What was the cheapest Synth you ever bought?

[dsp]

roland tr606 for £5 in 1996

recently sold it for £200

sh101 - £100

[Cumulus]

I picked p my Yamahh CS-50 for $150.00 in 1992 or so and my MiniMoog set me back $250.00 last year.

My Korg Electribe and MicroKorg were around $100.00 each and the Roland TR-808 was $250.00 last year as well.

I am still looking for a TB 303 and a 1929 RCA theremin in the thrift stores and flea markets....

I'm on the opposite end of the scale.. my brand new Microkorg cost $1100 (yes that't right) new from the stode some four or five years ago...

There are just NO deals like this to be made anywhere around where I live. no pawn shops, no second hand electronics stores, no flea markets no NOTHING but hard work and premium prices. damn you all!!!

Just be patient and keep your eyes and ears open. There are synths in attics and garages everywhere.

The MiniMoog popped up when a friend of a friend was getting rid of some geaar that he hadn't used in decades. My friend actually bought it from him for $250.00 and couldn't get a sound he liked from it (I know, WTF. right?). He also did not like the lack of poluphony or presets so he passed it on to me for the same price he paid for it.

Actually, I lent him the money for the purchase because I could not stand to see him pass it up. I was more than a little jealous of his luck finding it for that price. Then when I was over at his house to check it out he informed me that he just didn't think it was the right synth for him so he asked if I would rather have the synth or the $250.00.

As far as I know, I am the fourth owner, counting the guy who had it for a day or so...

[otto]

Yeah, there is stuff out there. I mean it helps to live in a place like LA or SF where interesting and nice gear pops up daily (I think you could actually make a living flipping gear in California). I doubt I'll ever find a $250 minimoog but I've had a lot of success getting less valuable gear a cheap prices. Now that I’m doing more of my own repairs it has opened up more opportunities. Gear I’ve acquired in the last month or 2:

AX-80 - $125
It needed $5 worth of knobs and a little soldering to fix the common button issue. So $130 and it’s working 100%.

JX3P w/PG200 - $150
It had some broken keys and the pitch wheel isn’t working. Got some new keys for $20. Still testing stuff on the pitch wheel but it won’t be expensive. The PG-200 alone is worth twice what I paid for it and the synth and it works fine.

Prophet 600 - $100
In ugly shape (I’ll post before and after pictures in another thread when I’m done with it). Looked pretty bad, the keyboard assembly was off and completely disassembled. It was covered in an inch of dust, dirt and grime. I’m almost done with it (just need to solder on a pot) and the parts to fix it were about $40 and it cleaned up really nice. So $140 fully working. I forgot how much I liked the P600, I think I’ll be keeping this one.

Six-Trak - $200
Everything works/looks fine. Not a stellar deal but if I decide not to keep it, I should be able to get $100-$200 more than what I paid.

My local market seems to have plenty of vintage “prosumer” gear but you don’t really run into JP-8s and minimoogs. Honestly the thing I’ve found is that the more open-minded you are the more deals will pop-up and flipping is a good way to supplement your income for gear you really want (even if us flippers get so much hate and derision). It helps to know the value of things and have money on hand when things pop up.

I should try the garage sale thing but that seems like a big time investment with little chance of success.

[Arturo00]

A broken Jupiter-4 for $100 + $15 for parts to bring back up to snuff = $115

[Cumulus]

I sell some gear as well and it certainly helps in this economy.

I don't charge too much for my stuff, though. I figure I can make a few dollars and still give someone a good deal at the same time. Plus, I get to try out lots of cool stuff before passing it along to someone who will really appreciate it.

I tend to use my gear for a few months before actually selling it.

Much of the gear I have flipped actually comes from a local pawn shop that doesn't know how to price music equipment. They usually price it way too high or way too low. I got my MicroKorg there for around $100 and I have bought and re-sold a few guitar pedals from the place.

With the Mini and the 808 I actually tried to give the guy more money but he said he wanted it in the hands of someone who would appreciate it. He hadn't touched either piece in about a decade.

What often happens is that I pick up somethign at the thrift store with the intention of selling it and end up keeping it.

Last week I picked up an SKB rack mount case for $4.00 at the Goodwill. The lady there said there were two but some guy cam in and bought one of them. I am glad he left me one as this one goes for about $185.00 new.

Sometimes it's more about wanting what you find instead of finding what you want...

[Cumulus]

Not a synth but I bought a '67 Hofner Beatle Bass for $40 at a yard sale about 20 years ago. The first time I took it to a gig some guy stopped me in front of th eplace and tried to give me $500 for it on the spot.

I still have that bass and play it once in a while. Some things are just classics.

[Electroluver]

I bought a mint condition Yamaha DX100 for $50 last weekend.

[crystalmsc]

Just scored two broken DX7 mkI for $30:
- The first is in a better shape, the unit turn on and almost 90% of the buttons functioning properly with bright LED. But strange when I check the battery it showed 4.8 (supposed to be 3.3?). So will ask a technician to make sure about this. Also the stupid button to turn off the "memory protect" is not working and no sound in the memory. The pitch wheel is still inside the casing, but fell off. The Keys are clean and complete. When lucky, supposed to be some easy fixes and it will fully functioning again.
- The second is in a good shape, the unit turn on but no button is working and the LED is dying. The Keys are clean and complete. I don't expect a lot from this one but for spare part. But who knows, after fixing the first one, going to investigate further.

[Polyroy]

roland tr606 for £5 in 1996

recently sold it for £200

I believe that may have been me who purchased your 606! It is a lovely little bit of kit, can't wait to get back to uni to sync it with my sh101 and sh-3a

[Cumulus]

Not a synth but this SKB rack case will come in handy....



I got it for $4 at Goodwill. It was just the case. I already had the cat and the effects processor.

Now I need to get something else to fill up the case...

[dr.sine]

Yamaha CP-20 (Yamaha's answer to the Rhodes i guess) electric piano. - FREE!
works perfect. or it did last time i played it (3 years ago?) had to leave it with my cousin when i moved away from the area. thing was too f**k big to fit it in anything when i moved.

[THEODICY]

Ok, I'll add another one.. Not EXACTLY a synth, most like a hybrid but I just got a Yamaha Electone C-60 at a thrift store for $37! The same thrift store where I got a CZ5000 for $27!!! This place is the f**k best! Anyway, the C-70 was made in 1977, same year as the E-70 so I'm almost sure they use similar technology, but there is not a lot of info online about the C-60. It has most of the functions but no pull out drawer for full on synth tweaking, however, it does have filter control and it is analog! It even has drums, an arp and bass pedals, a headphone out and a pair of RCA outs... oh yeah, it has a leslie speaker built in as well!!!!! $37, awesome!!!!

It weighs 200lbs though...

I gotta say this...., Yamaha makes the best instruments.

[starcrusher]

Ok, I'll add another one.. Not EXACTLY a synth, most like a hybrid but I just got a Yamaha Electone C-60 at a thrift store for $37! The same thrift store where I got a CZ5000 for $27!!! This place is the f**k best! Anyway, the C-70 was made in 1977, same year as the E-70 so I'm almost sure they use similar technology, but there is not a lot of info online about the C-60. It has most of the functions but no pull out drawer for full on synth tweaking, however, it does have filter control and it is analog! It even has drums, an arp and bass pedals, a headphone out and a pair of RCA outs... oh yeah, it has a leslie speaker built in as well!!!!! $37, awesome!!!!

It weighs 200lbs though...

I gotta say this...., Yamaha makes the best instruments.

can i please join you on your next trip to this store?!

[THEODICY]

I would, but then I'd be giving away all my secrets. It's a good thing I hit this one up almost every day because it's in between my home and work... so I try to leave home early. After the CZ5000 it was probably two months before I found the electone and I started to loose hope on having a good find again. Now my hope is back up and know the prices are still low at this place!

[n1nj4]

DSI Tetra at $650. on sale.