Topic: Buying an analog desk, need help!
I am in great need of a mixing console, I have been searching and asking around for some time now in the local ads and forums. So far, I have found three used models that I think would suit my need (regarding specs and overall opinions of other people), but I lack experience using boards and I think I could find fellow robots' advice very useful right now. What are the pro's and con's and which one will suit the needs of a project studio consisting of hardware instruments and effects, but no computer.
I found:
Soundcraft 1624, 24ch 16 groups, good cosmetic condition, factory P&G faders, built in patchbay, seller had replaced sometime in the past all the capacitors and op-amps to a better spec'd ones. Haven't been turned on for about three years, EDAC cables are not coming with it but seller is giving the connectors and necessary schemes. Asking price: 1700 eur.
D&R 8000 Series, 24ch, built in patchbay, meterbridge, has some crackly pots, comes with all the EDACs necessary, seller when asked about the mixer tells the stories how famous (ie. crap) Yugoslavian musicians worked on it and how he earned a house by working at this desk. Asking price: 1500 eur.
Allen&Heath GS3000, 32ch, meterbridge, good condition, still in use in the studio, comes with plywood desk for it. Seller is asking about 2000 eur for it.
Maybe I could get some of these sellers to lower the prices a bit, but so far the conclusion that I came up with during my two year research is that analog desks are pretty rare here, and when they come up for sales, the price is usually trough the roof.
Edit: pictures of actual desks added