Music Man or Fender?

[Teletwang]

I'm in the market for another great, twangy tube amp.
Already have a SFDR but just can't quantify paying current prices for another. It seems to me that Music Man amps from that same era would be just as nice at a much lower cost. Are they bargains or duds?

[ne4tt]

MM Discussion

I see more affordable 65w/2x10s listed online than other configurations.
The 4x10s command a premium price.
Heads, both the 65w and 130w are affordable, $200 up.
Just add a cab with speaker configuration of choice.

The amps with the script logo, sixty five, one thirty, are the older ones, and equipped with a 12AX7/7025 driver tube.

Remember these are older amps, and would need overhauled for reliability.

[stantheman]

I've only HEARD this and can't verify seeing how I don't own a Music Man (but wouldn't mind at all) some of the
component parts involve a little searching around. Because the company is no longer building Amps, if I was going to buy a Music Man I'd probably want more than one - just in case...
They are noted to be ultra-reliable Amps.
It just the last models are probably 20 years old.
Then again - these WERE Amps built on Forrest White's
"watch" so they are probably indestructable.
If I had the choice between a "Re-Issue" Fender and a 20 year old Music Man....I'd buy The Music Man, Amp for
Amp I believe they are better quality products.
Hey - Forrest White - 'nuff said. 8)

[ne4tt]

TNX for the reminder Stan.

Original preamp ICs [integrated circuits] are no longer available.

BUT, check the MM Amp Disussion for possible retrofit components.

jamie

[ye olde fretmonkey]

Originally Posted by stantheman

I've only HEARD this and can't verify seeing how I don't own a Music Man (but wouldn't mind at all) some of the
component parts involve a little searching around. Because the company is no longer building Amps, if I was going to buy a Music Man I'd probably want more than one - just in case...
They are noted to be ultra-reliable Amps.
It just the last models are probably 20 years old.
Then again - these WERE Amps built on Forrest White's
"watch" so they are probably indestructable.
If I had the choice between a "Re-Issue" Fender and a 20 year old Music Man....I'd buy The Music Man, Amp for
Amp I believe they are better quality products.
Hey - Forrest White - 'nuff said. 8)

I can vouch for that.

I had 2 MM 130 heads over the years...traded one for a guitar, the other one had a transformer fail. It took a great deal of detective work to find a replacement, and then it would have run more than the amp was worth.

But...I'd get another MM in a minute.

[TAZ]

Hello TeleTwang,

I owned and used an early 130 Musicman with 4 10"s for 10 years. Too me, it was the same as a Fender Twin. The half power switch was a nice feature in 1975. It was reliable (I can't remember even retubing it) and durable (gigged it everywhere including the beach!).

[JohnnyAtomic]

the 2x10 sixty five is long time FAV of mine. can't go wrong. new filter caps, get the bias adjusted right, and they're practically bulletproof.

johnny atomic

[div]

How does the 2x10 sixty five compare to a vibrolux?

[jack.plugg]

I've been lucky enough to have had both, (and at the same time too).

The MM is still my main gigging amp, has been for years and will be in use once again tomorrow night.

It is a really good, solid, clean sounding amp. It has plenty of punch and sparkle, and the treble knob is rarely on anything higher than.. let me go and check it ... 4 !

The Vibrolux however, was an amp I'd always wanted, so when one came along I bought it, even though I didn't actually need it at the time! I used to use it with the Music Man sometimes, and I'd have an A/B box. I'd play the MM for rhythm and fills, etc., then step on the switch for solos, through the Vibrolux. To my ears, the Fender had a better "break up" tone than the MM, but didn't have as much punch, or body, at lower volumes. Because of the volume levels at the gigs I played then, I wasn't always able to get the Vibrolux up high enough to get the "break up" sound, and sometimes it sounded a bit wimpy at lower levels.

To my ears, the Fender 10" speakers seemed lighter and thinner-sounding than the Music Man tens,and though very bright, they didn't seem to punch out the bottom end so deeply. But we all hear things differently, so other peoples' views may vary.

Eventually I got rid of the Vibrolux and just went back to using the Music Man on it's own again. I still find it to be a very impressive partner for a crisp and twangy Telecaster; of course, you may be after something other than crisp and twangy!

(I didn't abandon Fender amps altogether though; when the gig is the right size, I leave the MM at home and take my Deluxe Reverb. Now that is a good sounding little amp!)

[El Capitan]

positively, have to HURT everybody in the room...


mine is loaded with Weber Cali's.
NOS ECC 83 Mullard phase inverter. (why? you ask? I have many and it checks better than a new one.)
New GT 6CA7's
I had the caps replaced, and bias set according to Music Man instructions.
Also set the Tremelo with an oscilliscope.

It is a thing of beauty, however, in the wrong hands (mine) in can be a thing of danger.

I plug in and play the intro to "London Calling" by the Clash, with it mostly.....
Then back to the Deluxe Reverb.
I hope to one day "need it" for a "real gig",(Shea stadium? Wembley? ACL Fest?) that's why I keep it.
I would like to borrow an SPL meter from someone if they have one.
Also toying with getting a "212RH" extention cab to set the 212HD on and loading the cab with JBL's or Altecs or EV's.
I just want to have the LOUDEST combo amp ever made, for some reason, and never use it above 1 or 2 on volume.......

[ne4tt]

I've got mine on a 1x15 RH, w/EV.
Good for bass, but I'm gonna hook it up to my Twin's 2x12s, to see how my steel sounds.

BTW, El Capitan,
any chance you could take a look at the Accutronics Reverb tank model number?

Mine needs one, didn't come with one.

TNX jamie

[JohnnyAtomic]

Originally Posted by div

How does the 2x10 sixty five compare to a vibrolux?

Originally Posted by jack.plugg

I've been lucky enough to have had both, (and at the same time too).

The MM is still my main gigging amp, has been for years and will be in use once again tomorrow night.

It is a really good, solid, clean sounding amp. It has plenty of punch and sparkle, and the treble knob is rarely on anything higher than.. let me go and check it ... 4 !

The Vibrolux however, was an amp I'd always wanted, so when one came along I bought it, even though I didn't actually need it at the time! I used to use it with the Music Man sometimes, and I'd have an A/B box. I'd play the MM for rhythm and fills, etc., then step on the switch for solos, through the Vibrolux. To my ears, the Fender had a better "break up" tone than the MM, but didn't have as much punch, or body, at lower volumes. Because of the volume levels at the gigs I played then, I wasn't always able to get the Vibrolux up high enough to get the "break up" sound, and sometimes it sounded a bit wimpy at lower levels.

To my ears, the Fender 10" speakers seemed lighter and thinner-sounding than the Music Man tens,and though very bright, they didn't seem to punch out the bottom end so deeply. But we all hear things differently, so other peoples' views may vary.

Eventually I got rid of the Vibrolux and just went back to using the Music Man on it's own again. I still find it to be a very impressive partner for a crisp and twangy Telecaster; of course, you may be after something other than crisp and twangy!

(I didn't abandon Fender amps altogether though; when the gig is the right size, I leave the MM at home and take my Deluxe Reverb. Now that is a good sounding little amp!)

very accurate assement. fender more breakup, smoother, some are brighter, MM louder, more punch, tighter. i too have both and play to keep 'em both .

MM weighs more , but i'm lazy.

[JohnnyAtomic]

oops double post

[fenderfan]

Through all the Fender amps I've had and sold (which were all excellent), I have kept my Music Man 1x12 65 watt, and I also have a great MM 4x10. I still keep a Twin Reverb, but I love the MM amps, too. The 1x12 has been used at literally countless gigs - it has a Weber California in it and sounds strong, full, and very defined (that great airy string definition). The 4x10 is just a royal thing of beauty! These are such fine amps, and are available at decent prices compared to their Fender cousins.

[Tim Armstrong]

I had an HD130 combo with a single 15" JBL in it. It was a wonderful amp, I think perhaps set up as a pedal steel amp. I liked it a lot, but it was more amp than I had a need for, and I was broke, so I sold it. It matched up with my Beloved Telecaster and my almost as beloved Gretsch quite well.

Cheers, Tim

[BassMasterMkII]

Originally Posted by ne4tt

TNX for the reminder Stan.

Original preamp ICs [integrated circuits] are no longer available.

BUT, check the MM Amp Disussion for possible retrofit components.

jamie

I have found a good supply of these IC's. If anybody is interested, PM me!

Bassmaster

[dan1952]

Transformers are prone to failure, especially if the impedance switch is accidentally set wrong. I've seen 5 or 6 different ones in which this has occurred. Other than that, great sounding amps. I've owned 3 65's (1 w/1-15, 2w/2-10's).

[strat a various]

info at musicmanamps.com
Steve Kennedy, who runs the site, is an authority on MusicMan amps and he can direct owners to Terry Loose, the foremost MusicMan tech around. I've had two, they are easily repaired, and even expensive components are worth it if you like that super bright, Silverface-on-steroids tone.

[getbent]

Originally Posted by ne4tt

TNX for the reminder Stan.

Original preamp ICs [integrated circuits] are no longer available.

BUT, check the MM Amp Disussion for possible retrofit components.

jamie

I, at first, ran into all kinds of online worries about parts for my music man amps (I own 2) ... then I found Val King at King Amplification in San Jose Ca.

I've taken both of my music man amps to him to have them 'fixed up' for gigging etc and in one, the 112 rp mm the phaser was broken and I'd been told by countless people I was 'out of luck'...

Val fixed my amp up in less than a week.

I can't really compare fender bf/sf amps and MM because I think they are different kinds of animals... but, I love my Music Man amps and I'd never part with them permanently (both are out on tour with friends and family right now) but they are stout enough that I don't worry about them handling the road.

They are heavy and built to last like 55 chevy.