What's In Your Vintage Rig?

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I know we've got a good half-dozen vintage audiophiles here (although the audiophiles themselves may not be vintage), and I thought it was about time we all got together on one thread and talked about our vintage gear. I'll start with what's currently working in my rig:

- A terrific 1974-vintage Pioneer SX-838 receiver that was one of two at the thrift store I got it from. The blue dial lights up and I'm in heaven.

- A Pioneer PL-518 turntable from 1978. Another thrift-store find that I spent $15 to buy and $90 to upgrade the cartridge on (AT440ML). Worth every penny.

- Design Acoustics SoundPoint 6 speakers, purchased with the receiver.

- A Teac A-3300S reel to reel.

- A Tascam 133 cassette deck. Rack ears, XLR connectors, the whole bit. Not really that vintage, but what a deal at $1.25

In the closet are a couple of Dual turntables (1212 and 1229), some other receivers, and a couple of reel decks.

My piano's about 75 years old, but it's still in the ex's house. A full size upright by Grinell Bros., Chicago.

Mine's kind of a long list, but the stuff I use most is vintage gear. I used to have a sound company, so I also have a bunch of vintage JBL, Crown, McIntosh, EV, Rane, DbX, Yamaha PA equipment to kick around with. In fact my Home Theater LFE channel is basically a bi-amped vintage all bass PA system with 6 - JBL 15s, McIntosh MC2500, crossed over to a Yamaha P2200 for tactile effects. Sometimes I play music too loud with that rig, too, not just movies.

My "good sounding" stuff is a Sony CDP383 CD player from the 80's or a Dual 650RC electronic direct drive turntable mated to a Lazarus Cascade Preamp and Phono stage, then to a pair of SET EL84 monos. For speakers I usually use Visaton B200 (magic modern driver), but I also have vintage JBL 4311 and 4301, Yamaha NS-5 Studio monitors. I can also pull out an old A77 if we need to listen to a reel.

Most of my really good speakers are DIY made with PA or studio gear (learned from JBL factory workshops and "mail order" acoustics engineerig course). I have Electro Voice Co-axial 12" and 8", Altec 8" co-ax, plus a pair of Altec 604s that need reconing, some day. I also have a stack of JBL E140s, 2235s, horns and bullet drivers, various XOs and EQs to goof with which I use as my deck and garden system. I change stuff all the time.

As far as home consumer electronics I have an old Panasonic receiver (not bad) from the '70s and a Fisher rack system from the '80s. The Fisher system actually sounds really good, even though it was made after the major japanization of the old brand. It also has a tangent tracking turntable with it, but I thinks it's junk. Either of my Duals will best it, but the tuner is the best I've heard.

My favorite vintage toy is my dad's old tube Blaupunkt all in one stereo radio from the early '60s, with all bands including shortwave and tv audio, in one unit.

Anyway I think you get the idea ... I'm really into audio, have been forever ... I used to make a living with it, until 15 years ago and now it's all about me.