I got a DEAL! (The "I want to brag about what I got" thread)

[sk-1]

Just picked up a non-functioning Casio CZ-101 on eBay for 16 pounds.  It looks like the batteries have leaked everywhere and it possibly has been left out in the rain.  It's appearance is very shabby and it is in need of a complete break-down and thorough clean.  It will definitely need to be thoroughly tested for signs of internal damage or shorting.  There might be some rust on the boards and contacts as well, but I have a close friend who is a qualified electronics engineer who will help me find the problem and fix any areas worthy of attention.

It was sold AS IS and for parts only, but it is complete and there are no cracks, no dents, no scrapes and no structural damage at all.  It looks like it was left outside for a few weeks or more with it's batteries still inside and they leaked everywhere and ultimately left it in unusable condition.  The metallic-blue paint finish has partly faded away with signs of acid running along it and the keys, in the grooves, buttons, etc.  Though at the same time, all of the button labels, graphics and logos are in excellent condition. The LCD screen is uncracked and undamaged and all the keys themselves are straight and tight.  It has it's original battery cover and there was even an RA-3 cartridge plugged in it!

But for 16 pounds from eBay, it makes a great source of spare parts for a rebuild or restoration job.  I'd love to buy another and tackle the job of bringing it back to in-store quality!

At the end of the day though, I wish I got it for nothing because that's about as much as it's worth!  

[nochtanseenspecht]

cz101 is a very nice synth, i also got mine broken and cheap, managed to fix it 
it is worth to clean it out properly, check for shortcuts etc.. i guess you will get it alive again.
for the patch memory, 4 penlites are enough, so you dont have to cary around with the 6 cells
you will not regret if you put some energy in it.. this little synth have a lot of "soundpressure"
great on bass also.. congratulations 

[sk-1]

Hey thanks

It's my first CZ and I'm hoping that someday someone will put a clean, well preserved example up for auction so I can have a second one... with perhaps missing keys, or collapsed buttons, etc.  I think if I can find another low-priced CZ with a nice, clean casing and exterior then I will have a decent restoration project on my hands.

Here's a few pics of the CZ-101 that I paid 16 pounds for:







As you can see, it looks to be very straight and undamaged... but in desparate need of a good clean.  If you look carefully, you can see how the metallic colour has worn off due to the leaking acids though it's nothing really serious looking... it's just mostly cosmetic.  This one has definitely seen better days!

[voodoolikeudoo]

do we need quite so many details? 

[sk-1]

Details?  LOL... did you not read the title of this thread? 

[Gordonjcp]

I scored an Alesis Nanoverb for £5 at the Falkirk Amateur Radio Club junk sale on Sunday ;-)

[ultraworld]

I just acquired a Sony Family Studio for Postage costs plus £1.88. I was looking for information on this wonderful piece of kit and found it here, so I thought I'd register and talk about the heathen things I end up doing to it. I got the titler and the edit controller so I reckon I can use bits of one on the other to give a less frankenstein approach . . . . .

[epicentre]

Just bought C64c for 5zł (about £1.20) 

[SineHacker]

I scored an Alesis Nanoverb for £5 at the Falkirk Amateur Radio Club junk sale on Sunday ;-)

Niiiiceee

C64's seem to fluctuate in price all the time, they go up to about £30 on occasions but most of the time they hover around £5. on ebay that is.

[moordenaar]

Endless cassette tape ~ 50 cents

Cassette deck w. rec function ~ 1 $


Can you guess what I'm going to use it for ? 

[phantompowers]

Wow, you can actually buy looped tapes??!!!  I've struggled several times trying to make one out of a normal  cassette.
I reckon you're gonna build some sort of lo-fi tape sampler device. I would with those ingredients. Variable speed pot on the motor etc..etc..

[moordenaar]

Me too.. I've failed so many times  making looped tapes. I'm not making a sampler, but close thou..

[phantompowers]

A 'copicat' sort of thang?

[epicentre]

A Nintendo DS and DS Lite, both for about £10 each, both damaged - now with fuses replaced and in new shiny shells, working great. Korg DS-10 time!

Can you guess what I'm going to use it for ?

Analog delay box?

[Circuitbenders]

Brand new boxed SK1 - £3
Lexicon MPX100 - £20 (ahh, the joys of people not understanding AC/AC power supplies)
Casio FZ10m - £1 (with a dead floppy drive  )