Anyone know other used amps for sale other than ebay?

Buzz · Guest

Anyone got any links...I am really looking for an early fender super reverb and a fender deluxe reverb....early silver or blackface models...thanks

TimC · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 10:23 am Post subject:

Buzz, there is a lot working against you. Most all the early black-faced Fenders have joined the Tweeds in private collections. Pawnshops, music stores and even repair shops act as filters to remove these old amps from circulation. If you find one for sale somewhere like Vintage Guitar Magazine, be ready to pay from $2000 on up for one in good condition.
In my travels, I bet I've been in about 1,000 music stores and pawn shops, and the only things vintage I've found for sale were either trashed out or broken. I've bought a few of the broken ones and fixed them back up, but when you start replacing transformers and the like, the're not "vintage" anymore, strictly "players".

TimC · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2003 5:20 pm Post subject:

Buzz, I remember reading a guitar magazine in about 1988. In the back was a picture gallery of readers guitars and amps. I guy in California was driving a back road in the central valley and spotted a yard sale. Some lady was selling off her late husband's belongings. There was a Fender "No Caster" and Tweed Pro for sale dirt cheap. They were in very good condition. I keep my eyes open but no luck so far.
A friend did come up for a visit a few years back and brought what he thought was an amp he'd bought for $5 at a yard sale. It was an old Webcorp amp from about 1950. It didn't work so I went inside. I found a bad solder connection from the factory and a couple weak tubes. I put in a Vintage 30 speaker and it turned out to be a fine sounding amp that starts to sing about half way up on the volume. There are a few amps like that out there, but it's more luck than anything if you find one.

Guest · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 8:30 am Post subject:

Before I bought my Maverick I went on a search to find a deluxe. I went from LA to San Diego over a 4-month period. I found 8 deluxe reverbs in various states of condition. Some of them had pretty high prices. Guitar Center Hollywood had four, two tweed (non reverb) and two black faces. One of the black faces was in excellent condition and was priced slightly less than 2 g's all the others were less but were in need of work one in San Diego was going for 12 but needed serious help. Later while on business I found a place in Ohio that had three vintage tweeds in the window a deluxe a pincton and a bassman all of which were not for sale at the time but I got the impression that they could be with some $$.

My point is that they are out there and you can find them if you look but you have to decide what it is worth to you.

During my search I found some modern amps that I thought worked better and could give me that jangle an the crunch I was lookin g for in the deluxe with some versatility.

Try a Dr. Z. Now that is an amp.

TimC · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 10:45 am Post subject:

Here's where you have to be carefull: I bought a pre-CBS Deluxe from a music store in Vegas. The power transformer was blown and the tube protector was missing, plus a few other rips and dings. I replaced the trans., fabbed a cover and fixed the rips and dings. I polished the chrome and Armor-Alled the covering and replaced the wore out speaker.
I paid $200 for the amp, $200 for a very good trans. $150 for a speaker and about $100 more for tubes and misc. parts I replaced. It looks great but is only worth $650 plus my time. If I sold it to Guitar Center, they would try and sell it for about $1500. A Fender Deluxe Reverb is probably worth $2000 if all original and working good, and in good condition cosmetically. There are very few old amps like this that have all the original parts, especially if they have been played regularly through the years. ( I don't mean original tubes, but they should have period correct brands to worth premium price to a collector. A set with the Fender Logo is the best.)
I've been in stores also with "display only" amps and guitars. I agree, you offer enough $ and suddenly they are for sale again.

Guest · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 12:05 pm Post subject:

True, I suspect that the some of the deluxes that I scoped out had some inerads rearanged over the years. But before I spend 2 g's on a vintage amp I would really consider a Dr. Z. After all the tone and the feel are the most important thing. The "vintage VIB" is cool but it don't make you sound any better.

TimC · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 12:33 pm Post subject:

I'm just getting back into amps after many years away. I'm hearing good things about Dr.Z amps. Time to start doing some research on these dudes.
I feel the same way exactly as to buying equiptment. I've always been from the Frank LLoyd Wright school. Form way follows function to my way of thinking. Soldanos and Trainwrecks look good and sound better, but as long as the same components are available to me, with a schematic I can build my own. Some of the high-end companys have their transformers custom made from what I hear. This makes it tough to duplicate their work.

TimC · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2003 12:44 pm Post subject:

I just returned from the Dr. Z website. These are good looking amps at very reasonable prices. I'm wondering if they are made there in Ohio?
I know Buzz was looking for used amps, but I think something like a MAZ-38 would be twice the amp as an old Fender. Probably in 20 years or so, the old Dr. Z's will be as sought after as the old Fenders are now.

Guest · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 7:36 am Post subject:

I agree. If you want to here a really good example of what Dr. Z's can do listen to some of the latest John Mayall stuff.
The album "Blues for the Lost Days" has Buddy Whittington using a Z and it sounds incredible.