Topic: Can you help me value my damaged amp?
Hi everyone.
I've just bought an absolutely immaculate, little-used, Roland Cube 80X amp for £114 - pretty pleased with that. I'd chosen it carefully due to its condition and light use.
Unfortunately, the courier delivering it also had their input; during transit, it was dropped on to it's top front edge leaving a 1" bash around 1/8" deep where it's most visible, and with cracks emanating a few inches from both sides of the impact - so some de-laminating of the cabinet has taken place. And one knob was broken...
The amp appears to be working fine, although there's no way of telling if the impact could lead to future problems - unlikely, tho'?
My dilemma is the courier - they are asking for some way of determining its current, damaged, value so they can work out compensation. I did add further transit insurance to the value of £100, tho' it seems that doesn't necessarily mean they pay it out...
A proper repair is unjustifiable - a new cabinet from Roland costs £180 + VAT! And that's without labour. A professional instrument repairer can patch the damage, but can not make it a perfect match as the Roland's black vinyl finish is part of the cabinet material, and not an add-on cover. So the 'immaculate' amp would no longer be.
The pro repair guy could also recover the whole cabinet, so's it does all match, and I'm waiting for a quote for this job. I suspect it won't be cheap, tho'.
So, I need to try and ascertain what the amp's current value is so I can make a claim. (I know what I think it value is to me, but hey... )
I'd really appreciate your opinions, gents and lassies. Say you were in the market for a 2nd-hand Roland Cube 80X, and you had two choices:
The first is an immaculate example, well looked after (home use only) and it's yours for £110.
The second amp is also in very good order, but has been dropped at some point. It has cosmetic damage, a light split in the top cabinet panel, and might possibly have some stored-up problems (the Cube amps are packed with effects processors) although it currently works fine.
How much would you be prepared to pay for the 2nd amp?! And I'd appreciate your reasoning, too, please!
Many thanks