Yard Sale Finds

[bound'n'blocked]

One weekend a year our community has a yard sale that runs along a highway that goes across the county, about 45-50 miles long. During one of these once on the way to work I came along a drum set so i turned around and went back, Guy was selling off all of his gear. I bought an Austin brand Music Man copy for around 75$. It was in really good shape, just needed some new strings. Played it for a few years then doubled my money when I sold it.

Not from a yard sale, but was at the warehouse where our company stored our gear.The boss was cleaning up and there was an amp laying face down that had a bunch of trash in it. I had never seen this thing in there before and checked it out and asked what it was. He said just some old amp he had bought in some auction with a bunch of other stuff. He said it didnt work but I could have it if I wanted it. Another guy and it loaded it into my truck and took it home. We got it out and plugged it in, thinking if it even came on it would sound like crap. Quiet as a mouse. Plugged a guitar into it and it roared and sounded great! So loud that stuff was falling of the shelves. It was an Acoustic 134. Cosmetically, it looked like poop. Someone 30 years before had used a paint roller to cover it with white house paint, and there were huge globs of paint on the edges, and the paint was molded and all the knobs were gone. But it worked. I took it to an upholstery store and the covered it for me and put a new grill cloth on it for about a hundred bucks, so that's what i figure the thing cost me. I used it for a cab now at practice with my current head.

BnB

 

[mrwood4]

Several years ago I worked with a guy whose father in law had passed away. His mother in law was cleaning out her house and was going to have a yard sale or auction. The father in law had played in a few bands in his earlier days and still had some music equipment around. I had a lawn mower that this guy was interested in and he pulled an old amp from the sale and brought it to work to see if I'd be interested in trading the amp for the lawn mower. Now my lawn mower was just an average push mower.
I took one look at the amp and told him I couldn't trade in clear conscious because I knew it was worth a lot more than my old mower.
I did some research and what he had was an original 1966 fender deluxe reverb. He later sold it on eBay for around a grand.

 

[Joebone]

Not a yard sale, but an amp I bought out of a garage, for use in a garage band. 1987. Ampeg B-15, for $50.00.

Sold it in 1989 for $450 - not big enough for the band I was playing in, and it would have been difficult to deal with in an impending move from NJ to CA...but knowing now what I didn't know then, I really wish I'd kept it.

Close to bass, at a yard sale I picked up an old McIntosh tube tuner and amp for $15.00. Sold them two weeks later for $400. That little nest egg/windfall was the impetus for improving my home hi-fi, which continued to be a work in progress for like 20 years (have not changed anything important in the last 5 years, so I guess I'm now happy...).

 

[Biggbass]

I bought a Vita Mix at a yard sale once for $1. Lately all I've come across worth paying a buck for is used golf clubs.

 

[erigod23]

Snark Tuner still in box-$2 CAD.
A $5 acoustic guitar with gig bag. I had to get a new nut for it. Now it's a $9 acoustic guitar.

 

[Scotland66]

Last year I was helping a friend, who has been in various bands over the years, clean out his rented storage container. He offered to pay me because he knew this was going to be an all day job of moving in the south Texas heat. I told he didn't need to pay me anything but he could buy us lunch. I should of said lunch and dinner. We moved PA systems, cabinets, lighting, furniture, computer equipment and boxes and boxes of old band gear. We came across a tweed guitar case. He remarked, "I always wondered what happened to that case." I said, "Is there a guitar in there or is it just the case? He said, "I'm not sure. I think I sold the guitar in a garage sale." I told him I'd take whatever was inside for payment. He said deal. We opened the case and this was inside. It still had the yellow sticker with $10 on it.

 

[frnjplayer]

I found a MIJ Squier Telecaster and got it buundled with a small drill press and a small jointer for $75. When I got it all home there was a Bigsby vibrato tucked into the case as well. Sold the Tele for 225 and the Bigsby for another 75. Still have the drill, jointer, and the bass case that the tele was in.
Fast forward a year and I ended up in a band with the guitar player that bought the tele and both of us are still happy with the deal

 

[Michedelic]

While technically not a garage sale surprise, a woman next neighborhood over was having a sort of estate sale/clear out of her late husband’s musical equipment. She was selling, in a separate CL ad, his 7O’s Marshall Super Bass head, which brought me to her garage sale. Over two weekends, the amp hadn’t moved(we live in the boonies, way up in the high desert), so I agreed to $1300, and also picked up on some rack signal processing gear and high end audio cables, so I think I did OK.

 

[One_Dude]

About a year back I happened upon a guy who was selling used cars at alot he was leasing. I noticed that he had a 78 or 79 Jaguar low slung sports version, don't recall the actual model. It was not an XKE, but might have been the model that replaced the XKE. It looked like it was doing 70 mph just sitting there. I stopped to look and the guy said he was asking $5500, but wanted to move it and would take $4000. I was sorely tempted, but knew the flak from home (insert wife) would be serious so I passed on it. A few years earlier I bought a 1984 Nissan 300ZX without getting the OK, serious flak followed. About a week later I saw the same car listed for sale at an upscale dealership in the ritzy part of town; price $15,500. In retrospect maybe the flak would have been worth it.

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[MVE]

About a year back I happened upon a guy who was selling used cars at alot he was leasing. I noticed that he had a 78 or 79 Jaguar low slung sports version, don't recall the actual model. It was not an XKE, but might have been the model that replaced the XKE. It looked like it was doing 70 mph just sitting there. I stopped to look and the guy said he was asking $5500, but wanted to move it and would take $4000. I was sorely tempted, but knew the flak from home (insert wife) would be serious so I passed on it. A few years earlier I bought a 1984 Nissan 300ZX without getting the OK, serious flak followed. About a week later I saw the same car listed for sale at an upscale dealership in the ritzy part of town; price $15,500. In retrospect maybe the flak would have been worth it.

Thump on,

One_Dude

Sounds like you might be talking about an XJc. My friend has a ‘75, XJ6c. It’s neither fast, nor tight, but it is a very lovely and unique looking fun cruiser.

 

[kevin wells]

About 20 years ago, a guy I worked with asked me to look at a bass that was in a yard sale. He was looking for a bass for his son who had an interest in playing. We git there on our lunch break, I picked it up, honestly having never seen that particular model before, but it was in great shape, very clean, and I could tell it had never been played on that much. The price was good IMO, so he bought. I'm pleased to say, the son still owns it, still plays bass, and is in a great band as well as manages the best live venue here in town. The bass? A Yamaha SBV. Funky looking yes, but cool none the less.

 

[Eilif]

Mother in Law spotted a Daisiy Rock Rock Candy Bass at a Garage sale and gave me a call. They were asking $60. IIRC, she offered $40 and they accepted.
NBD Has Arrived: 7/3 The Daisy Rock is here!

It was darn near mint (almost no wear on the pink strings) and came with the case, strap and cable.

Actually a very nice playing and sounding bass but the neck was too skinny for me and I play 35"ers. I later sold it locally for around $120 and kept the case, cable and strap.

 

[One_Dude]

Sounds like you might be talking about an XJc. My friend has a ‘75, XJ6c. It’s neither fast, nor tight, but it is a very lovely and unique looking fun cruiser.

After your response about which model Jaguar I looked at I did some research and found it. The car was a Jaguar XJ XJS model from the late 70's. There really were more reasons that I considered when I decided not to buy it: I had previously owned a MGA, and a MGB, both cars (as most British cars of that era) were ones you had to constantly fuss with. Perhaps most annoying was synchronizing the two updraft carbs. So I was concerned about constant maintenance issues, plus, the emergency brake handle was located between the drivers seat and the drivers door. That means every time you got in or out you had to wiggle over the brake handle; seems like a really odd location.

Attached are two photos of an XJ XJS, not the same color as the one I saw but definitely the same model.

GAS comes in all forms, and I have not had a sports car for several years now, and the juices are beginning to flow. Forget the flak from home; I should have bought it!!

Thump on,

One_Dude

 

[dadglasser]

I worked in a tire/wheel/muffler shop part-time near the end of college, 1979 and 1980. One of the shops close by was an import auto electrician. He told us he had had three of the same model Jaguars, all serial numbers with 75 (from lowest to highest). They each had a different wiring harness. At $75.00 per hour in 1980, he was a happy guy, but he hated British electrical stuff.

I owned a 1967 BSA Lightning 650. The BSA had an electrical fire on the 405 freeway in Southern California. My girlfriend on the back started screaming at me, "I smell something burning!" I left it on the shoulder of the freeway and was stolen before I could retrieve it {thank goodness}).

I owned a 1968 Norton Commando Fastback (very rare and very rare when it ran). The Norton had a persistent habit of breaking the right-hand exhaust valve-guild. When that happened it would belch HUGE clouds of smoke and I would get nasty looks from everyone. I finally had the valve-guide hole bored and a custom alloy replacement valve guide machined and installed at great expense which solved the problem. A little while later, the crankshaft seized.

Oh, and a 1964 Triumph TR4.

The TR4 deserves a special place in history. It had a giant bolt that went into the crankshaft on the front of its tired little engine. This bolt had a sort of flange on the end that looked like it was there to accommodate a hand crank. Anyway, the bolt unscrewed itself and drilled a one-plus inch diameter hole through the radiator while I was driving on a major road heading down a big hill. I think I bought the TR4 for $500.00, dumped at least $800.00 into it within six months and sold it for $600.00. I would happily have taken $300.00 or less.

I don't think I could stand the idea of buying a British vehicle again.

 

[portpc]

A couple of years ago I stumbled upon a pair of Acoustic AR3A speakers left curbside with someones' trash, They were a bit worn but totally serviceable & still sound great..

A few months later I drove past a retro-styled Grundig Record player mounted on top of a CD/Cassette/Radio combo that simply needed a new belt.

Trash into treasure!

 

[DWBass]

Yard sales around my way suck! I've yet to see any worthwhile musical instruments outside of maybe an acoustic guitar, Casio keyboard or a Karaoke machine.

 

[hbarcat]

I used to work at the "SWARC" (Solid Waste and Recying Center) for a rural municipality adjacent to a summer resort area where a lot of very wealthy people had summer vacation homes.

In the spring and fall, these rich folks would bring in their unwanted items to throw in the garbage or be recycled. An awful lot of this stuff was fairly valuable items that were lightly used, so we had an area in our warehouse set aside to sell off some of these items to the general public, just like a garage sale.

It's unbelievable what rich people will throw away that not only works perfectly but is barely used and is in excellent condition.

I've seen countless bicycles worth hundreds of dollars thrown away, and we would salvage them and sell them for $25. Also, stereo equipment, musical instruments, household appliances, sporting goods, etc.. .

 

[Paulabass]

Never found a garage sale or pawn shop prize, but I've done super well by reading approx. 1000 classified/craigslist/market place ads per day. I get the deals by keeping cash on hand, and being ready to drive.My #1 rule- Never buy something I don't like, or won't play, no matter how cheap.

 

[jeffbrown]

I worked in a tire/wheel/muffler shop part-time near the end of college, 1979 and 1980. One of the shops close by was an import auto electrician. He told us he had had three of the same model Jaguars, all serial numbers with 75 (from lowest to highest). They each had a different wiring harness. At $75.00 per hour in 1980, he was a happy guy, but he hated British electrical stuff.

I owned a 1967 BSA Lightning 650. The BSA had an electrical fire on the 405 freeway in Southern California. My girlfriend on the back started screaming at me, "I smell something burning!" I left it on the shoulder of the freeway and was stolen before I could retrieve it {thank goodness}).

I owned a 1968 Norton Commando Fastback (very rare and very rare when it ran). The Norton had a persistent habit of breaking the right-hand exhaust valve-guild. When that happened it would belch HUGE clouds of smoke and I would get nasty looks from everyone. I finally had the valve-guide hole bored and a custom alloy replacement valve guide machined and installed at great expense which solved the problem. A little while later, the crankshaft seized.

Oh, and a 1964 Triumph TR4.

The TR4 deserves a special place in history. It had a giant bolt that went into the crankshaft on the front of its tired little engine. This bolt had a sort of flange on the end that looked like it was there to accommodate a hand crank. Anyway, the bolt unscrewed itself and drilled a one-plus inch diameter hole through the radiator while I was driving on a major road heading down a big hill. I think I bought the TR4 for $500.00, dumped at least $800.00 into it within six months and sold it for $600.00. I would happily have taken $300.00 or less.

I don't think I could stand the idea of buying a British vehicle again.

A buddy of mine has what could be considered his doctorate in Brit cars, bikes, etc., specialty in Jags; he's been to the factories and schools in GB. He has bragged he could dismantle and rebuild an MGB blindfolded, and I believe him. Brit cars' electrics are *famous* and George Lucas is the Prince of Darkness. If you know, you know!

 

[friskinator]

I used to work at the "SWARC" (Solid Waste and Recying Center) for a rural municipality adjacent to a summer resort area where a lot of very wealthy people had summer vacation homes.

In the spring and fall, these rich folks would bring in their unwanted items to throw in the garbage or be recycled. An awful lot of this stuff was fairly valuable items that were lightly used, so we had an area in our warehouse set aside to sell off some of these items to the general public, just like a garage sale.

It's unbelievable what rich people will throw away that not only works perfectly but is barely used and is in excellent condition.

I've seen countless bicycles worth hundreds of dollars thrown away, and we would salvage them and sell them for $25. Also, stereo equipment, musical instruments, household appliances, sporting goods, etc.. .

That doesn't surprise me at all. I get them not wanting to bother with the hassle of selling, especially since they don't care about the money. But if they could make the effort to throw the stuff in their car, they could at least take it to Goodwill. At least you guys did something useful with the items instead of throwing them in the dump.