Equipment cost analysis comparison breakdown

[gr8fl4295]

Hey all,
I know a lot of you guys here have done extensive research on which types of gear to to buy to get Jerry's tone.
Pre-amp, power amps, pedals, pick-ups, speakers, and the list goes on.
I'm just curious if anyone here has done a price comparison chart or something to get a idea of what's available.
Some kind of chart that shows the low end gear, middle of the road, and high end stuff.
And even low wattage bedroom gear to face melting stage gear.
This list should only list the gear that produces Garcia like tone.
Now I know there are a lot of variables, like buying gear off ebay and craigslist, but a estimated cost would be sufficient.

Can we work on this?

[Smolder]

It'll be pretty subjective and probably require some ranges... but here's a start...

800-1000 well serviced sf twin reverb (pull two power tubes for 8 ohm load and 50 watts)
250 single JBL 12 or 15"
1050 - 1250

695 SMS preamp
400 MC50 Mcintosh (recently serviced)
250 single JBL 12 or 15"
1345

[mgbills]

If you go the SMS route, you'll also need a rack (of some sort). And if it were me I'd put in a power conditioner (Furman device).

Both are extensively available on the used market.
Peace
M

[gr8fl4295]

Good start Smolder. Thanks.

Maybe we can break it down by component. For example:
Pre-Amp------------Power Amp--------------Speaker------------Cabinet
SMS - $695---------McIntosh MC50 - $400-----JBL E120 - $250-----1x12 - $200

and so on....
If I can get the info, I'd be willing to enter everything into Excel.

[GeneralGoldilocks]

I'm real curious about Marsh Amps http://store.marshamps.com/index.php?cPath=49 (and other vintage fender replicas in general). He has good reviews from happy customers on a couple of different forums, and seems like the real deal. Quite a few AB763 preamp models (basically a twin, super reverb, deluxe reverb, and vibrolux clone). I emailed him and he said he does head versions as well for 150 bucks less (at least on the one model I asked him about). that puts the total at about 1225 (ballpark) for head versions of brand new point to point replicas of the vintage amps with high quality components, most of which can have a half power switch added (as well as other mods for more money). A little bit more expensive than the other ways to get the tone listed here, but man, it would be sweet to have a brand new replica of the real deal, and after you factor in servicing old vintage mcintosh and fender equipment, the amp would probably make up the cost difference right there. Another nice thing is you can buy the amps without speakers and he subtracts the cost of them so you save on shipping and get to put your own speakers in. I don't know, I am torn on what way to go as well and it is about the money, so this is a good thread. The one way I probably won't go is buying a vintage blackface or silverface fender amp. I live in a fairly remote area and there are no great tube amp tech's around. I just want something rock solid that won't crap out and cost me money and time I don't have. That is why a replica or the sms ctp with a mesa boogie 50/50 is appealing. Since these two options are about the same cost, I would say there are other advantages to the sms ctp/ power amp route. Once the sms and mesa are racked up, they are pretty protected for gigging, as well. And, you can use the pre and power amp for different applications if need be.

http://store.marshamps.com/index.php?cPath=49

[Tennessee Jedi]

Dont forget about a guitar

[mgbills]

And if you rack the whole business, you'll want a GCX.
$300 - GCX
$300 - Ground Control Pro or $100 - Ground Control (still supported by Voodoo Labs)
$250 - Cabling or $150 Do it Yourself.

Love mine. I dread having to use stomp boxes on the floor now.

[mgbills]

I insured my rack on a personal protection policy through State Farm. Cost $50.00 yr.
The McIntosh prices are inflated because in the Seattle/Portland area the asking prices jumped dramatically in the last year, but it does give a relative figure if you buy a unit that needs work. Also my Mutron wasn't that expensive, but I'm also not holding my breath hoping I'll get another for $250.

Gear Summary
McIntosh Mc2100 $800.00
Furman Protection $100.00
Voodoo Labs - GCX $300.00
Voodoo Labs - Ground Control $100.00
Effects Drawer $25.00
Sarno SMS Classic $695.00
McIntosh Mc250 $700.00
Voodoo Labs Pedal Power $180.00
Boss OC3 $115.00
MXR Phase 100 $100.00
Musitronics Mutron $650.00
MXR Carbon Copy $139.00
Sarno Earth Drive $165.00
Cables Redco $350.00
MXR Dist + $100.00
Total $4,519.00

Believe it or not, this is an Excel Table. Formatting not well liked by the Forum interface. I also acknowledge being a total dumb ass about the forum interface. Get's the point across.

[tigerstrat]

amplifier
$780 '68 Showman Reverb head; (mod parts and preamp tubes, approx. $50 of that)
$180 Ashly FTX-1501 power amp, used
$200 JBL E120, used
$100 Tubeworks 1x12 cab (bought about '93 for 200, I subtracted 100 for the EVM-12L speaker it came with )
sub total: $1260

pedal board
$0 the pedal case itself (work freebie, i forget the brand)
$10 power strip
$30 power supplies (various)
$90 TC Electronic Polytune
$0 FoxRox Octron (thank you gift)
$55 vintage MuTron III (bought for $35 in 1989, $20 added: true-bypass jack and battery clip adapters)
$45 Danelectro CTO-1 Transparent OD
$25 vintage MuTron Phasor II (unloaded by a friend in 1986 for $10, true-bypassed for $15)
$20 vintage Ibanez AD-80 delay (another thank you gift, true-bypassed using an external switching pedal for about $20)
sub total $275 (obviously worth way more)

guitar
$700 Schecter C-1 Classic LH
$180 - one Super Distortion, one Super II, TRS jacks
sub total $880

all told, a little over $2400

[playingdead]

My old analog rig (mostly bought new, as it had evolved from 2004-2009):

Egnater M4 preamp with four modules $2400
Real Tube Reverb $750
Acoustic Image Focus 2R power amp $995
Hard Truckers JG-1 2X12 with road case $1600
2 NOS JBL E-120 $350

6 space rack $90
4 space rack $80
Pedal tray $75

GCX $350
Ground Control Pro $300
Redco custom rack cabling $275
Lava guitar cable $90
Rocktron 20 foot 7-pin MIDI cable $40
Roland expression pedal $60

Monster power conditioner $225
Roland GP-100 multi effects unit $350
Q-Tron Plus $150
Boss OD-2r $80
Boss DD-7 delay $150
Boss Octave $80
MXR Phase 100 $110

Total: $8250 (!)

My current digital rig (also new, hasn't changed since 2009):

AxeFX Ultra $1995
Monster Power conditioner $225
2 QSC K12 monitors $1500
Ground control Pro $300
Rocktron 20ft 7-pin MIDI cable $40
Lava guitar cable $90
Two 20 foot XLR cables $50
3 space rack $80
Rack stand $80
Roland expression pedal $60

Total $4420

[zoooombiex]

I insured my rack on a personal protection policy through State Farm. Cost $50.00 yr.

Just a random aside on this. If you gig your gear be sure you check your State Farm policy. I had a rider for music gear through State Farm for a while, but I eventually found out their policy doesn't cover gear if it is used professionally. (At least, they told me they didn't offer one like that and suggested I look for a company oriented toward musician insurance.) I switched to a different company and the cost was about the same but they cover gear wherever/however it is used.

[Jon S.]

I use Heritage. Worth the money for peace of mind with my gear for any purpose anywhere I stay or go, including loaning gear and selling and buying. I learned long ago, there are places to scrimp to save an extra C note. Insurance isn't one of them.

[Jon S.]

And don't forget the FYD 2U Tube Preamp (TR w/Jerry mods; PTP; on-board tube-driven spring reverb). $800.

All tube Twin Reverb preamp in a rack

Pull the preamp out of the vintage Twin Reverb. Build it exactly like Jerry had his built.

Includes all tube spring Reverb, output level and ground lift on back.

http://www.fydamps.com/photo3.html

[zoooombiex]

I use Heritage. Worth the money for peace of mind with my gear for any purpose anywhere I stay or go, including loaning gear and selling and buying. I learned long ago, there are places to scrimp to save an extra C note. Insurance isn't one of them.

That's who I use as well. They're very easy to work with.

[zambiland]

I use Heritage. Worth the money for peace of mind with my gear for any purpose anywhere I stay or go, including loaning gear and selling and buying. I learned long ago, there are places to scrimp to save an extra C note. Insurance isn't one of them.

That's who I use as well. They're very easy to work with.

Me three. Something like $80k worth of insurance for about $350 a year. Well worth it.