Marshalls of Flip?
After selling the Marshall DSL1-C, I was feeling pretty good about myself. After all, I had managed to sell it for 10% more than I bought it for a few years back ($550 vs. $500), so I couldn't help but think that this was a pretty good deal for me over all. Better still, I had a pocket full of cash that was ready to be put towards the next great thing.
Unfortunately, my GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) went dormant, right around the same time real-life-big-boy-pants expenses appeared. They also involved gas, but honest to goodness natural gas rather than a made up medical condition, used to justify spending too much money on guitar stuff.
You see, the brand new stove had finally arrived after a 6 month delay, unexpectedly on a Saturday, which meant they hauled away the loaner and we were left with a stove that wouldn't work unless it was hooked up. Also, apparently that isn't like plugging in a lamp.
A bunch of phone calls and $200 cash later, the stove was hooked up, and the proceeds from my amp were $200 lighter. Sure, I could have replenished the "amp money", but it just seemed a bit irresponsible. Take the hit and move on.
Now I had $350 to play with. Good enough.
Months later, I can finally report back on my wheelings and dealings...
When people post items for prices that are not currency convenient (the bank machine spits out twenties, now I have to go get change...), I typically assume they're just padding in some wiggle room to make negotiating easier.
New Balance: $355
Weirdly though, pushing it with the Archer yields some weird results, with the Plexi-Drive getting overloaded and farting out. Despite this, it sounds great, and I'm a bit inclined to switch up the order of my board, putting the Archer as the last drive, so that it is hitting the front of the amp without another drive in the way - It would facilitate keeping it "always-on" without getting stupid gain out of the others.
Unfortunately, my GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) went dormant, right around the same time real-life-big-boy-pants expenses appeared. They also involved gas, but honest to goodness natural gas rather than a made up medical condition, used to justify spending too much money on guitar stuff.
You see, the brand new stove had finally arrived after a 6 month delay, unexpectedly on a Saturday, which meant they hauled away the loaner and we were left with a stove that wouldn't work unless it was hooked up. Also, apparently that isn't like plugging in a lamp.
A bunch of phone calls and $200 cash later, the stove was hooked up, and the proceeds from my amp were $200 lighter. Sure, I could have replenished the "amp money", but it just seemed a bit irresponsible. Take the hit and move on.
Now I had $350 to play with. Good enough.
Months later, I can finally report back on my wheelings and dealings...
Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus - $45
When people post items for prices that are not currency convenient (the bank machine spits out twenties, now I have to go get change...), I typically assume they're just padding in some wiggle room to make negotiating easier.
Not so in this case.
I offered $40, and the seller said "nope, firm." I really wanted to give this a shot, so I showed up with two twenties, and five bucks in change.
Take that, seller!
While this was a pretty decent, chewy-kind-of-chorus, the lack of true bypass and absolutely terrible buffer meant I either had to buy a looper or move on.
More annoying still, it runs on 18v, which means 2 batteries or it gets the 18v power out of my power supply. Sorry, that's for the overdrives.
So, despite my oldest daughter's protests ("don't sell the owl pedal"... because it looks like an owl), I listed and sold this for $50.
New Balance: $355
Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe - $140
I'm a big fan of Brian Wampler's podcast, and as such I've been keen to get my hands on more than a few of his pedals. The Plexi-Drive came up locally for a very reasonable $140, so I jumped. It's an outstanding pedal, and the inclusion of a pseudo-TS circuit on the right switch is a cool feature.
Weirdly though, pushing it with the Archer yields some weird results, with the Plexi-Drive getting overloaded and farting out. Despite this, it sounds great, and I'm a bit inclined to switch up the order of my board, putting the Archer as the last drive, so that it is hitting the front of the amp without another drive in the way - It would facilitate keeping it "always-on" without getting stupid gain out of the others.
New Balance: $215
Amp Tweaker Tight Rock - $130
This was another case of a somewhat rare piece coming up for sale locally, meaning the pickup wasn't going to involve much of a plan. I committed to buying before watching a couple of reviews on YouTube, and was satisfied that even if I didn't need it, it would be easy enough to sell.
While this was a very cool pedal, it wasn't different enough from the JHS Angry Charlie (pictured above) to justify keeping it. While it was loaded with a ton of cool features - two effects loops (pedal on/off), a noise gate, a battery switch, and the coolest battery compartment out there - I noticed that even with the noise gate on, the noise floor on the JHS was lower, and that the JHS could ape the same sounds and more.
I almost considered keeping it for the purposes of gifting, but the bottom was full of old velcro tape gunk and hair. I'm all for wicked cool used presents, but they have to be in good keep.
I sold it in one day for $140.
New Balance: $225
Danelectro BTL Slap-Echo - $20
I promised her I would find another "owl" pedal, and so I did. Not much to say other than I think I'll be on the lookout for more of these at this price - the delay sound is pretty great compared to my Outlaw Quick Draw, though it lacks the flexibility, with the time variable not being adjustable. this is slap back only stuff.
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New Balance: $205
Fender Super Champ XD - $125!
This was a complete fluke. I was sitting on my couch the other night and saw this listed at $125. It was about 25km away, and it was getting late. "No chance," I thought to myself.
Meh, let's email anyway.
"I'll take it. Here is my number. Let me know if tomorrow afternoon is convenient for you."
It was, she held it for the day despite 22 other responses (she would tell me on meeting), and got home the next day with a 15 watt Fender Tube amp for less two fo the pedals listed above cost.
This may be the best deal I've managed thus far in my buying and selling of stuff.
How does it sound? It sounds better than the $125 dollars I paid. I haven't had a chance to open it up yet, but I owned the Vibro Champ version of this back in the day, and that was a quality amp.
Very Excite.
New Balance $80, which was spent on various not guitar related things.
Summary
One Marshall DSL1-C turns into a Fender Super Champ XD, a Wampler Plexi-Drive Deluxe, and a Danelectro BLT SlapEcho.
