Matchless GRP Preamp Value

[lfio710]

I dont know why I want to beat myself up over this.....

Years ago, I bought a Matchless rack preamp from Rudy's in NYC. I'm pretty sure the model was called the GRP. I had money down to reserve the matching power amp which was "on the way" and never came (Matchless stopped production shortly after I got the preamp). I stupidly decided to sell it to get a more club-friendly combo rig. But carrying around a 10 space rack and 2 Bogner 2-12" cabs was not easy!

I've never seen one for sale since - but I wonder what it'd be worth now. Any idea? Thanks!

[Jason_86_951]

I bought one used for $1175 3 or 4 years ago, but have seen them as high as $3k. The last couple on Ebay went for $1200-1500.

There is one on the bay right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MATCHLESS-GPR-GUITAR-TUBE-RACKMONT-GUITAR-PREAMP-RARE_W0QQitemZ230319458356QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item230319458356&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

[voodoosound]

That is false. I keep tabs on these units as they are extremely rare. The last one sold on ebay for $1650. It had a bentear and scartches on the faceplate and no footswitch. I know who bought it. The buyer sold it for $2100. The standard price for a clean one is anywhere between $2250-3100. The higher end means it is super clean and has it's footswitch most often.

These preamp sound amazing. Sum the channels and it steps all over my Bogner fish.

[Jason_86_951]

That is false. I keep tabs on these units as they are extremely rare. The last one sold on ebay for $1650. It had a bentear and scartches on the faceplate and no footswitch. I know who bought it. The buyer sold it for $2100. The standard price for a clean one is anywhere between $2250-3100. The higher end means it is super clean and has it's footswitch most often.

These preamp sound amazing. Sum the channels and it steps all over my Bogner fish.

While I may have missed a couple that have sold, I've kept my eye on them since owning one, false is not that term I'd use. Incomplete would be better.

The one I bought might have well have been NOS and I paid $1175 for it. The guy I traded it too sold it for $3k. Prices are what someone is willing to pay at the time.

The one with the dented rack ear sold once for $1200-1300 and another few times for quite a bit more.

It's all about about time, place and market conditions. Being as rare as they are sellers not knowing how rare they are sell them cheap, then buyers in the know sell them for top $$.

One thing we can agree on is that they are one of the best sounding preamps out there.

[voodoosound]

While I may have missed a couple that have sold, I've kept my eye on them since owning one, false is not that term I'd use. Incomplete would be better.

The one I bought might have well have been NOS and I paid $1175 for it. The guy I traded it too sold it for $3k. Prices are what someone is willing to pay at the time.

The one with the dented rack ear sold once for $1200-1300 and another few times for quite a bit more.

It's all about about time, place and market conditions. Being as rare as they are sellers not knowing how rare they are sell them cheap, then buyers in the know sell them for top $$.

One thing we can agree on is that they are one of the best sounding preamps out there.

Agreed. And excuse my abruptness with terms. But I see a lot of numbers that get thrown around these days about gear and most of it is wrong.

If someone knows what they have and now how to use the unit it holds it's value extremely well. What I have found is most that own these and sell them never knew about summing the channels. Which if they had the original footswitch with it would make it obvious.

I have 2 of these units and would not sell them for $3000.

[voodoosound]

By the way. That one on ebay is a steal at its listing price IMO.

[Jason_86_951]

Agreed. And excuse my abruptness with terms. But I see a lot of numbers that get thrown around these days about gear and most of it is wrong.

If someone knows what they have and now how to use the unit it holds it's value extremely well. What I have found is most that own these and sell them never knew about summing the channels. Which if they had the original footswitch with it would make it obvious.

I have 2 of these units and would not sell them for $3000.

No worries:D
Did you buy one of them from John? If so it might be my old one. Wish I still had it.

[voodoosound]

No worries:D
Did you buy one of them from John? If so it might be my old one. Wish I still had it.

No got one new along with the matching chrome rv-1. Bought the second one from a guy in Oregon who had also bought it new.

[lfio710]

Thanks for the info. It was a great preamp - wish I still had it. What did/do you guys use for a power amp? Because the Matchless poweramp never happened, I ended up with a VHT.