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
What I was afraid of has happened. Since I bought this old B&O equipment a couple of weeks ago I have decided that I want a top of the line B&O system from the early seventies
I have found a Beogram 4000 on an internet auction here in Norway. According to the pictures it looks to be in very good condition cosmetically and with the original SP15 pickup. According to the seller it is in full working condition but there is a slight "hum" from the motor he says.
The bid now is at the equivalent of £120 and I have no idea of what it is worth. How much do you think I coulp pay without making a fool of myself?
This nice looking piece was sold in Sweden last week..
http://www.tradera.com/bang-olufsen-beogram-4000-skivspelare-fungerande-och-fin--auktion_170610_202019582
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http://tinyurl.com/qj9cjsf
I'd say it depends on what the others are willing to pay...
Now this example is far from being perfect, so it should not fetch too high. Trouble is, you can't see the corners where the wood might be damaged. Ask for pictures.
The SP15 has been badly modified... Yuck!
Also, it appears you will have to polish the lid!
I've seen a boxed Beogram 4000 sell for € 1200 once.
I paid only € 80 for mine but there was some work to be done However it is mint.
Don't expect a service-free example!
Jacques
Thanks tamtapir, then I have an idea. I expect that the "hum" is something to be sorted out so I think I will set a top limit of something like £200.
chartz; yes it depends on what others are willing to pay but these things are not for sale everyday. But it is still 5 days left of the auction so I will wait and see what is happeneing. Starting bid was £60 and I was outbid on 120. So there is someone else that wants this. Remains to be seen how badly it is wanted If it gets too expensive I can wait and see if another one shows up.
chartz; sorry I did not read your answer closely enough. I see you point. I can see it now that the pickup is modified. It should't be black but clear plastic. That reduces the value considerably. And as you say, you can't see the corners. So maybe I should look elsewhere. Denmark would obviously be a good place to look. My wife is danish btw. And there is no hurry. Thanks chartz!
This is the one (I do not know how to put links into the reply):
http://www.qxl.no/pris/lyd-bilde-foto/audio-hifi/platespillere/bang-olufsen-beogram-4000-platespiller/v/an804648130/
Well, it depends also on your craftsmanship… If you're ready to fix electronic and mechanical faults, polish the lid and the wood until they shine like new, and take care of your turntable like a baby, you can find good deals on eBay. Otherwise, a fully restored 400x is highly rated.
I've been lucky: my Beogram 4004 was offered at 199 Euros, but they dropped the price to 139 because they couldn't turn it on anymore. I was already resolved that a full restoration was the way to go, so I bought it anyway. Here's the link to its thread:
http://archivedforum2.beoworld.org/forums/t/9328.aspx
I'm still working on alignments, but it's just a matter of time. I'll post some pictures when finished.
Good luck.
B&O Beogram 4004, Revox B790/Audio Technica VM520EB, Yamaha CX1000/YSTA5/TX350, Philips CDP400/BDP3100,Technics RS-B965, Infinity Qbx, Audio Pro 4/40 MkII
Well Jantoman, I think I can fix the electronic and mechanical part. It was my skill many years ago when people were still repairing things. Now, it seems, that when things stops working it gets thrown away. Regarding the cosmethic things I'm not very good: I think I will let this one pass. The pickup was a real turn-off.
I've read your post. Please post some pictures when you are satified with your work
Make sure you pay for proper shipping, and they pack it correctly, or you'll end up with similar to the Beogram 4000 I've just received, almost in bits due to the complete lack of care in packing by the seller.
Growing old is inevitable, Growing up is Optional
Beomaster 3000-2, BM 4400, Beocenter 3500, Beogram 1200, BG 4002, Beovox P45, BV 1802, BV 3702
Don't expect to pay any less than 500 Euros for a cosmetically ok and working example. It can be that you get a Beogram 4000 for less but repairs will make up at least for the difference. Sometimes it's better to pay more for a really good example since faults can be hard/expensive or even (close to) impossible to fix. These units are not inexpensive and as Jacques has pointed out it's highly unlikely that you will get a fully working example anyway. The goal has to be to get a cosmetically good one which can be fixed with reasonable effort. Some risk always remains. There are plenty out there but most are uneconomical to repair. It needs some passion to get one back on track.
Greetings,
Kai
You are replying to a one year old thread...
Martin
Ups But discussing the wonderful Beogram 4000 and its value is so timeless that it's always appropriate to reply - even if it's more for the benefit of new fans or the fun of us old fans rather than information for the initial poster.
Cheers!