Your favorite “cheap” gear score.

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RyeDaddy

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We love boutique handbuilt amps and other pricey gear around here, but what about things you bought because they were so cheap you really didn’t have anything to lose? Or gear you bought for practice and lugging around that you found out it was great on its own merit?

Mine is a $400 half stack. Randall RG3003H and a Marshall Mode Four V30 angled cab.

Came across the head at a pawn shop for $200, talked them down to $150. Figured it was well loud enough for anything a human could want to do with it, plus I’d feel super cool ripping Pantera riffs and it was lighter than tube heads to tote around to jam with friends or if my kid wanted to borrow it I’d not be too worried about it. Looked brand new, and honestly it sounds killer. It also works great for breaking in new cabs, because it’s solid state I have no worries about burning up tube life running my iPod through it for extended periods with the cab face down on the floor. ? At a rated 300W at 4 ohms it has all the beef you need to pummel guitar speakers.

The MF280A cab I got at Guitar Center for $250 and I like it, suits the Randall perfectly ?. It’s a bit beat up but did come with the original casters and no issues other than cosmetic damage. i figure the special UK V30’s are probably worth what I paid for the cab.

This combo is insanely loud, keeps up with the Herbert without breaking a sweat volume wise. The built-in noise gate is ok, not the greatest around but works and it’s more useful to me than reverb like the other RG series have. I’ve had it now a couple of years and have no complaints.

Ignore the 1960B on bottom, it was a great used score but not surprising in any way.

 
When I was in a band and gigging back about 20 years ago, I picked up a TECH-21 PSA-1 preamp for about $500, Mosvalve-962 Power Amp for about $200, and a Marshall 4x12 for $300 or so. That was my rig for gigging and I was constantly getting compliments on my tone and people asking if they could see my Dual Rectifier rig. When I would pull them over and point at what my actual rig was, they would look all confused. That was a great little setup and so cheap.
 
I've had some great scores based on the 'real' value of the gear, but the lowest cost vs real value are
1. 1974 MINT condition 1960a, original cream back Greenbacks. 349 GC used.
2. Charvel Model 1 for 399. Except it really was a 2006 Pointy Charvel reissue, built in the Charvel custom shop. GC used. Lol
3. 1979 1960a with original G12 65s, mint for 300 bucks on Craigslist.
 
I bought a Mesa Simul 295 for $220 a few years ago off local CL, the B side was dead but I took a chance, brought it to my tech, one capacitor and $20 later I have a killer all tube poweramp for $240 and a couple hours of my time.


Many years ago I bought an Ampeg 2x15 cab in perfect condition at a yard sale for $25, sold it for hundreds less than a year later.


Also many years ago, I bought a Marshall 2000 series head, the 250 watt 6 6550 tube version for $50 in the parking lot of East Coast Music Mall in CT, the kicker was it was a white anniversary series head, talk about rare. Sold that for big bucks to a Marshall collector after a few years.
 
Don't have any yet, but it will be a Harley Benton PB shorty bass that costs only 80€.
 
Langner DCP-1 Preamp from a store in Japan for $500....
 
I got a 5153 for $370 shipped. 50w.

I bought a peavey vtm halfstack for cheap on cl. Sold the amp for what I paid. Free 4x12.

Bought a Fuchs tds 100 on eBay for 1600 shipped. Sold it on tgp for 2300 + shipping.
 
Peavey 5150 combo in almost new condition for $250.
 
80's boss CE-2 green label I found on a flea market table for $10.

Been using it for years now. Just a great chorus pedal.
 
My first tube amp. I say it was cheap now, but back then I thought I was crazy for dropping this much coin. Marshall JCM 900 model 4500 with a 1960B cab loaded with sheffields. I got it in 99 or 00 for $600.
 
VHT D60 for $600 on Craigslist.
VHT D120 AND FB412 for $1000 on Craigslist
Old Jackson Soloist. Sharktooth and Kahler, built in San Dimas. $850 from a local used gear shop.
 
I think the original idea of the thread is cheap gear that sounds good not cheap deals on great gear.

So with that, I really like the $70 Squier affinity strat with Peavey Backstage starter pack I bought recently. The guitar plays great and is near mint. The amps clean channel works perfect as a pedal platform. I have it plugged into a proper cabinet; it gets pretty loud too.
 
This was few years back but I bought a brand new Triple Rectifier and OS Mesa 4x12 for $1100. I thought at the time it was a killer deal. Funny thing about this story was the kid I bought it from was running a distortion pedal through the clean channel. Thats how he was using the amp.
 
JSutter":13hkzen7 said:
I think the original idea of the thread is cheap gear that sounds good not cheap deals on great gear.

So with that, I really like the $70 Squier affinity strat with Peavey Backstage starter pack I bought recently. The guitar plays great and is near mint. The amps clean channel works perfect as a pedal platform. I have it plugged into a proper cabinet; it gets pretty loud too.
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In that case I bought a Marshall MG15 to schlep over my cousins house so I could give his kid guitar lessons (like $99) and that little amp sounds killer for what it is.
 
1973 Fender Strat for $80. Peavey 5150 full stack for $800 (had Sylvania 6L6’s). I only bought them because of the price....
 
I also have one of those Marshall MF280 cabs, got it for £120. My favourite cab.

Jet City JCA50 head for £120. With a biasing, it’s a killer amp.

Mayones Regius Pro 7 for £800, I kinda felt bad about that one. Probably my favourite guitar.

That’s all I can think of.
 
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