Music Man Amps

[roadrunner]

I bought a 1x12" Music Man from Bernie Larson at Nadines in Hollywood. I think it was around '77 or '78. Great amp!:applaude

 

[MattD1960]

i just got a new MM guys HD65 2x10 sounds amazing

tube pre

 

[MM TEXAS]

A friend of mine had a 210 HD130 combo. He traded it later for a fender, but I swear that was the loudest amp I ever heard, and it definately brought the tone.

 

[Stumbler]

After my 69 Super Lead head and my Pro Reverb were stolen in 75 I got an HD130 w/Reverb head and used it with either one or two 2-12 JBL cabs for the time period I was doing Top 40 gigs 75-80. It was cool for the time since had a hi or lo power setting (100 or 50 watts supposedly), a master volume, and reverb.

It was very versatile for doing all the different stuff I had to do, but I still prefer an all tube Fender or a Marshall. Sold it finally in the 90s. I got it probably because EC was using them then, and as you all know by now - he is my hero!

 

[Joe Desperado]

Just as an FYI, that isn't really a Pre Amp tube...as most would think of one. Its a pre-driver/phase inverter tube that boosts and inverts the signal as it goes into the power tubes. The front end is still solid state like the later ones. The differences in tone will be subtle...but there is some difference. Maybe a tad bit warmer in general. Most if not all of these amps seemed to have a PCB and not PTP wiring. That may be what keeps the value down on them. Fender continued PTP well into the 80's.

I have owned an RD100 head which was awesome. I never had problems with using pedals on this. I also had an RD65-112 and an RD50-112. Both superb gigging amps. I sold the RD65 to buy a super reveb. I don't regret the sale, but do wish I still had the RD65-112. It was a great jazz and country amp.

Eventually I ended up with my current amps. Deluxe Reverb, Super Reverb and a Rivera Chubster 40. All three are great amps and deliver the goods.

JD

 

[zac]

I had a 65 2-12 with the phase inverter tube. It was a great amp, that gigged well. I sold it to get a 69 Twin Reverb. I also had a RD50 1-10 that was a killer little 50-watt amp. Sold it to a bud that I think still has it.

 

[Kap'n]

Music Mans were better than what most folks were building at the time. And better than nearly any mass market amp today.

I've heard a lot of great player sound good through them.

But compared to any of the classic designs, they fall short.

 

[MattD1960]

see i see it just diffrent i think leo and his gang really got it right with MM's i think its just as good as any fender or marshall amp

 

[fender69]

I have a 2-10 65 that was one of the first ones off the assembly line. Bought it new when they came out all those years ago. They are an excellent amp that are pretty versatile. Even better, they are pretty much bulletproof and nearly impossible to destroy. I've had beer poured down mine and the only thing necessary was a hairdryer. As far as being as good as a Fender or Marshall, I would beg to differ a bit. They are a bit two dimensional as far as sound goes and don't really have the depth of a good all tube amp. I will say they can sound pretty good and will take pedals pretty well. FWIW, there are some chips in the circuit that are getting very hard to find (according to my amp buddy) and it would be a good idea to talk to your favorite amp tech and lay in a supply of them. Otherwise, they are a pretty good amp and can fake a lot of different styles well, even though I'm thinking about getting rid of mine.

 

[garywright]

FWIW, there are some chips in the circuit that are getting very hard to find (according to my amp buddy) and it would be a good idea to talk to your favorite amp tech and lay in a supply of them.

fender69 ..what chips are you/him referring too ? ...I ask because I got a '75 hd130 combo w/2x10 JBL k110s last week ..this amp cranks loud and hard and is definitely a keeper :salude

 

[fender69]

I will find out from my amp tech friend and let you know.

 

[garywright]

thanks you sir ...btw, did you wind up selling yours ?

 

[dlmorley]

Killer amps
I have one of these with an Eminence Tonespotter

 

[garywright]

here's my newly acquired ...great shape w/no badges

 

[yeti]

MM amps are great, especially for those of us with bad backs. The small combos are light but quality built. Good stuff. But leave Johnny Winter out of it. His tone is absolutely dreadful, just high end squeals. yeah, great player and all but boy, does he sound crappy through a MM. A friend of mine saw him last year on a Blues cruise and had the same impression; loud as hell and no bass, just squealing treble.

 

[garywright]

mines a ballbuster in weight ..i'm sure the jbls add a lot of it though.

 

[yeti]

mines a ballbuster in weight ..i'm sure the jbls add a lot of it though.

I think the RD-50 is about 17 Kg ( 40 pounds), not bad for an amp that loud.

 

[valdee]

HD 130 head is one of my favorites,very great tone,As good as any BF Fender but way cheaper,and they have good reliability.

 

[fender69]

fender69 ..what chips are you/him referring too ? ...I ask because I got a '75 hd130 combo w/2x10 JBL k110s last week ..this amp cranks loud and hard and is definitely a keeper :salude

Actually, they are IC's The very early ones have a round can, whereas the slightly later ones have a square one. The round IC is LM 307H and the later one is LM 1458.

The round ones are apparently getting rare and the square ones less so. I can give you an email address to an amp tech friend if you have any more questions. I had 2 65 watt versions of the amp you have, so these are the amps I am talking about. Let me know if you want more info.

 

[hoss]

Johnny Winter burned one here in Vienna, two years ago.
A friend filmed it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXi0o5RiZg8
A speaker coil caught fire.