Price of your amp build or mod?

white noise · Post by **white noise** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:26 pm

I know that there a lot of amp builders on here that build and mod amps in their markets they live in.

I wanted to see what you think a fair price is on am amp that you build or a mod that you do.

If a 50w (2204) build cost you about $1300.00 in parts, what is a fair price to sell it for?

A 100W (2203 or 1959) build cost about $1600 in parts, what is a fair price to sell it for?

To install a PPIMV?

To add a effects Loop?

fhn_lopes · Post by **fhn_lopes** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:39 pm

Hi white Noise! Where did you make you price research? Are you considering the headshells too? Which kind of components (NOS, etc)?

I'm saying that bc depends too much on the parts you're after and where you buy them... NOS resistors and caps can make that price go up ... expensive transformers too (like MM, O'netics etc)... NOS tubes, idem.... On the other hand, there's a few ways to make your build cheaper, but that may cost some quality at some point...

I'm not a builder yet, but did a little research.... I live in brazil and we can get some quality stuff cheaper (like headshells and chassis) but the electronics and tubes are expensive... trannies are a joke

.. to build an amp here with a good cost/benefit relation you have to plan well...

But back to your question, I think you're probably looking after a percentage over the total parts costs/labour hours to charge for your handwork (or your tech's HW). I'm afraid I can't help you with that, down here the handwork is way cheaper than in US.....

white noise · Post by **white noise** » Tue Sep 02, 2014 4:18 pm

fhn_lopes,

price research is what i have been paying for parts for a build.

50 Watt example
Valvestorm or Tube Depot: $570.00 for most components (including chassis, face plates.....)
Heyboer transformers: $400.00 or Mercury Transformers $600.00 for PT, OT and choke
Sourmash Cabs: $225.00 for headcases
Sozo Caps: $85.00 for caps

Aprox $1280.00 - $1480.00 for parts.

fhn_lopes · Post by **fhn_lopes** » Wed Sep 03, 2014 7:13 am

Nice man, thanks!

fivecoyote · Post by **fivecoyote** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:28 am

Wow did not know trannies were so expensive

fhn_lopes · Post by **fhn_lopes** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 3:10 pm

Heyboer and Mercury are REALLY expensive... but you can get a classic tone set for 170.00 bucks (50w)... including choke...

I honestly don't know if that 300 usd plus difference can be heard or not.... mostly not

white noise · Post by **white noise** » Fri Sep 05, 2014 11:02 pm

fhn_lopes wrote:Heyboer and Mercury are REALLY expensive... but you can get a classic tone set for 170.00 bucks (50w)... including choke...

I honestly don't know if that 300 usd plus difference can be heard or not.... mostly not

fhn_lopes,

George Metropoulos and David Bray use Heyboer in their amps. Mark Abrahamian used them in the beginning before switching over to Mercury. I remember reading a few years back that Dave Friedman was using Mercury for his chokes and Heyboer for output transformes, but I'll let him say what he is using currently.

Could you tell me why amazing amp builders like George, Dave, David and Mark and many others would spend extra money on Heyboer or Mercury, when they can spend $170.00 for a full set of classic tone?

I am sure they would like the extra $300.00 profit per amp that they build for their businesses and families, but they don't. I wonder why.............

I guess you could try to race a Ford Pinto in the Daytona 500, but its just not going to sound like the others cars in the race.

fhn_lopes · Post by **fhn_lopes** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:06 pm

Not saying anything about any master builder arround. Just said that the difference EXISTS, but may not worth 300 bucks (or more) IMHO. Worth in a meaning that if you can ever HEAR the difference.... Who actually can tell in a blind test which transformer is which? I'd like to hear that, but to be an honest test, everything should be the same, and the tranneis should be replaced in the same amp. Hard to do, right?

And another thing to consider is that guys like DF, George and other builders that actualy sell a reasonable number of amps periodicly, won't pay the same as you do buying one trannie or two.

Again, not saying anything about any amp builder arround... I respect every single member of this forum and even more guys like George and Dave that even being gurus with tons of work to do, keep coming here to share knowledge.
Please, be carefull to avoid judging people by your opinions or impressions. I know you are standing at your point and probably didn't meant to do it... internet is cold and can be cruel...

PS: my bad english can make myself missunderstood as well, sorry if I offended you.

white noise · Post by **white noise** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:27 pm

fhn_lopes,

no hard feelings at all my friend!

Strat78 · Post by **Strat78** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:33 pm

What sickens me is trying to sell stuff through eBay. The fees are criminal! And they get you twice with their paypal fees. I could not get an amp to sell on eBay until I dropped it down to $1500. Ebay took $150 and paypal took $50, Shipping cost me $60. The amp cost probably around $1800 with MM granny's, Metro parts, custom mojo cab, NOS caps etc... Never mind the month of labor, much less fine tuning the amp for another month. Depressing and enraging! The sad thing for me is that the guy who bought it said it was the best amp he ever played.

I don't even care if I make a profit, I just don't want to see some A-hole in Mountain View CA, who sits on his ass for a living, grossly profiting from my hard work.

vanhalen5150 · Post by **vanhalen5150** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:51 pm

Sad fact is, its pretty much impossible to make any money in building amps. In the last few years its obvious it just isn't there. Ask anyone who's been doing it and they will tell you to give your head a shake.

Perhaps on a local level its possible to a small degree.

There are finds like this on ebay now:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLANKENSHIP-VAR ... 33888222b9

I've been watching this since I own the exact same amp. I think he's even dropped the price a few times and re listed it a couple of times. This tells me a lot.

A few years ago, that would have been gone in minutes. the market just isn't there anymore. unless your name is Friedman, Metropoulos, Blankenship etc..doing $150-$500 mods...your just chasing your own tail. The mods and schematics are all over the place.

Bottom line is build for yourself or friends and enjoy it. The cost and amount of time you put into these things should tell you that you will never "make" any money off these.

vanhalen5150 · Post by **vanhalen5150** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 3:52 pm

BTW, anyone who had seen pics of my amps before the forum photo's were lost will tell you my amps are "priceless".

Strat78 · Post by **Strat78** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:42 pm

Yeah, but I was channeling Ted, Don, Sandy, Valerie, Bill Gazzarii and a teenage Ed himself and that still didn't bring in the big bucks! OMG, people don't care about those things. It's all about cup holders, lightning bolts, hot glue and sharpies!

Strat78 · Post by **Strat78** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:47 pm

vanhalen5150 wrote:BTW, anyone who had seen pics of my amps before the forum photo's were lost will tell you my amps are "priceless".

emmjaydubya · Post by **emmjaydubya** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:27 pm

Strat78 wrote:Yeah, but I was channeling Ted, Don, Sandy, Valerie, Bill Gazzarii and a teenage Ed himself and that still didn't bring in the big bucks! OMG, people don't care about those things. It's all about cup holders, lightning bolts, hot glue and sharpies!

Haha! Don't worry, I don't think he's selling very many of those anyway.

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