The price of Mark series amps these days. thoughts?

[robvoyles]

Just wanted to get some thoughts on the prices im seeing these days on mark series amps. I'm sure most of you are seeing them too. Any thoughts on IIC+ amp's some priced over $10, 000 dollars and the coliseum's IIc+ asking $16,000 to $20,0000. Mark III's in the $3,000 range and higher. would really like to hear some thoughts on what people are asking for them.

 

[rarebitusa]

Having Mesa GAS for years does prompt me looking at the used market on an ongoing basis. It's just one players opinion here... but the actual selling prices have softened quite a bit over the last year. The asking prices do remain high and on some cases overly optimistic especially for IIIs and IVs, which are great amps BTW. Currently it's pretty much a buyers market.

 

[CoG]

the question is never the asking price, it's the selling price. Reverb's existence* has led to a selling strategy across all platforms where if the seller's livelihood is not dependent on buying and selling gear, it often makes more sense for them to post dramatically inflated prices and hope for some weirdo to make an impulse buy based on internet hype than to 'compete'. Now, this is fine, **** happens, there is no such thing as an objectively 'fair price' and I made a good chunk of money flipping gear during the pandemic so I'm not dragging it. But it creates a heavily distorted market where lack of demand at a price point does not necessarily reduce prices.

*this was an ebay thing too, but the prevalence of fraud and ripoffs in decades past means that few people are inclined to make high-dollar impulse buys on ebay compared to reverb where it can pay off to go whaling.

 

[spawnofthesith2]

From my observation, price on Vs is way down, and IVs are coming back down to reality (I got mine for $1k at the beginning of the year and I've been seeing a lot of combos in the 1400-1500 range lately)

The price of IIIs is pretty discouraging. I'm also not convinced that they're actually selling at those prices though, seems like theres an awful lot that just sit for forever. There is a GEQ combo on GC used for around $1800 right now, which is lower than I've seen GEQ models listed for in a while


Locally there's a 60 watt purple stripe (no GEQ but it does have reverb) for $1200 which is the lowest price I've seen on a III period in almost a decade. I'm pretty tempted by that one, if its still around in a few weeks might not be able to resist. Its already been sitting for a month. I know on the lower end of desirable specs for a III but its tempting

I can't comment on IIs

 

[rarebitusa]

(I got mine for $1k at the beginning of the year a

Sweet, gotta dig that

I'm also not convinced that they're actually selling at those prices though, seems like theres an awful lot that just sit for forever.

Yep, FWIW III's that I've seen move recently here on CL, even with GEQs, are below $1500. Tempting indeed.

 

[spawnofthesith2]

Sweet, gotta dig that


Yep, FWIW III's that I've seen move recently here on CL, even with GEQs, are below $1500. Tempting indeed.

****!! I’d Jump on one at a GEQ below 15 in a heartbeat!

In 2016 I paid around 1200-1300 for my fully loaded red stripe. I knew at the time I was overpaying but I had money burning a hole in my pocket and didn’t want to wait around for a deal lol. Never should have sold that thing

 

[rarebitusa]

In 2016 I paid around 1200-1300 for my fully loaded red stripe.

IIRC that wasn't that much of an overpay considering it was fully loaded. There was a point where the prices dipped even further before Covid and I kick myself for not grabbing one of the good deals to be had back then. Sigh

III's a great amp, my GAS would certainly be much higher if I didn't have the IIC+ . With the shared tone stack you can dial in some great tones.