What about a painted Yamaha CA-610?

[hfx_chris]

Hey everyone...
Stumbled upon a Yamaha CA-610 (not the 610 II) for sale... guy's asking $125, which I think is a little high myself, but for months now I've been scouring local thrift stores, pawn shops and flea markets with no luck.. so maybe $125 isn't that unreasonable, considering.

However... I have no idea why, but the guy painted black over the wood finish. The rest of it looks to be in perfect shape, except for the black paint. It actually doesn't look half bad...but still.
So anyway, do you guys think $125 is too much to begin with? What about with the black paint, would that seriously drive down the value.. and can it be remedied? Like, can I strip it like I might a piece of furniture?

[jocko_nc]

If it is wood, it can be refinished. Piece of cake. If it is vinyl, no dice.

[hfx_chris]

So, anybody know if these Yamahas are wood or vinyl?

[Raynald]

Hi Chris,

That seems very high for a 600 series amp. I have been tracking Yamaha gear and here is what I have seen some sell for on eBay:

CA-800: $100, $129 with CT-810 tuner
CA-810: $149
CA-1000: $92, $168

These are all much nicer than the 610 and I have even seen the occasional CA-1010 go for not much more.

And yes, home paint jobs should give the resale value a big hit.

[kcollins4]

IMHO, he's asking more than twice what it's worth, considering it's painted also.

[hfx_chris]

I see. The sad thing is, he'll probably get that much for it without much problem, like I said there seems to be a shortage of decent vintage equipment around here.
I've seen them go for cheaper on ebay, but most of the auctions are US, and I'm in Canada, so you automatically add at least $50 shipping. Blah.
Thanks guys

[wajobu]

I believe that the case exterior is vinyl (though the core is plywood). I agree that it's overpriced--I wouldn't pay higher than $75 based on condition. Be patient, they come up for sale here from time to time. If you become a subscriber you could post a WTB in the Barter Town Forum.

[DENNYDOG]

I guess if it was only the wood it could be refinished pretty easily unlike this SPEC 2.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pioneer-SPEC-2-power-amp-as-is-parts-or-repair_W0QQitemZ310078215855QQihZ021QQcategoryZ237 87QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Raynald]

Chris, you are right, the pickings are much slimmer up here for vintage audio. One tenth the population combined with the fact that back in the vintage heydays audio equipment was often double the price here and a population with less disposable income means I figure we are lucky if we have 5% of the units to chase in Canada as folks in the US.

Given all of that, if you are going to pay shipping I would recommend you do it on a higher end unit. If you find a good deal on Canuck Audio Mart it may well be worth the shipping compared to an overpriced local unit. Just my opinion.

Where are you located? Sometimes the local classified or Kijiji can yield bargains.

[Brian]

Chris, I've sent you a PM. The market up here is going to get thinner as the shipping costs from the States continues to go crazy. USPS is getting much too expensive, suspect it is both trying to get out of the package shipping business and supplement the costs of letters with package charges. Mailing costs this year have doubled. I suspect that the fmv of local units will increase to compensate for lower fmv in the States but overall higher costs due to the shipping.

[jocko_nc]

I believe that unit will be vinyl over wood. I have seen both wood and vinyl, not really sure what determines. I have two 820 receivers that are both vinyl.

[hfx_chris]

I guess if it was only the wood it could be refinished pretty easily unlike this SPEC 2.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pioneer-SPEC-2-power-amp-as-is-parts-or-repair_W0QQitemZ310078215855QQihZ021QQcategoryZ237 87QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Hah. Thank goodness it isn't quite that bad :D

Chris, you are right, the pickings are much slimmer up here for vintage audio. One tenth the population combined with the fact that back in the vintage heydays audio equipment was often double the price here and a population with less disposable income means I figure we are lucky if we have 5% of the units to chase in Canada as folks in the US.

Where are you located? Sometimes the local classified or Kijiji can yield bargains.
Hmm.. thanks for the explanation, I was beginning to wonder just why these sort of units are so hard to come by here. I'm in Halifax myself, so I just thought it was a "poor Atlantic Canada" sort of thing, but I guess it holds true for a lot of the country as well. Actually, the one I found was on Kijiji... I might be able to beat him down to $100, which is still overpriced based on what I'm being told here, especially considering he ruined the finish by painting it...I think I'll just forget that one, actually. I had wanted one with a bit more power than the 610 anyway; maybe an 810, or something similar in a Kenwood...

Chris, I've sent you a PM. The market up here is going to get thinner as the shipping costs from the States continues to go crazy.
Thanks for the info. Isn't that sad though, USPS is really the only viable carrier for larger/more expensive items, given the outrageous brokerage fees the big couriers charge... speaking of, would you expect to pay duty on used/vintage equipment like this? I never could understand how and when CRA decides to charge duty...

[Brian]

Duties are charged according to a very complex multiple sets of legislations and treaties. Many items comong from the States that are certified as produced in the US are duty free but you still get hit with GST on the market value. Even if there were no duties or GST, the shippers get a brokerage fee for nursing the package through customs. Nothing to do with CRA. Canada Post charges $5 while UPS I think is charging $25 now.

[hfx_chris]

Duties are charged according to a very complex multiple sets of legislations and treaties. Many items comong from the States that are certified as produced in the US are duty free but you still get hit with GST on the market value. Even if there were no duties or GST, the shippers get a brokerage fee for nursing the package through customs. Nothing to do with CRA. Canada Post charges $5 while UPS I think is charging $25 now.
And that's why I find it difficult to keep it straight. I usually just go ahead and buy it, and if I get hit with customs I don't feel that bad, if I don't get hit it's made my day :)
Yeah, not CRA, CBSA. I forgot they were split apart a few years back...

[jdandy]

Pass on it. There are much nicer units available for the same monry.

[Raynald]

Speaking of nicer units for the money, if you are in Halifax:

http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-Sony-STR-6800SD-W0QQAdIdZ70776946

A much better buy for $120 than a CA-610 for $125, and I am a big Yamaha fan. I do also like Sony and this one gets very good comments from all who have one. It has been there a few days so maybe you can try $100. If the buyer accepts or goes for something in between, RUN and pick it up.

I had e-mailed a friend in Halifax to grab it for himself when I first saw it , but I have not heard back. He may be out of town so it might as well go to an AKer. I am not saying it is the going price, but I saw one sell for $200 on eBay a while ago.

[Raynald]

Nudie from the web:

http://www.electricalhobby.com/unit_pages/sony_str6800sd.htm

Good comments on the tuner, probably a relative of the well regarded ST-4950 that will cost you about $100 anyway, and apparently an excellent phono section per the British press and they are a tough crowd.

[Brian]

Not sure what the going price is for these but intuitively as an owner of some of the older Sonys and a CA610II and comments by some of the owners of Sony STR x800 sereis receivers, I think I'd pop for it before spending half on the Yamaha unless either you are only interested in an integrated amp or have no want for a tuner. Even then since you have a chance to see and hear it and no shipping, then I'd still prefer it and simply disregard the tuner.

[Brian]

At least the inside of the Sony is filled with parts, something the Yamaha is not.

[hfx_chris]

Not a bad looking piece of equipment!

Just for fun, how about a Kenwood KA-9150 for $200?
http://halifax.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-electronics-Kenwood-KA-9150-integrated-amplifier-vintage-W0QQAdIdZ70693141

I was afraid this would happen.. I start small, then start looking at more expensive units... then end up buying something much more expensive than I originally intended to :P

[Raynald]

Dual tranformers, very nice.

I have no idea what the going price for those things is, but it looks like the $75 extra over a low end Yamaha is a no brainer.

[bradford523]

The reason nothing's available in Canada is because it's all piling up in the little repair shop in victoria (Merrit electronics). I wandered in there the other other and stumbled into mountains upon mountains of vintage gear, all waiting to be fixed by this one little old guy. There was one piece that caught my eye. The sleeve was big and burgundy and said Sansui BA-3000 - I just about crapped myself. Turned around and saw an AU999 and matching TU999 - system overload.

Anyways, I do have the CA610 and, if you ask me, it's got some great sound to offer. I do find that the High and Low defeat really don't do that much much, but other than that I like its' accurate sound. And yes, the wood sleeve is vinyl over ply. (I paid $40 for mine)

[Brian]

Chris, if you tend to start on the low side and then to move up and up I'm sure between all of us we can get you in to some big honking system. Maybe start with a pair of Dreadnaught 1000s strapped into mono with a Soundcraftsman preamp/equalizer for an amp combination. Should be able to power almost any speaker you consider or make a nice shaker table.

[Tiver]

I am not familiar with it, but the guy you posted with the Kenwood, also has a little Sansui AU 5500 for $95 which looks very nice

[hfx_chris]

I think it's time for me to fess up... I have a bit of a VU meter fetish...
According to some recently completed auctions on ebay, those Kenwood KA-9100's have been selling for 200-300, and my research so far tells me the 9150 is near identical to the 9100, except the face plate is bronze.. so for $200, I'm thinking it's a good price and I should go for it.

[hfx_chris]

Jeez, a 9100 just sold on ebay for $316 - maybe I should grab this 9150 before it's gone!
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Kenwood-KA-9100-integrated-Amplifier_W0QQitemZ260278685908QQcmdZViewItem?hash =item260278685908&_trkparms=39%3A1|66%3A3|65%3A13|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

[PhysGraf]

There is a Yamaha CA-610 (II - but that isn't listed) on _Bay right now for $30US plus $25 shipping. However, I can say from personal experience that the Yamaha CA-610 II case is a thin layer of walnut-pattern vinyl heatshrunk over a light-colored plywood.

I found mine in an attic, and there were a few peeling edges on the vinyl, so I carefully pulled it up with a razor blade tool and then I gave it a coat of minwax combination stain and urethane sealer. It now matches my living room floor quite well, and looks more modern, just like the brand new Yamaha hi fi stuff. I think that's what I would do again, even if the vinyl were perfect. The real wood just looks better.