Guitar Amp Prices

[theguitarmandan]

How does this works. i wanna buy a really good amp and im looking at the Fender 65 twin tube at RRP $3300.

Now i shop around on the net to find other prices and i can buy the same amp in the US for $1050 online.....BUT they dont ship to the US because of manufacturers restrictions.

Supposing i did buy this amp and ship it with the dollar at 0.76 which really means that US $1050 will cost me $1400 AUD. plus shipping. Now it dont take a monkey to work out it wouldnt cost $1900 aussy to ship that amp.

Has anyone else bought amps online?

[SpooN]

Buying things from overseas isnt as simple as just ordering it.

A lot of u.s online shops wont ship to Australia. I think you have to pay tax on it as well ( I think you do). The other thing to consider if you get it imported and its stuffed or it breaks in the warranty period you are screwed.

I just bought myself an awsome 50watt all tube randall mts combo, very very nise indeed.

[Dogil]

I agree with SpooN re the warranty issues from O/S- I have had a few (small) prob's with guitars and amps at times, but having bought locally I got a) prompt face to face service and b) ongoing support for shop "loyalty" - I live in a country town, and local support really means something.

Having said that, I actually buy my strings and a few other bits and pieces from America. Check out a site called stringthis.com They ship direct to Oz for a flat rate of about $35 US, no matter the size of the order. Two mates and I generally all order at the same time and split the shipping cost. There is no tax on this that I am aware of over and above the cost of the item as listed on the site.

My bottom line (for what it is worth)[td][/td] - I wouldn't do it.

[Dogil]

Just re-read your reply SpooN - is your Randall as old as Methuselah? If it the company I am thinking of - Oz from the 60's or thereabouts??? - my mate (lead gtr in our band) just bought a 50w valve combo from Cash Converters for $400 bucks and it is awesome!!

The sound is really mellow, and with his old Maton hollow body it is just magic. I run a new Laney 120w, which is great for the punchy stuff, but I just cant get the real warm sounds that valves can give. Seeing this string is about prices, I paid just under $800 for it.

[SpooN]

www.randallamplifiers.com/mts/rm50b.asp

I have the recto module and the tweed.
You can hear them here:

www.stevesmusiccenter.com/RandallRM50.html

[robbieb]

I'm not sure about the US, but I know Canada uses 110V power, not 240V like we do here in Aus. It means that electrical tools there are piss weak, but they only really use soft woods like fur and cedar. Anyways, if you were getting an amp from the states, and it was 110V(not sure though) you would also need to buy a 240-110V converter. Also the US runs at 60Hz, whereas here we have 50Hz. I dunno if this affacts the life of the product or what, but Buck might know all about this sort of stuff

[theguitarmandan]

Cheers for the input.

i can see what your sayig with the warranty thing. i mean like all it takes is for a couple of tubes to get broken on the way over and im up for a repair bill as soon as it gets here. i reckon ill do alot more investigation on the issue, one one have the cost saving might be worth it if i can get some music store over there to ship the amp, on the other it might be more hassel than its worth. and im not exactly rolling in dollars.

On a different subject what was said about cash converters is totually true i picked up this battered old guitar at cash converters and thought that it looked just a little different. well it was an Ibanez RG but it had Kirk Hammet ESP pickups and a brand new floyd rose. the price tag was $300. just the added parts on that axe would cost close to a grand.

Needless to say i bought that baby and sold it so someone who knew its value.

i think ill look around for a while longer for a pre loved valve or value combo.

Does anybody know of places to keep an eye on in the perth region??

[WayneXG95]

try www.venuemusic.com.au and they deliver aus wide and that amp is the same as I'am buying off them and it's $2616 thereabouts.

[buck]

Shame on you Robbie!!...your the one doing the engineering degree,,,sh8t, I struggled thru electronics!!.yea..Robbies right..dont buy anything from the states that's voltage or frequency sensitive..salesmen will tell you anything to get a sale, I was in the states in 82, and bought back a fantastic you beaut TRS 80 computer, with 16kb ram. And I was told it would work on pal systems...doh!!
Also..to those who remember the League grand final a couple of years ago, Very embarrassing for Billy Idol whose gear all blew up at the moment when he opened his mouth. All right to buy voltage transformers, but there's a current equation there as well...

Back to the story... BUy Local..support your local music shop...and go to harmonycentral.com to find any reviews. I think there is always a bargain to be made...but remember the definition of a bargain....Two people who think they've ripped each other off!!!

[440Hz]

One problem bringing stuff in is the import duty Australia makes you pay. The retailers here have to pay import duty, then you got GST, shipping to get the stuff here, and then the retailers profits. One reason stuff can be cheaper buying from the States is if they ship it outside the U.S you don't pay the U.S state sales tax either. But as people have mentioned its tricky, especially with the different voltage they use.

Having said all that, I was in California recently and the stuff is cheap compared to Australia. I brought a Fender guitar back with me and carried it on the plane. I only payed $130 import duty at customs because it was second hand after I played it, you can bring in $900 worth off goods now. They knocked 20% off the value and I only payed duty on the amount remaining over my $900 limit. I said it cost $1500 and I think they thought that was aussie dollars.

Now that is a cheap way of getting gear, Retail price of the guitar in Australia is $4000 (I think you could get it for around $3200 though), Price from the USA including import duty was $2000.

I would speak to someone in the know before bringing an amp in, but it is possible that some amps are multi voltage.