Mark III purple or red stripe dating question

[swanation45]

I am looking at a local Mark III, the marker stripe looks more black and maybe purple but the serial number is very low 19000's and would put it as a red stripe compared to sold red stripe listings I've seen where the serial is just under 19000. The initials/date in the amp show 1/87. Can I assume this is a red stripe per it's from 1987 even though the marker looks more black/purple? Thanks

 

[swanation45]

Pics

 

[woodbutcher65]

Well, purple was the first color revision after the initial black. Red followed, then blue, finally green.

How about a well lit close-up photo of the stripe area?

You didn't specify the price but if it's fair, get it. It's not like it's going to become LESS valuable as time goes on.

What people thought was too high for a Blue Stripe Mark III I bought two years ago is now less than I can find ANY Mark III for today.

 

[Arf]

Well, purple was the first color revision after the initial black. Red followed, then blue, finally green.

How about a well lit close-up photo of the stripe area?

You didn't specify the price but if it's fair, get it. It's not like it's going to become LESS valuable as time goes on.

What people thought was too high for a Blue Stripe Mark III I bought two years ago is now less than I can find ANY Mark III for today.

Yes - use an incandescent flashlight, not a diode one.

 

[electric mayhem]

Looks purple to me.
Strays within a few hundred serials wouldn't be a surprise.
I don't have pics of my old purps handy but my black line has a CP1E preamp board and my red stripe has the CP1F. My bet would be the purple has the E.
The seller doesn't know?

 

[swanation45]

Looks purple to me.
Strays within a few hundred serials wouldn't be a surprise.
I don't have pics of my old purps handy but my black line has a CP1E preamp board and my red stripe has the CP1F. My bet would be the purple has the E.
The seller doesn't know?

The seller does not know about the stripe variations. He is the original owner and thought he bought it in 1985 but obviously must have been 1987