Console Rapers

[Somnium7]

I can't believe how many channel strips and other pieces of large format consoles are for sale on Ebay. What bothers me is seeing descriptions where the seller said he parted out a perfectly working console in order to offer the strips. WTF? I think that really sucks.

Do you really make that much more money by doing this?

I think people like this are destroying beautiful pieces of gear thanks to this "channel strip craze".

Anybody here have an opinion about this?

[Hi_Flyer]

calling the consoles "perfectly working" is probably stretching the truth in some cases.

[Somnium7]

Originally Posted by Hi_Flyer

calling the consoles "perfectly working" is probably stretching the truth in some cases.

For sure. I'm willing to bet what's being sold in many cases is dead parts that got replaced. Why throw them out when you can get a fool to pay fat money for it...

[Dr ZEE]

Originally Posted by Somnium7

.. destroying beautiful pieces of gear...

Anybody here have an opinion about this?

I have always a mixed feeling about such activity. Seriously.
It's always a dilemma: to restore or to destroy.
Also, when and if you choose "restore", then you face another dilemma - whether or not to "improve" it

If one chooses to "destroy", then I guess, it all comes down to what comes after the destruction. It can be beautiful too or it can be nothing.

[Somnium7]

Originally Posted by Dr ZEE

I have always a mixed feeling about such activity. Seriously.
It's always a dilemma: to restore or to destroy.
Also, when and if you choose "restore", then you face another dilemma - whether or not to "improve" it

Yes this true when you come into possession of gear that is ailing. I suppose if you don't have the ability to restore then you are left with only one solution. If the gear is ailing anyway then it isn't so bad. But it takes away any hope that somebody who can restore it will get that opportunity. This I find regrettable, and it does bother me to see old gear reduced to something nobody can ever restore again.

As far as improving goes, i'm sure more people would do that if it wasn't prohibitively expensive. Same dilemma with historic houses I guess. Cheaper to tear down than renovate...

[7x7]

I think they figure they can get more for the console when they sell it pieces... They're probably right; I see modules for my console offered for 35 to 60 euro a piece (and the master module goes for 200 average, the PSU for 150), whilst a fully working 28 channel console can be bought for 1000 euro, even less when it needs some work... So yeah...

Actually, and this is also why I know the prices for my particular console: I'm thinking about selling some modules and a chassis myself. They're left overs from a desk I used to restore the console I'm using... But I'm in doubt, they are all in good condition and most of the parts are out of production so I thought about keeping them as spare... But I have 14 of them... shall I part with a few? It's not really the money 'm after, but because they are in a chassis they take up quite some space now...

Anyway, I can imagine people sell it in pieces because of the money or, like me, because they have some left overs from a restoration project.

[Somnium7]

Egads I can't bear to watch. Will somebody please save this nice old RX-7 from the wrecking ball!!!
http://cgi.ebay.com/TOA-RX-7-16-Chan...QQcmdZViewItem

That would be a damn shame if he gutted the poor thing!!

[jmorris]

Originally Posted by Somnium7

I can't believe how many channel strips and other pieces of large format consoles are for sale on Ebay. What bothers me is seeing descriptions where the seller said he parted out a perfectly working console in order to offer the strips. WTF? I think that really sucks.

Do you really make that much more money by doing this?

I think people like this are destroying beautiful pieces of gear thanks to this "channel strip craze".

Anybody here have an opinion about this?

In some cases if a console has issues it may be better to parts it out then go for cost of repair assuming preamps/channel strips are good. Also easier to sell parts than ship large console and cheaper. More buyers for 800 bucks than 2000-80,000

[Somnium7]

Originally Posted by jmorris

In some cases if a console has issues it may be better to parts it out then go for cost of repair assuming preamps/channel strips are good.

I agree with you 90%. Still is heartbreaking in some cases.

If anybody here nabs that Toa on Ebay I promise to provide as much help as my schedule allows to get that thing running on all 8 again. I'm halfway through rebuilding the 32 channel version of this console so I really have a grip on things and do not mind sharing everything I have learned.

[7x7]

That TOA is a beauty...
I almost saved a Teac Series 15, but I figured it would be better if someone else got it cause it was a -10dB desk with only 2 aux sends...

[Somnium7]

I would jump on it myself if I wasn't working this long distance government contract. It's just impossible for me to make the time to drive up north... At least not till mid April anyway.... GRRRRRR!

[7x7]

I guess reserving is out of the question? A down payment, a trustworthy and willing seller... Who knows what can be done.

[Dr ZEE]

Originally Posted by Somnium7

...I promise to provide ....

DON'T promise! You never know what you are "asking" for.

Yeah, it often is a "heartbreaking" to watch a thing being part(ed)-out (or is it part-out(ed) ?? ), what is the damn word!?
Not as bad as seeing something simply being trashed, also, when that happens - usually you don't see it, because if you actually do see it, then it may be rather your lucky day. That's the way it is.

More buyers for 800 bucks than 2000-80,000

YEAH!
So, philosophically, you can look at "parting out" activities of $8000 or so pieces of gear as a process of "decentralization of power"
...oh yeah, dream on (talking to myself, that is)

[Somnium7]

Originally Posted by 7x7

I guess reserving is out of the question? A down payment, a trustworthy and willing seller... Who knows what can be done.

It sounds like the fellow is kinda down on his luck and really needs the money from emailing with him. He does seem like an intelligent and personable kinda guy though.

I'm considering if I should bother my brother in Poughkeepsie about this.... hmmm... Chances are kinda slim knowing his attitude

DON'T promise! You never know what you are "asking" for.

Yeah and if I didn't want anybody bothering me with inquiries about my project I never would have started a discussion on it here...

So, philosophically, you can look at "parting out" activities of $8000 or so pieces of gear as a process of "decentralization of power"
...oh yeah, dream on (talking to myself, that is)

I'd prefer to see this happen to $8,000,000 mansions and believe it would have a better affect with decentralizing power if it was done without the wealthy owner's consent