Buying Vintage Pro Audio Gear

Have you been "gassed" lately? GAS or Gear Acquisition Syndrome is nothing new to those of us who on the lookout for just the right tweak to our current setup. If you are reading this then odds are you are no stranger to spending
hours daydreaming about the next completely essential piece of gear. Well us gear hounds are often faced with the crossroads of going vintage or modern boutique. While there are certainly opportunities to find steals in the vintage
market, the gear can be less reliable and require some tweaking. As for modern boutique gear, it can not only be really pricey but can fall short of getting the rich vintage sound that these items are often attempting to emulate.

If we do go down the vintage road then we must begin with scrutinizing the condition of the item. If you are sizing up an ebay or craigslist listing look for words that fall short of "excellent working condition" or "good as new". Words
like "functional" or "working condition" can tip you off to the fact the item may not be in the best of shape. Also, look of ways of verifying the seller. If it's Ebay, you can read through their feedback and get a pretty accurate sense of the person's reputation as a seller. Look for listings that are crystal clear, so that if an item is in questionable condition you can make an educated decision about. Don't be overly swayed be the irrational exuberance that sellers of vintage gear will play on. Finally if you are not very technical, find a local gear tech and give him or her some work so that you can establish an ongoing relationship.