Unpopular opinion - high end amps aren't comparatively that expensive

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tallcoolone said:
Never had a Cameron anything (and I’m ok w that) but I find any classification of amps that has a 2203/Wizard next to a IIc/Recto a bit suspect. Talk about different amps
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Yes, that's why I said not apples to apples, but more so mentioned them as best in their class (IIC+ and early Revision Recto's). I sold all the Cameron's I had in the past anyway because I liked some other amps in that ballpark even more. I actually fwiw also consider Wizard's to be their own distinct flavor from Marshall's or Boogie's
 
Crikey, when I think about the money I've spent on gear in the last 20 years.

What I would say is, selling something you really like to take a punt on something you have supreme GAS for, but effectively know nothing about, is just about one of the dumbest things you can do. At least for me. I nearly always end up going back. Case in point....

At the moment I've got these amps:

Laney VH100R - these are cheap as chips on the used market in the UK. I've owned many of them. I'm one my 4th one.
Marshall JVM410HJS - these are pretty rare now, and some people out there are asking Friedman levels of cash for them on the used market. I got mine last year for £850. This is my 2nd one.

Diezel VH4 - I bought this used off eBay at the start of 2018. It is my 1st one, and this amp is a lifer. It is a 2001 model and cost me £1280.

Diezel D-Moll - I always fancied a Herbert back in the day, but could never find one. Someone (I think on here?) once said the D-Moll was the Herbert's little brother, so I went and got one. I loved it. The 1st one I had was the "retro" look, which I confess I did not like very much. So I sold it and quickly bought another with the more classic Diezel look to it. So I'm on my 2nd one.

Orange Rockerverb - I'm on my 3rd one of these! These amps are killer, and are really solid workhorse amps. I've got the MKIII 100-watt version right now. It cost me £1600 when I bought it in 2016.

Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier - I never played one of these back in the day. They were just too expensive in the UK and at the time I was a student, and had no money. So as an adult, I only just got around to getting one this year. The one I've got is a 2018 multi-watt version, and cost me £1600. Which is a fair chunk of change, but I've spent worse on amps before! And I LOVE this amp! It is amazing.

Amps I've had in the past:

Fryette Sig:X - Owned one of these 4 times. Sold it to get my Dual Recto this year. Would probably pick another one up in future.
EVH5150III Stealth EL34 - Didn't really gel with this one tbh.
EVH5150III-50watt 6L6 - Really liked the tones, but for my band the red channel was a bit too much.


Over that sort of time period.... I don't think that is too bad money-wise. Quite a bit of amp-churn there though, which I regret a bit. So now I've just decided to mostly keep every amp I get, and have a nice collection.

But genuinely, I think I've spent more money on delay pedals and modellers over the last 20 years than amps!!
 
pipboy90 said:
What better amps do you prefer? I think we have a similar ear.
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Pip, "better" is always going to be subjective.

To some more expensive is better, they'll never change their minds and that's fine. To others expense means nothing whether high or low, and that's fine as well. Just in two posts alone one person said the OG 5150 had a cocked wah sound, another said it didn't. Who's right, who's wrong? Neither because that's what they hear.

As I learned decades ago, trying things for yourself is always going to be the ultimate litmus test. Until you do that, you'll never really know.
 
jabps said:
Pip, "better" is always going to be subjective.

To some more expensive is better, they'll never change their minds and that's fine. To others expense means nothing whether high or low, and that's fine as well. Just in two posts alone one person said the OG 5150 had a cocked wah sound, another said it didn't. Who's right, who's wrong? Neither because that's what they hear.

As I learned decades ago, trying things for yourself is always going to be the ultimate litmus test. Until you do that, you'll never really know.
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About the cocked wah thing, people just love to throw buzz words around sometimes
 
SKU said:
We're living special times: consumers rationalizing and defending high prices.
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To a degree maybe, but comparatively high end amps back in the 80s were just as 'expensive' in those times, I was there. Taken even further a 1959 Les Paul Standard sounds cheap on the orig price list at $307.50 with case until you realize that is $3241 adjusted. FWIW I wasn't there lol, but I'm pretty sure you can get out the door with a new LP Standard today for under $3k.

Inflation the past 2+ years on everything else seems to have overtaken all trends however, that's def where I agree w/you
 
Compared to some hobbies, guitars and amps aren't too bad, it just depends on what the hobby is. People look at me like I am crazy when they find out I have a dozen guitars. But those same people own how many video games? Pairs of shoes? Whatever floats yer boat, but I enjoy ever aspect of guitars and guitar playing. I love doing mundane tasks like polishing my frets, cleaning a guitar up nice and good and putting new strings on it, they are pieces of functional art. The prices of everything is going up, I used that as a way to rationalize buying up a bunch of gear I have wanted for a long time. Who knows? At some point I might not be able to afford new gear if the market keeps going the way it is. 😭
 
Jaundice said:
Compared to some hobbies, guitars and amps aren't too bad, it just depends on what the hobby is. People look at me like I am crazy when they find out I have a dozen guitars. But those same people own how many video games? Pairs of shoes? Whatever floats yer boat, but I enjoy ever aspect of guitars and guitar playing. I love doing mundane tasks like polishing my frets, cleaning a guitar up nice and good and putting new strings on it, they are pieces of functional art. The prices of everything is going up, I used that as a way to rationalize buying up a bunch of gear I have wanted for a long time. Who knows? At some point I might not be able to afford new gear if the market keeps going the way it is. 😭
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Agreed. There are plenty of cheaper hobbies, but man there are loads that make our particular brand of obsession look pretty insignificant.

The reason I mentioned amps is that personally, I feel they're probably the best value for money gear I've bought over the years.
 
ZEN Amps said:
Agreed. There are plenty of cheaper hobbies, but man there are loads that make our particular brand of obsession look pretty insignificant.

The reason I mentioned amps is that personally, I feel they're probably the best value for money gear I've bought over the years.
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Having multiple amps is just good times, I know people really like the modeling amps. But I'm the type that wants to own the actual heads, I need to snag a Mesa at some point, then I will need a Marshall (probably jcm800 type, heard good things about the origin heads).
 
Jaundice said:
Having multiple amps is just good times, I know people really like the modeling amps. But I'm the type that wants to own the actual heads, I need to snag a Mesa at some point, then I will need a Marshall (probably jcm800 type, heard good things about the origin heads).
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Why the “but”? I have 8 high end amp heads and still am side eyeing another AXE. The Origin is a good little amp but it is no 2203.

What’s a “modeling amp”?
 
tallcoolone said:
Why the “but”? I have 8 high end amp heads and still am side eyeing another AXE. The Origin is a good little amp but it is no 2203.

What’s a “modeling amp”?
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Just stating my preference, I think modeling amps is supposed to refer to AXE FX and Kemper, those things you use on yer computer that are supposed to emulate different amps.
 
Jaundice said:
Just stating my preference, I think modeling amps is supposed to refer to AXE FX and Kemper, those things you use on yer computer that are supposed to emulate different amps.
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Got it. I think I made my point.
 
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