Recto r-0022 rev C on ebay....

[Racerxrated]

Beautiful, would love to have it! Crazy price though no doubt. But it just shows you how quickly these amps are going to go through the the roof. Imagine 10 more years from now…. I’d argue that these gain value percentage wise more than just about any other amp on the planet…. What’s a clean 65 deluxe reverb going for these days? Maybe 5k max?

The question here though is the rarity…only 250 Rev Cs vs how many thousands of 65 Deluxes? On the other hand how many 65s are left in good condition. But still, Rev Cs are far fewer.

 

[cardinal]

for sure. some of these mesas just went through the roof in just the last 4 years. The internet tone chasers really hiked them up. you'd think that original blackface or tweed fenders would be in that 5 figure range, with how iconic and old they all are by now, but no... the metallica tone chasers have $POKEN!!!

A month or so before all the pandemic craziness really hit, I sold a chrome chassis Rev C for $3500, which I think at the time was about the right price? I was just never using it. Apparently I should have just tossed it in the back of a closet.

 

[GJgo]

A month or so before all the pandemic craziness really hit, I sold a chrome chassis Rev C for $3500, which I think at the time was about the right price? I was just never using it. Apparently I should have just tossed it in the back of a closet.

"Tossing it in the back of the closet" at that time would have been the correct answer for every 2 channel Recto and every Mark except the V!

All that aside, I've thought about realistic market prices with all the "let's post it for a stupid price & see what happens". Consider this- for years pre-pandemic, we had a pretty stable price bed on Mesa gear.
- Mark II - IV (not including the C+) were around $800-1200.
- IIC+ were $3500-4500 loaded.
- Pre-500 Rectos were $3k+
- Rev F Rectos were ~$1800
- Rev Gs were $800-1200

So when I look at prices now, I like to think of multipliers as being relevant. I see the Mark II (not C) and III, plus the Rev Gs, selling pretty consistently for around $2K. I think the Mark IV is selling for a bit more. This seems pretty stable for the last year or so. So, if that's the case, then I'd expect to see a reasonable price for the:

- Pre 500s in the neighborhood of $6K (3x multiplier)
- Rev Fs around $3600 (which is where I've seen many of them sell, including mine)
- IIC+ (give or take depending on spec) in the neighborhood of $8K+, which I know a bunch have sold around.

Certainly there are some examples that have gone for more as there will always be- so you have to ask is that an exception, or is the market pulling up? With Mesas, since for example the MkIII is the cheap C+ alternative & the Rev G is the cheap C-F alternative I believe there will always be a parallel pull on pricing.

 

[braintheory]

The question here though is the rarity…only 250 Rev Cs vs how many thousands of 65 Deluxes? On the other hand how many 65s are left in good condition. But still, Rev Cs are far fewer.

About 240 based on what I’ve read, but who really knows for sure. Those old black faces and tweeds also went up a lot. Per wattage/power some of them can be way more spendy than any boogie, but of course I don’t actually value amps by wattage lol. I believe there are like 6-8000 klons and they also became really stupid priced, so it’s not just rarity

 

[Racerxrated]

About 240 based on what I’ve read, but who really knows for sure. Those old black faces and tweeds also went up a lot. Per wattage/power some of them can be way more spendy than any boogie, but of course I don’t actually value amps by wattage lol. I believe there are like 6-8000 klons and they also became really stupid priced, so it’s not just rarity

We are starting to see the market come back a bit. I’d imagine in 2 years it might be back to pre Covid levels

 

[braintheory]

We are starting to see the market come back a bit. I’d imagine in 2 years it might be back to pre Covid levels

I hope so, although I don’t miss it taking longer back then to sell things lol

 

[cardinal]

We are starting to see the market come back a bit. I’d imagine in 2 years it might be back to pre Covid levels

I miss the pre-COVID market. I think the prices spiraling out of control are encouraging hoarding and speculation.

I much more enjoy flipping stuff. Try a Rev C for a bit and maybe pass it on for a C+ or a SLO or whatever. But the soaring prices killed the flipping cycle because you could blunder into selling something too low and now end up priced out of trying something else that seems cool.

 

[GJgo]

Fully agree. To me it's always been about the experiences from trying new things, not about collecting. I for sure can't take gear with me but hopefully I can take memories.

Also things like the C+, and maybe the Rev C, are in this weird place now where "what the hell is there that I could trade fair value for?" Of course that's compounded by not really knowing what the fair value is.

So here's a question. Rev C value is pushed by rarity and awesomeness. IIC+ value is pushed somewhat by how good it is, but (let's be honest) mostly by Metallica fanboys. (I can talk shit because I'm guilty as well.) What other amps are 5 figure, and why?

Moreso, WTF pushed Dumble value so high?

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The question here though is the rarity…only 250 Rev Cs vs how many thousands of 65 Deluxes? On the other hand how many 65s are left in good condition. But still, Rev Cs are far fewer.

Only 220 +/- Rev C amps made... and that number included a few Triple Recto protos made from Duals... with the recto tubes replaced with power tubes.

And not including how many have been destroyed, damaged or locked in some storage unit for 30 years.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Moreso, WTF pushed Dumble value so high?

Cucks in tan pants with loafers and no socks.

 

[JimAnsell]

Cucks in tan pants with loafers and no socks.

you're not wrong, but also, ever see Dumbles original price list? His prices were always crazy to start with.
He charged $10 a minute just to talk to him on the phone.
There have also been stories for years on the net about how elusive he was, and how he didn't make amps for just anyone.

 

[anomaly]

Just cause the internet gear snobs say it's the best Recto don't mean shit IMO. The internet hypes up alot of bullshit when it comes to gear. I hear minor differences between these rev C's and the Ref F and G rectos... sure it's a little tighter but nothing a tubescreamer can't fix. Meh... Not even close to worth it. GJgo, your multi-watt sounds better than that rev C, seriously. Just my opinion.

 

[japetus]

He charged $10 a minute just to talk to him on the phone.

His voice was pure crystal lattice. Sounds expensive, but you'd only need 2-3 minutes to "get there". Totally worth it IMO.

 

[VESmedic]

The question here though is the rarity…only 250 Rev Cs vs how many thousands of 65 Deluxes? On the other hand how many 65s are left in good condition. But still, Rev Cs are far fewer.

This is a solid point for sure. However a 65 deluxe is pushing 60 years old now, clean ones are definitely getting rarer, and yet still, they haven’t jumped nearly what some of these high gain amps have in the last 20-30 years. Although you’re still bang on though, there were definitely more deluxe reverbs made for sure.

 

[VESmedic]

Just cause the internet gear snobs say it's the best Recto don't mean shit IMO. The internet hypes up alot of bullshit when it comes to gear. I hear minor differences between these rev C's and the Ref F and G rectos... sure it's a little tighter but nothing a tubescreamer can't fix. Meh... Not even close to worth it. GJgo, your multi-watt sounds better than that rev C, seriously. Just my opinion.

Agreed. I only gush over something I have personally used or personally think is worth it. If that happens to fall in line with other internet folklore, so be it, but I try to stay away from that shit for sure. Like C+ Threads l, I love spinning up the internet on those turds!

I do need to try a multi watt though, haven’t played one in years and years.

 

[GJgo]

Just cause the internet gear snobs say it's the best Recto don't mean shit IMO. The internet hypes up alot of bullshit when it comes to gear. I hear minor differences between these rev C's and the Ref F and G rectos... sure it's a little tighter but nothing a tubescreamer can't fix. Meh... Not even close to worth it. GJgo, your multi-watt sounds better than that rev C, seriously. Just my opinion.

True story, modelers are proof that there is no accounting for taste! At any rate if you want to swing by Western CO you're welcome to play them all and decide for yourself. To me they're different tools for different jobs & worth having both around.

The MW is voiced most closely, IMO, to the Rev F. It's a damn fine amp! I suspect it will have legend status in 20 years so get yours now.

 

[thegame]

you're not wrong, but also, ever see Dumbles original price list? His prices were always crazy to start with.
He charged $10 a minute just to talk to him on the phone.
There have also been stories for years on the net about how elusive he was, and how he didn't make amps for just anyone.

It's true. HD had to personally approve of the client's playing before starting the build. As I get older, I start to understand why he did that, at the time. His amps were heavily in demand by A league guitarists so HD wanted to maintain that sort of clientele, famous or not. However, as one of the very few boutique builders of his day, he had the clout and lack of product competition to more or less justify such policies. I've heard of a few other boutique builders in recent years implement similar policies but things just aren't that exclusive anymore. Small boutique amp business owners should be appreciative for each and every customer willing to spend on their products because nowadays, there's almost certainly a hundred other valid choices to make for similar products.

 

[GJgo]

Agreed. I only gush over something I have personally used or personally think is worth it. If that happens to fall in line with other internet folklore, so be it, but I try to stay away from that shit for sure. Like C+ Threads l, I love spinning up the internet on those turds!

I do need to try a multi watt though, haven’t played one in years and years.

4 tube C+ are not as great as the internet thinks they are. I've had (and sold) a lot of them. Now a Coliseum, or a regular C+ slaved into a Strategy 400, that's another story.

 

[cardinal]

Just cause the internet gear snobs say it's the best Recto don't mean shit IMO. The internet hypes up alot of bullshit when it comes to gear. I hear minor differences between these rev C's and the Ref F and G rectos... sure it's a little tighter but nothing a tubescreamer can't fix. Meh... Not even close to worth it. GJgo, your multi-watt sounds better than that rev C, seriously. Just my opinion.

I had a Rev C that I thought was pretty different than every other Recto I've had, and I've had them all except a Rev D.

The C was super tight and bright. Straight in, sounded like an OD808 was already boosting it.

That said... you can just stick an OD808 in front of any other Recto and there you go.

 

[Racerxrated]

When there’s a limited small number of a certain thing that is/was held in high regard it will probably become collectible and expensive. Cars, bikes, amps, guitars….we boys love our toys. Only so many 67 427 vettes, 69 Z28s, 59 LPs, etc etc. They ain’t cheap!