Marshall super bass 100.. price?

[amptech]

As an amp builder and repairer I rarely have the money to buy expensive vintage amps, but what about this:

Went across the country with my wife for a wedding (yes, I was forced) and I even had to go shopping for
some new shoes (forced here too). To my surprise this town had a decent guitar shop.

Not much to look at for a bass player, a couple of cheap p-copies and an Ibanez.
Hey, wait - In a corner - a 100w marshall super bass top.
Probably very early 70's, nice cabinet but rusty trafos and f***ed up wiring- but hey -that's what I do, right?
For sale, naah.. maybe if a really good offer came up.

What do you guys think? I really can't see myself leaving town without it.
It needs all trannies, capacitors, most wiring and probably sockets and pots... but fine cab/tolex.

How much should I punish my mastercard, any experienced buyers here?
Haven't really seen many for sale, or maybe I haven't looked for them..

My recently aquired love for this amp is about to overshadow my wallet - need help!
I promised my better half that I could really make some money if I fixed it up and sold it,
but of course I wouldn't sell it. (she knows)

Any input here?

[Granny Gremlin]

An amp without (functional) iron isn't worth squat in my book.  I'd do an ebay search for the going rate of vintage Marshall logo badges and make an offer based on that +200 to 400 (only because you'll save considerable time on the wood and metalwork, which is original) because it sounds like it's gonna be a complete rebuild.

[amptech]

Thanks for reply...

I allready told the salesman what fixing it would cost, but after all it looks really clean for that age.
Seeing those rusty trannies, well - this amp needs me!

Is the early superbass models quite common, eh?

I have treated trannies for some rust before, and laquer potted them with good results.
But you can't count on it just by looking at them in a shop.

I guess i have to assume they're not working and bid from there...

[Granny Gremlin]

You're there so you could try it out, no?

Those guys can be rather pricey if in working shape and not banged up. A couple K easy (with half stack cab; not seen many for sale alone as head only); seen a few go for above 3K even (but they all worked).

[amptech]

Oh no, it is not even tubes in it. It seemes to have been on display only for years, along with brass, rusty sixties hofners, a silverface vibro champ
and a very old London City 130 with green tolex

The ac cord was cut , seemed to have loose wires inside - they have never even tried to fix it.
I believe noone have really wanted to hear it play, really disturbs me!
But the shop owner seemed to be a nice guy, I'll pop by and ask to check it out in his back room.

Maybe start on $500 and see if he lets it go.

I'm in love, and love cannot really be measured in money.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I wouldn't offer more than 200. You're buying a chassis, knobs, and logo; everything else has a question mark.

[amptech]

Ok, I'll try him out.

I'm just afraid how he'll react to a low offer.

And if I walk out of the shop with money left, there is a chance I start bidding on the green London City

[Highlander]

Heart and mind, dear chap... heart and mind...

Things come in threes...? wedding... shoes... and amp...?

[dadagoboi]

Ok, I'll try him out.

I'm just afraid how he'll react to a low offer.

And if I walk out of the shop with money left, there is a chance I start bidding on the green London City

He'll throw you out of his shop?  Highly doubt it!  You're not bidding, you're bargaining.  Consider how long those things have been sitting gathering dust and the condition, no layman in his right mind would buy them.  You have  unique skills to make them functional.

Offer him $500 for the pair, fix both and sell the London to cover most if not all of the Marshall acquisition and refurb.  Pretty sure you'll be able to recoup all money you spend and more by selling the gear if necessary.

[amptech]

Heart and mind, dear chap... heart and mind...

Things come in threes...? wedding... shoes... and amp...?

You bet!

My wife figured out that if she gave me thumbs up for the amp buying, I'd be calm enough to behave in the wedding.
The shop was closed today, (on a saturday ) but the owner agreed to come by tomorrow to take a closer look
at the rust and serial nr. If it's pre 72 (pre PCB) I'll bid, if it's both wery rusty and post PCB it has to be cheap.

I'll update tomorrow, new amp day is always exiting!

[Highlander]

Don't you ever sleep, Carlo...? well, I guess the sun must be up in the swamps by now...

Hmm... better get on with my tasks for the day before swmbo gets back from the shops and finds me thumping the keys...

Good grief... no one is asleep in America...

[dadagoboi]

0700 here, been up for a few hours. I'm on summer schedule out to the shop and work until noon or so.  'Build Basses to Buy Basses' is my motto.

[amptech]

He'll throw you out of his shop?  Highly doubt it!  You're not bidding, you're bargaining.  Consider how long those things have been sitting gathering dust and the condition, no layman in his right mind would buy them.  You have  unique skills to make them functional.

Offer him $500 for the pair, fix both and sell the London to cover most if not all of the Marshall acquisition and refurb.  Pretty sure you'll be able to recoup all money you spend and more by selling the gear if necessary.

Yeah, that's what I really want, I'm only limited by the roof on my credit card.

[dadagoboi]

Another option:  Trade him a refurb on the London for the Marshall.

[amptech]

'Build Basses to Buy Basses' is my motto.

And a damn good one!