These days with so much guitar gear being either overpriced or made overseas, I'm a big advocate of finding cool old used gear at flea markets and consignment shops.
So far this year I have found:
Squier Classic Vibe Strat with aftermarket Duncan pickups for $40 (sold guitar for $200).
Tascam 6100 reel to reel (the mastering one they make the plug-in of) like new aside from belts and a roller for $100. (decided to keep).
Shure Model 51 mic $30 (keeping for video prop)
Yamaha G-5 - a little Mesa-looking practice amp that Deadheads like for $40 (with a Monster Cable) sold for $275.
Last week, I bought a Vox Cambridge Reverb from 1968 with the cover, footswitch, owner's manual, and original speaker for $200.
Today, I was once again up at the crack of dawn with a stack of cash and I found this oddball.
It's a mid-1970s Super Reverb that someone put in a 1968ish Bandmaster cabinet.
Not exactly vintage, but for $300 a worse amp could be had.
The online sites and overpriced auctions are fine, but as I say, there are a lot of oddball things that sound great out there for short money.
Here is last week's Vox because I didn't get around to making a thread:
https://gearspace.com/board/so-many-guitars-so-little-time/1437310-another-flea-market-find-new-post...