Good price for fixer-upper Citation II?

[AlexHempel]

Hello everyone,

Someone near me is selling a Citation II for $750. Cosmetically, it's quite beat up, and it's not currently in working condition. However, the seller guarantees good transformers (and he's tested them properly with AC). It also comes with all tubes except the outputs. Electrically, it appears to be completely original, but I'd be doing the work myself rather than paying a tech, so I'd only need to buy parts. Is this a good deal? It seems very reasonable to me, but Citation II prices are all over the map, so I thought I'd inquire.

Cheers

 

[EastPoint]

That’s cheap.

 

[swechsler]

Price seems good. The transformers and output tubes are the most expensive parts, so you're at least halfway there. Other than the missing tubes, do you know what's wrong with it? Cap replacement maybe? You'll probably want to do that anyway, if you're repairing, even if they appear to work. There are a lot of articles online about rebuilding these (electrically) so that part shouldn't be too big a deal. Cosmetically you can respray the transformers, but getting the actual chassis to look original is probably more work than it's worth. Does it include the cage?

 

[EastPoint]

I have sold three of them in similar condition with no tubes for more money than that. Just saying.

 

[AlexHempel]

No cage, also missing the lettering on the front (probably wiped or sanded off). I don't think anything is "wrong" with it per se, but since it's un-restored and has been sitting for a while it may or may not be working. The current owner seems very knowledgeable and I presume he intended to restore it himself but changed his mind.

 

[AlexHempel]

My one concern is that I have good SS amps already and I'd like something with a tube-y sound. I've heard that the Citation II can sound pretty close to SS, but at this price I reckon I could resell it without much loss in the event I'm not a fan of the sound.

 

[mkane]

McShane calls them accurate more than sounds like SS. I have both and do prefer to use tubes unless it 90+ outside. Personally, I'm thinking in a blind shootout I could tell the difference.