After the electronic pulse wipes out every bit of wireless reception in the 15-million-person, 10,743-square-mile South Coast Air Basin, and also renders all chip-driven sound equipment, digital equipment and music downloads useless, some of those who survive manage to ruthlessly acquire electric generators essential to life.

These survivalists soon discover that while their MP3s and CDs are useless, much of the old, abandoned analog sound equipment still works. In a grim, emptying city of hangers-on desperate for music to lift their spirits, some of the most sought-after items turn out to be the backward-looking bounty of vinyl albums, turntables, old receivers and speakers once bound for obscurity.

To put together the best analog system, scavengers soon realize that several mom-and-pop stores, thrift shops and independent electronics-supply stores offer almost everything they need, from old receivers, speakers and turntables to vinyl LPs and decent needles — a necessity before applying to favorite vinyl recordings.

EQUIPMENT

AMERICAN WAY THRIFT STORE: 3226 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, (818) 841-6013.

GOODWILL INDUSTRIES: 14760 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 990-0421. Check www.goodwillsocal.org for more locations througout Southern California.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL: 210 N. Ave. 21, L.A., (323) 224-6280. Check www.svdpusa.org for more locations throughout Southern California.

VINYL LPs

FREAKBEAT RECORDS: 13616 Ventura Blvd., ?Sherman Oaks, (818) 995-7603.

CANTERBURY RECORDS: 805 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 792-7184.

MISSING PIECES

AMETRON: 1546 N. Argyle Ave., Hlywd., (323) 464-1144.

ALL ELECTRONICS CORPORATION: 14928 Oxnard St., Van Nuys, (818) 997-1806.

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