The Unobtainable Ones

[Pepe]

There are definitely a lot of TB-2Ws hitting the secondhand market right now. I wonder if supply will outstrip demand to cause prices to fall.

It really seems so! Prices have recently dropped under 1,000 EUR. And several of these are available in German ads at eBay Kleinanzeigen. Apparently noone bought one to keep it for the collection. Everyone is trying to make money with the rarity. But somehow that doesn't seem to work in the way they hoped.

[laurie]

With rare OD-1 pedals over $1000 it seems unlikely that prices will fall for long...

[Old_Iron]

With rare OD-1 pedals over $1000 it seems unlikely that prices will fall for long...

Laurie has a point, the same thing is happening down here in Brazil, with the new models like RC-5, OC-5 and SY-1, for exemple, reaching retail prices close to US$ 400.00 ~ 500.00, people with any very beaten up Japanese model, jumps to say that "It's a black label! Very rare!".

They compare the prices and think that their old piece of garbage will have even more apeal to a collector.

Recently, a guy was asking almost a thousand US dollars for a well preserved, in box and manual, CE-2 MIJ green label. And I went mad because I want one of those, but not enough stupid to pay that price. Not yet, at least...

So the questions are: Is it a bubble? Will it burst some day?

[The_Doc]

Still too much but a TB-2W just sold on eBay UK for £690. Prices, they are a fallin’

[laurie]

Still too much but a TB-2W just sold on eBay UK for £690. Prices, they are a fallin’

Hmmm... nearly CAD$1,200.

Still a joke.

[The_Doc]

I agree Laurie.

I just like the thought of the scalpers getting ever so slightly worried that their profit margin might be falling quicker than they expected.

Maybe it’s the right time for Boss to launch another once in a lifetime limited run of a couple of thousand of these pedals to accelerate the process - after all they ‘didn’t launch this pedal for the scalpers’ did they ?

[Old_Iron]

I was wondering about the profits Boss had with the TB-2W.

After deducing the costs of manufacturing, marketing and the Sola Sound share of it.

Then multiplying whatever rests by 3 thousands... it's really not much for a company as big as Boss/Roland.

I don't believe they will make another run, but I think for the sake of making money, they should do it.

[Pepe]

I just like the thought of the scalpers getting ever so slightly worried that their profit margin might be falling quicker than they expected.

My sentiments exactly!

[fuzzbuzzfuzz]

I've bought and sold many a HM-2 (37 in total if my maths are right)...but I don't recall a single green label specimen. That said statistically my sample size is still on the small size compared to production runs! i'm curious though too now...

Thanks fuzzbuzzfuzz, I already took it out of my list of missing models and variants.

There are a few mistakes at the BossArea 2.0 website that are repeated at other places, like in the case of the HM-2 MIJ green label and also the TW-1 to be from July of 1978 (7300), when the correct is from June (7200).

I almost bought a 7300 TW-1 thinking it was the very first, luckily I looked around over the web and found a couple of 7200 proving that it was a mistake, and after acquiring the Boss book, I could confirm that it is really from June.

Another inconsistencies that originates in the Boss book itself are:

The VB-2 being from APR 1982 (17XXXX), but I have one from MAR 1982 (160200).

The PSM-5 being from JAN 1983 (26XXXX), mine is from JUL 1982 (202000).

The CS-3 is said to be from SEP 1986 (70XXXX), mine is from AUG 1986 (691400).

That's interesting serial number info Old_Iron, thanks. Somehow my records say my VB-2 is 1981 which is bizarre! I will have to double check that serial number I have a feeling it is a 1982 like yours.

[Old_Iron]

That's interesting serial number info Old_Iron, thanks. Somehow my records say my VB-2 is 1981 which is bizarre! I will have to double check that serial number I have a feeling it is a 1982 like yours.

You are welcome fuzzbuzzfuzz.

Please, take a look at your VB-2's batch number so we can confirm that inconsistency.

My VB-2 batch number: