Who pays £700 for a 15w solid state combo?

Keiko

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135025073441

Has the vintage gear market really gotten this silly. I know it's in nice condition for something from 1971, but you could get a decent valve amp for that kind of money, maybe even a 50w Laney supergroup head if you keep a close eye on Ebay.

Keiko

Oh, and then there's this, came up in my ebay suggestions:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155780224877

wtf?

impmann

I don't know the amp in question - but why is it silly if it sounds amazing? 

Just because something does not contain valves doesn't mean its a cheap/crap unit.

Likewise, just because something has valves doesn't mean it sounds good.

Therefore is it just the solid state thing that makes it silly? If so... erm, why?

Keiko

Well, because only a few years ago they were selling for nowhere near those asking prices, more like £50. Now suddenly people are asking over a grand for them.

Voxman

If folk are prepared to pay silly money for something just because its from the 70's then more fool them. These amps were 'OK' but nothing special, and were typical tranny amps of the day - I think the LC16 was the first combo Laney did. You can pick up a Marshall Valvestate for £100-250 that will sound way better, although I just saw a 'special edition' VS102R in orange Tolex where the guy's asking £595!! (good luck with that one mate!) 

monquixote

It's probably because it's been used on some album or other. 

Tiny Peavey were going for silly money a few months ago because apparently Josh Homme uses them in the studio. The same for the Fender Practice amp that Jonny Greenwood uses. 

lovestrat74

The user name is "ipaidhowmuch!" so I guess he is just trying to get his money back.

57Deluxe

even dearer here:

https://soundgas.com/product/laney-sound-lc16-pre-rola-celestion/

ICBM

How much would the 'Deacy' amp that Brian May used on every Queen album be worth? That's solid state and about 3W at best.

PFAllen2

Until it sells, the answer is nobody?

TheMarlin

Asking prices and selling prices are very different things

snowblind

My old 1970s Carlsbro Scorpion could sound pretty good (2x12 Celestion G12Hs) but I can't see paying anything like that kind of money for one. 

Voxsupertwin

I’ve got a fuse from my 1964 Gibson Mercury Head…..anyone want it for £300 with free delivery

BigPaulie

Keiko said:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135025073441

Who pays £700 for a 15w solid state combo?

So far.... No-one 

Nerine

This is not too dissimilar to people that chance their arms whilst selling coins on eBay etc.

Earlier today, I decided to google a coin that I have in my possession. I saw an example on eBay for nearly £10,000. 

I then scrolled through a few more search results, found what looked to be a reputable coin valuation site and they said it would be worth somewhere in the region of £3.53. 

Point being, and as has been said, the price that a seller lists something for is often absolute fucking nonsense. 

They hope they can use their ad copy to convince somebody to part with inordinate sums of money. 

It’s chancing your arm at its finest and fortunately we’re not that stupid, right? 

Right?!?! 

paulmapp8306

Keiko said:

but you could get a decent valve amp for that kind of money,

I dont understand this aspect.  Vale amps are not inherently better, sound better, or worth more.  In many cases SS may be preferable.  

Gassage

Exhibit A

Fender Tonemasters

snowblind

@Nerine These things you see on Ebay/Amazon etc for ridiculous prices are often a money laundering trick. Nobody actually thinks the item is worth this. The seller has a target buyer who wants to funnel cash to the seller through an otherwise legitimate route. The seller puts up the item for a price that no one without understanding will pay. Buyer gets to transfer money to seller although no goods are ever really exchanged or if they are it is something small and worthless like a 50p piece.
There is a papertrail showing everything is above board. It can also be a way to cover up stolen goods. Crook A steals something. He then has Crook B put up an auction for a similar item at a stupid price. Crook B accepts a much lower offer so the "sale" goes through. Crook B gets his fence money. Crook A now has provenance for nicked gear.

The websites get their fees regardless so what do they care?

impmann

Gassage said:

Exhibit A

Fender Tonemasters

Or going the other way Peavey Valveking...

hollywoodrox

Gassage said:

Exhibit A

Fender Tonemasters

I was just going to say this , & a bit more than £700 new .  They are rather nice though 
almost like a beginners boutique amp 

ICBM

The problem is that historically, solid-state has been associated with cheap amps - at least after the initial phase of development where reliability was very questionable as well - and so the perception is that it’s an inferior technology. In fact, it’s not - but it’s very difficult to change that when most solid-state amps *are* more cheaply made than valve ones and don’t sound as good, exactly because it’s hard to persuade buyers to part with more money for one, because they are perceived as cheap… it’s a self-reinforcing prophesy.

One of the big problems is that they’re usually fitted with cheaper and inferior speakers, because the speaker is the single most expensive component. Fit a good speaker to any of the better-designed solid-state amps and you may be very surprised at the results.