Marantz 8b see anything not right

[jptinc]

Ok Marantz gods need some help.
Looking at this 8b for $2500.
Haven’t spoken to The guy yet just sent him an email.
Don’t know anything about it.
Recapped obvious. What I’m asking is does anybody see anything that raises a concern. I would play this before buying. Other than the bias meter which looks scratched?
It’s clean I have seen Photos of all sides, no cage.
Here is his post
For sale a vintage Marantz 8b Tube amp with all of its original documentation and audio input cables. It has been recapped with zero hours usage. Serious inquires only. Looking for $2500 for it. Please email me your contact info if interested.

Let me know what you think.
john

 

[ramjet]

Some resistors have been changed too.

 

[mcgjohn]

all those IC film caps will change the sound of the amp. If you dont care about it that is one thing, but if you dont like the sound of the 8B with those new caps, will be a tough re-sell for asking price.

If I was going to buy an 8B for 2500, JMO, but would be looking for one more stock.

not sure if its same seller or not, but have seen this amp before. If same seller, its been for sale for a while.

The best sounding tubes I have heard for the 8B are the Shuguang Nature sound 6CA7s. More natural sounding than even NOS Mullard UK valves.

good luck; always tough buyng clean vintage gear

 

[jptinc]

all those IC film caps will change the sound of the amp. If you dont care about it that is one thing, but if you dont like the sound of the 8B with those new caps, will be a tough re-sell for asking price.

If I was going to buy an 8B for 2500, JMO, but would be looking for one more stock.

not sure if its same seller or not, but have seen this amp before. If same seller, its been for sale for a while.

The best sounding tubes I have heard for the 8B are the Shuguang Nature sound 6CA7s. More natural sounding than even NOS Mullard UK valves.

good luck; always tough buyng clean vintage gear

That is exactly the answer I was looking for. You read between the lines of my question and provided me with solid advice.
Thank you !
John

 

[jptinc]

Some resistors have been changed too.

Thanks I hadn’t noticed that.

 

[mhardy6647]

Full disclosure: years ago, I put a set of those (cheap!) IC "lemon drops" in an 8B (and rebuilt the bias supply and put in new HV rectifiers) at the request of its owner -- the end result sounded absolutely outstanding. One of the best sounding "store bought" amplifiers I've ever heard.

Yeah, those bumblebees have cachet, and no doubt from a 'collectibility' perspective it was not a good idea -- but as a daily driver amplifier the end result was superb.

Marantz8Bbefore by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
Marantz8Bafter by Mark Hardy, on Flickr

 

[Pio1980]

With vintage tube amps, it depends if it's an investment in a time capsule, having reliable vintage amp sound, or having the best tube sound for the money. Which choice ultimately directs the specific purchase.

 

[mcgjohn]

would agree, you can change out the caps and improve the sound, but then you'll lose a good chunk of value if you decide to resell.

@jptinc to be more specific, you are paying near a collector price for an 8B that is not stock. If you want to experiment around with caps, look for an 8B at a lower price that has the caps replaced, and do your experimenting on that unit.

@mhardy6647 has a point, newer caps will most likely sound better than the orig bumble bees, but in the process you'll give up some of the stock value in the amp.

and if you really want to do install some better caps than the ICs, much better choices out there. The Jupiter or Jensen copper foil caps are very organic sounding, much more so than even the original bumble bees. Either are among the top caps I have tried for toobe electronics.

I have both a stock and hot rodded 8B. The modified 8B is a daily listener, sounds much better than the stock unit. but the stock 8B is worth much more than the modified unit.

Same is true with the model 7 preamp. Once those Original caps are replaced the preamps lose roughly half their market value.

The other option for you is to look for the VAC clone of the 8B. Those sound nearly identical to an 8B, cost less, but are just as tough to find. Few turn up for sale.

good luck

 

[Pio1980]

would agree, you can change out the caps and improve the sound, but then you'll lose a good chunk of value if you decide to resell.

@jptinc to be more specific, you are paying near a collector price for an 8B that is not stock. If you want to experiment around with caps, look for an 8B at a lower price that has the caps replaced, and do your experimenting on that unit.

@mhardy6647 has a point, newer caps will most likely sound better than the orig bumble bees, but in the process you'll give up some of the stock value in the amp.

and if you really want to do install some better caps than the ICs, much better choices out there. The Jupiter or Jensen copper foil caps are very organic sounding, much more so than even the original bumble bees. Either are among the top caps I have tried for toobe electronics.

I have both a stock and hot rodded 8B. The modified 8B is a daily listener, sounds much better than the stock unit. but the stock 8B is worth much more than the modified unit.

Same is true with the model 7 preamp. Once those Original caps are replaced the preamps lose roughly half their market value.

The other option for you is to look for the VAC clone of the 8B. Those sound nearly identical to an 8B, cost less, but are just as tough to find. Few turn up for sale.

good luck

What mods dif you make on your 8B?

 

[mcgjohn]

Circuit is all stock, but mods were new Jensen copper caps to replace the org drops someone else had stuck in before I bought the amp.

Also have the VAC clone, did same cap replacements on it. The two amps both sound excellent, and tough to pick one over the other.