[PaulJay]

Hey, A friend wants me to sell his DR for him. It was restored in 2006. It was put into a new cabinet and one vibrato control was turned into a master volume. The speaker was replaced with a Celestian, but he still has the original. Can anyone help me with putting a value on this amp? Thanks Paul

[strumminsix]

What else was done to the amp? A common mod from that time was bigger OTs and others come with replaced RCA jacks for 1/4", etc.

Which vibrato control? That seems odd that you have a fixed value for one and also that negates it being restored.

As is I'd value it at $1,000 tops as the market will be to folks who wanna mod and test things out vs. the dude looking for classic blackface or a collector.

[JonnyBoy]

I don't think you will get collectors price for it since a collector wants the amp untouched or un-modded usually. It sounds like a "players" amp and with some creative sales you could possibly get 1K but I am thinking along the lines of $800 as a top price since its not the original cab either. Depends on how bad he wants it sold and how fast. If he gets anywhere between 8-1K he will be doing good IMO. Sometimes spending money to make things "newer" only depreciates its value, go figure!

I have to agree restoring the amp should have included removing the master control back to stock, even though many DR players want one for the clipping, they are actually easy devices to make or buy and use outboard on the amp to save its historic value. I dunno, like I said, you could actually turn that into a selling point maybe. Good Luck, that's a killer amp.

[strumminsix]

If I were him I'd do:
1. revert back to the original circuit
2. add original speaker back
3. list ALL changes from stock

This will get him hundreds if not a thousand more from what I would estimate its worth.

[PaulJay]

Hey guys, Thanks for the help. The tubes, caps, etc. were replaced not sure about the tranny. Any way he told me he found it in a trash pile in front of a house, lucky him.

[hogan]

If I were him I'd do:
1. revert back to the original circuit
2. add original speaker back
3. list ALL changes from stock

This will get him hundreds if not a thousand more from what I would estimate its worth.

I don't know about that. THe cost of doing that by a good tech will cost more than they are worth if that makes any sense. It'll still be a mutt w/ little vintage mojo, save for the sound.(and who cares how it sounds ? ) Restorations are almost always labors of love. Why buy a restore when for the same money or less you can get one that doesn't have the less than reassuring back story?

[strumminsix]

If I were him I'd do:
1. revert back to the original circuit
2. add original speaker back
3. list ALL changes from stock

This will get him hundreds if not a thousand more from what I would estimate its worth.

I don't know about that. THe cost of doing that by a good tech will cost more than they are worth if that makes any sense. It'll still be a mutt w/ little vintage mojo, save for the sound.(and who cares how it sounds ? ) Restorations are almost always labors of love. Why buy a restore when for the same money or less you can get one that doesn't have the less than reassuring back story?

I don't know what un-MV'ing and amp that was originally non-MV but there is the only cost a decent tech should charge. He should easily be able to identify era accurate parts without much time save for a few minutes on the bench. And the dude has the original speakers so no charge there. Don't see much cost...

[hogan]

I see your point, I thought there was more done to it. I still contend it'll be seen as a mutt. However, the owner still stands to make some worthwhile $ do to the fact that he found at the curb. He can still sell it as a player's amp and make some coin w/o the buyer taking it in the ass.

[RiverRat]

If I were him I'd do:
1. revert back to the original circuit
2. add original speaker back
3. list ALL changes from stock

This will get him hundreds if not a thousand more from what I would estimate its worth.

I don't know about that. THe cost of doing that by a good tech will cost more than they are worth if that makes any sense. It'll still be a mutt w/ little vintage mojo, save for the sound.(and who cares how it sounds ? ) Restorations are almost always labors of love. Why buy a restore when for the same money or less you can get one that doesn't have the less than reassuring back story?

I don't know what un-MV'ing and amp that was originally non-MV but there is the only cost a decent tech should charge. He should easily be able to identify era accurate parts without much time save for a few minutes on the bench. And the dude has the original speakers so no charge there. Don't see much cost...

Labor cost is about all there is... The cap job and tubes should be considered as perfectly normal for an amp of this age. As long as it was just the electrolytics replaced. The cabinet upgrade is purely cosmetic and shouldn't detract from the value too much. I'd make sure to document the chassis well after the restoration work was done, so that the seller can see that it was in fact an true Blackface.

I'd return it to Blackface specs and put the original speaker back in it. The one saving grace is that he scooped it up from a trashpile so his investment in the amp isn't that great. A very good condition BF Deluxe Reverb should fetch between 1800 and 2000, if it's original and in great shape. This amp restored with just the cap job, new tubes and new cabinet should fetch more than 1000 if it sounds as good as it looks.

[PaulJay]

My Friend told me the trannys were replaced and he does not have the original speaker. He's going to try and get it reverted back to a somewhat original state.
Here's a link I just set up if anyone wants to see some pictures. I hope it works.http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljay2/

[PaulJay]

Sorry, The link doesn't open here . You have to copy and paste it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljay2/

[hogan]

My Friend told me the trannys were replaced and he does not have the original speaker. He's going to try and get it reverted back to a somewhat original state.
Here's a link I just set up if anyone wants to see some pictures. I hope it works.http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljay2/

Dude, it's a mutt. New cab, new iron(the output trannie is oversized to boot), chassis drilled for new output iron, new speaker, new caps, master vol added. Where is the vintage mojo? Don't get me wrong, I love mutts and there is nothing wrong w/ them. In all honesty, they're perfect if you're an actual player. No drama.
But to spend the money chasing down original iron, speakers etc is good money ofter bad unless it's a labor of love. No collector will touch it w/ a 10' pole even after its done and in order to recover the $ put into it you'd be asking more than players might be willing to pay. If it were me i'd play it as is and enjoy it or sell it on the cheap to somebody who will. Your friend could still pull 6 or 700 out of it and be no worse for wear.

[PaulJay]

Hogan, What your saying definetly makes sense to me. I'm going to relay all this info to my buddy and let him decide. As far as i'm concerned this is the best place to inquire and learn and I value all of your guy's opinions. ,Paul

[squire758]

gotta agree with hogan. and ultimately a DR really is a great amp and clearly something you can pick up yourself and enjoy, but fact is its been devalued(unless it fits your application). and these mods were decisions the guy made so be straight up telling him, he knows damn well its not the same amp. now your first in line for the good deal. show up with a doob, $500, and show him this thread . And then he'll be all like , or like - and just sell it lol

[Grant]

If I were him I'd do:
1. revert back to the original circuit
2. add original speaker back
3. list ALL changes from stock

This will get him hundreds if not a thousand more from what I would estimate its worth.

agreed

i would suggest getting the word out on the phish boards - trey guys will go for a 67 DR