Good flea markets in NYC for gear finds?

Tragabigzanda · Post by **Tragabigzanda** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:22 am

Hey all...

Thinking of taking a weekend in NYC to check out the flea markets, hopefully score something good. Any flea markets that come especially recommended? Thanks...

Mix413 · Post by **Mix413** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 3:18 pm

Flea markets are getting extremely competitive when it comes to musical equipment. There are very aggressive dealers who will grab up anything within minutes of it being put up for sale. I've had people try to buy something that I had in my hands while I was reaching for my wallet to pay for it. You have to get there before it opens and move fast.

I'd suggest trying garage sales. Many newspapers list their classifieds online so you can put a list together the night before and get out early and move quickly. Most garage sales in my area start at 9, but often the good stuff can be gone by 7:30 - 8. There's a fine line between being aggressive and courteous to the sellers.

Cellotron · Post by **Cellotron** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 5:59 pm

Your vision of NYC flea markets abounding with musical gear doesn't really gybe with what is the reality of these days. If you have a van though and want free office furniture then just drive along nearly anywhere on a trash pickup night and you can usually score something useful. But if you're looking for guitars, etc. then you really just need to go to the stores (which don't necessarilly have great deals).

There's a number of smaller music shops such as First Flight Music, Ludlow St. Guitars, Tribal Soundz, etc. that have good stuff usually.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

supafuzz · Post by **supafuzz** » Sat Apr 28, 2007 3:50 am

What's happening is soaring real estate prices have decimated all the good flea markets. WHat once were parking lots and huge weekend flea markets
ae now high rise luxury apartment buildings. There's the garage fleamarket and the church flea at 6th ave between 24 and 25th but that's about all that's left..good luck finding gear though. I had a friend Tom who had a booth with great musical stuff..but haven't seen him in a few years.
Also ave A at 11th street flea market [we were the last week but didn't see anything remotely musical recording gear..

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Thu May 03, 2007 8:03 pm

Is "WE BUY" still in business. i remember catching Eagle Eye and Don Cherry in there YEEEAAARS ago.

locosoundman · Post by **locosoundman** » Fri May 04, 2007 7:37 am

Rogue Music was conspicuously missing from that other list.

It's not a flea market, but it is probably the one place that I will buy used gear in NYC. They are honest, fair, and reasonable, and they offer some buyer protection on non-conscription stuff (90-day in-store warranty, etc.).

http://www.roguemusic.com/

Also in that building is Waves LLC which has all sorts of really cool old-time stuff - all kinds of mic's, grammophones and old hi-fi stuff.

Tragabigzanda · Post by **Tragabigzanda** » Fri May 04, 2007 11:34 am

Hey, thanks for the tip! Two stores in one building? <<boinggggg>>

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Fri May 04, 2007 12:14 pm

Link to Waves LLC??

locosoundman · Post by **locosoundman** » Fri May 04, 2007 10:03 pm

Sorry

http://www.wavesllc.com/

Don't drool on your keyboard

ubertar · Post by **ubertar** » Sat May 05, 2007 11:46 am

locosoundman wrote:Sorry

http://www.wavesllc.com/

Don't drool on your keyboard

Wow. Nice mic pron. But those prices are ridiculous.

coniferouspine · Post by **coniferouspine** » Tue May 15, 2007 10:42 am

I'll never forget the first time I ever went into Rogue music. I get out the elevator and walk in, and there in the middle of the room is an Emulator, one or two of those little Moogs, and some various other rack-type gear, all with a bunch of heavy-duty looking battered black road cases piled up around the keyboards in the center of the room. And the road cases all say "Herbie Hancock" on them in big white stencils. Evidently it was Herbie's touring rig from the "Rockit" era, that had just been traded in. Pretty freaking cool.

cgarges · Post by **cgarges** » Tue May 15, 2007 6:13 pm

Hey James! Where are you these days?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

knobtwirler · Post by **knobtwirler** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 7:40 pm

Brian wrote:Is "WE BUY" still in business. i remember catching Eagle Eye and Don Cherry in there YEEEAAARS ago.

We Bu Guitars is long gone. It's all Sam Ash now.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 5:10 am

Dang, they had some of the best old gtrs around.

knobtwirler · Post by **knobtwirler** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 6:51 am

Brian wrote:Dang, they had some of the best old gtrs around.

Hahaha, ya, in the 80s!

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Good flea markets in NYC for gear finds?

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