Why build when you can buy?

[RockDC]

Here is my thought:

There are a ton of people out there paying $1500 for a Vibrolux knock off or $500 for a champ knock off or $1700 for a Deluxe reverb knockoff or $1200 for a JCM800 knock off... and so on.

I get that the cost of the real deal for some of these amps are 10% more expensive but what if you don't end up liking it? Then you go to sell the $1700 Deluxe for $800 - $1000... where if you would have just bought the $2000 real deal you'd get at least that back with good care given.

My purpose is:
I'm interested in building but I feel like other than the experience and pride of a build it doesn't sound like a great investment. I build pedals, I do a lot of mods with them and tweek them out which is cool... I've done some mods on other prebuilt pedals too... buy a wah cheap, true bypass it, sell it for more, that kinda stuff...

Agree with me or talk me into building.

[FloridaSam]

First, for the amps you mentioned, unless you get a blackface Vibrolux or champ, the components used in a clone (mercury mag trannies, cloth wire etc..) will be better. As for the JCM 800, an original will be a PCB amp (that used to go all day for $300 in the late 80's) while a clone will be PTP with likely better tranies, cabinets etc..

Yes, one will take a $$ hit when selling these clones. That's why I go for the originals too but the clones are worth the money in my opinion.

[Finaldo]

Why would you want to sell one of those amps you just built? If you don't like it... don't sell it. Tweak it until you like it. That's the point of building your own amp, right? Learning more about them, tweaking them to the point where you want them.

Then, once you do that, someone will want to buy it off you for $3000. :P

[soldersucker]

I'm with you 100% and i actually manage to sniff out most of my real deals for 50-70% of what a depreciating see ya on the emporium soon amp would cost for the materials alone.
I buy my amps for practicality sound and increasingly for return when i flip them.Kits are nice give a sense of accomplishment etc...but getting 20+ vintage amps all up to snuff and working right is enough to keep my solding iron hot.

[digital jams]

For me I would like to build a 68 spec SL because the chances of finding one in tact for a good price is slim at best.

I know I will not sell because I know that is what I want, so I am safe there.

[GBStratman]

Having just finished my first build (Mission 5e3), I would say build for the enjoyment of building. You might save a little money, especially if you use quality components, but if your time is valuable, then it's a wash. For me, I like building stuff and its gratifying to play through stuff I built myself.

[Groovey Records]

Kits are a good place to begin to learn and gain the confidence that "why yes I can do this".

Think about all those shop chopped amps that have been defiled by Mod Happy lets turn this Fender into a Boogie Boys.

The odds of finding an unadulterated classic out ther are slim pickins. You can't always shake cherries out of a tree. Buyers Beware

[RockDC]

Originally Posted by GBStratman

For me, I like building stuff and its gratifying to play through stuff I built myself.

Thats the one thing that keeps me building pedals. I love make them and then somebody coming up to me after a show and and asking what they are... what a sense of pride to build something and be the envy of tone...

[Bulldog]

Reliabuilty

New Clone - New, higher quality components - needs minimal service
Old Classic - Old, lesser quality components - potential service needs much higher

For a performing muscian on a low pay scale, I can understand why the new clone would be preferable.

For a collector, or studio, who wants to be able to boast that they have the real thing, then spending the dime on the Old Classic makes sense.


You build an amp for yourself. If you don't want that pride in production, don't do it. Just like anything else. I've often wanted to build my own guitars, but I don't trust myself to do it, so I don't. However, I have a great deal of pride in all the furniture I've refurbished in my short time on this planet.

[RockDC]

Originally Posted by Groovey Records

Think about all those shop chopped amps that have been defiled by Mod Happy lets turn this Fender into a Boogie Boys.

The odds of finding an unadulterated classic out ther are slim pickins. You can't always shake cherries out of a tree. Buyers Beware

Oh so true... I have met many of abused, desecrated, non-working amps that fall into this category. A cousin of my friend of mine has been buying Marshall SL's for years that don't work and fixes them... he's got quite a collection of 15-20.

I'd love to learn how to tinker with the used and abused.

[5881]

Because you WANT to build. It's about the smell of the solder, the satisfaction of doing it youself. My first build was a Mission 5E3, took many hours, some frustrating, some discouraging, (especially when you see the insides of a Hi-Watt or a Ceriatone), but well worth it when I fired it up and it worked first time. Also sounded great. I own a 1960 Deluxe, all original including tubes!, and my build was really, really close. A 5E3 is a good place to start; fairly easy, tons of oneline support, as well as support from Mission, and a good value, when you look at what Victoria or Fender sells them for. The Marshall 18 watt is aslo a good way to go. I built one of them from a GDS kit. Ceriatone sells kits with the boards already done, which makes things a whole lot easier (but is it cheating?) I have built 5 amps to date, and while it is not a money maker, it is fun and rewarding. I am always tempted to take on another, not because I need another amp, just for the fun. If only my weakening vision would cooperate. It's hard to build with reading glasses on; on, off, on, off....

[jay42]

All my builds are of unobtainable amps. I couldn't justify or afford:

60's Marshall 1974
'57 Tweed Twin
any Dumble
any Trainwreck

...and I wish I'd bought that friggin' DR504 for $300 when I saw it so long ago. Now I have to build one.

I've built one amp that was an original design...and I'm not claiming any innovation, simply it's not a configuration most would want except for my customer.

[Tripower455]

Why buy when you can build?

[bosstone]

Originally Posted by FloridaSam

First, for the amps you mentioned, unless you get a blackface Vibrolux or champ, the components used in a clone (mercury mag trannies, cloth wire etc..) will be better. As for the JCM 800, an original will be a PCB amp (that used to go all day for $300 in the late 80's) while a clone will be PTP with likely better tranies, cabinets etc..

Yes, one will take a $$ hit when selling these clones. That's why I go for the originals too but the clones are worth the money in my opinion.

I love all three of the early 80s JCM 800, 2204s I have had, with their supposedly "inferior" PCB boards and "cheapo" Drake transformers. It is because these 25 year old amps have sounded terrific and none has ever failed me. I turned a profit when I sold the first two. I have a Canadian 2204 in near mint condition now. I saw one just like it sell on eBay a month or so ago sell for $1,600.00 + freight. It was item #330228309223 if you want to check it out. I could spend $2K on parts to build a PTP copy with primo parts that may or may not sound any better and if you didn't count time as being worth anything, I probably wouldn't loose more than $1K when I went to sell it. Of course if it turned out great I would be very happy and proud of my work and wouldn't sell it any way. If I didn't like it...never mind, I don't even want to think about it.

[RockDC]

Originally Posted by Tripower455

Why buy when you can build?

Thanks Confucius :NUTS

I had a Chemistry professor and a Psychology professor who'd just rephrase, restate, or ask the reverse to help me think through the process... didn't really work then either but thanks for trying.