Deal of the Century

[Lee Dassow]

Whew, I got to remember not to post anything late at night after a few drinks. I thought I edited the post
for corrections and spelling, but I must have forgot to submit it last night. T.L.

[Paul Sutherland]

So, I played the Twin at 4 gigs over a 3 day run. It really sounds different than the Peaveys that I've been using for decades. The Twin is really smooth and even sounding. Kind-of like a generous serving of fine chocolate syrup. I have to say I prefer the Twin over the Peaveys. It is 10 pounds heavier than my Session 400, and it sure puts out a lot of heat, but I expect it to be my gigging amp for sometime to come.

The deal is not quite as good as I initially thought as I dropped another $300 into the amp for a handle, new pre-amp tubes, and a restoration to stock circuitry plus a cap job from a local tech. But for a total investment of $600 I have a darn good steel amp. Wish I had bought one years ago.

[Josh Yenne]

nice! yea I'd take that master volume out but leave the rest.. having the verb in both channels is nice.

[James Morehead]

The tube chart is gone from the cabinet. I can see where it was.

Here's one that covers a Twin Reverb, Dual Showman, Super Six, Quad Reverb, and Vibrosonic. I believe it covers the Bassman 100 as well.

[Steve Spitz]

Paul,
Not surprised you had to spend some dough to get it sorted out, that's likely a given on an amp that's 40+ years old. I factor that in on top of the purchase price, which may be why I only have one vintage amp , for steel.
You likely can gig the heck out of it without much additional expense, save for occasional normal power tube replacement. Gig it for the next ten or twenty years. The $600. will still be a bargain. It's less than a new disposable PCB amp, and a better amp.

[David Celmer]

One of the great deals of this century was found at a local garage sale: a Multi-Kord 6-string pedal steel, and a '57 Fender Harvard amplifier. $50 for both.

[John Scanlon]

Nice find! I'm with Lane a little, though - your story makes it seem like it could likely be stolen.

[Paul Arntson]

Sometimes there are deals to be found.
About 10 years ago on a bicycle trip through Priest River Idaho, I found a 60's twin in horrible shape for $150. Couldn't carry it on the trip unfortunately.
I still think about it.

[Steve Spitz]

I think you met someone who wanted the cash offer for a big , heavy, old , amp.

Just because it's a smoking deal, doesn't mean it has to be hot. The concept of "worth" is relative, as in its only "worth" what the seller could find someone to pay in a timeframe that he found attractive,

You don't have to pay what it's worth, you have to pay what you can negotiate. You've done well . Sure, the seller could decline, and you could offer more, but he accepted your offer, and you got a great deal.

It all sounds very legit from here.

[Jack Hanson]

Just because it's a smoking deal, doesn't mean it has to be hot.

Agreed. I once purchased a nearly new Polytone Mini Brute II in a road case for $100.00 at a Republic Airlines employee sale. It had belonged to Joe Pass.

(I was sworn to secrecy by the Republic guy at the time of the transaction, but I gotta figure the statute of limitations has run its course, if for no other reason than both entities are deceased.)

Republic misplaced the amp, and Joe filed a claim. The airline found it a day or two later, but Joe told 'em just to keep it and give him the money, 'cause he could get a new one for free straight from Polytone.

It's a lovely sounding, very portable steel amp for small to medium sized gigs. I've played it for years with nary a problem (knock on wood).

[Jim Rossen]

A Vibrosonic Reverb was posted on Craigslist for $285 with location about 70 mi from me. Made arrangements to get it that evening. Called buyer about 15 min before ETA and was told-
"I have bad news for you. I was playing the amp with my grand daughters guitar and it just stopped working. I'll sell it for $50 or give you gas money"
It was moderately moldy, intact, original Fender Special Design speaker and no smell of a blown transformer. It had been well serviced and changed to BF Twin Reverb specs about 10 years earlier.
Got it home and it worked. Changed the power tube 470 ohm resistors, washed off the mold, fixed the loose upper cab joint, set up a cathode lift switch to select two or four power tubes. It sounds fine.