The old war horses of the past are always a big hit with any music enthusiast. Not only do these oldies bring back memories, but some music aficionados swear that the sound quality obtained from them is always few notches above the output from the latest and trendiest gizmos.

Some of the collectors, however, are hot in pursuit of these vintage items not only because of their astounding sound quality, but also because they just love to tinker with these antique pieces. Others acquire them for decorative purposes and as a starting point of any conversation. Then there are dealers, of course, whose main interest will be in making a profit.

Naturally, there is spate of fake and spurious items available in the market. So, the first step in acquiring vintage electronics is to get to know these, so that you develop a feel for these items putting you in a position to identify fakes more readily.

Get to know Vintage Amplifiers and Vacuum Tubes
Just attach a vacuum tube amplifier to your hi-fi stereo system and notice the difference. You'll be bathed by a rich and warm sound which is hard to come by from modern digital amplifiers. There is a wide variety of such amplifiers available in the market and some popular brands include Fisher, Scott, McIntosh and Heathkit. If you feel the necessity of a preamplifier you can choose between Dyanco or Fisher amoung the quality brands available. All you need to do is to patiently search the internet, in music stores, or local newspaper small advertisments.

One drawback with vacuum tubes however is that they can wear out pretty quickly. So, it is always prudent to stock up with these if you plan to use your vintage amplifier on a daily basis. The reliable brands of vacuum tubes include, among others, Philips, Siemens, General Electric and Telefunken, although this list is by no means exhaustive and there are other equally good options available.

If you are looking for vintage guitar amplifiers it is worthwhile checking online auction sites. There you'll not only get ample choice but there are online guides available which will help you to evaluate and compare the different items that are on offer.

Another potential area of concern with amplifiers is their circuitry. Ideally, the circuitry should be in good condition, although it is likely that you will be offered one that has been repaired or where worn out parts have been replaced. If this is the case you need to ensure that the repairs have been carried out properly so as not to compromise the sound quality.

You should also check the transformers. If the amplifiers do not come with the original transformers, this too could affect the overall performance.

Vintage Turntables
Many once- popular brands of turntable are still very sought after by collectors. Just start a discussion on Thorens, Pioneer or Garrard turntables and see their eyes light up! Turntables consist of three sections, the platter, the tonearm, and the motor.

Platter
The Platter is that part on which your records rest as they rotate on the turntable. This part is generally made of machined aluminium. The Platter isolates the tonearm from the vibrations caused by the motor and regulates the record turning speed.

Tonearm
The tonearm bears the cartridge which houses the stylus, or, the needle as it is more popularly known. It's the stylus which runs along the grooves of your LPs and EPs and converts the undulations on the records into sound. Pay special attention to the cartridge which wears out with extensive use. Never use an exhausted or worn cartridge as it might damage your records beyond redemption.

Motor
They come in three versions:

Belt-driven turntables: The motor is connected to the platter by a rubber belt.

Direct-drive turntables: The motor is directly connected to the platter.

Rim-driven turntables: There is a rubber wheel between the motor and the inside edge of the platter that transfers movement to the platter.

Vintage Reel-to-Reel Tape Recorders
Reel-to-Reel tapes vary in width from 1/4 inch to 2 inches; the sizes of tapes used vary from machine to machine. Generally tapes of 1/4 inch size were used for domestic recordings while professional studios used the wider varieties for obtaining clearer reproduction. There are two types of recording machines too. The tracks recorded by half-track machines were not compatible with quarter-track machines and in order to have full flexibility, you need to have both types of recorders.

Vintage Speakers
A crucial element of any sound system is obviously the speakers. You might not be very keen to spend money on vintage amplifiers or even their modern reissues, but you can get almost the same effect if you change your speakers.

Alnico Jensen speakers came paired with Fender tweed amplifiers and became all the rage in the 1950's and to this date are still considered by some as amoung the best available. The original Jensen speakers were made in US but reissues of these by Fender have been manufactured in Italy.

Other widely popular and much touted speakers include Webers, JBL and Electro Voice, but some argue that possibly the best speaker that money can buy are made by Celestion.

Conclusion
Vintage electronics has always been hugely popular with collectors for many years and more recently with dealers. Given such a bouyant market for these goods it's always worthwhile checking the authenticity of anything offered so that a reasonable judgement can be made as to their true value. Ultimately, though, many connoisseurs are prepared to pay high sums to recapture the rich sound quality of the past.
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