ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
How wise is it to buy a BG 5005/5500/9500... series off ebay that "doesn't work" from someone who knows nothing about turntables? I recently passed up a chance on a BG 9500 from an estate sales company since I didn't know what was wrong with it or if what was left of it would survive shipping. Cosmetically it looked really good though. Are the most common problems these turntables fairly easy to resolve?
I'm going to keep my eyes open, but here in the US they seem less common, especially the 9500 (I have a BC9500).
It was also a bit sad to see it hooked up to an RCA adapter. The previous owner wasn't even taking advantage of its datalink capabilities!
-- Paul
As always, it depends. If all the seller can say is "it doesnt' work", then all you can be certain of is that it doesn't work.
The problems will range from a bad belt, to a snapped off plastic peg in the carriage, to a total wreck. And if you need to have it shipped, you might receive a wreck even if the original problem was easy to begin with.
--mika
Hi,
You know, I sometimes buy so-called non-functional stuff which actually works! As Søren says, you may be lucky and have a bad belt, or a bad solder.
Sometimes you can buy a "bad" CD50 and the previous owner who inherited the thing just didn't know that the CD must be placed upside down!
And yes, you can get a total mess and still be able to repair it!
If the price is fair and you have abilities in repairing hi-fi equipment then I'd say, go ahead!
Jacques
I have purchased two turntables "that didn't work" from two different people who knew nothing of turntables.
One was an RX2 that had its transport screws fastened. Easily solved, that one.
The other was a BG3404 that arrived with a nice MMC20EN cartridge, but without the transport screws fastened or the platter removed. Happily, everything survived and the table worked just fine. Perhaps the seller plugged it in and tried to press start without a record on the platter. Without a record on the platter, pressing start on the BG3404 yields no movement of any kind. (You can get the platter to turn by pressing turn, however.)
Bottom line - you roll the dice and you take your chances. My personal rule of thumb is, I don't spend over $100 on anything I don't see and listen to first.
A cosmetically good 9500 is always worth buying -even if it's not working. The 9500 is one of the most rare in this line of turntables.
You can always find one of the more common models (perhaps in bad condition cosmetically) at a fair price - and use that as a donor.You can use parts from it -or even the whole mechanism. Just take the 'top-section' from the 9500 and place it on the functioning 'bottom' and you'll have a nice TT for your Beocenter.Here in Denmark the BG 9500's usually goes for 2000 DKKr (appr. 350 $). And the TX2/3300/5005/5500 can be found for 300 - 500 DKKr (50 - 80 $) - with bad pickups (cartridges) -or without. But they'll probably soon need new cartridges anyway.
Steffen: A cosmetically good 9500 is always worth buying -even if it's not working. The 9500 is one of the most rare in this line of turntables. You can always find one of the more common models (perhaps in bad condition cosmetically) at a fair price - and use that as a donor.You can use parts from it -or even the whole mechanism. Just take the 'top-section' from the 9500 and place it on the functioning 'bottom' and you'll have a nice TT for your Beocenter.Here in Denmark the BG 9500's usually goes for 2000 DKKr (appr. 350 $). And the TX2/3300/5005/5500 can be found for 300 - 500 DKKr (50 - 80 $) - with bad pickups (cartridges) -or without. But they'll probably soon need new cartridges anyway.
Oh god I feel like a complete idiot. Cosmetically in great condition, sold on eBay for $130. It probably didn't work because they didn't know to put a record on it. I need to be kicked in the butt real hard! I'm an original owner of a BC9500 and didn't get the BG9500 originally because because vinyl was "obsolete". AAARRRGGGG!!
beopaul:I'm an original owner of a BC9500 and didn't get the BG9500 originally because because vinyl was "obsolete". AAARRRGGGG!!
I know what you mean
When I bought my BC 9500, I didn't get the Beogram 9500 because I had a BG 3300...(which IS the same, technically).But some (many) years later, I just felt that I had to get a BG 9500 to make it complete So I bought a nice second-hand BG 9500 - and sold my 3300.
Steffen:So I bought a nice second-hand BG 9500 - and sold my 3300.
Collectors dont sell unless they have 2 or 3 of a kind
Collecting Vintage B&O is not a hobby, its a lifestyle.
Søren Mexico: Steffen:So I bought a nice second-hand BG 9500 - and sold my 3300. Collectors dont sell unless they have 2 or 3 of a kind
I was young -and I needed the money
Søren Mexico: Collectors dont sell unless they have 2 or 3 of a kind
That's right!
2x Beogram 3000
2x Beogram 3500
4x Beogram 4500
1x Beogram 5000
3x Beograms 5500
4x Beogram 6500
3x Beogram 7000
3x Beogram 9000
2x Beogram 9500
etc. etc.
Brengen & Ophalen