History!

[Doc B.]

This is what appears to be a very, very early S.E.X. amp kit, ca. 1995. You can tell because it comes with speakers and the original surplus power transformers which had a propensity to blow. I would suggest to anyone buying it - don't build it! IMO it has far more value kept just as it is. Kinda thinking about bidding myself, to add to my collection of the original prototype S.E.X. amp and the very first S.E.X. kit we sold, which I reacquired several years ago.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Vintage-BOTTLEHEAD-S-E-X-Tube-Amp-KIT-Single-Ended-eXperimenters-Amplifier/123916621031?hash=item1cda0194e7:g:FEQAAOSwRbhdiXgu

[pboser]

Wow, love it!  That's what I remember starting with - later became Afterglows, with a chassis transplant, power transformer transplant, and Afterglow conversion. (Those amps need an update - I've got to get on that!) And I still have those MCM drivers somewhere, too.
Great Bottlehead history!

[mcandmar]

That should go into the Bottlehead Museum. You will probobly never find another one...

[EricS]

This looks like one of those situations where you'll kick yourself afterward if you don't get it now...  What a cool piece from the beginning!

[Doc B.]

It's interesting, but I can't say I'm feeling it's a must-have. Probably has something to do with being the guy who made it in the first place. Kinda like seeing Alfa Romeo GTV 1750s selling for $50K. I had $3500 into my '69 back in the 80s and had a blast with it. Never would have autocrossed the crap out of it or blasted around Sears Point (Infineon for you young'uns) if I'd had to pay $50K. Don't need to buy one now - but wish I still had the old one to flip!

Maybe the kit will go for crazy money.

[Tubejack]

It does bring back memories.  I remember back in about '97 I built an original SEX pair, and one PT did indeed blow, then converted them to Afterglows, then added the Tucker shunt reg/CCS.  ..... wish I hadn't sold them to help purchase my SEX Amp II, which I sold to help finance my Mainline .....

[Raymond P.]

I'm curious now, what actually happens when a transformer "blows"?

[Paul Joppa]

In this case, it developed an internal short circuit which cause it to blow fuses immediately. It is not repairable.

[oguinn]

I'm winning the auction currently but just had a new expenditure come up, so hopefully someone outbids me. Maybe I can donate it to the BH museum in exchange for some Jagers (and a massive fistful of cash).

[Doc B.]

I'm winning the auction currently but just had a new expenditure come up, so hopefully someone outbids me. Maybe I can donate it to the BH museum in exchange for some Jagers (and a massive fistful of cash).

We can talk.

[Doc B.]

I was looking more closely at the invoice with that ebay kit. Ordered 8/31/96, invoice number 28 - for the year! That gives you an idea of how much (or rather, how little) cash flow we had back then. It took about 3-4 weeks to get a kit together back then too, shipped 9/20/96. Colin was 5, Kate was a toddler, Eileen was being a full time mom and working part time on the business. You can bet I had not quit my part time day job yet.

[oguinn]

I’m no longer the highest bidder. Bittersweet moment in my life.

[oguinn]

$455 was too rich for my blood. Congrats to whoever bought it!

[Cary]

$455 was too rich for my blood. Congrats to whoever bought it!

Same here.

[Raymond P.]

So, an unassembled, discontinued Bottlehead kit appreciates 3.94% per year. Not a bad investment.