What to do with all these amps?

[Smokebreak]

I'm curious what you guys do with all the amps you build. I mean, I know some of you have established businesses with varying degrees of production, but as a hobbyist, only after a year, these things are really piling up! As we all know this can be an expensive hobby, and while I have no want to get into the amp "game", I'm starting to think that I'm going to have to start selling some of these, if for nothing else, to fund future projects. However, I can't see "homebuilt JTM" generating much interest on my local Craigslist. I could be wrong. Ive been toying with building a website just for assumed legitimacy(as false as it may be), but not sure if thats the route to go either....Id appreciate any feedback or advice you have.

Thanks,
Jeremy

[sepulchre]

Yeah, that's what my wife keeps asking, along with "why do you need another one? " But as long as they don't get in the way she's not too upset. After all, she's the one who insisted on a 'kitchen amp'.

[JazzGuitarGimp]

Kitchen amp...... makes the kitchen appear larger?

[Reeltarded]

Do with what?


(See how easy that is?)

[Ken Moon]

I'm up to 8 working amps and the wife is complaining, so today I've got someone coming over to buy a KT77 amp, and I'm going to give him a BOGO deal and get rid of a little 2W amp that I never use.

I do have a couple of combo amps hidden behind some clothes in my closet - I think that's a sure sign of addiction - like keeping whiskey in the underwear drawer

[Phil_S]

I'm curious ... hobbyist...I can't see "homebuilt JTM" generating much interest on my local Craigslist...

IMO, this issue is a bit more complicated than what initially meets the eye (or the mind.) Over the past decade, I've built more than a dozen amps and there are only a few that I deem keepers. Yet, I have difficulty with the simple thought of thinning the herd.

The first concern on my list is legal. You sell the amp to some numb-nuts who manages to electrocute himself. Then, his widow's lawyer decides you are going to give her everything of monetary value that you have ever owned or will own. Even if you were to prevail in court, you'd be sapped of significant financial resources. This scares me more and more as I approach the age of retirement.

As a compromise, you might get by with selling an amp on eBait and advertising it "for parts" and maybe you can bypass the product liability aspect of it. I don't really know. I'm not a lawyer.

One thing you can do is to expand your hobby. Learn how to make nice looking cabs for your amps. Then you can show them off as if they are furniture. Besides that, it's a great excuse to acquire a pile of tools and equipment you don't really need but that are nice to have.

If you do sell or give away an amp, I suggest you should be very careful about choosing the recipient.

All that having been said, quite a number of years ago, I auctioned a botched attempt at an AC15 on eBait. I was shocked at the number of bidders and the action. I think I got about $100 for it, which about covered my investment in parts -- it had recycled iron. If you build a nice one, you can probably get a good price for it. There is every reason to be completely truthful about the amp's origin. State that you are an amateur or hobby builder. Put into the ad several disclaimers and attempt to put the burden of safety on the buyer.

Personally, I'm going the furniture route.

Good luck.

[stelligan]

I ended up selling some for the price of parts. I do enjoy building and solving the odd voicing problems that show up along the way. You may approach your musician friends and offer to build them the amp of their dreams - rather than repeatedly building the amps of your own. You end up with an amp pile nightmare.....

[NickC]

........... - I think that's a sure sign of addiction - like keeping whiskey in the underwear drawer

That's a touchy subject I can relate to. On the one hand, if you throw out the underwear you have more room for whiskey. That's good. On the other hand, if you throw out the underwear for more whiskey ..... it isn't concealed anymore (the whiskey I mean). That can be bad; it makes denial much harder to sell.

[Reeltarded]

I ended up with no underwear but lots of whiskey on that last day of drinking. The day I stopped wearing pants.

Phil has me too scared to even plug an amp in. Scaranoid.

[cbass]

Damn without undies you could end up with a bad case of whiskey britches

[Structo]

Maybe worthwhile to be a paying member at TGP, to sell the amps in the Emporium.

[Colossal]

Attention all wives: GET OVER IT

[cbass]

Ask how many damn pairs of shoes do you need?I need at least that many amps

[johnnyreece]

Attention all wives: GET OVER IT

I could try that, but her reply would be something like:

"Attention Johnny: ENJOY PAYING CHILD SUPPORT"

Seriously, I know I've heard the joke before, but when asked how many amps I need, the answer is always, "Just one more."

[M Fowler]

Getting to understand the mentality of the local musicians has been quite the trip.

1. They would rather give their money to online retailers then local.

2. They buy well known brand name amps and follow online reviews and their friends opinions over yours.

3. They sell their equipment within 1 year on Craig's list to fund another online buy because now the online opinion is you have to have XYZ amp to get the tone man!

4. Only a hand full of local guys appreciate what you have created for the low price your asking in return, wish I knew more of those guys.

Mark