January 2016 Roundup: (Archive)

Couple of things I've noticed lately:
  1. The Canadian dollar going down is driving used prices up.  $1200 average for Fender American Standard?  Insane.
  2. Bar level wattage isn't cool.  I'm still seeing Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 1x12s for less than Blues Juniors.  Maybe folks are waking up to the realization that 40 tube watts is a bit of overkill for the basement.
  3. The neck IS the guitar.  Don't take an American Standard (for example), put a Squier neck on, and expect to sell it for 80% of the Standard.  It's now a Squier.  Deal with it.

Here's what caught my eye recently.

PRS CE22 - $1400

Originally, the posted listed this as a Standard, and was asking $1800.  Whoops. The giveaway here is the bolt-in maple neck as opposed to the set-neck of the Standard. someone must have sent him a friendly (or otherwise) note about correctly identifying the product you're trying to sell.

Now, at $1200 this would be a steal based on color and condition.  As I noted above though, exchange rates are driving prices in the used market up, as sellers look to new prices to determine used price.

This one has definitely given me some pause. I've always wanted a guitar in this color, and this one has me thinking about listing the Les Paul Studio...

Mesa DC5 - $650

This might be the best deal out there right now. A bona-fide Mesa for the same as a Blues Junior is currently going for new?  Sold.

I lusted for this amp back in the days when Metallica was still a band worth liking.  two channels, graphic EQ, and 50 watts of Mesa. Loud doesn't  begin to describe what this 1x12 is capable of.  This amp is basically the Black Album on a budget.







Fender Deluxe Reverb II - $850

This may be a case of buyer beware, but you can't help but dig the aesthetic.  The Deluxe Reverb 2 isn't quite the red-headed step child many perceive them to be.  At any rate, not much to say here other than "2 channel Fender amp designed by Paul Rivera that looks swanky."

$850 is a bit steep if you ask me (I recently saw a DRRI for $550 that was just a bit of a drive away).


Vantage Super Strat - $280

Nothing wrong with this guitar.  In fact, I bought one a few years ago to strip down and redo.  While I didn't get it finished, it's a reasonable guitar with a terrible paint job and one pickup.  Chalk it up to having a guitar that "screams rock and roll cred".  Right? Crickets?

Here's the rub though - I paid $50 for it.  Got a gig bag and a tuner out of the deal too.  When you keep in mind that I got a pretty decent Epi Les Paul Standard for $30 less than the ask here... Well...

Pass.  All the pass.

Mack Heatseeker - $850

Certianly an "off-brand" amp, but something interesting nonetheless.  There are a few Youtube videos out there, and to my ears this would be something worth considering.

Buyer beware though - you'd better love it, and you'd better talk that price down.  When you grow tired of it, or find a new object of affection, you'll have as much trouble selling it as this guy is having.

Gibson SG Faded - $600

It just goes to show that you can easily get a decent USA made guitar for a reasonable price.  No, the faded finish probably doesn't blow sand up your skirt, and no, one can never be sure with Gibson and their questionable commitment to quality control.  

This listing included a case.  Good enough for me.  Offer $500 and see what happens.


Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister 18 Combo - $550

When you consider what the new head goes for, $550 for this 1x12 combo is a steal.  I owned the head version for about a year (though paired with a Two Rock 1x12) and really enjoyed it.  No, it didn't end up being my forever amp, but there is a lot to like here.

2 Channels with a boost on the lead channel. Attenuator taking it from 18 watts to 5 to 1 to silent recording?  This is great value if for no other reason than it can hang with a light drummer and serve as an at home amp.

Only draw back is the lack of reverb.  Without it, the cleans are a bit sterile for my taste.  Buy a cheap reverb pedal to throw in the loop and you're set.


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