Any MusicMan amp users out there?...........

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Awhile back I aquired a MusicMan HD-212 One Fifty which is just like a Fender Twin Reverb except it has a solid state preamp section and a tube power amp section. It's a twin twelve speaker configuration and looks just like a Twin except for the name plate.........

I got it for lead guitar and was using two amps, one for steel and one for lead. On a small room gig once I didn't have a lot of room so I just plugged my steel into that "extra" channel that no one uses and hooked up a Boss delay pedal to it.

To my surprise, the steel sound was very good! I cranked the bass full on, the treble to about 4 1/4 and the middle to 3, and got a really nice steel tone. I'm also using an old Goodrich Match Box, the one with the tone control on top.

I played a steel only gig recently and plugged the steel into the main channel but I don't think it really sounded any better so I returned it to the other channel.

I noticed in one post somewhere that Randy Beavers had either recorded or performed with a MM and wondered if anyone else uses one of these. I think they're great amps.........JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Jerry - I've heard of lots of guys using MM's for steel, and have seen quite a few in use out here (since this is MM territory). They have tremendous headroom - but they don't sound anything like a Twin except for the unusual 6L6 models, which are Twin-like at medium volume.

The reason MM's have not skyrocketed in value is they are prone to a few problems; hiss due to overstressing the preamp transistors is not unusual (and an easy fix, but annoyingly common), the single 12AX7/7025 driver tube has to be REALLY good and well balanced for the amp to sound right, and they go through power tubes like water through a hose. They were designed to squeeze every bit of power out of the EL34/6CA7's and slam them with an over-spec amount of plate voltage (a common Leo and crew design - he did it with 6V6's in the Deluxe Reverb as well).

When the amps were made high-quality power tubes were common...but when U.S. and western European tube companies shut down, the only tubes available were EH/Sovtek and other lower-quality tubes, and they just went off like firecrackers in Music Man amps - 600 volts on the plates of a cheap EL34 is a guaranteed flameout. The HD130 and especially the 150's became closet queens because they just were not reliable on stage.

Now, however, better tubes are being made that can handle the voltage and the amps are starting to see a lot of use again. Still, they WILL go through power and driver tubes more often than just about any other amp and anyone playing one should carry an extra matched quad - the other issue being they don't like mismatched tubes and if you blow one you replace 4 (using the "color" or "1-10" grading systems in these amps is asking for trouble - get tubes from a supplier who actually matches them like KCA or Lord Valve).

Great sounding clean amps - just expensive to maintain.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Tommy R. Butler · From: Nashville, Tennessee

Great Great fiddle amp too !

Harold Dye · From: Cullman, Alabama, USA

Jerry,

I have two MM heads, a 65 watt and a 150 watt. I sometimes use them both at the same time into a couple of 15in JBL's. I am somewhat electronically challanged but to my knowledge and ear, they sound good and I have had zero problems with either. I have used them off and on for about 3 years, but they are not my first line of defense as something else may be sitting closer to the door when I head out to the gig.

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

I have two of the Musicman HD-130 2-12 amps, and have had the for about 20 years (maybe a little longer). They are good sounding amps, and reliable.
Not easy on the back though. I used one for a while on Steel and electric guitar, but went with a Fender Vibrosonic reverb because I like the 15" honk on steel. I also had a 4-10 HD-130 with Webers Californias. I sold it due to the weight, maybe 125lbs with those speakers. It was a great amp, and the young guitarist was very glad to get it.
Lefty

Darrell Owens · From: California, USA

I have used Music Man amps for guitar for years. I like the RD50 which is a 50 Watt amp with a 12" speaker. Most of my amps have a JBL or an Altec (If I can find one) They are great amps for tone. I haven't used them for steel, but now that you have brought it to my attention, I think I'll give it a try - maybe two of them.

It is no secret that Chet Atkins used Music Man on the road for quite a while. Check out some of his performances on video and you will see that little Music Man right there behind him.

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I've got one, but I can't tell you the model. It's got a 15" in it, and my friend who plays jazz guitar borrowed it a few years ago. He's also got my Crate acoustic amp, too...

Peter Jacobs · From: Northern Virginia

I used to use an MM RD-65 (single 12) for lap steel. It could could do an unbelievably good clean sound, and I used pedals for dirt. Only reasons I sold it were -- even at half power, it was too dang loud, and it weighed more than my back could take.

If we were playing big stages all the time, it would have been perfect, but nowadays, we keep the stage volume down and mic the amps if we have to.

I switched to a Blues Jr, because I wanted all tubes and no longer want a purely clean sound, and it weighs a lot less.
_________________
Peter
---------
www.splinterville.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@splinterville6278/videos

Benton Allen · From: Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA

Hi Jerry!

In the late seventies my younger brother Jeff, played his D10 Emmons Push/Pull through a HD-212 with a pair of JBL's for a couple of years while touring with Hank, Jr. He also used it, on occasion, in the studios here in Muscle Shoals through the years.
I bought a new HD 150 bass amp and the matching 118RH (EV)speaker cabinet back in 1984. Both amps gave good trouble-free service. The HD 150 still has the original Sylvania 6L6GC tubes that came in it from the factory.
Hope you enjoy yours!

Cheers!
Benton

David Doggett · Posted 16 Jun 2008 9:57 am

I have one of the 100 watt 1x12 models that I have tried for pedal steel. It is a very lightweight, compact, high volume clean amp. But I cannot dial out the hard, piercing sound of the highs. It's no fun for me, and I will be happy to sell it.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

David Doggett · Posted 18 Jun 2008 7:17 pm

Mike, the speaker is a Celestion Silver Series. That's part of the problem. I've plugged my SF Dual Showman head into the Celestion, and it just didn't sound very good to me for steel. I'm use to JBLs. EV speakers are pretty good too.

Joe Shelby · From: Walnut Creek, California, USA

I bought one new in the mid-'70's and used it for 20
years. It had the 12AX7 driver and a JBL D130f.
I don't think I ever had to crank it much past 3.5
(on outdoor jobs), and more often had it around 2-2.5
for most everything else...
It was loud, but increasing the volume didn't make the tone of the amp better. As David mentioned, the
highs were piercing in a way that couldn't be tamed. In those days, you didn't roll the tubes, but
when the Sylvania 6CA7's stopped being produced, I put a fan in back of the power tubes (awful Groove Tubes EL34s) and the sound definitely slipped down a
notch.
The only speaker changing I did was to put a K130 in
it. Later, all the preamp transistors went South.
It was solid dependable for most of the years I used
it. But, not my favorite amp sound.
It's strongest suit to me was the reverb section; smoother than any other combo amp I'd ever heard, just gorgeous.
The guitar I used it with was an MSA Classic (maple)
D-10 w/SSII pups.

Joe.

Alan Kendall · From: Maury County Tennessee

David how much do you want for your MM amp,and what kind of shape is it in?

Forum Index > Electronics		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: