More Pass Labs - Not Young Anymore!

MrBuhl

So this happened a few weeks ago – and I blame the Doc @mhardy6647 ! (proof I should blame him contained here: http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/179507/i-would-be-remiss#latest) So I had traced this auction in my calendar mostly on a lark, and partly because it’s literally right up the street a couple blocks from my place here in LA. I had thought I might attend in person, just to check it out, but ended up a bit intimidated to attend in person honestly.

Anyhoo – long story short, I correctly figured that most folks would be watching the goods in this order:
A.) Album or tour used gear/stuff from Neil
B.) Musical Instruments and the like from Neil
C.) Train collectors for the train stuff
D.) Higher end widely recognized (like the McIntosh stuff) gear
E.) Everything else



As a result, I watched the two Pass Labs amps in the auction, a harmonica or two, a hat, and a lot of the McIntosh stuff as well, even though I expected that to end up spendy (and it did).
Low and behold, I’m the very pleased owner of Neil Young’s Pass Labs X-150.5 now! (side note for you future auction buyers out there, don’t forget to add sales tax and the sellers premium to your budget… ahem… I may have forgotten that not-so-insignificant cost when I hit my max (but winning) bid! Still, given that, I’m very pleased to have an amp Neil rubbed his dingus on for less than I could have bought the same amp used anywhere else that I’ve seen one. First sounds played were of course, Harvest in its entirety.



I’ve hooked it up in place of the Dodd 50W Dual Mono for now, and I have to say, first impressions are very good. In fact, it’s what I would call a whole new level when paired with the 705’s. I thought they sounded pretty good on the Dodd, don’t get me wrong, but this Pass Labs X150.5 wakes them the hell up… the difference in base and clarity is astounding and immediately noticeable. Eye opening really.
And they both make nice heaters to boot.



As you can see from the close-ups, Neil wasn’t exactly a great caretaker of equipment, but it works perfectly and sounds amazing, so no complaints there. I think the Pass mothership is about a 7-hour drive from me in NorCal, so I might just take a weekend and swing it on up there sometime this year and have them check the whole thing out, make sure everything is up to snuff as it were. Anyway – thought you all would enjoy the new ear candy – I am!

michaeljhsda2

Nice!!!

nooshinjohn

There is a Neil Young amp on eBay right now as well. Do you know what that one may have sold for?

MrBuhl

Thanks guys - John - I'll have a look and can let you know!

nooshinjohn

Congrats btw... if you contact Pass Labs, they may send you a new and minty faceplate. I would swap them out and keep the original in a safe place.

kharp1

Wow, great story and snag! Might want to check inside and see if he dropped a roach.

MrBuhl

Thanks! I might just do that, I would definitely want to provide the original rubbed one as well. I was hoping if I took it there they wouldn't do any refurb automatically.

FWIW He's got about $2752 in that amp including tax and sellers premium I believe John.

MrBuhl

LOL Thanks @kharp1 I might have to do that - didn't think of it!

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nooshinjohn

And he has it listed @4k...

Clipdat

That's a cool VU meter on the front!

It says on that info card estimated $600-800 sale price? How much did you end up getting it for?

MrBuhl

nooshinjohn wrote: »

And he has it listed @4k...

Yea - He might have had shipping another couple hundo at most. Gives me hope if I ever need to sell I made a good decision though LOL!

F1nut

Clipdat wrote: »

That's a cool VU meter on the front!

It says on that info card estimated $600-800 sale price? How much did you end up getting it for?

Rude to ask that.

F1nut

Congrats Ed, very cool.

Clipdat

Why's that? It's exciting when there's an auction environment and you end up scoring a sweet deal.

I thought the estimated $600-800 on the info card seemed low so I'm just curious to know how much it ended up selling for.

Not seeing how that is being rude.

F1nut wrote: »

Rude to ask that.

F1nut

Generally speaking, if the person doesn't volunteer that info they have a reason and therefore it is rude to ask.

motorhead43026

I spent an evening pouring through the online catalog. Really an eclectic mix of goodies.

Congrats Mr. B., moving to CA has been good to you.

MrBuhl

Thanks guys - I appreciate it - I don't mind telling you - it wasn't anywhere near the estimated, nor was anything else in the auction, well ahead of double and approaching triple - but that's what got me interested in checking it out - all the estimates were low like that.

The more "in demand" stuff, was incredible - cheap (relatively speaking) guitars used by Neil that might cost a few hundred new were going for $7K, stuff like that, harmonica's for $1500, so I was pretty happy with this one!

MrBuhl

Thanks @motorhead43026! It has had many fun outcomes that's for sure!

motorhead43026

Yep, the Provenance would add to the value for sure.

MrBuhl

F1nut wrote: »

Congrats Ed, very cool.

Thanks Jesse!

MrBuhl

motorhead43026 wrote: »

Yep, the Provenance would add to the value for sure.

I wonder though - the condition definitely hurts it - does Neil make up for an amp this expensive being nicked up? It does for me, I don't intend to sell it, but it definitely made me wonder.

On a side note - It did include a healthy dose of dust!

vmaxer

MrBuhl wrote: »

motorhead43026 wrote: »

Yep, the Provenance would add to the value for sure.

I wonder though - the condition definitely hurts it - does Neil make up for an amp this expensive being nicked up? It does for me, I don't intend to sell it, but it definitely made me wonder.

On a side note - It did include a healthy dose of dust!

That’s not dust.....

nooshinjohn

Without his signature on the amp, the provenance doesn’t mean much and is likely offset by the condition. That is why I would clean it up and do a new faceplate. It does not in any way hurt the history of the amp, and may actually help a bit. The original plate can be kept safe and reinstalled if you so choose.

Clipdat

It seems like those marks on the faceplate would have happened due to the amps being shifted during storage or rubbing up against something while being transported. Maybe they were hardly ever used.

MrBuhl wrote: »

motorhead43026 wrote: »

Yep, the Provenance would add to the value for sure.

I wonder though - the condition definitely hurts it - does Neil make up for an amp this expensive being nicked up? It does for me, I don't intend to sell it, but it definitely made me wonder.

On a side note - It did include a healthy dose of dust!

MrBuhl

@vmaxer LMAO!!

@nooshinjohn that's pretty much what I was thinking too - probably the two offset - I'll check in with the Pass folks and see what it would take to go through it.

kharp1

motorhead43026 wrote: »

Yep, the Provenance would add to the value for sure.

No doubt, and how cool would it be to have some sort of autograph on it as well. BTW, Harvest is one of my favorite albums.

MrBuhl

@Clipdat, given the amount of gear being moved, I have no doubt that storage definitely plays a part. No way he could have been using all of it.

motorhead43026

Take pictures and keep the auction paperwork/receipt. This is the provenance. It will always add value to the amp, even if you replace the faceplate. Keep the old faceplate if you replace it.

Something that is not autographed is where the provenance comes into play and is most important.

MrBuhl

^^ Definitely ^^ wish I had grabbed a second catalog from the auction. I'm keeping mine with the paperwork, and it's all sealed up to keep it fresh - but I'd love to leaf through it (now to buy just the catalog they want $75 I think LOL).

tonyb

Nice grab, nice amp. Congrats man, nice way to start off the new-year.