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The dumbest stereo experience ever!

Hello all. I went through a divorce 20 years ago. I really needed to convert some equipment into cash. I sold amongst other things my prized Sony TC 880-2 open reel recorder. I had a lengthy conversation with the buyer typical of us lovers of gear. I told him my situation and he said he would sell it back to me when I got back on my feet down the road. OK, fair enough. I lost track of him as this was pre Audiogon. I managed to locate him five years later. Someone informed me that he had 125 open reel decks and his wife wouldn't let him buy any more. (terrible woman!) I got him on the phone and after another lengthy chat I asked him if I could buy it back. He didn't want to sell it back as he said he didn't even have time to play with it yet. OK, I thought; I'm a horse trader. SURELY I have some bargaining power. I have many studio open reel tapes. I could trade him some of them plus cash in exchange for the Sony back. I asked him what kind of music he listened to. Here is what he said "Oh, I don't listen to music. I just like to watch the reels go around". I was dumbfounded. I told him to have a nice day and I hung up the phone. Can anyone top this one? Joe
128x128jnovak
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@jnovak  If your story is a serious one, you were dealing with an individual who needs an intervention!  I doubt anyone tops that!

inna
7,350 posts
 
Great story. I can understand that man, the part about watching I mean.
jnovak's avatar
jnovak OP
434 posts
 
He happens to be a doctor!
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,420 posts
 
He is probably a hypnotist, but calls himself a doctor. Every time he watches the reels go around, he gets hypnotized, goes out and buys a open reel deck.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Hi jnovak,

Not even close to your experience, but long ago before the re-issue craze in vinyl, I used to look up and visit used LP shops wherever I traveled. A family vacation took me to Sarasota, FL.  I found a shop with thousands of pristine looking LPs and bought about a dozen RCA Shaded Dogs. They were on the pricey side but looked fantastic. Thankfully, I checked Craigslist and found an inexpensive Thorens TT to give them a listen through my Dad's modest system to try to eliminate the possibility of inner groove damage, etc while I was still in town. .

They sounded like crap. I mean surface noise so loud that I could barely hear any musical content. Next day I took them back. The owner was very friendly and agreeable to the return, but I noticed a bottle of Armor All sitting prominently on the counter. He proceeded to tell me that he carefully applied Armor All to every LP before placing it in the racks.  I was beyond shocked and told him that he was permanently ruining all of these beautiful irreplaceable LPs (silicone). His response: "Yeah, but they sure look pretty."

Best to you jnovak,
Dave
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