Marantz 3300

ZLTFUL
ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
edited July 2013 in 2 Channel Audio
So I was cruising CL the other day and a local was selling a bunch of quality vintage gear.
I saw he had a Marantz 3300 listed in his ad so I gave him a call to see if it was still available.
He had no price listed in the ad but it was a bunch of tasty gear...Kef C75s, Several Pioneer, Kenwood and Yamaha receivers, Klipsch Heresy x like 4 pairs, McIntosh Amps both tube and SS...

So I got there and the living room of his house looked like an audio swap meet. Speakers lining the walls, folding tables set up with gear all over them and extension cords all over the place.
After talking to him, it appears that he inherited his parent's house when they passed away and his dad was an audio nut who never threw anything out. He also had a Marantz 1020 I was interested in but it would power on but had low output to both speakers so I passed.

Anyway, he hooked up the 3300 for me to a 250 amp (WAY too much for the asking price on the amp or I would have grabbed it too...talking eGay prices here) and a pair of KEF bookies with the oval passive radiator (trying to convince him to sell those as they sounded amazing).
The 3300 was hooked up to a cheap Sony CDP and he started playing some Coltrane. Pretty delicious sounding.
I verified everything was working, no scratchy knobs or sliders...overall, sounded solid.
So I broached the subject of price.
He started pointing out flaws in the pre...the metal case was gone (Walnut wood case not perfect but not in bad shape at all with just a few scuffs and scratches), the knobs and face were filthy and the inside had about 25 years of accumulated dust.
He then throws in the old, "But everyone knows that the 3300 is the best Marantz pre up until you get into the 7s..." Uh yeah...that's sort of subjective...I mean it *is* a danged good pre but...
So by this point, with his dog sitting on my shoe and the place smelling like musty death, even with all the cool gear, I am ready to get home dangit.
I ask him how much and he goes, well...I know it needs some work so would you go $45?
DUH! Sure I will.
So I pull out my wallet...and only have $20s. I ask him if he has a $5 and a $10 and he goes, you know what...$40 is fine. I am working on a volume margin here.

So now, she sits at home, stripped down.
The face is cleaned (has assorted scuffs and dings but overall pretty nice).
The knobs have all been cleaned.
The pots have all been fully deoxited along with the sliders and the switches.
The inside has been cleaned thoroughly with first a dusting and vaccuuming and then with a heavy dose of contact cleaner.
The only things left now before I reassemble it is:
1. clean the rear terminals
2. lightly sand the case and then topcoat with a couple of coats of tung oil.
3. find new screws to reattach the case

Then I need to decide if I want to keep it or if I want to flip it.
I really like it and it sounds really good but I want remote volume and possibly sub outs.
Granted, the center output from the 3300 could be used for that function but...

I have no "before" pictures as I was too wired to get her tore down.
I am going to make sure all the caps are reading in spec and if not, may look into re-capping it. If they are, then I will leave well enough alone.

I will post up pics when I get home tonight or something.
"Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
Post edited by ZLTFUL on
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Comments

  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited June 2013
    Dang right. What a price. Great score :)
    ..
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited June 2013
    boston1450 wrote: »
    Dang right. What a price. Great score :)

    I was expecting $150-$200 and knowing that it worked, would have gladly paid that. They tend to go for around $350 and up on eGay. My wife once again just rolled her eyes at me. Hehe.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited June 2013
    I get that all the time. When my wife asks where are you going. I say' to pick up another stereo. Lol. Even when im going to get gas for the lawn mower. But overall'she doesnt mind. Sometimes she jokes and says'what are you looking at now more speakers. I say' a brand new truck. Then she says' sure dont you dare :)
    ..
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  • Mikey081057
    Mikey081057 Posts: 7,127
    edited June 2013
    Very nice
    My New Year's resolution is 3840 × 2160

    Family Room| Marantz AV7704| Usher Dancer Mini - 2 DMD Mains |Usher Dancer Mini-x DMD's Surrounds | Usher BE-616 DMD Center | SVS Ultra Rear Surrounds | Parasound Halo A21 | Parsound Halo A52+ | MIT Shotgun S3's | Dual SVS SB 4000 Ultras | Oppo UDP 203 | Directv Genie HD DVR | Samsung 75" Q8 QLED | PSAudio Stellar GCD | Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ | Lumin U1 Mini | HP Elite Slice PC | ROON'd for life |

    ManCave: HT:Polk LSiM 706VR3 LSiM 703's LSiM 702's|| Marantz AV7002 AV PrePro Sunfire TGA-7401| Sony PS4 Pro| Sony PS4 Pro|SVS PB13 Ultra| Oppo UDP 203 | Music Hall MMF 5.3se TT w/ Soundsmith Carmen | Samsung 55" SUHD TV | Sony PS4

    Patio | Polk Atrium 8's | Yamaha R-N303BL |

    Office BlueSound Node| KEF LS50 | Peactree Nova 125SE |

    Bedroom | Focal 905's | Chromecast Audio |

    Garage | Polk Monitor 5B's

    Closet Yamaha M80 | 2 Polk MP3K subs| Yaqin MC100B with Shuguang Treasures KT 88's & CV181Z's | Tesla E83CC's | Marantz 2252B | Marantz 2385 |Polk SDA SRS 2.3 | LSiM 705's |
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited June 2013
    FARK IN A BUCKET.

    Broke the power switch while re-assembling.
    Good news is, a member of AK and DigiKey sell a new replacement.
    Bad news is, I have to wire in a cheap toggle switch until one gets shipped.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited June 2013
    2242132459_cfde3e7a6c_o.jpg

    threaduselesswithoutpics.jpg
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited June 2013
    Subtle Dan...subtle. Been busy sipping that Scotch. :mrgreen:
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited June 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    Subtle Dan...subtle. Been busy sipping that Scotch. :mrgreen:

    Yeah, yeah.... wonder if that scotch contributed to your broken power switch....

    Normally electronics and liquor dont mix... unless your talking Karaoke.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited June 2013
    Nope. Hadn't had a glass yet when I snapped the switch. It was rubbing a bit and I was pushing it to adjust it and it snapped like a twig.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited June 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    Nope. Hadn't had a glass yet when I snapped the switch. It was rubbing a bit and I was pushing it to adjust it and it snapped like a twig.
    Gotcha, I too would be drinking after breaking something I was working on....

    Lord knows coding for work has many times led to a few adult drink when I get home :wink:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • PolkieMan
    PolkieMan Posts: 2,446
    edited June 2013
    $40 was a deal:biggrin:

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    POLK SDA 2.3 TLS BOUGHT NEW IN 1990, Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-198
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    PIONEER PL-510A SONY BDP S5100
    POLK SDA 1C BOUGHT USED 2011,Gimpod/Sonic Caps/Mills RDO-194
    ONKYO HT RC-360 SONY BDP S590 TECHNICS SL BD-1
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited June 2013
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Gotcha, I too would be drinking after breaking something I was working on....

    Lord knows coding for work has many times led to a few adult drink when I get home :wink:

    That's why I got out of scripting.

    And of course I managed to pinch a nerve in my back this morning so I have spent the day bent over trying not to breath. Finally made it into the jacuzzi and soaked. Now I can stand up straight but I can't breath deeply.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited June 2013
    Classic Marantz. I keep thinking about it.
    But no, I won't weaken. I won't weaken. I won't weaken.
    What's that on CL? I won't weaken. I won't weaken.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,590
    edited June 2013
    ZLTFUL wrote: »
    I have spent the day bent over trying not to breath.

    That sounds like a personal problem :wink::evil:.

    Seriously though I understand, when I am in a major flare for some reason my lower back osteoporosis acts up really bad and the only thing that makes it feel better is a really hot shower.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited July 2013
    Ordered switch on Saturday morning...arrived today. I just got home from a 2 day 600 mile round trip so I will see about soldering it up tonight.
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • ZLTFUL
    ZLTFUL Posts: 5,648
    edited July 2013
    So finally am listening to the 3300. Really liking it so far. Got to hit some tracks I am really familiar with...
    I do know that this thing LOVES classical music.
    Have it connected to one of my GFA-555s running my RTA-15TLs and catching some nuances I hadn't heard with the NAD...

    Oh and a pic...not the original wood case but it works since the metal case is missing.
    1011784_10201566241066944_1899447657_n.jpg
    "Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."

    "Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip
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  • boston1450
    boston1450 Posts: 7,639
    edited July 2013
    Sweet 40.00 Marantz unit. Now superglue your fingers to your hip before your break something else & enjoy
    ..
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