Marshall Price Increase

[Byrdman]

Buy used and abused Marshalls!

If you can find them. Everything seems to be holding higher prices these days on the Vintage Heads, 2203/4, Plexi, etc.

80's-90's 1959's and 2203's are still around $2K in these parts.

 

[EOengineer]

I wouldn't buy Marshall either if I lived in the US, just like Mesa doesn't make a whole lot of sense over here unless it's used.

As much as it pains me as a total Mesa fanboy, the trend in their US pricing feels like it’s approaching absurdity of late. Some of that is likely that I’m just old and remember buying my 96 dual rectifier new for $1500, but $3400 for a 90s Dual Rectifier reissue was a total non starter for me. Same for the Mark VII. If I lived in Europe I’d write them off completely.

 

[laxu]

As much as it pains me as a total Mesa fanboy, the trend in their US pricing feels like it’s approaching absurdity of late. Some of that is likely that I’m just old and remember buying my 96 dual rectifier new for $1500, but $3400 for a 90s Dual Rectifier reissue was a total non starter for me. Same for the Mark VII. If I lived in Europe I’d write them off completely.

With inflation accounted for, that $1500 in 1996 would be $3073.28 today according to https://www.usinflationcalculator.com

So yes, more expensive but not by as much as you'd think.

Still...I'm not paying 4400 € or ~$5153 for a Mark VII.

 

[2dor]

Same for the Mark VII. If I lived in Europe I’d write them off completely.

That's one insanely expensive cookie over here. At Thomann it goes for 4.939,15 USD.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Same for the Mark VII. If I lived in Europe I’d write them off completely.

Yeah, the head lists at €4,399.
Even in my amp days, I'd never paid that much for any amp (or rather the inflation-cleared equivalent).

 

[metropolis_4]

It’s not just Marshall, have you seen the new prices on Fender amps?

A DRRI is almost $1,800 now

 

[la szum]

I just wonder if the trend towards globalization the past 30-40 years simply spoilt us
with easy and relatively cheap access to stuff from all over the world.

That looks like it is pretty much done and over with, and is not going to be repeated.
Definitely not in the ways it has looked up until this point.

 

[Tanax]

I wouldn't buy Marshall either if I lived in the US, just like Mesa doesn't make a whole lot of sense over here unless it's used.

Even used prices are usually bonkers of Mesa stuff last time I checked.
For the DR, you have quite a few options here in Europe. Driftwood Purple Nightmare is one. Laboga Mr. Hector is another.

For Mark series though you don't really have anything like it. You can probably find amps that gets close to a specific sound of them, but not with all the modes. For instance, Mezzabarba Apocalypse is, as I understand it, built with specifically Metallica sound in mind. You do have the Crab Markus III I guess, though the GEQ seems even more finicky than the ones on real Marks.

 

[EOengineer]

Even used prices are usually bonkers of Mesa stuff last time I checked.
For the DR, you have quite a few options here in Europe. Driftwood Purple Nightmare is one. Laboga Mr. Hector is another.

TIL there are European dual rectifier clones.

 

[Tanax]

TIL there are European dual rectifier clones.

TIL what TIL means

 

[timbuck3]

Or the second best, or the third best, or...

Remember, Marshall is little more than a trademark owned by a large Chinese corporation these days. There is little in common with the people who made great tube amps in England 40-60+ years ago. That Marshall is long gone.

Marshall is out pricing the market and I see u r better getting a geranimo or more botique makers amps

 

[Byrdman]

I just wonder if the trend towards globalization the past 30-40 years simply spoilt us
with easy and relatively cheap access to stuff from all over the world.

That looks like it is pretty much done and over with, and is not going to be repeated.
Definitely not in the ways it has looked up until this point.

I read an article a few months back saying something similar. The premise of the article was that by manufacturing US goods overseas allowed corporate profits to increase without having to increase wages to keep up with inflation. So, makes sense IMO