Marantz 2 Very Rare 2A Model Tube Mono Amplifier Only Made Available in 1959

This listing is for an Very Rare Single Marantz Model 2A Mono Tube Amplifier. This is an extremely rare Marantz amplifier and therefore very collectible. The following is a short explanation of finding information about this 2A model.

In dealing with Vintage audio equipment for over 30 years and having had over a dozen Marantz 2 amplifiers myself and seeing dozens more this the only Marantz Model 2A I have ever seen, heard of or tried to find information about on the web. I was not able to find any information about the 2A on the web. From looking at catalogs before 1959 including 1958 the amplifiers were not model 2A and in 1960 it is advertised as the model 2. So from looking at the catalogs it seems as Marantz only made the model 2A available for sale to the public in 1959. If this is true I can understand better why I have not seen any model 2A amplifiers previously as they could possibly had been made for only one year. I do not know if there were any technical design differences between the model 2 and 2A or the Basic Amplifier model. The specs listed in the Allied catalog have different information for the 1959 and 1960 catalogs are a little different. It seems as before 1959 Marantz model number was not on the chassis and the amplifier was known as the Marantz Basic Amplifier with no model number printed on the amplifier and in 1959 it became known as the model 2A Basic Amplifier with the model number "2A" printed on the amplifier and then the model 2 Basic Amplifier in 1960 with the model "2" printed on the amplifier. The amplifier is in good working condition and was gone through by a highly qualified Technician and sounds wonderful. The only problem that the technician found that he could not remedy is the bias meter is not working and would need to be re-built.

If you are looking at this listing you may already know some of the history of the design quality and sound reproduction of the amplifier. The Marantz Basic Amplifier (which became known as the model 2 and now I also know as the 2A) was one of the first things that was designed by Mr. Sid Smith after leaving Radio Craftsmen of Chicago, Illinois and moving to the East coast and becoming the chief engineer for Saul Marantz at the Marantz Company of Long Island City, New York. This was really the first piece of equipment that he designed for the Marantz Company.

And in many audiophile circles the Marantz Basic Amplifier is known as the model 2 is still considered as the sweetest and overall best sounding of the Marantz amps of which were the model 2's, 5's 8's, 8B's and the model 9's. This particular Model 2A sounds wonderful and is as very quiet when idling. It has some cosmetic issues as you there is some minor rust and has been partially re-painted.

The tube cage was completely re-painted. It came from an estate of an audiophile and was stored in a humid basement in a box with no ventilation for the moisture to escape and thus some of the rust etc..

Some of the electronic part/s may continue for another 50 years without need of replacement and some electronic part/s may fail a few days after you start using the item.