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Topic: MusicMan question for Jody Carver or others |
Lefty
From:
Grayson, Ga.
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Posted 2 Jul 2006 10:48 am |
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Question: Did Musicman make a combo amp with a full compliment of preamp tubes?
I have always believed that the HD-130 or HD-60 was the first of the series with a single 12ax7a for the boost circuit which later changed to a solid state device, and Four EL-34 power tubes.
Lefty |
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Ron Whitworth
From:
Yuma,Ariz.USA Yeah they say it's a DRY heat !!
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Posted 2 Jul 2006 3:26 pm
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Hello Lefty;
I am not Jody nor am i an expert.I do own 2 MusicMan amps at this time so here is my answer.The earliest MM amps did have 1 preamp tube only then the later ones went to an all solid state preamp.They did still use a tube power amp section on all i ever saw.Hope this helps...... Ron |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 2 Jul 2006 4:42 pm
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| My experience with MM is limited, but in the ones I have seen, the preamp was IC's driving tubes, and the power amp was the same...IC's driving tubes. |
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Ken Fox
From:
Nashville GA USA
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 2 Jul 2006 7:31 pm
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Hehe - Lefty pulled this over from the Clarence white Froum...
The chart is NOT complete - and as it says, it's a work in progress. One of my best friends was in QC at Music Man in the early days, and I've personally seen ones with a full set of preamp tubes. The single-12ax7 models use the 12AX7 as a phase inverter - not really a preamp tube, it's part of the power circuit.
I had, though, forgotten about the late models with a SS driver. That's when amp sales were tumbling. Out here where they were made we see tons of the one-12AX7 models; almost no SS driver ones. I almost bought an all-tube one a couple years ago - a 50-watt, 1x12 model.
Added note - a lot of discussion about these amps lately. I can't stress enough the need for REALLY good power tubes - of nw production stuff, JJ's are probably the only ones of the 6L6's that will handle the voltage. and I would'nt use ANY new EL3/6CA7 - I don't know of any that will not go south quickly at 600 volts. Ergo, while the amps aren't expensive compared to Fenders, they can be VERY expensive to maintain.[This message was edited by Jim Sliff on 03 July 2006 at 07:55 PM.] |
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2006 12:53 pm
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| My understanding is that a VERY small number of all tube MM amps were made.. I know of a dealer locally that rebuilt one and sold it several years back.. He said it was an incredible amp... I like MM hybrid amps, but they sound closer to a ss amp than a tube amp to me..bob |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2006 2:12 pm
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Bob's got it - and they show up periodically in Orange county, where they were made; sometimes around L.A. I usually stumble on one or two a year, but nowdays most shops know they are rare birds and price them accordingly.
The Hybrids can sound more like a "real" tube amp on low power with Amperex or Mullard EL34's; RCA, Philips or Sylvania for the 6L6 ones. Then put an early-breakup alnico Weber speaker(s) in it. Not so "solid-state" sounding that way. |
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Jerry Hayes
From:
Virginia Beach, Va.
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Posted 5 Jul 2006 11:52 am
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Hey Jim, my MusicMan 130 with 2-12's has the MusicMan labels on the speakers. Do you know what kind of speakers they actually were or did MM make their own speakers. Mine is the one supposed to have 6L6's in it but it actually has a set of 4 each, 5881 tube in the thing. Also, on the back of the chassis is a switch which says 4 ohm or 8 ohm. I assume it's to be used if you use another speaker cabinet for the amp. What's the normal way to operate it? the 4 or 8 ohm setting?...thanks, JH in Va.
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Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!
[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 05 July 2006 at 12:55 PM.] |
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