A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack.

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 08:43 AM

I was approached by a fella that heard my 1/2 stack. He wants to buy it. It's a Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100 and a 1960A cab. Both were purchased new about 6 months ago. I like my amp and don't want to sell it. He keeps increasing his offer. He's right at what I paid for it now, which is much more than he could buy it for on Ebay or Craigslist. I know this will probably sound strange, but I have no intention of selling him the amp even if he offers me more than I paid. I like the amp and I look at amps kind of like guitars, no two sound exactly the same. Besides that, mine is broken in and, hopefully, through the infant mortality stage (electronics and tubes generally break early if they're going to break). Last, why hassle myself. If I did sell it, then *I* would have to find another one. Sure, I could get another off of Ebay (no new ones left, to my knowledge) for a lot less than he's willing to pay me, but why would I want to hassle over it. I don't know, I guess I'm strange. He's strange too, however. I told him he could buy the same rig off of Ebay or Craigslist for at least 30% less than he's already offered for mine. He's hell bent on my rig, however. He says it sounds better than others he's heard.

FTR, I've told the cat he may as well give up because I'm not going to sell. He insists I will, it's just a matter of money. Have you ever had anyone do that to you? Would you sell something you dearly love? I also have a particular guitar that I would never sell. It's not collectible, nothing fancy, but it feels like it was built for me and I've never owned any other guitar that gives me as much enjoyment and I've owned Andersons, Les Pauls, etc...

riffdrive · 05-07-2009, 09:24 AM

Sooner or later he'll get it through his head that you're not going to sell no matter what he offers. I have a Fender Showman amp that I've owned since I was 12 - it was my first really good guitar amp and it's been with me for 20 years now, I'll never sell it - so I know where you're coming from.

I agree that no two tube amps will sound exactly alike. Sometimes you get one that was built when all the stars were in perfect alignment, and it just has the tone of the gods, like the thing was assembled by God and bench tested by St. Peter. Sounds like your TSL was built on such a day.

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 09:24 AM

Just don't sell it if you don't want to...

solarburnDSL50 · 05-07-2009, 09:28 AM

He's stalking your Marshall. Be careful man.

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vintager12

Just don't sell it if you don't want to...

I won't, I just wish this guy would stop bugging me about it. I don't know how to tell him any clearer that I'm not going to sell it.

Webslinger · 05-07-2009, 11:39 AM

Something doesnt sound right about this whole thing.
Is there anything special about your rig that you havent mentioned? Any mods...signed by Jim Marshall...demoed by some rockstar, etc?

Maybe it was of of those jewels that rolled off the line with everything perfect, but does it sound that much better than another well broken-in TSL/1960 rig? Considering it's your baby, try to be objective for a minute for the sake of this discussion. If it sounds good, but only a few degrees better than average, than you'd think this guy could take his money & effort and find or create something similar?

It could be a pyschological thing too...you know, everybody wants what he CANT have sort of thing. I'll bet that if you turned around and said "OK sold!".... all of a sudden he'd have some excuse why he cant buy it.

I used to have a nice car and more than a few people were constantly bugging me to sell it to them when I didnt want to. But when I was ready to sell about a year later....every one of these clowns had a dozen reasons why they couldnt buy it.

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 11:52 AM

Webslinger,

I don't know if it has any special mojo or not. It's completely stock right down to the tubes. I bought it new around 6 months ago and have done nothing but play it. Other than the speakers being broke in nice, it's just as it was when I brought it home. The fella that keeps bugging me is the one saying it sounds better than others he's heard. My reason for not selling it is I'm simply happy with it, don't care to have to go through the process of finding and buying another (not sure I could find another new one, for one thing). For me (not needing the money), the hassle of having to search for another outweighs making a few dollars on the deal. Besides, I KNOW mine works great and it's pretty much through the breaking in (when things tend to break) period. Other than there being a few bones to be made, I have no incentive to sell it.

Btw, I went through a similar situation as you with one of my motorcycles. I had a pristine '89 Springer Softail that was in darn near show bike condition. It was lowered, had apes, pipes, etc... I put it up for sale and everybody and their brother wanted it, but none could come up with the coin. It ended up taking me around 4 months to sell it.

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Speak

I won't, I just wish this guy would stop bugging me about it. I don't know how to tell him any clearer that I'm not going to sell it.

Just send an email to him with this inside:

Hi .....(his name).....,

Why do you try to buy my Marshall amp if i'm not gonna' sell her ?
So please stop with stalking her and try to get another one.

Bye,

Frank

--------------------

That's all you gotta' do

Cheers.

PS: If he's not gonna' stop use verbal abuse (insults)

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 12:18 PM

If I were bigger (150 lbs soaking wet), I might would tell him I'll beat his ass if he asks me again. lol

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Speak

If I were bigger (150 lbs soaking wet), I might would tell him I'll beat his ass if he asks me again. lol

you can ask a friend

Mickey Shane · 05-07-2009, 12:36 PM

Everything has a price. Tell him it's 5K for the whole halfStack, plus you'll let him have the speaker cable. If he bites, he's got more money than sense, and you'll get a great deal.

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mickey Shane

Everything has a price. Tell him it's 5K for the whole halfStack, plus you'll let him have the speaker cable. If he bites, he's got more money than sense, and you'll get a great deal.

The guy must be a creep, don't let him come to your house

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 01:14 PM

No way in hell he's coming to my house. The amp isn't for sale. He saw/heard the amp at 2 of our gigs and got my number off of our business card and has it in his head he can get me to sell it to him. Ain't gonna happen.

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Speak

No way in hell he's coming to my house. The amp isn't for sale. He saw/heard the amp at 2 of our gigs and got my number off of our business card and has it in his head he can get me to sell it to him. Ain't gonna happen.

tell him he can get it for 6k, for that money you can buy 2 or 3 tsl's

Ken · 05-07-2009, 02:09 PM

Look, tell him to buy a TSL half stack, and you'll trade it for yours plus cash. You can try out his and make sure it's in good working order.

While I doubt a TSL is anything special assuming it's in good order (unlike a guitar, which can be unique) I do understand how some people get it in their head that a "commodity" is somehow unique. If he's serious, he'll take your offer.

Ken

steelhorse · 05-07-2009, 02:14 PM

He sounds like he's trying to save himself the hassle of having to order one for himself + the freight fees or he's messing with you to see what it will take to 'break you'.

Tell him to go pound sand.

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 02:50 PM

I think he's a grade a, first class NUT. I do believe that different amps sound different, even the same model. I've especially experienced this with Fenders (Twin and Deluxe Reverbs) and my Marshall sounds fantastic. That said, I've not heard anything out of my TSL that makes me think it's the holy grail of TSLs or anything. I love the amp, however. I tend to agree with Steelhorse. I think this clown is just trying to save himself the hassle of locating one and having to pay the shipping, etc... IOWs, it's better to buy mine for the same reason I want to keep it. It's in front of him and he can see and hear it and can see the condition.

I might try the ridiculous price tatic some of you are recommending. Obviously, telling him "no" isn't getting anywhere. I don't want to sell my amp, but if the fool is willing to give me triple what it's worth, then I'll gladly seek out another one. There has to be one somewhere.

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 03:02 PM

You just gotta throw an empty whiskey bottle in his head

No just kidding..... Just tell him he can get it for 6k

Or maybe let him come to a pratice roo and let the amp sound terrible then he will stop stalking your amp....

steelhorse · 05-07-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Speak

No way in hell he's coming to my house. The amp isn't for sale. He saw/heard the amp at 2 of our gigs and got my number off of our business card and has it in his head he can get me to sell it to him. Ain't gonna happen.

Tell him to paypal you 5K for it or quit calling.

Vintager12 · 05-07-2009, 04:57 PM

Tell him he can buy it, and let him come to your band pratice, get some old and cheap or free speakers and cut into them, also get some old broken el34's and put them in the amp let him hear how it sounds like that and he's gonna' stalk another guy...

Webslinger · 05-07-2009, 05:01 PM

It looks like you're gonna have to get a little rude with the guy.

I read some of the posts with clever ideas about doctoring it to make it sound bad. Funny...but not practical..and why should you have to go through the trouble.

OR if you can do this:
Set your cellphone on silent/vibrate then place it on top (or behind) of the head, and have a buddy call you. Do this as you're showing the guy the amp. It will make the worst buzzing & popping sounds you ever heard....you'll think it's shorting-out and ready to blow every tube.

Or tell him it's been acting up and you're exchanging it under some extended warranty (or already did and it's a not the same unit he heard before)

I'd just be up front with him though.
Dont scream or threaten him, but just be firm & assertive. Tell him you love the rig and you're keeping it, and you're getting annoyed he keeps bringing it up and "please dont ask me again OK"
Do it like that...but not too nasty...never burn bridges...things change and ya never know if you might actualy want ot sell it in the future.

Frank Speak · 05-07-2009, 05:11 PM

Yes, it's fun to joke around on here about it, but I won't act on any of the suggestions. Actually, I'd be afraid he'd take me up on it. I really don't want to sell. It's not about money. I like the amp a lot and don't see any point to selling something I like regardless of the money. I'll likely just start avoiding his calls (caller ID is a great feature) if he doesn't knock it off. He called again today, btw. I joked with him a bit and asked him what makes him think it's the amp and the not the fingers?

Vintager12 · 05-08-2009, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank Speak

Yes, it's fun to joke around on here about it, but I won't act on any of the suggestions. Actually, I'd be afraid he'd take me up on it. I really don't want to sell. It's not about money. I like the amp a lot and don't see any point to selling something I like regardless of the money. I'll likely just start avoiding his calls (caller ID is a great feature) if he doesn't knock it off. He called again today, btw. I joked with him a bit and asked him what makes him think it's the amp and the not the fingers?

That's the right way, just joke with him and don't come at the serious part of this.

Frank Speak · 05-13-2009, 08:28 AM

I *think* he's given up; hasn't called in a few days. Woo Hoo!

Metallon · 05-13-2009, 08:49 AM

Man, that is without a doubt the weirdest story I've ever heard related to equipment selling o.o what a strange guy :S

I wish something like that woulda happen to me. I'd make a ridiculous offer like 10 grand just to see the reaction. :P

05-07-2009, 08:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. I was approached by a fella that heard my 1/2 stack. He wants to buy it. It's a Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 100 and a 1960A cab. Both were purchased new about 6 months ago. I like my amp and don't want to sell it. He keeps increasing his offer. He's right at what I paid for it now, which is much more than he could buy it for on Ebay or Craigslist. I know this will probably sound strange, but I have no intention of selling him the amp even if he offers me more than I paid. I like the amp and I look at amps kind of like guitars, no two sound exactly the same. Besides that, mine is broken in and, hopefully, through the infant mortality stage (electronics and tubes generally break early if they're going to break). Last, why hassle myself. If I did sell it, then I would have to find another one. Sure, I could get another off of Ebay (no new ones left, to my knowledge) for a lot less than he's willing to pay me, but why would I want to hassle over it. I don't know, I guess I'm strange. He's strange too, however. I told him he could buy the same rig off of Ebay or Craigslist for at least 30% less than he's already offered for mine. He's hell bent on my rig, however. He says it sounds better than others he's heard. FTR, I've told the cat he may as well give up because I'm not going to sell. He insists I will, it's just a matter of money. Have you ever had anyone do that to you? Would you sell something you dearly love? I also have a particular guitar that I would never sell. It's not collectible, nothing fancy, but it feels like it was built for me and I've never owned any other guitar that gives me as much enjoyment and I've owned Andersons, Les Pauls, etc...

05-07-2009, 09:24 AM	#2 (permalink)
riffdrive Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: north Georgia mountains Posts: 237	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Sooner or later he'll get it through his head that you're not going to sell no matter what he offers. I have a Fender Showman amp that I've owned since I was 12 - it was my first really good guitar amp and it's been with me for 20 years now, I'll never sell it - so I know where you're coming from. I agree that no two tube amps will sound exactly alike. Sometimes you get one that was built when all the stars were in perfect alignment, and it just has the tone of the gods, like the thing was assembled by God and bench tested by St. Peter. Sounds like your TSL was built on such a day. __________________ ----------------------------------------------------------- 2001 Marshall DSL 50 2005 Marshall Mode Four Avatar 2x12 (1x Hellatone 60, 1x Greenback) Taylor Standard Solidbody Ibanez RG2EX2

05-07-2009, 09:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
Vintager12 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 693	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Just don't sell it if you don't want to... __________________ The Emperor of the Vintage Modern.

05-07-2009, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
Webslinger Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sopranoland, NJ Posts: 439	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Something doesnt sound right about this whole thing. Is there anything special about your rig that you havent mentioned? Any mods...signed by Jim Marshall...demoed by some rockstar, etc? Maybe it was of of those jewels that rolled off the line with everything perfect, but does it sound that much better than another well broken-in TSL/1960 rig? Considering it's your baby, try to be objective for a minute for the sake of this discussion. If it sounds good, but only a few degrees better than average, than you'd think this guy could take his money & effort and find or create something similar? It could be a pyschological thing too...you know, everybody wants what he CANT have sort of thing. I'll bet that if you turned around and said "OK sold!".... all of a sudden he'd have some excuse why he cant buy it. I used to have a nice car and more than a few people were constantly bugging me to sell it to them when I didnt want to. But when I was ready to sell about a year later....every one of these clowns had a dozen reasons why they couldnt buy it.

05-07-2009, 11:52 AM	#7 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Webslinger, I don't know if it has any special mojo or not. It's completely stock right down to the tubes. I bought it new around 6 months ago and have done nothing but play it. Other than the speakers being broke in nice, it's just as it was when I brought it home. The fella that keeps bugging me is the one saying it sounds better than others he's heard. My reason for not selling it is I'm simply happy with it, don't care to have to go through the process of finding and buying another (not sure I could find another new one, for one thing). For me (not needing the money), the hassle of having to search for another outweighs making a few dollars on the deal. Besides, I KNOW mine works great and it's pretty much through the breaking in (when things tend to break) period. Other than there being a few bones to be made, I have no incentive to sell it. Btw, I went through a similar situation as you with one of my motorcycles. I had a pristine '89 Springer Softail that was in darn near show bike condition. It was lowered, had apes, pipes, etc... I put it up for sale and everybody and their brother wanted it, but none could come up with the coin. It ended up taking me around 4 months to sell it.

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05-07-2009, 12:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. If I were bigger (150 lbs soaking wet), I might would tell him I'll beat his ass if he asks me again. lol

05-07-2009, 12:36 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mickey Shane Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Denton, Texaz US Posts: 7	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Everything has a price. Tell him it's 5K for the whole halfStack, plus you'll let him have the speaker cable. If he bites, he's got more money than sense, and you'll get a great deal.

05-07-2009, 01:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. No way in hell he's coming to my house. The amp isn't for sale. He saw/heard the amp at 2 of our gigs and got my number off of our business card and has it in his head he can get me to sell it to him. Ain't gonna happen.

05-07-2009, 02:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
Ken Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arlington Heights, IL Posts: 1,613	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Look, tell him to buy a TSL half stack, and you'll trade it for yours plus cash. You can try out his and make sure it's in good working order. While I doubt a TSL is anything special assuming it's in good order (unlike a guitar, which can be unique) I do understand how some people get it in their head that a "commodity" is somehow unique. If he's serious, he'll take your offer. Ken

05-07-2009, 02:14 PM	#16 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,970	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. He sounds like he's trying to save himself the hassle of having to order one for himself + the freight fees or he's messing with you to see what it will take to 'break you'. Tell him to go pound sand. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

05-07-2009, 02:50 PM	#17 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. I think he's a grade a, first class NUT. I do believe that different amps sound different, even the same model. I've especially experienced this with Fenders (Twin and Deluxe Reverbs) and my Marshall sounds fantastic. That said, I've not heard anything out of my TSL that makes me think it's the holy grail of TSLs or anything. I love the amp, however. I tend to agree with Steelhorse. I think this clown is just trying to save himself the hassle of locating one and having to pay the shipping, etc... IOWs, it's better to buy mine for the same reason I want to keep it. It's in front of him and he can see and hear it and can see the condition. I might try the ridiculous price tatic some of you are recommending. Obviously, telling him "no" isn't getting anywhere. I don't want to sell my amp, but if the fool is willing to give me triple what it's worth, then I'll gladly seek out another one. There has to be one somewhere.

05-07-2009, 03:02 PM	#18 (permalink)
Vintager12 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 693	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. You just gotta throw an empty whiskey bottle in his head No just kidding..... Just tell him he can get it for 6k Or maybe let him come to a pratice roo and let the amp sound terrible then he will stop stalking your amp.... __________________ The Emperor of the Vintage Modern.

05-07-2009, 04:57 PM	#20 (permalink)
Vintager12 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 693	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Tell him he can buy it, and let him come to your band pratice, get some old and cheap or free speakers and cut into them, also get some old broken el34's and put them in the amp let him hear how it sounds like that and he's gonna' stalk another guy... __________________ The Emperor of the Vintage Modern.

05-07-2009, 05:01 PM	#21 (permalink)
Webslinger Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Sopranoland, NJ Posts: 439	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. It looks like you're gonna have to get a little rude with the guy. I read some of the posts with clever ideas about doctoring it to make it sound bad. Funny...but not practical..and why should you have to go through the trouble. OR if you can do this: Set your cellphone on silent/vibrate then place it on top (or behind) of the head, and have a buddy call you. Do this as you're showing the guy the amp. It will make the worst buzzing & popping sounds you ever heard....you'll think it's shorting-out and ready to blow every tube. Or tell him it's been acting up and you're exchanging it under some extended warranty (or already did and it's a not the same unit he heard before) I'd just be up front with him though. Dont scream or threaten him, but just be firm & assertive. Tell him you love the rig and you're keeping it, and you're getting annoyed he keeps bringing it up and "please dont ask me again OK" Do it like that...but not too nasty...never burn bridges...things change and ya never know if you might actualy want ot sell it in the future.

05-07-2009, 05:11 PM	#22 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Yes, it's fun to joke around on here about it, but I won't act on any of the suggestions. Actually, I'd be afraid he'd take me up on it. I really don't want to sell. It's not about money. I like the amp a lot and don't see any point to selling something I like regardless of the money. I'll likely just start avoiding his calls (caller ID is a great feature) if he doesn't knock it off. He called again today, btw. I joked with him a bit and asked him what makes him think it's the amp and the not the fingers?

05-13-2009, 08:28 AM	#24 (permalink)
Frank Speak Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 53	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. I think he's given up; hasn't called in a few days. Woo Hoo!

05-13-2009, 08:49 AM	#25 (permalink)
Metallon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sweden Posts: 465	Re: A dude wants to buy my TSL 1/2 stack. Man, that is without a doubt the weirdest story I've ever heard related to equipment selling o.o what a strange guy :S I wish something like that woulda happen to me. I'd make a ridiculous offer like 10 grand just to see the reaction. :P

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