What vintage amps are collectables?

[ejaggers]

I understand collecting vintage basses. But does anyone collect vintage amps? If so, what have you got and what would you like to have? I saw an old Rickenbacker all tube bass combo from the 60's awhile back and considered getting it only because it was a Ric, and it was cheap. But I really don’t collect vintage amps. Aren’t most too small to play outside your house (except maybe Sunn)? Here’s a Magnatone made from ‘64-’66 and MSRP was $260, but it’s only about 35 watts. Would you (collectors) pay this price for it?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/msg/1998334148.html

[mellowgerman]

don't know about the magnatone, but a lot of those low-wattage vintage tube amps are some of the best sounding recording amps out there.
also, there are plenty big enough to play out, especially if you're mic'd up.

[KramerBassFan]

I'll buy ANYTHING that is cool, old, tube or tranny, regardless of whether or not it works.

I'm up to about fifteen now... Ampeg, Peavey, SUNN, Kustom, Premier, Roland, the list goes on. Solid state, and so cool.

[C.Linton]

Would a late 60's 75 watt Kustom 150 combo amp in the black tuck and roll be considered a collectible?

[OldHack]

Originally Posted by C.Linton

Would a late 60's 75 watt Kustom 150 combo amp in the black tuck and roll be considered a collectible?

There's nothing like those old tuck and roll Kustoms regardless of sound or performance. They would be the perfect image amp for an oldies band so, yeah, I'd say there's def some collectibility. It's over 40 y/o anyways! Collectibility doesn't always mean huge $$ but it does make it something interesting, desirable, and maybe even usable to someone else.

The old tube amps have so much mojo they just draw you back to a simpler time with discrete components and no LSICs. Plus they were mostly overbuilt with much higher tolerances which has availed them to all sorts of hotrodding.

I've got an old (~1960s) McMartin PTP amp I'll post some new pics of. Just got it back from the tech and we hopped up the 7027a's with JJ KT88s and he says it pumps out pretty good. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but it looks sweet!

[MAMMOTHvolume]

marshall / ampeg / fender / hiwatt / vox etc are all very collectable if you get the right models

[jimbilly]

Magnatones are awesome, I'd buy that Ric too.
The B15N is probably the most 'collectible' (it's giggable and will hold it's value, has amazing tone) if you don't count the tweed Bassmans as bass amps.
Plush is the other tuck&roll brand that looks like Kustom but probably sounds better.

[KramerBassFan]

Collectible, sure, good amps, not always.

Still, COOL regardless.

[ejaggers]

I had an Epiphone Constellation EA72 when I was a kid. It was my first amp. I went to my mother’s house last year looking for it in her storage house, but it was gone. That amp got me thur a lot of gigs. I wanted it for sentimental reasons only, because I wouldn’t consider gigging on it now. Mine was just like this:

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/Epi...stellation.php

No one has said if they would buy the Magnatone at this price. I don’t have any sentimental reasons to get it, but if it was the EA72, I might pay half of this. Here’s more info: http://vibroworld.com/magnatone/M7.html

[Mr. Foxen]

I collect any amp that is not well known but well built. Totally not giving away the names though.

[MNAirHead]

I'd stick with Ampeg and Marshall..

Otherwise it's knowing exact model numbers etc.

[Jim Carr]

Collecting can be fun and will no doubt take up a lot of room in your abode. If you find something that brings you joy, and have already achieved financial independence, do it—I guess.

But not me. I am a 60 year-old veteran/survivor of a chain bass amp woe: Philco, Bogen homebrew, Monkey Wards, Silvertone, Epiphone, Bassman, Baldwin, Vox (Essex and Foundation), B-12-15-18, Dual Showman, Kustom 215, Marshall Major 812, Acoustic 301, etc.

Not one of them can touch modern gear, IMHO. For me, "Nostagial ain't what it used to be," LOL!

[ejaggers]

Wow Jim Carr, how many of those do you still have?

Mr Foxen, I guess you're the only collector so far, at least that's what I assume.

[KramerBassFan]

Me!


Four month old pic, i've added a fair bit of stuff to it.

My profile is accurate in terms of equipment... i think.

[Mr. Foxen]

I don't so much intentionally collect them as opportunistically buy them and not be able to use that many amps. I sold off most of my cabs for space, so I can't just run them all at once, although I will eventually. I lend them out for recording too.

[sedan_dad]

Attachment 183859
I do and I'm partial to Ampeg.
Attachment 183861

[Jim Carr]

Originally Posted by ejaggers

Wow Jim Carr, how many of those do you still have?...

I saved only the good ones: Mesa Bogie M9 Carbine, 4 ohm Epifani 410 UL1 cab, and two Epifani 210 cabs—oh and I have a Crest CA6 and a GB Shuttle 6.0.

All of them sound better and are more reliable than the old trash, IMHO. It seems that the young ones don't realize there was a time when you simply could not be heard as a bassist.

Oh well. Snap up those dusty fart machines, the widows and orphans will thank you. Just keep telling yourself "I'll use it in the studio some day."

BTW, I have recorded in pro studios dozens of times. Number of times I used an amp: ZERO.

[KramerBassFan]

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

I saved only the good ones: Mesa Bogie M9 Carbine, 4 ohm Epifani 410 UL1 cab, and two Epifani 210 cabs—oh and I have a Crest CA6 and a GB Shuttle 6.0.

All of them sound better and are more reliable than the old trash, IMHO. It seems that the young ones don't realize there was a time when you simply could not be heard as a bassist.

Oh well. Snap up those dusty fart machines, the widows and orphans will thank you. Just keep telling yourself "I'll use it in the studio some day."

BTW, I have recorded in pro studios dozens of times. Number of times I used an amp: ZERO.

I've bought 95% of my gear because it was cheap, and very kitsch-esque in its usage.

I Really only ever go direct when i gig, or put a 100w tube head on my 2x15. Otherwise.. the little tranny stuff stays at home.

[GlennW]

Take a peek into Vintage Sound of the Future.

[Sartori]

Is that your actual rig? If so, it's perhaps the strangest one I've ever seen.