Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

[Brow]

Hey guys.

A local shop of mine has a Early 70s (73' or 74 he thinks) Carlsbro (a UK company for those who don't know) '50 Top' amplifier head (handwired clone of a Plexi from what I can tell) for sale at £350. The amp has recently been fully serviced and re-valved.

The amp is a single channel amp with 2 EL3s, 2 inputs (bright and normal I think), Bass, Middle, Treble and Volume controls.

I tried the amp with my BKP Mule loaded Gibson Les Paul and the amp sounded warm, Fat and seems that it would suit my Classic Rock come Indie Rock sound well

There's a Re-issue of this amp (also handwired) currently on Ebay with a starting price of £200.

I know I'm interested in 1 of these amps, but I'm having trouble deciding which would be a 'better' purchase. At £350 the vintage amp is a little overpriced for what they currently sell for, while the re-issued amps were original sold for over £600, so neither would be a bad buy.

In my position, which would you do and why?

 

[Foeburner]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Go for the one closer

 

[claytonc]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

The vintage amp will appreciate in value while the reissue will depreciate.

This is a "no brainer"

Get the vintage amp!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

It kind of depends on what you're using it for. If you're going to be slugging it out in clubs, I wouldn't want to be taking a pricey, collectable antique regardless of how much I bought it for.

I guess I shouldn't talk, I still gig with 30 year old amps and 40 year old guitars...

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

It kind of depends on what you're using it for. If you're going to be slugging it out in clubs, I wouldn't want to be taking a pricey, collectable antique regardless of how much I bought it for.

I guess I shouldn't talk, I still gig with 30 year old amps and 40 year old guitars...

A very valid point.

I always gig with the mindset that it's gear that I'm not afraid to lose.

 

[baritone]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

My personal preference is to go for reissues, since I am not purchasing it as a collector. In addition, I am not totally sure of how to care for a vintage amp. But if you believe that you would be able to hear the difference between a classic and the reissued version, and you would be comfortable maintaining it, go for the old one. You can't exactly assume that the value will increase, but the novelty will always be there.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Viewing before buying is worth quite a few points. The Ebay amp is a bit of an unknown, and you mentioned its starting price. We have no idea what it may end at.

I'd go for the one that I can test and put a real hand on. But, I would give it a good looking over first. Something you won't be able to do with the Ebay head.

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

I'd be inclined to go for the old one too.

Partly because I like old pieces of gear that have a history (and a smell usually :9 attached, but also because, as wixedmords says, you get to view it and play it first.

I don't worry about the gigging issue, but it depends on your own situation. If you're currently gigging with an amp that cost the same or more then it shouldn't be an issue. Our gear is watched and looked after when we're gigging - I worry more about break-ins at home!

Is there any chance of haggling the price down on the vintage one? Maybe use the ebay auction as leverage if it doesn't go too high.

"BKP Mule loaded Gibson Les Paul" eh? :naughty:

 

[Brow]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Hey guys.

Thanks for your opinions

I'm not looking to buy it as a collector, all the gear I own gets used and gigged regularly, so I'm not in it 'for the profit' so to speak.

From what I can gather these amps are fairly 'unknown', so no-ones ever really going to be breaking the door down to own 1, so I can't see the vintage 1 going up in value, but I have tried the vintage 1 and do love it's tone.

I think I'll take the advice and use the Ebay auction as leverage and try to get the price down a bit

"BKP Mule loaded Gibson Les Paul" eh? :naughty:

Yup, so you so rightly knew before you ordered yours!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

From what I can gather these amps are fairly 'unknown', so no-ones ever really going to be breaking the door down to own 1, so I can't see the vintage 1 going up in value, but I have tried the vintage 1 and do love it's tone.

Yeah, I thought the same thing about Les Paul Deluxes, Les Paul Juniors and Melody Makers and Gibson amps and Big Muffs and Jazzmasters and Jaguars and refinished guitars and all the stupid stuff that no one else really wanted, but suddenly became "collectable" and pricey after I sold them or tweaked them.

 

[DesertRose]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Initially i bought a JCM401. Later on I gotta JCM800, I sold away the JCM401 and gotten another JCM900. I still think the earlier versions are better

 

[Brow]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Hey guys.

I'm gonna have a drive over to the shop on Saturday and see if I can strike a deal with him on the vintage amp. If not, the auction for the re-issue ends on Sunday, so I'll try for that instead

 

[Brow]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

I also posted this on another forum and several people recommended I look into a Selmer Treble and Bass, as apparently they can be had for bargain prices and are voiced somewhere between a Vox and a JTM45, which would suit me down to the ground

Has anyone here got any experience with them at all?

 

[Bludave]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

The vintage amp will appreciate in value while the reissue will depreciate.

This is a "no brainer"

Get the vintage amp!

+1 Besides, if you put them bot side by side they simply can't replicate the age that the vintage amp has. There is something that age does to gear that cannot be duplicated!

 

[claytonc]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Hey guys.

Thanks for your opinions

I'm not looking to buy it as a collector, all the gear I own gets used and gigged regularly, so I'm not in it 'for the profit' so to speak.

From what I can gather these amps are fairly 'unknown', so no-ones ever really going to be breaking the door down to own 1, so I can't see the vintage 1 going up in value, but I have tried the vintage 1 and do love it's tone.

I think I'll take the advice and use the Ebay auction as leverage and try to get the price down a bit






Yup, so you so rightly knew before you ordered yours!

Whether you intend to buy it as in investment or not it will appreciate in value. Old British amps have bottomed out and are rapidly becoming "Hot" items. I have been watching British tube amps increase in value for the last several years. Not just marshalls.

The odd unknown amps are the ones that will appreciate the most!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Based on my experience of comparing old handwired amps to their modern day equivalents, which always have PC boards and board mounted jacks/pots, I'd always opt for the vintage piece. As long as it runs quietly, the caps are probably fine. And with every used amp I buy, I just retube/bias it with JJ power tubes, and it's good as new.....sometimes better.

I've always gigged with expensive amps, because my tone is worth it to me.
I just make sure it's got a cover on it, and I never leave my gear unattended at a venue......ever. If I'm not watching it, a roadie is. And that roadie knows that I'll slit his throat if my stuff gets taken while he's supposed to be watching it.

 

[Brow]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Hey guys.

Thanks for the new posts.

I'm off to the shop in a few minutes to barter for the Vintage amp, as it did sound great to me and I think I can probably get the price down a fair bit

 

[Brow]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

Well, I got the vintage amp

I traded in my Marshall JTM60 1x12 combo that I didn't use and a little cash and now I have the amp

I'm using it at a gig tonight, so I'll post back tomorrow with my findings

 

[Zhurh]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

I buy for how she sounds, not how she appreciates in value.

That being said, My Bruno cowtipper, sounds much better a 67 vibrolux reverb I once owned and lightyears better than any fender reissue.

 

[Brow]

Re: Re-issue Vs Vintage amps?

I buy for how she sounds, not how she appreciates in value.

Yup, me too

I used it at a gig last night and I loved it's tone. It was very clean and clear with a bell like tone on single notes. I used it with an Award Session 1x12 cab with a Celestion Classic Lead 80 speaker.