I don't have cash for this, but there's a Seeburg SMC2 for sale in Ottawa for $1800.

http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/5385591&category=home-audio

Some info is available here @:
http://home.pacbell.net/fmillera/microprocessor_jukeboxes.htm

We might get a juke @ some point - ideally spending $250 for a bubbler  

This seems expensives ($1800) for the appearance - maybe due to its rarity?

Can anyone recommend a fairly pretty jukebox that is fairly easy to find in good shape.   I know its subjective - but something that looks reasonable when lite up, but could sell in the sub $1000 range (and would be easy to get parts for in the future)...

My question isn't too clear to stimulate a "chat" - but what are some suggestions on an easy to find, fairly cheap, easy to maintain jukebox?  

We keep stumbling on jukes - but don't know if its a good move.  

Sub $1000 would be ideal.

Doug,

I'll swear I saw an SMC1 on eBay in Michigan for a really good starting price.  I do know two people, one of whom is active on this board that are good with jukes (but closer to GTA), but may be willing to answer questions.  I too have dreamed of a juke box for the nostalgia, but I am thinking about just creating a MAME/Jukebox and feeding off my music server...

Wayne

I have a rockola nostalgia music center bubbler juke that I purchased NIB I love it! Jukes make an excellent addition to any gameroom.

Quoted from mark

I have a rockola nostalgia music center bubbler juke that I purchased NIB I love it! Jukes make an excellent addition to any gameroom.

Geez Mark, I gotta plant one of them "money trees" for that.   Nice!   BMIgaming lists them @ $8 - 9,000 - which converts to too many A-list pinballs for me  

Yeah, I like the dedicated jukebox - as everyone of all ages know how to use them.  

I have a DLINK media server setup - but its rather dated - and there's no way no-techies can figure it out - awful remote control interface.

That guy;s robotron jukebox in the gameroom magazine was nice - but a bit pricey at the end of the day - and a lot less "nostalgia" factor.

Quoted from Tuborg

I don't have cash for this, but there's a Seeburg SMC2 for sale in Ottawa for $1800.
This seems expensives ($1800) for the appearance - maybe due to its rarity?

Generally speaking, jukes that play 45's and that were late 60's until the CD era are not worth a whole lot.  300-500$ would be the "normal" price range.  However, they tend to be rather fugly.  See here:http://www.mikesgamesroom.com/juke.htm

Older than that and you get into the "classics" and they are priced accordingly.

Jim has a AMI Rowe R88 for sale @ 500$..

Mike

Quoted from MrMikeman

Generally speaking, jukes that play 45's and that were late 60's until the CD era are not worth a whole lot.  300-500$ would be the "normal" price range.  However, they tend to be rather fugly.  See here:http://www.mikesgamesroom.com/juke.htm

Older than that and you get into the "classics" and they are priced accordingly.

Jim has a AMI Rowe R88 for sale @ 500$..

Mike

Thanks Mike.

Yeah, I've found one video for the R88 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ4Vwqqc5kc) - it seems pretty enough, but I'm not the judge for if whether its pretty enough of course.   I think I showed it to Jen and she vetoed it     They are fugly - until you turn the lights off    

Are parts easy to come by for the R88 - compared to other machines?

How heavy / awkward are they to move?   I've heard they are worse than a pin.
So in terms of parts & working on them are they all the same?  

Quoted from mark

I have a rockola nostalgia music center bubbler juke that I purchased NIB I love it! Jukes make an excellent addition to any gameroom.

NIB eh. Well I think you need one of these for the other floor.  


http://www.monkeysarcades.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=WC2100JB


Mind you I would take vinyl and a good tube amp over any MP3 player hands down. Even monophonic for a juke since there is virtually no separation.

Here's a great link for looking at various generations of jukes. Pics are included which is great.

http://www.pinballrebel.com/archive/archive.htm

I have a AMI Rowe R90 45 version and usually it sits behind the diner but went "to the other side" for the party in favour of more pins. It gets played all the time - working on pins, making dinner, eating meals etc. Even Seb's friends go to it first before the Mame . I got mine from Jim full of records and it has had no probs. I was lucky tho and 2 guys that are friends brought it to my house and in for me as it is WAY heavier than a pin. Wouldn't want to do stairs with it . Mine's on wheels so easy to move. Definitely a great addition to a gameroom!

My 0.02 worth and I'd definitely go over to Jims and check his out - I remember a really cool one with lights that I would have taken if I didn't have one already
ME

Quoted from necro_nemesis

Mind you I would take vinyl and a good tube amp over any MP3 player hands down. Even monophonic for a juke since there is virtually no separation.

Just so there's no mistaking my taste for a MAME/Jukebox; I also have a 14w stereo tube amp built around 300B's and a pair of Klipshorns (most of the music on my music server is losseless encoded). But there definitely is something unmistakably satisfying about punching buttons, waiting for the record to load and hearing those old tunes the way that they were meant to be played. My hesitancy towards jukes has more to do with weight, size and repairs (for now anyway).

Quoted from websherpa

My hesitancy towards jukes has more to do with weight, size and repairs (for now anyway).

I hear ya!   That's our last hurdle - stairs to the basement - they're straight but...

Quoted from Tuborg

Are parts easy to come by for the R88 - compared to other machines?

How heavy / awkward are they to move?   I've heard they are worse than a pin.
So in terms of parts & working on them are they all the same?  

Ebay is pretty good for parts and there are also a few online places..  They weigh a TON..  That fugly POS in my previous post weighs in at about 450 lbs..  Broke my 500 lbs capacity dolly when I took it downstairs..  It ain't moving again... EVER...  Working on the older machines (primitive sold state) is fairly easy but the manual/schematics are essential - and usually not free unless they came with the machine.  

Mike

Great comments from all to date.

Indeed this particular juke is worth less than $1000 from what I have seen
in older jukebox collector books/priceguides and older eBay and FS listings.
Obviously the seller might have paid more from a retailer/dealer possibly however.

In fact, most consoles from the 60s-80s playing 45 rpms, that you do not see
the record being picked-up and played, are usually not worth very much
(from $200 to $800 generally, depending on brand/model/conditions).

Now, the jukes from the 50s with chrome and visible mechs are typically worth
quite a bit more - especially Wurlitzer and Seeburg, and to a lesser extent
Rock-Ola and AMI. Many over $5000 when in great shape and fully working/restored.

Price might come down later perhaps, due to older collectors already owning them,
and the recession in the US. The older jukes from the late 40s and eatly 50s are still
very expensive (including the famous Wurlitzer 1015 bubbler on 78s, when restored).

In the end, AMI/Rowe from the 50s to the 80s typically have a great sound
(usually better than the others) from the ones I have heard, and by reading
some juke books.

Note that many machines from the 60s and 70s now need work to make them
work right. Not only the mech/selection and lubrification is needed, but also
repairs (microswitches often bad), and now amp recaps....
Some resellers do offer amp cap kits, but they are way more expensive than
a usual G07 monitor cap kit !

The consoles from the 60s-70s weigh between 250-400 lb, depending on
the brand/model (and capacity of records, the higher the heavier).
Often the casters (wheels) are broken... Difficult to move !!!
But some parts can be dismantled to remove some weight before moving...

Good luck !
- Sylvain.

I bit the bullet and bought a jukebox a couple years ago,
there's a great guy in Guelph who refurbishes Seeburg's

i bought the AY-160 from 19611 it's great, looks amazing, you can see the records move and be pulled out and played,
i paid quite a bit for it $1200 (to me thats alot) but its an amazing peice in my collection i would never be without
it's been running great for years, the sides still have all their pinstriping, and the only problem is one of the crowns on the front is cracked, but you can only notice if you look really closely

yes they are heavy, but we took this puppy down the stairs using a dolly and it was fine, just make sure you have a couple people.

here's a pic of mine



and here's a link to a video of it on youtube (someone elses video but shows it working)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8aVN7FM_70

Thanks everyone.   Geez thunderstorm - you are blowing our budget with that photo.   Very nice looking.   I just want to buy 1 jukebox - as to what MrMikeman's saying - once the POS is in the basement it ain't moving - might even sell it with the house  

I like jvegas' - nice price - but thunderstorms looks 'pruuuudy"!

I'll keep looking - if anyone sees one in the Ottawa area let me know please.   Price range is like < $1200 - 1500...

Thanks for the help - we've hunted down one - no pictures yet, but similar to Thunderstorm's.

Its a Seeburg DS160
http://www.pinballrebel.com/archive/seeburg/sds160/ssds160.htm

Asking price is $1550.

Only have verbal information:
its been in a bar, etc - but was restored 8-9 years ago.   Cabinet had chair scracthes etc - but those have been touched-up / restored nicely.  He would go through the mechanics / electronics prior to selling.

I have been told the guy is trustworthy.

Is it worth $1550?   Where's the MAACA of juke's?

PM sent.