampeg gear for years. As soon as I got home the phone was ringing, and there was my tech wanting to know where I got this head. This guy had been a first class audiophile tech since World War II. He said it was the best designed amp he's seen in a long long time. The diagnosis? The other repair tech was installing poor quality output tubes and not adjusting the bias. It was a $60 repair. Ended up trading it for a Les Paul and a significant amount of cash.
I liked that turntable so much, about 10 years later I bought another one on eBay for $35.
My brother fished a Pfischner aluminum upright bass out of a dumpster behind the music store where he worked. I am slowly restoring it. I found a Peavey Bandit guitar amp at the curb. I opened it up and there was a piece of Christmas tinsel across the PC board. I removed it and it worked fine. Pretty crappy amp but free. I found a Sunn PA head with bins outside a church. I was walking. I grabbed the head but when I got back the cabinets were gone. Head worked fine. I gave it to a friend who is converting it to a guitar amp.
I found a Denon AVR 4306 surround sound on the curb. We're not fans of surround sound but it's perfect for a free garage stereo.
Years ago a cat walked by where I'm sitting right now. He's now house trained and sits on my lap.
Took some cardboard in to town to recycle and spotted this old Alamo amp. The attendant just told me to take it. Not a bad find considering we live just outside San Antonio. Going to see if I can revive it.
Not exactly a dumpster find, but when I was 15 a guy I barely knew was getting rid of a bass that he thought looked stupid. He said if he couldn't find a taker it was going in the trash. That bass? 80's Steinberger. He also threw in a big-box Q-Tron pedal. All for free, although needed some fixing. As a kid intensely into Bootsy and The Funk in general, I was ecstatic.
I used to drive through a rich neighborhood and found a perfectly good working snare drum and stand setting out with the trash. Some kid probably drove his parents crazy with it so out it went!
Loving the stories and the treasure finds!
Loving the stories and the treasure finds!
