5B6 What's it worth?

[brewdude]

People seem willing to pay twice as much for half the product if it has a recognizable brand. Furthermore, I find that no body seems interested at all in an amp that isn't recaognizable as a clone of something already iconic.

[RWood]

I've sold 2 5B6s for $650 and $700 respectively. The guy who paid $700 hemmed and hawed at first trying to get me down a bit. I finally told him to listen to the tone carefully and shop elsewhere. Two weeks later he showed up with cash in hand, and didn't bother to dicker.

Selling such a classic amp to an up and coming guitarist for $600 is doing them a great service considering what else they could buy for that these days.

My best selling point is that their grandchildren will not outlive a hand wired amp. If a component breaks down, just heat it out and solder in a new one. No traces to burn or lift.

[rp]

People seem willing to pay twice as much for half the product if it has a recognizable brand. Furthermore, I find that no body seems interested at all in an amp that isn't recaognizable as a clone of something already iconic.

Musicians don't have a lot of money, terrible market to try and sell premium stuff to unless you are in NYC or LA and even there it's very rough. I certainly appreciate artiginal work but I never bought or would buy an obscure guitar or amp simply because if a filling fell out or transmission went or the economy imploded (as it's now on the 10 year kleptocracy cycle) I could sell a Gibson, Fender, Martin, Marshall etc. even if for less than I wanted but at least I could move it pretty quickly. That's usually my thought when buying something new or vintage, how fast can I liquidate this?

[Phil_S]

I saw my friend on Saturday and he was guessing -- no surprise here -- the prospective buyer can't afford it. I let him know if his daugheter is going to tour and wants to borrow it again, she should call me. I'm not using it. If it gets banged up or stolen, I'm willing to let go. This isn't a business for me. As noted earlier, I built it for fun and never thought about selling it. We'll see what happens.

Thanks everyone for comments. Much appreciated.

[Colossal]

Musicians Call their bluff on price and they'll fold like cheap lawn furniture. Works every time.

[Bob S]

Maybe we can start a sticky with photos of guitar players who can afford a decent amp. We could have them stuffed & mounted for the photo-shoot.
They are rare animals.

[M Fowler]

Oh they act like they're broke but then you see they have a $2500 Bad Cat combo all lite up, top notch $2000 guitars and pedal board from hell. They have 20 more pedals for sale on Craig's list and on the local musician facebook page, etc.

I used to fall for that, oh I have no money crap, but that all changed after hanging out at my friend's guitar store where I was educated on what musicians are really like.

Sale this week was a Hot Rod Tweed combo $1100. the buyer said shit I've seen kits cost more then that, your giving this away. Tone was the deciding factor he said, not cost.

End of my rant.

Mark

[xtian]

Fortunately there are outliers on the GOOD side. Cool guy in SoCal has bought two of my amps without dickering. Then bought hoodies and t-shirts, then asked for stickers to take to NAMM.

[RWood]

Sale this week was a Hot Rod Tweed combo $1100. the buyer said shit I've seen kits cost more then that, your giving this away. Tone was the deciding factor he said, not cost.

Mark

And those kits don't even have that super custom deeeeeluxe pcb with modern easy-lift traces!
Every Hotrod Deluxe that crossed my bench this year has had bad IC filter caps.
Fender must have gotten a buttload of bad ones!

[M Fowler]

I said Hot Rod Tweed not HRD.

My Hot Rod Tweed is more then that.