Talk me out of Marshall JMP Super Bass II '78 purchase

[mazdah]

Dear TB Friends,

I have an option to buy a clean Marshall Super Bass II made in 1978 in a very reasonable price (circa 860-950 USD) from my friend guitarist. He used it, but with not much luck - the amp is simply too powerfull and heavy for his needs and he never turned the volume knob past 8 o'clock (I did:> >

The amp is in nice condition and seems to be a good investment but...

I already have Ashdown Little Bastard 30 and AMP BH 420... and Fender TBP-1 preamp.
I have no gigs at the moment.
I have no money at the moment (bank loan needed)

Should I let it go? Or go for it?

 

[PunkRocker33133]

I just sold my plexi and really wish I hadn’t. I’ve always wanted a Super Bass. Definitely buy it. Especially for that price.

 

[rickdog]

You've come to the wrong place to get talked out of that.
I used to use a Marshall Super Lead (early '70s) as a gigging bass amp. If you like cranking up the LB30, I bet you'll love cranking up the Marshall.

 

[charlie monroe]

I voted no only because you don't have the change in your pocket.

Going into debt for 'nice to have' gear purchases requires some thought.

 

[Fat Freddy]

Buy it.....You can always live on cat food and pot noodles for a while..........

Or you could always be sensible and not buy it.....

 

[BassmanPaul]

It’s just an old low powered tube amplifier. You could get so much better stuff for that money!

 

[alack]

Gear you don't need is not a good excuse for debt.

 

[basscooker]

Those finicky b@$+@ГDZ spend more time in the shop than in use. Pass. At the end of the day it's a 100 watt buzzsaw that will quickly become a money pit. IMHO, of course. Let some guitarist you don't have to play with annoy someone else with it.

Now a Major is a different story.... Albeit just as likely to be in the shop too much...

 

[rodl2005]

Strange. I had zero problems with the Super Bass amp that I had for a few yrs. ..about 10 yrs ago. It sounded great into a big sealed cab. Very warm and tubey. They are pretty much a 'one trick pony' tho. But. ...if you like that trick. ...

 

[petrus61]

Ugh...those were the bane of my existence for years. My old guitar player insisted on not only using one, but TWO of them. Not only that, he was always using Gibson/PRS variants with PAF variants. Not so bad when the other guitarist was using a Tele or Strat through his Blackface, but it became a muddy mess and EQ nightmare when he decided to also bring a humbucker equipped guitar. Once those bottom heavy Marshalls were out of the equation in favor of Fender guitar amps, rehearsal got WAY more enjoyable. As far as using them for bass, I got to quite frequently and will echo what the above poster said about the money being better spent elsewhere.

 

[MVE]

Never go into debt for gear unless it’s something you need for an immediate gig.

Just my 2 cents worth of wisdom, but with the 16% your credit card charges, it could compound to much much more.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Don't think of it as an investment, and don't borrow money to buy it.
Start saving money, and when you have at least six months worth of emergency funds in your bank, then you you can start a "gear" account.

 

[dxb]

With rare exceptions, music gear- even vintage stuff- is never a very good investment.

 

[Basshappi]

Far be it from me to talk someone out of a good old tube amp, but if you don't have the cash to spare then pass it by.
Gear, no matter how cool, isn't worth racking up debt.

 

[callofcthulhu]

I love me some Marshall bass amps but IMO that is too much money for not enough of a desirable model/year considering you'd be going into debt for it.

If he was giving it to you for $400-500, if you had a grand burning a hole in your pocket, or if it was a plexi, I'd say go for it.

 

[Frank77]

Dude...

You have no money, no gigs, and already have a few amps. Getting a loan for this is just foolish in my opinion.

 

[higain617]

I had an old JCM 800 for years. It was trouble free, and I didn't know proper maintenance then. I wish I still had it.

 

[Super Bass]

Never had any problems with my SuperBass and I never had any problems with a JCM 800 I had for years as well. Marshalls are well made.. And I would buy it!!!

 

[guitarflinger]

Used Marshall bass amps for years until my back couldn't carry them any more. Buy it.

Or send me his address

 

[mexicanyella]

You could buy a used Line 6 Pod or a Zoom B-2 and use the Marshall plexi or Superbass models, and run it into a Craigslist power amp or the power section of something you already have...and you'd have a tuner, compressor, noise reduction and even some effects built in, and the ability to record direct with it! I got my Zoom B-2 on CL for $50, and an old Peavey power amp for $40! Yeah!

No?

I'm mostly kidding. There was a time when I'd have reacted negatively to a suggestion like that, possiby suggesting a digital model of an enema to the person who suggested it. But if you're into a general Marshall-esque sound for cheap, rather than "owning a bona fide Marshall," it's something to consider.