Please ..Help me decide if this amp is ok to buy....thanks

[skypilot]

1975 Fender Deluxe Reverb. The last of the good ones with NO pull boost. Put to blackface specs, all electrolytics changed (by me) with TAD brand caps this year, and any funny business restored. It works perfectly, is very low in noise, and sounds exactly as it should - killer. Caps in the doghouse are 500V which you really need in there although many put in lower-rated caps. A few pots have been changed with CTS brand, and the Reverb transformer is replaced which really does not affect the tone. Power and output transformers are original. 1-ohm bias resistors installed. 3-prong cord. Vintage grey glass GE 6V6, RCA 5U4GB, preamp tubes are a mix of Fender-branded GE, Amperex, Sylvania, and RCA. All excellent, vintage glass. The Fender speaker that came in these amps did not sound great so I replaced this one with a Weber 8ohm 25w 12F150 that was broken in by Weber. No footswitch but I did try it with one once and it worked perfectly.

[selloutrr]

what's the question?

You know the amp, it sounds like you like it, so I guess it all comes down to the price.

It's been modified so the price should reflect that. putting it in the average to very good price range depending on cosmetics. for better or worse not having the actual speaker takes away a large part of the value.

Fender 1974-75 Silverface Deluxe Reverbs are selling on craigslist depending on location in original condition for $750-1200.

this is the add you are refering to?
http://newjersey.craigslist.org/msg/1921322244.html

My only concern is for a $1000 it should be original or at least include the original speakers. if you buy it to play for the next 20 years and you love the tone then it's worth whatever you want to play but if you find you need to sell it you will probably get closer to $650-max $800. If it's not you that worked on the amp.. who is "ME"? if they are of tech fame it could be a different story.

[Structo]

He copied the ad copy almost exact.
Not sure what he is asking here?

[skypilot]

yes thats the ad Im referring to....the "me" is the guy selling it

no I dont think he is of tech fame...I dont really know though...

$1000.......my question ...technically are the mods he did resonable to that amp ...or if someone who really is of tech fame would just shake their head and say wtf did they do here????????

I could make him another offer but dont want to insult him either

thanks

[Alexo]

The 12F150 is an amazing speaker, I just auditioned one not 10 minutes ago, imo, it may be the perfect speaker for the BF era sound. The mods are very reasonable, and if they were done well, I'd say that that may be an excellent amp.

...definitely a "player's amp" though.

[Gibsonman63]

If it sounds great and is in decent cosmetic shape, then it would be a fair and reasonable price. The back panels need to be there, the logo needs to be on the amp and the cabinet hardware needs to be in decent condition. Also check the bottom of the amp to make sure the tolex isn't all ripped up.

For that price, the sound really needs to be there and you should be able to play it without retubing or putting more money into it. Otherwise you are still buying a project even though the guy has put time and money into it already.

This is not a screaming deal and if you decide you want out of it, it may take you a while to find the right buyer to get your money back out of it, just be patient and hold your price.

Also, a blackface conversion means different things to different people.

Other things that could effect the price:
NOS tubes
Original footswitch
Original vinyl cover
anvil type case.

[PCollen]

1975 Fender Deluxe Reverb. The last of the good ones with NO pull boost. Put to blackface specs, all electrolytics changed (by me) with TAD brand caps this year, and any funny business restored. It works perfectly, is very low in noise, and sounds exactly as it should - killer. Caps in the doghouse are 500V which you really need in there although many put in lower-rated caps. A few pots have been changed with CTS brand, and the Reverb transformer is replaced which really does not affect the tone. Power and output transformers are original. 1-ohm bias resistors installed. 3-prong cord. Vintage grey glass GE 6V6, RCA 5U4GB, preamp tubes are a mix of Fender-branded GE, Amperex, Sylvania, and RCA. All excellent, vintage glass. The Fender speaker that came in these amps did not sound great so I replaced this one with a Weber 8ohm 25w 12F150 that was broken in by Weber. No footswitch but I did try it with one once and it worked perfectly.

Sounds to me like a great amp...for $600-650.

[selloutrr]

If the amp was original 100% in excellent condition it would be worth $1200. The blackface 1964/5 version is worth $2500 mint.

you can pretty much start knocking $50 for everything item that was changed.

the street price on a good day is probably $800
a music store like guitar center would offer $450-500 maybe $600 as instore credit. and sell it for $1200-1500.

Offer him $850 if he has the original speaker.
$750 if it's as is.
If you really want a deal $600 is honestly a very real value of the amp in it's current condition. All to often people think the mod's add value to the amp. The collecting value is what the amps value is based on and collectors want purity. The exception to this is when an amp has been used by a famous player or has documented history from a session or tech (more times then not dead).
The money spent on a mod should be considered a loss and the pay back should be on a personal level between the player and there tone.

the original speaker in working condition can run you as much as $200+.
the original Reverb Transformer does infact influence the tone of the reverb to some degree. the original will cost $75-$250 plus time to locate.

as a collector this amp has ZERO "0" value to me. My investment in the amp when I add up the cost of the amplifier, the time and cost of parts to restore it back to stock. I would save close to $500 buying a different amp of the same make, model, and year that is currently listed for sale on craigslist or ebay. That would make this a $500 amp before I broke even. I like to make a profit in my amp purchases, so I would offer no more then $400. I would have to assume the tubes do not need to be replaced taking a $100 risk for new stock - $250-300 for NOS.

a little advice that I give myself anytime I buy a used amp. What is it worth working? what will it cost to retube? I budget the cost of tube replacement, a bias, and a capacitor job into every purchase. It's great when I don't need to spend the money but that way it's not a surprise or hardship if I do.

[skypilot]

thanks very much for taking the time to think this over for me

must consider now

[drew]

You're going to get hosed if you go into this worrying that you're going to "insult" the seller by making a lower offer. It's a used, modified, un-rare, amplifier, not the guy's daughter or something. Either he wants to sell it or he doesn't, and the worst thing that can happen if he doesn't like your offer is that he tells you to buzz off. If you don't have the horse-trading gene, get a friend or relative who does to come along and be your "closer" if you decide you're interested in the amp.

[Structo]

+1
Some guys really get off on bartering the price.
I am not one of them.
Fortunately I have a friend that could dicker the chrome off of a bumper so I always used to bring him when I needed the big guns.

In the end it depends on how much you really want the amp.
If you think you can do better or it just doesn't give you goose bumps n the first chord, walk away and don't look back unless the dude is willing to come down.
Even then, if it doesn't light your fire, take a pass.

Just my 2 cents

[skypilot]

excellent advice sir....thank you for yr time

to be fair I havent tried it but wondered if it even made sense to begin with

thanks a lot