SPAM! Fall cleanup sale; TB-303s, 606, etc

OK, time for another big clean-up sale! This time I am selling some of the best of my collection, if you wanted to know what a 303 smells like fresh out of the box :-)

Everything is plus shipping. Will be adding pictures.

Here's what I have this time:

Roland CR-5000 $200: Analog drum computer, in great condition, everything works, a couple of buttons very slightly sticky. No manual

Roland TB-303 (#1) $2000 new in box: Analog bass synthesizer, in mint condition, everything works, stiff buttons and knobs. Never used, still in box with original packing material and manuals.

Roland TB-303 (#2) $2150 new in box: Analog bass synthesizer, in absolute mint condition, everything works, stiff buttons and knobs. Never used, still in box with original packing material and manuals. Also has original Roland dry cell batteries and rare chord wheel.

Roland TB-303 (#3) $1950 mint/excellent condition: Analog bass synthesizer, in very close to mint condition, everything works, stiff buttons and knobs. Never really used, still has price sticker on it. No box, but does come with carrying bag.

Roland TR-606 (#1) $575 new in box: Analog drum computer, in mint condition, everything works, stiff buttons and knobs. Never used, still in box with original packing material and manuals.

Roland TR-606 (#2) $450 used: Analog drum computer, in excellent condition, everything works, newly replaced (sealed) buttons and knobs. Slight paint wear around instrument select knob and discoloration around battery door, with original manual and OK condition carry case.

Roland VS-2480HD $650 used: 24 track digital recorder and mixer with motorized faders. In excellent condition, no paint scratches, one encoder doesn

questions.

1. why and how do you have so many new 303s?

2. what's the price on the price sticker?

Well, one is from a former Roland rep... one is from a shop in Japan (price is 23500 yen), the other I forgot where it came from. I've kept the best ones I've found over the years.

cheers

ripe

This is TB-303 #3 (mint/excellent):

cheers

ripe

$450 for a used 606? Just sell it on ebay and don't insult forums with that.. $300 is more like it. If not just sell it to a complete stranger.

Just some gear selling ethics advice.

Thanks for the comments... I think $300 is fair for an unmaintained and well worn 606.

The TR-606 that I've got for sale has had all of the switches replaced with sealed ALPS switches ALPS SKQEAAA010 Which I usually charge $150 in parts and labor.

cheers

ripe

This is TB-303 #1:

cheers

ripe

if i needed a 606 i wouldn't hesitate to buy yours at 450. i'm sure it would be in top shape with a lot of life in the buttons.

when i saw this post, i got all hopeful that you were selling the Axis... damn it.

I'd love a 606.

I think i split my pants.

I wonder why nobody ever thought of vacuum forming a 303 case for a clone?

damn,,,.. all that is near mint.

argh that 606 is so tempting. would play so nice with the modules...

You get what you pay for with Ripe's gear. Would love me a minty 303 =o]

ah, its so tempting! too spendy for me right now, don't tempt me!

The 303s look nice, but two grand is a lot of money for something so easy to emulate.

I'LL BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR!

In fact, I put a bid of $1.04 on a 303 on E-Bay today, but that was as high as I was willing to go.

Good thing, too. It's over 400 bucks by now.

i kind of disagree w/ that statement.

Then I'll go further. The whole "cult of TB303" thing is greatly overblown. They're neat little units for what they are, I guess. But lest we forget, they're also just cheaply built 80s synths that once gathered dust on pawn shop shelves and failed to sell for $40. The VCF is decent enough, though not exceptional. But it's still monophonic, and its single oscillator only has two wave types.

The market value of the TB303 depends more on hype than anything intrinsic in the unit itself. It is (or was) a status symbol for those who like Acid and certain other genres, but 2 grand is still a lot of money for any synth with such a narrow purpose.

okay. i agree w/ that. yes the cult is over-blown & yes i wouldn't pay that price either. but IDK. i'd rather have a TB-303 CLONE than use software. if that's what you mean by emulate.

secondly. sure you can both focus on its limitations AND its shortcomings. but from a functional standpoint it did serve its purpose & that's in turn lead to the "hype." well. that & the "finite" supply lead to the high prices. so i mean fine if its 2 grand its 2 grand i don't care let the MARKET decide the price.

thirdly. there's tons of other "synths" that were cheap & collected dust in pawn shops. so. & i don't want to get into the hype & overall trend of analog synths. i say let people buy in & feed into the hype. & i'll buy the cheap stuff that is overlooked & no one else wants.

The 303 has what is arguably the most unique position in music history having started a whole genre of music, plus an entire lifestyle and musical revolution. It's history is a large part of the high value. But so is the hype.

A whole "sub-genre" of music.

I appreciate the 303. Never want one tho.. even if it's free. Not my thing.

yeah the 303 is crap. so are those guitar things. i mean, my XP-80 has guitar sounds in it so why would i need one with strings?

To your first point, there are numerous VAs and newer analog synths that do a great job of emulating (in my view, outdoing) the TB303. You can even cover the 303 sound with a 2nd tier VA and basic outboard DSP. The three or so main timbres that the 303 is known for are easy sounds to program.

Second, the 303 is functional I guess, but it's really a toy with little button keys that was meant as a bass accompaniment for guitarists, etc. I've played around with them before and just didn't feel the magic. It's a very simple monosynth. If that's your bag, cool. But $2,000 for that is just hype.

And you're right. The market does decide the price. I don't see people getting $2,000 for them much these days. More often it's $800-$1400, which is still a lot of money for what this is.

Third, most synths that gathered dust in the late 80s and early 90s suffered from a general malaise of the analog synth market as a whole. Moogs, Prophet V's, etc. were relatively cheap back in the late 80s and early 90s as they saw little use in the types of music that were popular then (in favor of sampling and digital synthesis, which were on the rise). But the surge today in the popularity (and value) of a Prophet V makes more sense to me, since it's so much more versatile and expressive than something like the 303. I'd sooner spend 3 grand on a Prophet V than 2 grand on a 303.

Poor analogy.

there is someone in this world that wants a TB-303. there is yet another someone that wants a near mint TB-303. there is even still yet another someone that wants a near mint TB-303, has the money to buy it w/o batting an eyelash & is probably willing to pay a Premium for it. that this "person" is neither you nor me really is kind of a moot point IMO.

instead let's just use this opportunity to rhetorically hate on all vintage Roland products in general !!!