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Yamaha B-1 Amplifier & C-1 Pre-amp Pricing

ARRAY

ARRAY

Super Member
I don't like to ask the group on pricing info, and I think this is the first time I've done so but I need a current accurate number for a Yamaha B-1 Power Amplifier and matching C-1 Pre-amplifier. It's difficult to gage some of the more exotic peices sometimes, such is the case here. Both are in excellent condition, original and fully functional with a clean bill of health. Black faces on both.

I don't make a habit of used market price tracking on this particular stuff because I know it's always going to be worth money no matter what the condition. My best guess on this pair is $22-2500 range.

Opinions invited!
 
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Drool.................................................................

Sorry I can't be more helpful than that, but I think your estimate may not be far off.

Steve.
 
Hi Steve, they is nice...but, they ain't mine though. I'm doing some due diligence for a friend.

Eddy, I think they're worth way more than $500. The UC-1 Controller might fetch $400 on it's own.
 
ARRAY said:
I don't like to ask the group on pricing info, and I think this is the first time I've done so but I need a current accurate number for a Yamaha B-1 Power Amplifier and matching C-1 Pre-amplifier. It's difficult to gage some of the more exotic peices sometimes, such is the case here. Both are in excellent condition, original and fully functional with a clean bill of health. Black faces on both.

I don't make a habit of used market price tracking on this particular stuff because I know it's always going to be worth money no matter what the condition. My best guess on this pair is $22-2500 range.

Opinions invited!
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If I was selling, I'd ask for $1600 for a B-1/UC-1, and $1800 for a C-1.
 
ARRAY said:
So Mark, a final in-pocket price of $3000 would not be out of line by the sounds of things.
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I think that's a decent price. Those are superb pieces built to very high standards. EchoWars said the B-1 was the best built amp he's had on his bench. He's refurbished a B-1 and C-1 of mine.
 
I think a non-working C1 sold for over $1000 last year. You might try searching the Japanese audio gear sites to see what they sell for in Japan. Super rare items - got any pics?
 
I saw a C-1 with a "bypassed" balance go for 700 I think. B1's about 5-600. 3K??? Wanna buy my M-2 and C-2a? WTF? BTW this is NOT a solitication, well maybe for 3K. Worth half that at most.
 
packrat said:
I think a non-working C1 sold for over $1000 last year. You might try searching the Japanese audio gear sites to see what they sell for in Japan. Super rare items - got any pics?
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Hello PR, I don't have any photos of the units. A group of friends went for lunch on the weekend and I got asked about pricing them out. They are indeed rare (and desireable) birds, and not too many closed sale prices to work off of. I've never sold any before either. The next time I'm over at the owners place I'll see about taking some snapshots for posterity. He's in the audio manufacturing business and through word of mouth there's a good chance the equipment will find another home without having to be advertised (hopefully).
 
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Mark's prices are right on the money. Period.:yes:

I almost bought his, as his prices were spot-on good. I've been waiting a long time for B-1/C-1 in working condition. I bought a C-1 elsewhere earlier, but it had some issues. Sold it to another AK'er for a parts unit. Can't remember the exact amount, but around $500 (plus he had to pay shipping to Germany, and tarif). He had over $650 into the unit and was hoping between his and mine, he'd have one complete working unit. He could comment on the value of these as well.

The C-1 I owned worked well enough for me to get a taste of vfet magic in a preamp. I was impressed. There are about 50-75 connectors in the C-1 and maybe 15-20 boards. I've decided there are too many places for small connection issues and am sticking with my C-2x which is an exercise in simplicity. The C-1 is very impressive though. Certainly the top collector in Yammy Preamps IMHO.

I still want the B-1:drool:, but can't swing it at the moment. I hope when I can, there will be a working B-1 in decent condition that I can pick up for $1600 including the controller. I almost bit on one from Canada with no controller for $1400 last year. And I had no idea who the seller was, whether it truely worked (which is a BIG deal when dealing with vfets), and would have had to pay big shipping charges.

The C-2a and M-2 are in a different class. Good units (used to own both), but a completely different world. Like comparing a C-2 or C-2a, to a C-2x.

I will buy as many $500-600 B-1s you can get your hands on. PLEASE find me some! No joke. The bypassed C-1 you saw was a unit similar to mine. Not working correctly, could not buy parts (anywhere), high shipping cost. Pricey for a parts unit, but cheap if you had another $700 C-1 waiting in the wings with different issues.

If anyone has questions regarding the value of any of the best components that Yamaha ever produced, feel lucky of Mark B. chimes in with his opinion. He's 'been there, done that'; and owns most of them. Unlike most of us that just lust after equipment, he buys it. I think he knows what it's worth.

Remember with vfets, especially the B-1 & C-1 that many of the parts truely are unobtainium. At least with the B-2 vfet amp, you can still find donor amps to buy if things go up in smoke. Make sure everything is in working order before you purchase, as many parts cannot be sourced or substituted.
 
NumbDiver said:
The bypassed C-1 you saw was a unit similar to mine. Not working correctly, could not buy parts (anywhere), high shipping cost. Pricey for a parts unit, but cheap if you had another $700 C-1 waiting in the wings with different issues.
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That doesn't show up in the completed auctions for some reason. It wasn't too long ago but I don't know how far they go back either. If times were better I'd have been a bidder. A bypassed balance control doesn't render it a "parts unit" IMHO.
 
MarkB is right on.The B-1 is EXTREEEMELY scarce because of the few that were bought in the US many of those were abused and are anchors due to the unobtainable VFETS. The C-1 is also VERY rare. Both are nothing less than exotic statement pieces. Of course their is a BIG difference between the examples MarkB has that have been gone over by Echowars and examples that are in "excellent" condition yet never serviced by a skilled and reputable tech. Being able to get both as a set is HUGE!
 
Hello Gentlemen, all input appreciated. I think I can safely arrive at pricing these items out. I'll pass the info along... :tresbon:
 
As the original poster had requested, I'm in the same situation. I am the original owner of a Yamaha C1 and B1. The B1 has the optional meter. I believe I have a cable also that allows the meter to be connected and placed elsewhere.
Anyway, I've owned them since the late 70s. I used them, along with an SAE 2500, to power my Infinity QLS1. I've since sold the SAE and Infinities, and I don't have any use for the Yamahas. As far as I know, they still work. I haven't really used them in 5+ years, though I have occasionally turned them on to verify they still work.
The original retails were $1600 and $1800. Is that about the going rate for these pieces now? Any input would be much appreciated.
 
The value is very much dependent on the condition if they are near mint they could fetch around $2,500- $3,000 for the pair. At least that's what they have sold for in the past a couple of years ago when when the economy was better. The current economic conditions are making valuation of items like these hard to know. I have been trying to sell a very rare and very high end Yamaha component for while and cannot believe it has not sold yet! 2 years ago it would have been long gone.
 
That's pure and simple ridiculous! Not as bad as the guy who wanted over $100,000 for his SAE system but still ridiculous.
 
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