WTB- Sunn Model T (first gen)

[mike_sims]

uh oh. James is gonna track 'em down and tax 'em. ha

[jdfarrell81]

After my recent experiences, I just worry about the folks who end up paying $2000+ on Ebay for these aging workhorse amps that almost certainly need extensive (read: expensive) work to get them back in tip-top form.

Paying $1000-$1500 for a Model T and another $400-$500 to get it serviced, recapped, retubed, etc. seems reasonable enough--that's what I did--but if someone pays, say, $2300 and the amp still needs $400-$500 worth of work, suddenly it's a $3000 investment, which is definitely pushing it.

[madaradio]

see, that guys amp is the perfect example that there are "mint" condition Model T's out there.  I mean, it's not like they only made 200 of them.  I wouldn't know what to guess, but I'm pretty sure there where a whole whack of them produced.  That leads me to believe my amp is somewhere out there, mint condition, complete with matching 4x15 cab!

[jdfarrell81]

That leads me to believe my amp is somewhere out there, mint condition, complete with matching 4x15 cab!

Out of curiosity, why the interest in only getting a Model T that's in mint condition? Is is a functionality concern, an aesthetic concern, or both. It's easy enough to fix most cosmetic problems, and--aside from power transformers--you can bring a beat up Model T back to specs for FAR less than the premium you'd pay for an absolutely flawless vintage Model T.

Just my 2 cents. I bought my 2nd Gen for $800, and it was still a great deal even after the $600 I paid to get it completely serviced.

[mike_sims]

Yeah, I'd rather pay a decent amount for something that works instead of paying a ton for something that looks pretty. Just me though.

[mike_sims]

So, the guy ended up e-mailing me back and saying something like he's gonna have to raise the price now because he has a property tax he has to pay or something. He said he's gonna sell it for over 3 grand. lmao. I edited my inital post in this thread about spending, i WOULD be willing to pay between 1400-1700 for a first Gen, not 2grand eBay prices.

[jdfarrell81]

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/1841831131.html

This is a BEAUTIFUL sight, but I seriously doubt he'll get the price he's asking. A lot of amazing Sunn gear has been trickling out of Baltimore recently, and it's starting to look like the same guy is responsible for most of it.

[mike_sims]

Yeah I'm trying to buy just the head off him, don't know how much he wants though.

[mike_sims]

Just got off the phone with the dude. He wants 2 grand "because one went on eBay for $2125 and it only had two tubes". Exactly why prices are skyrocketing for these things. Everyone see's someone else do it, I don't think that's a proper way to dictate a price. I'll just wait for good ol' stanosaur to sell one... If he ever does. Stan!!! save me from these eBay losses! 

[riotriot]

Think I'm gonna built my own T, since these pricks are almost impossible to find over here in Holland.
Anyone willing enough to give me the exact dimensions of the chassis and head case?

Thanks!  

[EdBass]

Just got off the phone with the dude. He wants 2 grand "because one went on eBay for $2125 and it only had two tubes". Exactly why prices are skyrocketing for these things.

I don't want to be a kill joy, but you are exactly right mike_simms. That's pretty much the way it works. Love it or hate it, an eBay sold price is a hard tangible number, a real dollar value a real person paid for an item.
What you or anybody else thinks an item is worth is just a fairy tale; has no basis in reality, unless
A.) You have the same item that you will sell for a different price, or
B.) You have just bought the same item for a different price.

I've watched Sunn prices for several years and they traditionally go up and down, but each time the "up" gets higher, and the "down" doesn't go so low.
One of these days they will just go up and stay there. Maybe that's what's happening now, who knows?

Everyone see's someone else do it, I don't think that's a proper way to dictate a price.

Hmmm... What is the proper way to dictate a price then? 

I'll just wait for good ol' stanosaur to sell one... If he ever does. Stan!!! save me from these eBay losses!  

Alright, I know this concept won't be popular with some, but why should Stan sell you an amp for under market value? The only “losses” would be Stan losing cash, you have “lost” nothing; or am I missing something?

I’m just pulling $ numbers out of the air to illustrate my point, but here’s an example;

Let’s say Stan decides to part with one of his Model T’s.

If he puts it on eBay, he’ll get $2500 for it. That’s $2500 cash he puts into his bank account, money he can use to pay his rent/mortgage, buy food, buy more gear with or whatever.

If he sells it to you, he gets $1700 for it. That’s $1700 cash he puts into his bank account, money he can use to pay his rent/mortgage, buy food, buy more gear with or whatever.

Now; here are the questions;

Why should Stan give up $800?

If you have an answer that you feel is valid to that question, then how would you honestly answer this;

As far as Stan's personal finances, what exactly is the difference between Stan short selling his amp to you, and Stan just flat out giving  you $800 out of the kindness of his heart?

If you make it this far, here’s one final question;

Will you send me $800?

[stanner]

thanks Ed for clearing things up.
i bought all my Ts before 2005 and never paid over a thousand dollars EXCEPT once!
i had a few in the shop and had a gig coming up-saw one on the bay and bought it for $1500. ouch!!!
i told Greg Anderson(SUNNO))) ) when he was in town and he berated me for paying so much. he never paid more than i think $800 when he bought all his...
so this guy over at >DoomedForever<or maybe it was on this site, was pleading for a T and he lived in the area-so i unloaded that one for 1200 dollars-just to wash my hands.
not getting rid of the others for many a year.
they are such fine amplifiers-and i use them all.
s
http://stanosaur.com/

[mike_sims]

eventually i will let these go-and the prices will be righteous for folks on this website. so, just hold on to yer britches yall. patience is a virtue

Well being that Stan mentioned something of the sort, I was kind of under the impression. I forgot about the whole Elitist mentality a lot of the guys on here have. Oh well, I got one in mint condition with the original leather cover and paperwork on it's way to my house for less than 2 grand, so I'm not worried too much about what other people are paying or selling them for. I guess the guy is "wrong" for selling it to me for less.

[CLD]

Nobody is "wrong," Mike, in selling things for different prices. Ed's point is that in an unfettered market, such as Ebay, prices go where the buyers take them.

Ed's specific example concerns two people who have a connection, sort of like neighbors. Are you so well off that you can afford to discount an $2,500 item by one-third just to sell it to your neighbor? If so, more power to you. If not, you're like the rest of us, and our wives are happier if we (they) get the benefit of the $800 differerence, not someone else. If you think that is elitist, then you need to take an economics class - or get married and try to stay married.