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
Hi all.
I've been a passionate pure Japanese Hifi fan & collector (aka: hoarder) for years now and have never really cared for the Euro stuff... until last week when an older lady contacted me via my classifieds Ad asking if I wanted any of her late husbands B&O gear. She gave me a list of what she had and after a day or two or heavy online research I just had to agree. $300 later I'm now the proud owner of my first Euro Hifi equipment including:
- Beocenter 7000- Beogram 1200 TT- Beolab 5000 Amp- Pair of non-B&O speakers (Radford from UK)
Each B&O piece is in exceptional if not 'as new' condition without any scratches, marks or damage at all due to its original owner going to extremes to keep it all perfect. The BC7000 remote has never been used, the BG1200 clear cover has always been in its original plastic bag and the BL5000 is immaculate without any scratches in the timber or in the black screenprinted numbers. I also received all original manuals and test reports for each piece too.
I have powered up each piece for a brief test and apart from the power indicator bulb in the BL5000 it all seems to work perfectly too however I didn't want to keep power to it for long as it all looks 100% original so it'll all need a re-cap before I feel comfortable using it for longer periods.
So, as I still don't really know the ins and outs of B&O gear have I unknowingly hit a B&O jackpot? Does anyone know how many BL5000s are still out there in true 'as new' condition? Are they really as rare and desirable as I've been told??
BeoNut since '75
The Beocenter 7000 is a great music centre. Very nice indeed. The 1200 is a beautiful bit of kit but not the best record deck. The platter looks wonderful but isnt actually that good. The Beolab 5000 can be wonderful, but you now really have to get the matching Beomaster 5000 to have a superb set up.
SteveAndBelle:Does anyone know how many BL5000s are still out there in true 'as new' condition? Are they really as rare and desirable as I've been told??
The Beolab 5000 and its matching tuner the Beomaster 5000 are not that rare, although much more so if in 'as new' condition as your BL seems to be.
The real expert on these things and someone who is building a database of existing 5000 amp/tuners, is a member on this site, Frede Kristennsen ('Classic'). Here is a link to a thread on the archived forum that is devoted to his research on the serial numbers of existing Beolab/Beomaster 5000s.
http://archivedarchivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/27975.aspx?PageIndex=1
Frede's work in restoring the 5000 system is well known and highly regarded and many members have either bought a system from him or have had one completely restored. He has a website and there is a link to that in the 'Links' section of this site under 'Beolab'.
Cleve
Excellent info guys, thanks. I do appreciate it. Sounds like my stuff is just so-so then but I still think the Beolab 5000 is in extremely good condition compared to the others I've seen online. Here's a low-res shot of it: http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Beolab5000.jpg I need to give the timber cabinet a very light oil but it's unmarked and in amazing condition apart from that.
Thanks again!
SteveAndBelle:Here's a low-res shot of it: http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Beolab5000.jpg I need to give the timber cabinet a very light oil but it's unmarked and in amazing condition apart from that.
Indeed it seems so - as seeing all the lettering still on it (even under the volume slider) is quite rare, a word of warning: don't EVER use any kind of solvent to clean the fascia, the print will rub straight off!
--mika
I think you are being a bit hard on your collection. The Beocenter 7000 is probably the best record playing music centre made (the 7007 and 7700 were simply refinements of this) and the Beolab 5000 was definitely one of the best and most powerful amplifiers of its time. The BG1200 was fine and is very collectible, because of the odd platter!
Peter
tournedos: Indeed it seems so - as seeing all the lettering still on it (even under the volume slider) is quite rare, a word of warning: don't EVER use any kind of solvent to clean the fascia, the print will rub straight off!
Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. I'm now fearing that this could be one of the best condition BL5000s in existence which (sadly) makes me not want to use it and to protect it more as a museum piece. Can I throw the gauntlet down and challenge anyone (in the friendliest possible way) to prove otherwise? Could this be 'the one'?
I've uploaded low-res shots of the other gear now too:Beogram 1200 - http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Beogram1200.jpgBeocenter 7000 - http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Beocentre7000.jpgBeoAcessories - http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/BeoAccessories.jpg
As stated previously, the Beograms clear cover has always been in its plastic bag and from what the owner told me I think the first time it has been out of the bag was when I took the above photo! Fear not, I put it back into the bag very shortly after. Also, I was told the Beocenter Remote Control had never ever been used which is obvious from its condition in the 'BeoAccessories' photo. Immaculate.
This looks like you have a real bargain. So many of the cosmetic issues that detract from the value of vintage B&O - such as the condition of turntable covers - simply don't seem to apply here. Well done.
If you threw three darts into a list of midmodern B&o ... you would be hard-pressed to hit much more desirable units.
Well done.
Now you need the 5000 tuner!
SteveAndBelle: tournedos: Indeed it seems so - as seeing all the lettering still on it (even under the volume slider) is quite rare, a word of warning: don't EVER use any kind of solvent to clean the fascia, the print will rub straight off! Yeah, this is what I'm thinking. I'm now fearing that this could be one of the best condition BL5000s in existence which (sadly) makes me not want to use it and to protect it more as a museum piece. Can I throw the gauntlet down and challenge anyone (in the friendliest possible way) to prove otherwise? Could this be 'the one'? I've uploaded low-res shots of the other gear now too:Beogram 1200 - http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Beogram1200.jpgBeocenter 7000 - http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/Beocentre7000.jpgBeoAcessories - http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w159/SteveAndBelle/BeoAccessories.jpg As stated previously, the Beograms clear cover has always been in its plastic bag and from what the owner told me I think the first time it has been out of the bag was when I took the above photo! Fear not, I put it back into the bag very shortly after. Also, I was told the Beocenter Remote Control had never ever been used which is obvious from its condition in the 'BeoAccessories' photo. Immaculate.
$300!!! You robbed the poor old dear!
Regards Graham
joeyboygolf: $300!!! You robbed the poor old dear!
Ha, agreed. It seems that way but she originally wanted to give it away and it was actually a bit of a battle to get her to accept the token $300 I was offering... but of course at that time I really had no idea if it was even worth $300 (& still don't to be honest).