Music Man Amp

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 23 May 2005 2:40 am

I use a Music Man 112 amp for regular guitar - I find it good for clean jazz and country playing, but last night took it onstage with my Sierra 6-string lapsteel. It sounded great! I haven't had a chance to try the steel through any of the favourite steel amps - Peaveys, Steel King etc., but can't imagine how they could sound any better than the Music Man did - to my ears anyway. Any other players use them? I guess they're similar to Fenders...?

Robert Parent · Post by **Robert Parent** » 23 May 2005 3:40 am

I have two MM amps, one with an EV12 and the other with a JBL12. I think they are great amps as do several others on this forum.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 23 May 2005 6:47 am

If you do a search you will find a number of threads about Music Man amps. I picked up a 100 watt 112 combo for a steal. It is very small and light. These amps are hybrids with solid state preamps and a power stage with two 6L6GC tubes. For pedal steel it sounds better than most solid state amps, but not quite as good as an all Tube Fender such as a Twin Reverb or Super Twin.

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 23 May 2005 5:48 pm

You might want to try a MusicMan 21HD 150 with Altecs or EV 12's they kick A$$ big time.A 410 HD 150 with 4 Evm's kicks both A$$'es of anything out there. These were Leo's finest amps.Bar none my two cents worth. I repped MM since day one and resigned from CBS Fender because of these great amps. Good luck. they are built like Tanks.

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 24 May 2005 12:52 am

you can take that to the bank son

Tony Harris · Post by **Tony Harris** » 24 May 2005 1:09 am

Thanks for your replies - I'm especially privileged to receive one from The King of Tweed! I discovered these amps when I went into a music shop about 25 years ago to try an overdrive pedal everyone was raving about at the time (a Tube Screamer), but couldn't believe the amp I was trying it through. The quality of that Music Man clean tone just hit me. I forgot the pedal, bought the amp, and it's still my favourite for guitar, and now for steel. Thanks again Mr. Fender, and Mr. Carver.

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 24 May 2005 3:46 am

I'm using a MM 115. It's a great amp with all the warmth I want. JBL E-130 15", I believe it's right at 100 watts and that's enough with the tubes. It's the first tube amp I really like.

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 30 May 2005 4:55 am

I have two Musicman HD-130 2-12 amps. One with JBL-D120s and one with EVM 12L speakers. I have had mine for years, and thought about selling them a few times, but I always go back to them. Great with a Tele or for E9th Steel. I do prefer a 1-15 for steel, but for guitar they are my favorites.
I have Boogie amps too, but the clean sound just can't compare to the Musicman 2-12.
I would like to find a clean 1-15 or 4-10 one day. Good stuff. Used by Albert Lee, Eric Clapton, Mark Knoppler, and Johnny Winter, Alabama and others in the 70-80's period.
Lefty
G&L ASAT Classic and Special
Sho-Bud LDG
Musicman amps

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 30 May 2005 4:58 am

P.S. Mr. Jody Carver has a collection that will make you soak you tee shirt with drool.
Lefty

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 30 May 2005 12:08 pm

Lefty

I tried to stop drooling,but I had to wear a bib when I play through a MusicMan amp.

edited ooops I'm drooling again

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 30 May 2005 at 01:09 PM.]</p></FONT>

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 30 May 2005 6:30 pm

I have a Music Man RD 50 112, and I've used it for steel many times. Bought it in a pawn shop last year. It's great when the gig has a lot of stairs or about a mile from the car to the stage. The Session 400 stays home for those gigs. The Music Man is a great workhorse. I use it for Telecaster all the time...it's my main electric amp. But just last week I did a did convention hall with the Music Man and the steel and it was perfect.
Chet Atkins used this exact model as his main stage amp for years....he mentioned it in a Guitar Player interview from the early 90's.
My advice to everyone is to simply buy one of these if you ever stumble across one....you won't be sorry.

MSA "The Universal"
Session 400
Goodrich L120

Jim Anderson · Post by **Jim Anderson** » 30 May 2005 7:20 pm

Does anyone have a ballpark of the value of a MM 212 HD150? I'm thinking of getting rid of it. It was purchased in 1983, I think. It's got less than 20 hours on it, and has been sitting unused since 1984.

Chris LeDrew · Post by **Chris LeDrew** » 30 May 2005 9:33 pm

I don't know exactly how much they're worth, but if you plan on selling it, please post it. This is the model that Robbie Roberston used with The Band on The Last Waltz. These HD's also lined the back of Emmylou's band in the mid-70's.
They still seem remarkably inexpensive for their rich history. I've seen ones with wear and tear go for $500 on Ebay.

Lefty · Post by **Lefty** » 1 Jun 2005 4:10 pm

Jim,
You could do a search on Ebay completed items. I have been surprised how they still sell for a lot less than Fenders, I have two of the HD-130 2-12 models. I think the 130 with the tube pre-amp is a favorite among collectors, but the solid state rectifiers still sound great. One of mine has that.
I can remember when Fenders (blackface) could be had for a reasonable price, and then as they become scarce the price soars. I see the price of Musicman amps starting to climb slowly. Good amps.
Lefty