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Flea Market Finds

mooreon131

mooreon131

Mar 16, 2010
148
11
Baltimore, MD
#1
Hey guys. A while back, there was a thread about cool pawn shop finds. I thought it was a cool thread, but was discouraged to hear that with the advent of ebay, the days of pawnshop deals are pretty much over. A look around my local pawn shops confirmed this. However, I was watching this video about a guy who goes to the local flea markets, swap meets, etc, to look for video games. I saw a few guitars, and basses (and even a full Pearl drumkit!) in the background of his videos, and was wondering if anyone here frequented their local flea markets in search of gear. So, I'd like to hear about your flea market finds, whether its' guitars, amps, basses, drumkits, anything. I personally want to see if I can find some of the 60's budget stuff, like Silvertone, and Teisco at these things.
 
#2
I have not gotten any Flea market guitars or bass,I have been buying damaged guitars and bass's and creating some cool instruments.I would like corresponding with like mninded musicians,I am building a Univox Violin body,it is clear blue,I am staining the maple neck blue and powdercoating knobs and tuners blue.I am putting a Bartolini P/U in it and leaving out neck P/U for neck adjustments.I am installing a toggle switch and behind open pickup which has a blue gel and F holes it will have blue lights inside it.I just finished a Madeira(japanese Guild with a old Yamaha BB neck with P&J pickups.It has a 1/4 inch jack for each P/U with a separate volume button.I have built about 2 dozen guitars in last 18 months and am finding it hard to sell them off because of economy music stores and pawn shops are not buying.Maybe Flea markets are a good idea
 
#4
You are right about pawn shops. Here in Atlanta, most are part of the chains and don't take in anything that's not perfect and then try to sell at near retail.

Unfortunately there are fewer flea markets around. However, yard sales (and sometimes) craigslist can be rich hunting ground. In the last 3-4 weeks, I've found:

OLP Ernie Ball MusicMan bass in excellent condition needing pot and jack nuts to be tightened...$20 at a church yard sale

Full set of Rogers drums (bass, 3 toms, snare, no stands or cymbals), filthy, resonant heads cut out, missing snare spring, one bass head and rim, but otherwise intact......$25 ($25, not $250). It'll take $100 in parts and lots of cleaning but they will play again.

Peavey TNT 130 bass amp functional, but dirty with knobs missing, one non functioning jack, etc. $20

Marshall AVT-20 Valvestate amp, filthy but fully functional for $40. After a thorough cleanup it's a keeper.

This is seasonal activity when the weather is good. I go out on Saturday mornings before my wife is up and around.
 
#7

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#9
I bought a nice first act guitar at a Goodwill, that guitar had sweet tone, sadly I dropped it and snapped the headstock compleatly of and broke the neck almost all the way down. I am 5 11 and dropped it from neck level needless to say that one was done for. It was only 5 dollars though and I played it a little over a year.
 
#10
I recently got a Kay 703 guitar amp from the 60's at a flea market. I gave $15 after negotiating with the guy. I took it home and checked out E-bay and saw one sell for $330! Then another went for $220. I'm hard up for money so mine is on there now and has one bid for $100 with about 36 hours left on the auction. It's unusual to find anything good cheap around here usually it's overpriced junk here.
 
#11
Hardly ever see basses at yard sales, flea markets anymore thanks to CL and ebay. A few years ago I bought super cool 70's MIJ Mayfair beatle bass when driving by a yard sale w/case for 50.00. Last decent bass I have seen at a yard/flea sale and thought of buying since.
 
#12
I still find treasures at pawn shops around Atlanta once in a while. My latest find was an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 watt head with a Mag 210 Deep cab in new condition. They wanted $400.00, I paid $300.00 for both. My USA Peavey Millennium Plus was also a pawn shop find . I snatched it up for a mere $200.00 in mint condition with an original case included. Asking price was $250.00. I do agree however, that finding items like these is not the norm.
 
#15
The Orlando FL pawn shops a full of good buys. Just bought an Applause GTX 53 for $94. Last year I got a Squier P-Bass for $65.

I allways offer 1/2 to 60% of what they are asking. You would be surprised how often they say yes. I try to go about 3 days before the end of the month when they need sales to make their monthly goals.

Often though they are way off on their prices. Like $300 above what Sam Ash is selling the guitar for NEW! So make sure you know the market and bargin hard.
 

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