1980's fender concert amp?

[Low_fidelity2100]

I've had this concert amp for awhile now, and didn't really know much about it. All I knew is I got it from a guitar shoppe in rockford, Il, And I only paid $7 for it (Plus a trade of a randal 412 cab, So the total cost was really more like 350 dollars). And I love the amp, its my favorite amp I've ever owned, but I never knew much about it. So I decided to check it out, and apperently it was designed by Paul Rivera, and its from the early 80's.
So I decided to see what people were asking for them on the Vintage guitar magizines classifieds. And Amazingly people are asking between $875-$1495. And actully, I'm totally blown away. Like Did I get a really good deal on this amp? Just paying About $350 and all. Or Are these people on VG just trying to rip people off? Does any one know what an 80's concert is actully worth? And does anyone have any info on these amps?

Pretty much all I know so far is...
Its 60watts (at least thats what it says on the back)
Its Got One 12" fender speaker (and according to the back of the amp its 8ohm)
Two foot switchable channels
spring reverb
and it weighs a **** load!

anyone know anything else about it?

-edward

 

[ES350]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

This is one of the 'neo-BF' amps Fender was putting out in the 80's, some of which were intended to compete with Mesa, I guess. The Rivera stuff is sorta/kinda production versions and variants on the Rivera-modded Deluxe Reverbs that were pretty popular with the LA studio guys in the 70'-80's. More midrange flexibility, effects loop, master volume, some with channel switching...
Other early 80's Fenders in a similar vein include the 75 (ultralinear OT); kind of a pig, with not very good cleans or overdrive. The 30 is a pretty good sounding basic amp for the money (300-400) with a few tweaks. Although they are tagboard construction like the earlier BF amps, the lead dress is a nightmare and there are suppressor caps all over the place. Pretty good bang for the buck though, overall---especially if you yank most of that crap out.

Are people in VG trying to rip people off? Well, I 've never paid more than 300 bucks for one of those amps and the cheapest one was 75 bucks.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Are people in VG trying to rip people off? Well, I 've never paid more than 300 bucks for one of those amps and the cheapest one was 75 bucks.

If you can wait long enough it's a buyers market for them.

That era....as some nitpicker will undoubtedly chime in and let us know...had Paul Rivera in it, but most of the designs were Ed Jahns.

Still, doesn't make it not a good amp. The sequel amps (Princeton Reverb II, Deluxe Reverb II) fetch a decent price but the weird thing is I don't see them being played all that often.

I have a Princeton Reverb II myself; got it for a price that would be considered a steal, but I've never really been able to get it to sound decent in the second channel. First is good when pushed with a few pedals though.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Yeah I've actully been looking around since I posted this, and according to everything I've found This particular amp was suppoused to have been designed by rivera. I really have no idea who he is, Other than what little I've heard of rivera amps (which is all good).
And I think my amp is actully the concert II. On ampwares thats what its called, they've got a bunch of info on it, so that was pretty kool ta find. And tons of info on lots of other fender amps. I dunno if it being a concert II makes any difference?
I just found it hard to believe that on VG's online classifieds people were asking like 857 and Up for the amp. Like I mean I love the amp, and Its one of the best sounding amps I've ever owned (better than an old ac-30 I used to have). But I'de always heard that 80's fender amps sucked, and I really wouldn't think someone would actully be willing to Pay that much for one. I mean, I probably wouldn't.
Does anyone know what the blue book value of these are? I'm really curious as to weather they BB value is anywhere near what those people on VG are asking. I'm guessing its no where near that high. Seems like lots of people on VG online classifieds try to rip people off.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Does anyone know what the blue book value of these are? I'm really curious as to weather they BB value is anywhere near what those people on VG are asking. I'm guessing its no where near that high. Seems like lots of people on VG online classifieds try to rip people off.

Any item is worth no more than what people will pay for it.

Check completed auctions on eBay; that gives you a realistic idea of what the market looks like for them.

VG can be a bit inflated....dealers decide that something is suddenly worth more and then idiots start paying that believing it's some sort of trend that they're getting on the ground floor with.

 

[Bludave]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Yeah I agree I have found that those Amps are kind of like the original Boogies.... it is difficult (at least for me) to get a good usable sound out of both sides!! I knoe a few guys that have them and they really like them, so I could see them getting a good price....... They are very well made.

 

[ES350]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

That's what I found with most of the larger ones---Boogie wannabe's and coming up short on everything. That Fender 30 is a good little amp tho---ignore the channel switching and the pullboosts, yank the supressor caps, neaten up the lead dress, put in some good tubes and a decent speaker and it's the biggest Deluxe Reverb 1x12" size amp you ever heard. Running mine with KT66's and a big bottle 5U4...loud and fat.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Any item is worth no more than what people will pay for it.

Check completed auctions on eBay; that gives you a realistic idea of what the market looks like for them.

VG can be a bit inflated....dealers decide that something is suddenly worth more and then idiots start paying that believing it's some sort of trend that they're getting on the ground floor with.

how do I check the completed auctions thing on ebay? do I have to register to do that? cause I have no Credit card, so I can't register.

 

[RiffRaff]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Checked on completed listings for you - found two

the first was a 2x10 model - sold for $590 (very clean)
the second was a 4x10 model - sold for $490 (no footswitch)

I had a Concert II single twelve for awhile (had the big EV speaker) - bought it for $175 and sold it for $350 a couple of years back - I've seen a few sell for around $500 but they were really clean.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: 1980's fender concert amp?

Checked on completed listings for you - found two

the first was a 2x10 model - sold for $590 (very clean)
the second was a 4x10 model - sold for $490 (no footswitch)

I had a Concert II single twelve for awhile (had the big EV speaker) - bought it for $175 and sold it for $350 a couple of years back - I've seen a few sell for around $500 but they were really clean.

kool, thanks man.