Anyone regret buying a vintage amp and wish they went with something newer?

[RWMusic]

Last year I went on a vintage marshall buying spree and ended up with three amps. '72 JMP 50, '76 JMP 50, and an '81 JMP 2203

I didn't pay online prices for them, but not too far off. I'm fortunate to have them, although they aren't all original. Changed caps, one of them has a non original power transformer, another has a tube fx loop installed. Both of the JMP 50's have a master volume, etc.

They sound good, but I just can't shake the feeling that they can break down at any moment. These amps are around 40-50 years old. Anyone know what I mean? And I admit that I'm not looking forward to getting them serviced if the time comes. Actually I haven't haven't had them serviced at all since I bought them. Mostly just plug and play for me.

I keep wondering if I did it over again if it would have been a better idea to go for a new reissue JCM 800, or maybe something like a Metro Plex that can get all eras of Marshall tones. Newer, less prone to breaking.

Although I also wonder being an older design, that these vintage amps are easier to repair vs some of the newer stuff.

Another thought that crossed my mind. At what point to these vintage amps become just another clone when parts are changed due to failure, etc.

 

[StingRay85]

The old amps probably hold their value quite well, but I would recommend you to have them serviced. A PT or OT that goes up in smoke is going to hurt the value significantly. They might me long overdue for a recap of the electrolytics. If you're not happy, just sell them and buy something new(er)?

 

[FleshOnGear]

Last year I went on a vintage marshall buying spree and ended up with three amps. '72 JMP 50, '76 JMP 50, and an '81 JMP 2203

I didn't pay online prices for them, but not too far off. I'm fortunate to have them, although they aren't all original. Changed caps, one of them has a non original power transformer, another has a tube fx loop installed. Both of the JMP 50's have a master volume, etc.

They sound good, but I just can't shake the feeling that they can break down at any moment. These amps are around 40-50 years old. Anyone know what I mean? And I admit that I'm not looking forward to getting them serviced if the time comes. Actually I haven't haven't had them serviced at all since I bought them. Mostly just plug and play for me.

I keep wondering if I did it over again if it would have been a better idea to go for a new reissue JCM 800, or maybe something like a Metro Plex that can get all eras of Marshall tones. Newer, less prone to breaking.

Although I also wonder being an older design, that these vintage amps are easier to repair vs some of the newer stuff.

Another thought that crossed my mind. At what point to these vintage amps become just another clone when parts are changed due to failure, etc.

Ah, the old Ship of Theseus dilemma. Theoretically the only components that need replacement are the electrolytic filter caps. Of course, less common failures can take out things like coupling caps and transformers. I think a properly cared-for amp should encounter those failures infrequently enough that you shouldn’t worry about having a “vintage” amp full of new components.

I will also say, you should have a good tech look at those amps ASAP. Give yourself some peace of mind that no failures are imminent. Make sure you’re familiar with basic tube amp troubleshooting, so little problems don’t become big ones. I think that if you’re willing to get an initial health checkup, the amps should be as solid as a new one.

 

[Sustainium]

Hey why stop now, add a couple more new reissue amps and have it all!

 

[Crikey]

Last year I went on a vintage marshall buying spree and ended up with three amps. '72 JMP 50, '76 JMP 50, and an '81 JMP 2203

I didn't pay online prices for them, but not too far off. I'm fortunate to have them, although they aren't all original. Changed caps, one of them has a non original power transformer, another has a tube fx loop installed. Both of the JMP 50's have a master volume, etc.

They sound good, but I just can't shake the feeling that they can break down at any moment. These amps are around 40-50 years old. Anyone know what I mean? And I admit that I'm not looking forward to getting them serviced if the time comes. Actually I haven't haven't had them serviced at all since I bought them. Mostly just plug and play for me.

I keep wondering if I did it over again if it would have been a better idea to go for a new reissue JCM 800, or maybe something like a Metro Plex that can get all eras of Marshall tones. Newer, less prone to breaking.

Although I also wonder being an older design, that these vintage amps are easier to repair vs some of the newer stuff.

Another thought that crossed my mind. At what point to these vintage amps become just another clone when parts are changed due to failure, etc.

Sold vintage and went friedman runt 50. Love it!

 

[neikeel]

These amps have lasted between 40 and 60 years
Look after them and they will do the same
Use them regularly
Check them over periodically, don't let a lazy shotgun tech loose on them and you can be happy.
Most that fail have been modded and abused or neglected

 

[Leonard Neemoil]

They'll last much longer than modern crap. I wish I had one of those you mentioned.

 

[MikeyV]

I don't have any amps newer that 1981. Now, I only play Madison Square Bedroom, and I think that if I actually gigged that I would want something newer - less fear of damage and less fear of failure.

That said, I've never regretted buying old amps. I regret not buying more when I had the chance at cheaper prices.

 

[playloud]

Never. I've regretted selling them though

If anything, I'm partial to the idea that the longevity of an amp is proportional to how long it has lasted already. If you asked me to choose between a vintage Marshall and an untested brand new design, I'd pick the former to last another x years - both in terms of fashion and mechanical integrity - every time.

There are some parts which have more limited lifetimes (tubes and electrolytic capacitors), and may require replacement within the player's lifetime, but these are more likely to be replaced too often than the other way round. Many people have replaced power tubes they thought were "old", only to find a set of new current productions fail on them immediately afterwards ("infant mortality" is significant!)

 

[V-man]

The unintended wildcard is “modified”.

I can definitely see buyer’s remorse paying close to a premium with certain things done in molestation to an amp, particularly chassis holes and other seim-irreversible mods.

As for the old gear, Not so much. I have a 2000s era 1959 and a 70s era 2203. Someone else said this in so many words: 2 years past the warranty, your 2020s model is just as vulnerable as your 1970s model. Most replaceable components make no difference what age your amp is… caps is caps, tubes is tubes, sockets etc. is… and the same goes for bench time (until you get more modern and complex circuits)

The only significant difference between old and new is the initial hit on value and the replacement costs on catastrophic failures. Now, as a gigging/touring musician where the equipment is vulnerable to stage/traffic accidents, theft, and mishandling on a daily/weekly basis, more readily-replaceable unit makes sense… but Bonamasa Angus and Malsteim didn’t tour new shit. They had money to do otherwise, but the point was they had the confidence to tour with the gear.

 

[mickeydg5]

No.
I bought a 1960 5F6-A and will never regret it.

 

[vogonpoet]

Same here, nope!

In fact I appreciate the gear even more. Who knows what stories it could tell

 

[Steve Smith]

Never. I've regretted selling them though

If anything, I'm partial to the idea that the longevity of an amp is proportional to how long it has lasted already. If you asked me to choose between a vintage Marshall and an untested brand new design, I'd pick the former to last another x years - both in terms of fashion and mechanical integrity - every time.

There are some parts which have more limited lifetimes (tubes and electrolytic capacitors), and may require replacement within the player's lifetime, but these are more likely to be replaced too often than the other way round. Many people have replaced power tubes they thought were "old", only to find a set of new current productions fail on them immediately afterwards ("infant mortality" is significant!)

I am 57 now and I got a 76 JMP Master Model 100 in 84 for 200 quid from a mate..
It was the transition model with the metal switches when Marshall were struggling and just cobbled together amps with any stuff that was lying around in the MK warehouse. It was the same one that Scotty and Robbo used on the Jailbreak album, I think. That amp made me a hell of of a lot of money in the 80's and 90s in the rock clubs in England.. It is very loud and very raunchy rather than the sweeter tone of the 50.... I used it with an old Tube Screamer, an Ibanez Chorus pedal and a Dunlop Wah. It was knackered, it crackled and popped, I would give it a whack to make it behave. It was abused and had beer spilt down the back, and left in the van in all weathers. The tolex was coming off, but it never failed or gave up on me 👍
A few years ago I got it fully restored by Martin Ballinger... a Marshall trained tech lad from my neck of the woods in Newcastle...
Check his site out. He builds bespoke hand wired amps in the original Marshall tradition called Stoneham Ampplification, I cant speak of him highly enough.
That amp is in my music room and it aint going nowhere.
For live work now, I use an AVT 150 Valvesrate 1x12 combo from the 90's with a 1x12 bottom extension cab.. and a custom built Frankenstrat maple neck... I think the Alnico in the bridge is a little gritty, I think I would like to replace it with a SD Invader, much cleaner.

For backup I have an 82 Tokai Strat, one of the first in UK. The original guitar has been butchered. It was blue with a white plate.

Those original Tokai's were so well made.

I had it resprayed black with a black plate. SD invador in the bridge, one of the first Floyd Rose in the UK put in. Had the fretboard flattened and Dunlop Les Paul replica frets put in...

It plays beautifully all these years, wish it had 22 frets though.

Cheers guys really nice to chat.

Smitty 😇🥰

 

[Steve Smith]

Same here, nope!

In fact I appreciate the gear even more. Who knows what stories it could tell

My greatest regret is selling my 76 Fender Twin and a brilliant JCM 900 twin channel. And I also sold a Moog Opus 3 synth... they go for about 3 grand now, bah... apart from that, no regrets

 

[Steve Smith]

The unintended wildcard is “modified”.

I can definitely see buyer’s remorse paying close to a premium with certain things done in molestation to an amp, particularly chassis holes and other seim-irreversible mods.

As for the old gear, Not so much. I have a 2000s era 1959 and a 70s era 2203. Someone else said this in so many words: 2 years past the warranty, your 2020s model is just as vulnerable as your 1970s model. Most replaceable components make no difference what age your amp is… caps is caps, tubes is tubes, sockets etc. is… and the same goes for bench time (until you get more modern and complex circuits)

The only significant difference between old and new is the initial hit on value and the replacement costs on catastrophic failures. Now, as a gigging/touring musician where the equipment is vulnerable to stage/traffic accidents, theft, and mishandling on a daily/weekly basis, more readily-replaceable unit makes sense… but Bonamasa Angus and Malsteim didn’t tour new shit. They had money to do otherwise, but the point was they had the confidence to tour with the gear.

I absolutely love Joe and I love Angus and his tone... I believe that Angus just used wound up superlead 50s from the early 70's and a tone boost with his SG... brilliant underated player in my view... he created so much tone and sustain just with his fingers. Huge Joe fan also. I respect Ingwie for his brilliance and technique but not a massive fan if I am honest. He gets a bit too tecnical sometimes at the expense of feel in my humble opinion.. however a brilliant player..
The original technical guy was this man.. and also Dunnerry..
Cheers mate 🥰🥰😇😇



There may or may not have been a little bit of Sulphate taken in the dressing room beforehand. I will let you be the judge of that 😅😅



Great respect for Frank xx

 

[Steve Smith]

I absolutely love Joe and I love Angus and his tone... I believe that Angus just used wound up superlead 50s from the early 70's and a tone boost with his SG... brilliant underated player in my view... he created so much tone and sustain just with his fingers. Huge Joe fan also. I respect Ingwie for his brilliance and technique but not a massive fan if I am honest. He gets a bit too tecnical sometimes at the expense of feel in my humble opinion.. however a brilliant player..
The original technical guy was this man.. and also Dunnerry..
Cheers mate 🥰🥰😇😇



There may or may not have been a little bit of Sulphate taken in the dressing room beforehand. I will let you be the judge of that 😅😅



Great respect for Frank xx

Basically IT Bites used simple polyrhythms, a very simple trick... Their riffs sound incredibly weird and complex.. but it was a simple trick. The drummer playing in common time and Frank and the bass player playing over a 6/8 pattern. It creates a seemingly complex pattern. Then they add a few twists. Rush songs are way more complex than this...

 

[Matthews Guitars]

Short answer: Nope. Because I can always buy other amps.

That was easy.

 

[Steve Smith]

I absolutely love Joe and I love Angus and his tone... I believe that Angus just used wound up superlead 50s from the early 70's and a tone boost with his SG... brilliant underated player in my view... he created so much tone and sustain just with his fingers. Huge Joe fan also. I respect Ingwie for his brilliance and technique but not a massive fan if I am honest. He gets a bit too tecnical sometimes at the expense of feel in my humble opinion.. however a brilliant player..
The original technical guy was this man.. and also Dunnerry..
Cheers mate 🥰🥰😇😇



There may or may not have been a little bit of Sulphate taken in the dressing room beforehand. I will let you be the judge of that 😅😅



Great respect for Frank xx

The intro is interesting. The drummer playing common time and the guitar and bass playing around a 6/8 pattern. But they drop a beat at the 4th bar. So I dont know. So 3 bars of 4/4 then a bar of 3/4 on the drums with the guitar and bass playing a 6/8 shuffle over it. Quite clever but nothing groundbreaking. I think the mid section of the track Farewell to Kings by Rush or La Villa Strangiato is better...I think Neil just went into Buddy Rich mode on Farewell and Geddy followed him. Alex thought " what the fuck am I supposed to play over this!!!??"
I think they just said to him, go crazy and play what the fuck you like...

 

[Steve Smith]

Last year I went on a vintage marshall buying spree and ended up with three amps. '72 JMP 50, '76 JMP 50, and an '81 JMP 2203

I didn't pay online prices for them, but not too far off. I'm fortunate to have them, although they aren't all original. Changed caps, one of them has a non original power transformer, another has a tube fx loop installed. Both of the JMP 50's have a master volume, etc.

They sound good, but I just can't shake the feeling that they can break down at any moment. These amps are around 40-50 years old. Anyone know what I mean? And I admit that I'm not looking forward to getting them serviced if the time comes. Actually I haven't haven't had them serviced at all since I bought them. Mostly just plug and play for me.

I keep wondering if I did it over again if it would have been a better idea to go for a new reissue JCM 800, or maybe something like a Metro Plex that can get all eras of Marshall tones. Newer, less prone to breaking.

Although I also wonder being an older design, that these vintage amps are easier to repair vs some of the newer stuff.

Another thought that crossed my mind. At what point to these vintage amps become just another clone when parts are changed due to failure, etc.

My own personal opinion is that these original amps overdrive so well. The transition from clean to overdriven is so smooth with the original valves and transformers, it is clean power in my humble opinion, no grit as I say... there is much less gain on the old amps, but get yourself an old tube screamer and a good clean powerful pickup, the SD quarter pounder if you want that Gary Moore tone in your strat or a SD Invader humbucker in the bridge for an Eddie soubd then with an old Marshall just wound up a bit with the Tubey pedal and a SD of your choice. Pure clean power and sustain, no grit.. just my honest humble opinion my friend... I bloody hate the Alnico in my Frankenstrat, too fizzy, gonna dump an Invader in there xxx

 

[Steve Smith]

Last year I went on a vintage marshall buying spree and ended up with three amps. '72 JMP 50, '76 JMP 50, and an '81 JMP 2203

I didn't pay online prices for them, but not too far off. I'm fortunate to have them, although they aren't all original. Changed caps, one of them has a non original power transformer, another has a tube fx loop installed. Both of the JMP 50's have a master volume, etc.

They sound good, but I just can't shake the feeling that they can break down at any moment. These amps are around 40-50 years old. Anyone know what I mean? And I admit that I'm not looking forward to getting them serviced if the time comes. Actually I haven't haven't had them serviced at all since I bought them. Mostly just plug and play for me.

I keep wondering if I did it over again if it would have been a better idea to go for a new reissue JCM 800, or maybe something like a Metro Plex that can get all eras of Marshall tones. Newer, less prone to breaking.

Although I also wonder being an older design, that these vintage amps are easier to repair vs some of the newer stuff.

Another thought that crossed my mind. At what point to these vintage amps become just another clone when parts are changed due to failure, etc.

I was never a fan of the 800s to be honest... I had a 900 in 92 that I loved, much more raunch and attack... the 800's had too "soft" a sound for me. Just an opinion