Valuing Vintage Marshalls

[OlinMusic]

I decided to start shopping for a Silver Jubilee or early 80s JCM800 or another 70s

I noticed these things are WAYYYYYYYY OVERBOARD in price. I almost bought them for the "overvalued" amount of $900. I almost bought a Slash for $1025 a few months ago. GC just sold a Slash for $2500.

I see them going for high prices WITH MODS to the chasis and cabs.

Where I am going with this - Do you think Marshalls will CONTINUE to go up in VALUE? Which models and how much do you think they are worth?

60's Marshalls
70's Handwireds
70's Metalface PCB NMVs and MVs
80s JCM 800s 2203 - 2204
JCM800 channel switchers
Silver Jubilees 2553 / 2555
6100's

What do you think any are all of these should be valued at and WILL BE VALUED AT?

Do you consider them good investment pieces in terms of vintage collectibles?

 

[75lespaul]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

Like anything else man, an amp is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Nobody can tell you if they're going to go up in value for sure. As long as rock & roll is around I think they will, but these amps are turning more into collector's items now than "players", and as this generation passes and the next generations come I believe the value of these amps will level off or go down.

If you really want the amp, then spend the money. If you're worried about resale value, then it's probably not the "amp of your dreams". If it was you wouldn't hesitate to spend it if you've got it.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

GC Boston has a stack of 70's Marshalls all priced outrageously stacked in a corner.

Unlike the rest of theikr vintage amps that are nicely displayed....I think they get tossed to the side because they're just asking WAY too much for them.

Personally, I see the market dropping out on them as folks larn how to wire up thier own amps and small shops can make them, and do so better than the originals.

 

[B Bent]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

Seems to me that GC always has overpriced Marshalls. I know our Atl ones do!!

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

Unless you're buying as an investment, buy the amp that works for you. As kickass as a 100w plexi sounds, it's completely incompatible with any size venue I'd play. Putting an attenuator on it drops the volume down, but it changes the character of it. Growing up, the JMP MV amps were affordable and sounded great to me- they're the kickass amps for me. If you're buying as an investment- get a JTM or a plexi JMP. The closest thing to a "sleeper" you'll find is going to be a metal panel JMP. The price on the Slashes and the Jubilees is inflated for what they are. They're great amps, but IME and IMO they are what they are and not much else- a MV JMP or even a JCM 800 covers more territory for the money, IMO and IME.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

Personally, I see the market dropping out on them as folks larn how to wire up thier own amps and small shops can make them, and do so better than the originals.

+1 to that.

Why would a player spend $2,000 + for old used transformers and the cheapest components that money could buy in the 1960's thru 1970's when they can have a new one made up for roughly half the cost with all the best new components. This is what prompted me to purchase the Edana. I could spend twice the money for a JTM-45 reissue and end up with half the amp. I can spend four times the money I spent for the real deal and have a foul tempered beast who's caps are fizzy and transformer is about to blow.

One can still apparently find JCM-800's for sale on ebay for relatively decent prices on occasion. Just have to be patient. They aren't quite expensive enough for a shop to start cranking them out (Scott_F would have to charge more than the current going price for them to make and sell them for instance). There aren't any more originals out there and the number keeps shrinking as people have theirs modded etcetera. I don't know if they are a great long term investment as the moddelers could finally totally catch up to the feel and the immediacy of the sound along with the reaction to pedals etc. If that happens (don't see it happening soon) there will still be a market for the originals, but it will strictly be for collectors value.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

I like looking at completed items 'Marshall' on Ebay, just to see the market value.
It's funny when Marshall has something good, and then it's discontinued. Just like the guitar market, people clamor for the best of discontiued models.

The Jubilees were about the best sounding Marshalls, specifically made for highgain, so it's no surprise that they're skyrocketing in price. I think Marshall would be wise to create a new amp, which is similar to the 25th Ann. Jubilees, and the 30th Ann. 6100. They tried with the DSL's/TSL's, and ended up with decent amps, but not as sonically good as they could have been.

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

800's have been priced extremely high on Ebay recently, thanks to Zakk Wylde and other bands who use 800's. I bought my 2210 for $750 about a year ago, now you see them going for over $1k. I'm thinking about selling mine while prices are up.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

You know, I thought prices will drop EXC for one problem with that equation

Someone said here that guiatrists will decide. Well, with boutique makers making high priced amps tat are eseentially clones, I think it's only certain SELECT Marshall models will go up in value.

I have tried many a clone, and I own one high priced clone. With that in mind, NOTHING sounds like a Marshall. While brand name plays into it, there is truth to only a Marshall soudns like a Marshall. I know many a devotee who will ONLY play the real thing... or eventually add the real thing to their collection.

Vintage Marshalls, esp handwired, Jubilees, etc were made in limited quantity.

My only problem is some are not practical, or are limited in their sound. Sometimes, I feel when I am out of town, I can depend more on a Bogner or Blockhead than a Marshall - meanwhile the tone will be quite good.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

+1 to that.

Why would a player spend $2,000 + for old used transformers and the cheapest components that money could buy in the 1960's thru 1970's when they can have a new one made up for roughly half the cost with all the best new components. This is what prompted me to purchase the Edana. I could spend twice the money for a JTM-45 reissue and end up with half the amp. I can spend four times the money I spent for the real deal and have a foul tempered beast who's caps are fizzy and transformer is about to blow.

There will always be a market for vintage amps like that though....folks will HAVE to have the original unit...and that's fine. But what I was saying is that with escalating prices I think were seeing alot of the thunder being stolen by home kits and botique builders.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Valuing Vintage Marshalls

800s are selling for what? I paid $475 for my 84 2203 in 1995 and the 1960A ran me $350.

Looks like I bought the right amp for once.