I have a sad story...
I bought an Ampex ATR102 in 1999 that I was told was totally restored from a "reputable" pro-audio dealer in the LA area for $8k. I was tight on cash two years ago, and listed it on EBay. It sold for a fair price -- to one of my heroes, as it turns out -- the singer of one of my favorite childhood bands. When he bought it, he sent it straight to ATR Services, to have it checked out. It turned out that the LA-area pro-audio dealer had totally screwed me, and that the machine was in sorry shape, worth $2.5k as it was, at most. I refunded my hero his cash, borrowed money from my family and decided to get it restored. I took the "slow" path of restoration, and Mike Spitz scheduled when they had short downtimes or gaps. It was just recently finished. I put a lot more cash into the machine, and I am assured that it is now a jewel. But, now I am short on cash again, and my clientele has not been asking for such a tool in my arsenal in quite some time... So, I need to sell it again, without even having used the restored machine.

Current Status:
Fully restored by Mike Spitz, still at ATR Services, and will ship directly from them, including their full warranty. Only detail that is NOT 100% is the headstack: it is a relapped headstack with two Ampex metal heads, Record with 25% life, and Repro with 40% life. The erase head is a SAKI, in great shape, but which I'm told is not as good as the Ampex heads -- but it does erase.

A full resto bought from ATR Services costs just under $11k, a new headstack costs approx $2500. That would make the machine worth at LEAST $8500, but it also includes a functional headstack -- handy for while your other heads are getting re-lapped, and worth at least $800 or so on their own. On top of it all, the machine has a few options that are extras beyond the standard ATR Service restorations...

Best yet - it is available NOW, and there is usually a long wait to get a machine from ATR Services. And, it will ship from them, with their warranty, etc....

But I have no idea where to list this machine? Just regular Ebay? Andrew at ATR Services told me it's worth at least $9k in his opinion, but I would sell it for less. I was thinking about listing it at $6500 starting bid, with a BUY-IT-NOW at $8.5k. No matter what, I will be down at least $5k on the deal by the time all is said and done. Next time, I will be sure to go to TRULY reputable and honest sources -- like Mike Spitz directly! Any opinions, advice on where and how to sell this deck? I know I should keep it, but I can't afford that...

Mass Giorgini
massg@aol.com
I made a mock-up page at:
[URL=http://www.soniciguana.com/Ampex/ampex_atr_102_1.htm ]http://www.soniciguana.com/Ampex/ampex_atr_102_1.htm [/URL]