Restored or Unmolested

It's a good thing to get a unit that works, but that's just a start. You'd be hard pressed to find a true classic that either hasn't been restored - or doesn't need it. Boils down to wanting to just plug and play, or getting your hands dirty which way you go.

Lot depends on what you want to get out of the hobby also. Listening is great, but for me, half the fun is digging in and making some old timer sing. First power up after a major restoration is a magic moment.

Good example of why we do what we do ... the Sansui QRX9001. No such thing as one that doesn't need some serious bench time if it hasn't been restored. Having it done professionally is a very large chunk of money. Doing it yourself is quite the project, but the payoff is ... priceless ... I spent many an hour breathing solder, mumbling and grumbling, followed by many more hours of oohing and aahing ... with many more to come.

And yes ... a lot of the stuff is pretty reliable over the years with little or no maintenance, but even those can benefit from a little bench time. 30 year old caps lose their zing and the difference before and after can be pretty amazing.

PS ... this applies to ANY audio equipment. I just recapped a dbx BoomBox that had developed a hum. Power supply probably would have fixed it, but I also replaced all the electrolytics and added bypasses to all the signal path caps as well. Re-pointed the rest of the boards, cleaned all the contacts and controls, and ... wOw ... just wOw ... it's an eye opener what all you get used to over the years.
 
There is no problem with restored unit. It just matter HOW it was restored. The fact is - proper restoration of most vintage gear is not financially viable. Restoration cost almost always exceeds market value of unit, so when you are buying restored unit, you almost always can expect poor quality of work. It is better buy unit in original form, and comission specialist to do restoration. Just keep in mind that you will never be able to sell it for anything even close to what you spent.
 
I think if you can get a desirable piece at a very good price then it'll definitely make you more money recapped by the right person/persons vs in a working but unknown state.

Case in point, would you rather spend say $2500 on a marantz 2600 that "powers up but cannot test further" or the one that says "works" which can mean anything. Or spend $4000 for the rare beast that's been fully recapped and documented by rbuckner,bytheking,echowars and anyone else of their skill and labor of love mindsets knowing what's been replaced and changed and tested and verified vs just going out on a limb for a stock/unmolested unit. Just my opinion. Obviously the restored is more of a value to us who do not have the restoring skillset vs those on here who can read blueprints and replace and rebuild whatever is needed and the know how to test the said parts.
 
I prefer to buy "unmolested" or even "not working" over "repaired" or "restored" unless I know the tech that did the work and it comes with a detailed invoice and parts list. I'd rather do the work myself, or if it is out of my comfort zone, pay a tech that I have confidence in to do the work. Just because it "works" doesn't mean that it is operating properly.
 
If untouched original units that work are worth more... I'm certainly not seeing it. I've had vintage tube units that worked, all original, 8/10 cosmetics, including all tubes testing strong priced at a third..or less of a restored unit of the same model.... from like for instance a good restorer like NOS Valves. Now I am specifically taking about Scotts. Nothing but crickets from the buying crowd.....still chirping.... months...almost a year later. My conclusion is these units don't seem to be worth much at all unless they have been fully restored with all new parts and have some fancy pant's signature on them. So the whole thing that someone would pay more for an all original working unit over a restored one is complete nonsense. The only reason they would prefer it is to try to get it for next to nothing. That's the angle I see. It's weird but my theory is that I think most people lack the skills and critical thinking required to any type of DIY anymore other than downloading an app on their iPhone. Seriously, it pisses me off how stupid some folks choose to be. But that is a completely off topic subject I will not get into. So they have to pay someone dearly to do it for them. Otherwise it's worth nothing to them. Too bad more folks didn't have knowledge in the electronics field. Kind of a dying thing unfortunately. All these young guys and gals aren't going to have anybody fix their gear unless they start re entering into the field. All the good techs are dying off. And all the broken gear will be..... worthless and worse...junked! There you go, there is my prophecy of doom for this hobby and all things vintage electronically..:D I have a full time job here just servicing my collection.
 
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I like mine all original with leaky caps, blowing fuses, scratchy pots & all
Just like my classic cars....I want them with the factory battery,tires & oil.
I sure don't want any professionals messing them up by getting them to actually work as originally engineered & intended LOL.:D

Because nothing beats the rush of “It could blow up at any minute" or the pride of saying “ I am afraid to turn it on... it is all original & might start smoking or take my speakers out with it!":withstpd:


I personally prefer a well maintained fully functioning “Fill in the blank” over any all original collectors piece that one can only look at.

Museum pieces belong in museums.
Anything that I own needs to work as designed & be dependable.


I am musician & In my experience the best sounding guitars,mics & amps are the ones that are beat to death...You know why they are beat to death?
Because they frigging sound awesome & no one ever wanted to give up playing them or put them in a display case!

My motto...
If I cant use it..Then I have no use for it.:sadwave:
YMMV
PQ
 
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Unfortunately, I have had enough bad experiences over the years that make me prefer an all-original unit over a "recently serviced" or "restored" unit. Restoration is certainly expensive if done properly by a qualified tech with good components, and rightfully command higher prices because of the cost/value of the work done.

However, I have seen too many "recently serviced" or "restored" units that have had just enough work done to them by some incompetent hack to get them up and running. I am not willing to pay a premium price and then have to pay for a complete restoration and repairs to any damage the hack has done.

Unless you have documentation available, and I know or at least am aware of the tech that did the work, I'll pass.
 
I don't think that preference means you are stupid, on the contrary, 'discerning' would be a much better word to use. :yes:
 
It depends. For personal use restored. For collecting, virgin please
 
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Don't buy for collecting and when I buy used (about 1/2 my stuff) I tend to buy kit that is about 10 years old, rather than vintage.

I usually have this equipment recapped as a matter of course before I even start using it. If the model is still in production I sometimes have it brought up to current spec as well.
 
Don't matter to me.Most of the stuff I buy is "parts or repair". So I pretty much anticipate a rebuild.
 
Don't matter to me.Most of the stuff I buy is "parts or repair". So I pretty much anticipate a rebuild.

Quoted for truth. For the rest of us, assuming we knew how to do it as well as Avionic, EW, and the other fab AK techs.
 
Hyperion said:
Anyway... unmolested for me, UNLESS I know and trust the restorer.

Ya UNMOLESTED is the best..... I got an 8 track player for christmas that was "RECONDITIONED" and I was afraid they used crap parts and I was right!!!

Listening to it today and it just stopped.... Nothing... I dont know if the belt came off or what........

I TELL YA,ALL THIS BEAUTIFUL STUFF FROM THE PAST IS IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE ALL THEY MAKE IS ****ING GARBAGE TODAY WHICH DOESNT LAST WORTH SHIT!!!!!!

If people are going to "RECONDITION" this beautiful 70s stuff,USE GOOD STUFF OR DONT DO IT AT ALL!!!!! -- Stupid cheap losers!!!

Im not happy @ all......
 
I took my player to a friend who has a repair shop and he said the motor needed OIL so he oiled it and is testing it now..... I guess that can happen with re-conditioned or not huh??


I cant wait to get my player back!!
 
From an investment standpoint, I prefer restored as long as the work was done correctly. I don't "invest" in gear though. Gear that I buy I intend to use but the answer is the same. I want if fully restored so I don't have to worry and the sound qualities won't be deteriorated by weak caps etc.
 
Yea I guess thats a good point also.............

But with GOOD 70s stuff,most people WILL NOT search for GOOD parts to replace things with... They put cheap crap in it which is such a disrespect for our beautiful stuff!!
 
I was wondering....

From and investment standpoint, would you want to purchase a restored vintage unit or an unmolested unit that worked well?:scratch2:
For me, it would depend on what it is we are talking about ...
Speakers? Preamp? poweramp?, R2R? TT?
Tubes or sand-based?
For speakers, I want original as much as possible ...
for other gear, it really depends on who has had their fingers inside it before -
there can be great butchery under the term "restored" ...
 
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