As titled, I'm looking to buy a well kept example of any of these four First Watt amps, listed in order of preference:
F4, F2J, F3, F1J
I'm located in upstate New York and Canada, and can receive packages in both countries without having to go through border issues. Fingers crossed and thanks everyone!
F4, F2J, F3, F1J
I'm located in upstate New York and Canada, and can receive packages in both countries without having to go through border issues. Fingers crossed and thanks everyone!
Not sure if you are looking for a clone that someone on here has built with hopes of a better price …or more interested originality?
I came across this:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649860409-first-watt-f2j-super-rare-amp-for-single-drivers/
If I didn’t already have my own F2J monoblock clones I would be on it like white on rice.
Good luck!
P.S. Bonus!…its in NY!
I came across this:
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649860409-first-watt-f2j-super-rare-amp-for-single-drivers/
If I didn’t already have my own F2J monoblock clones I would be on it like white on rice.
Good luck!
P.S. Bonus!…its in NY!
Thanks for the tip! Ya, the seller and I are in communication. He's a nice guy, and I agree with his selling strategy. For me, though, it's too much of a deviation from what the average selling point is. I guess I want my cake and to eat it too, in that I'm expecting to pay fair used market price.
Ha. I'm not heavily polarized on preference really -- they all have their strengths. Funny story -- I actually owned an F4 about 10 years ago and sold it because I didn't quite have the preamp voltage (but thought it would be OK). Now I have a suitable setup, and want to buy it back from my past self -- is this possible yet? :0.
To quote the Stones, "Yeah, time is on my side, yes it is".
At the moment, I'm not interested in building, with all the ancillary tasks that come along with it -- too many other projects here. I'm not sure if I could build one in a few weeks anyways, personally... too inexperienced, lacking a proper work bench, etc... Long term resale value is a factor as well.
I have a good setup now with the vintage Yamaha I restored, so I'm good with just being patient on this one. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Ditto…and I have everything I need to build more than one version of F3 clone…including Jeff Young’s long boards…that was a steal
Ah bummer, really? Maybe I was off on this one... I actually offered the guy $1250 because that looks like the average of what F3s have sold for over the better part of the last decade. He said maybe, but it quickly sold it after that.
One thing I found was that this was sold just last year from 'The Music Room', and they noted that the power board capacitors had all just been replaced in Jan 2021. I didn't know what to make of this -- seems a little early to be replacing caps, so I wonder if this was done out of foresight and preventative care or repair and restoration... Oh well, it's in the past.
One thing I found was that this was sold just last year from 'The Music Room', and they noted that the power board capacitors had all just been replaced in Jan 2021. I didn't know what to make of this -- seems a little early to be replacing caps, so I wonder if this was done out of foresight and preventative care or repair and restoration... Oh well, it's in the past.
$1250?…not sure where you saw that kind of pricing…but it sounds damn good and makes building a clone seem silly. Most the clones I see for sale are asking that much.
I’m no internet shopping guru by any stretch…but that seems low compared to what I constantly see used genuine First Watt amps advertised for on USAudio, Audiogon, eBay and others that pop up on HiFi Shark.
Most are easily $2K…some rougher looking examples list as cheap as $1500…not very often.
Of course those are the asking prices…no idea what the actual sales prices turn out to be.
I suppose like everything else “Supply and Demand”…”Its worth what someone is willing to pay.”…blah blah blah
Your patience may yet bear fruit…good luck!
I’m no internet shopping guru by any stretch…but that seems low compared to what I constantly see used genuine First Watt amps advertised for on USAudio, Audiogon, eBay and others that pop up on HiFi Shark.
Most are easily $2K…some rougher looking examples list as cheap as $1500…not very often.
Of course those are the asking prices…no idea what the actual sales prices turn out to be.
I suppose like everything else “Supply and Demand”…”Its worth what someone is willing to pay.”…blah blah blah
Your patience may yet bear fruit…good luck!
Thank you! I'm enjoying the hunt... I always do. In fact, maybe I shouldn't actually buy anything, so I can always just be on the crest of the 'excited for the next thing' wave 🙂.
My only resource for searching listing history is 'hifishark'. From what I'm seeing on there, the F3 is a bit of an anomaly in the series as far as used prices go. The general spread looks to be between $1100 and $1500, with a few outliers scattered in at either extreme. I'm guessing the reason for the lower price is because the F3 had a longer production span than most other early models, so there is more supply... and perhaps slightly less demand due to the lower power output? I'm not sure. Then, as you said, these prices are only the asking / listing price, and some of the listings likely sold for even less.
The F3 has to be near the top of the heap for 'quality to price' ratio for used gear, I think...
My only resource for searching listing history is 'hifishark'. From what I'm seeing on there, the F3 is a bit of an anomaly in the series as far as used prices go. The general spread looks to be between $1100 and $1500, with a few outliers scattered in at either extreme. I'm guessing the reason for the lower price is because the F3 had a longer production span than most other early models, so there is more supply... and perhaps slightly less demand due to the lower power output? I'm not sure. Then, as you said, these prices are only the asking / listing price, and some of the listings likely sold for even less.
The F3 has to be near the top of the heap for 'quality to price' ratio for used gear, I think...
Ah, I just heard back from the seller of the F2J that's been listed for a few weeks. It sold for an even $2k. I'm glad for him -- he seems like a good guy, and his selling strategy paid off.