McIntosh A-129 Tube Amplifier – one of the rarest of all McIntosh tube amps!

What to do when you accidentally end up with one of the rarest of all McIntosh tube amplifiers? Well, my way of dealing with that quandary is to try to get it into the hands of any of the most ardent collectors of McIntosh amplifiers… which is why I have created this listing. The McIntosh A-129 amplifier is modified version of the MC-75, and was originally created for commercial use. I acquired this particular A-129 a year ago as part of a trade deal for a “pair of MC-75s”. Both amps were working perfectly, playing audio when I went to check them out. One amp is certainly a stock MC-75 (also available, btw), and I was told that the other amp was an MI-75, which would have made sense… so I didn’t look all that closely at it. But when I did recently take a good look at the amps, I noticed that the output transformer on one unit was a McIntosh Transformer Type 043-343. That lead to a great deal of online research, which helped me identify this amplifier as an A-129. (Looking on the chassis helped too, hah!). My research only turned up two other McIntosh A-129’s: one of them is in the Audio Classics McIntosh Museum… and the only other one I could find anywhere on the planet is elsewhere on eBay. The chrome on their A-129 is pristine, fwiw… but their unit is also non-functioning at the moment. On mine, the chrome is good/fine but certainly not perfect. However, my A-129 was working without an issue when I got it. Trying to price such a rarity is no simple matter. My reasoning is that more than likely, the ultimate goal would be for someone to have a pair of such units. With the pristine/non-functioning unit priced at more than $10,000, I am thinking that a fair price for a functioning but not pristine unit is $3,800. This pricing is in part because I haven’t taken the unit to my tech, so it is “as-is” and might well require some tuning up before being used… and in part because the KT-88 tubes are not vintage. I’m open to discussion on the price, of course. If you make a good case, I’ll listen. it’s all guesswork when it comes to the rarest of the rare in McIntosh amplifiers. A working unit, too. I will ship… although I would prefer not to as a rule, when it comes to amplifiers, due to the imbalance of their weight distribution. However, I have more than two decades of experience shipping worldwide. My preference for shipping is via UPS, as I get good rates through my main business (record label/distribution company Lion Productions). Listed elsewhere also: if it sells there, I will instantly remove this listing. A few notes: This item will be professionally packaged and insured for safe transit to you, unless you opt for local pickup. Please do not message, email, or text any offers outside of eBay’s system. This item is eligible for the eBay Global Shipping Program, unless it exceeds the maximum weight/price requirements to your country. If this is the case, please message me via eBay. I accept bank wire transfers for international payments and frequently ship worldwide via UPS. Please ensure your shipping address is correct within eBay as we will ONLY ship to the eBay/PayPal Confirmed Shipping Address. Please remember: eBay may charge and collect sales tax — we have no control over that process or those charges.