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How Rare Are MusicMan Amps

#41
Wasnex said:
Did a bit of research.

FYI, The schematic for the HD-500 is dated 2001. This appears to have a solid-state output section with a tube on the front end of the preamp. I don't think I have ever seen an HD-500.

Earlier models included the HD-130 and HD-150. The schematics I found for these are dated 1980 and 1999. Ref: Musicman Schematics - Tube amp Schematics (el34world.com) I demoed either an HD-130 or HD-150 with matching cabs in the early 2000s. I was under the impression it was new. I thought it was a nice sounding rig, if you like HiFi, which I do.

These amps had solid-state preamps and tube output sections. My understanding is they ran unusually high plate voltages and have a reputation for being hard on tubes. Looks like the HD130 runs El34 at 725V and the HD150 runs 6L6GC at 700V. 725V is high for an EL34 but within limits. 700V is way over the limits of the 6L6GC.
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I had an HD-500 amp head and matching 2 x 10 - circa early 2000's, the amp was unremarkable, It was good, but not unlike most hybrids at the time. I think they were made in Italy and the I read the Dude from MarkBass was the guy that made 'em, then he started MarkBass - something like that.
 
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#44
Addressing some misconceptions above:

My HD 130 has a guitar channel, and a bass channel, no reverb. It's fun to bridge the channels, also, like with a older Marshall ...

The 12AX7 is not a pre-amp tube, rather it is a phase-splitter, used in the older version(s) before they went s/s.

The power tubes in mine are 6L6 ; some take 6CA7 or EL34. But if ya want loud, 6L6. (I did put a switchable fan innit as it runs hot; plate voltage is like 700, IIRC.) I replaced all the tubes once in about 30 years.

Be careful using multiple cabs; research the way the amp's impedance works and follow the labeling.

I used the HD130 for years into a Bag End 1x12 cab with a 300w. EV as my "portable" bass rig until Class D and Neos became common. I still have that rig and it still sounds great. I now use a PF500 into a Hartke High-whatever 1x12 for loud portable, or a GK 2x12 Neo, but sometimes I just gotta hear that HD. Quieter/recording portable is a PF50t into a custom 1x10" ...

I have a 1x15 MM cab but need a new speaker in it but - damn, it's a heavy cab. Looks cool, tho'.

Finally, these days I more often use the HD130 for guitar into a open-back 2x12" cab (made from an old Peavey Special combo - heavy, again) with Celestion 30's - I think it's the best Twin sound I have heard. I'll note Albert Lee and Mark Knopfler used MM amps extensively. I think Television, also, and I seem to recall Keef ...
 
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#45
GBassNorth said:
Early 1980's MusicMan HD150…
View attachment 4880319
I've had this amp for many years and it still performs flawlessly. The hybrid design is different from most since it has a Solid State preamp and a tube power section. If you like loud and clean it delivers nicely. They do run at high voltage but so far the tubes seem to be holding up just fine. You can find them on Reverb every now and then.

1981 Music Man HD150 *Serviced Tube Amp Guitar/Bass Amp Head | Reverb
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I serviced one of those models for a friend. I was impressed by the excellent attention to detail to wiring layout neatness and terminations. I've only seen two of them over the years; yeah they're rarely seen.
 
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#46
vvvmmm said:
...

The 12AX7 is not a pre-amp tube, rather it is a phase-splitter, used in the older version(s) before they went s/s.

…

I have a 1x15 MM cab but need a new speaker in it but - damn, it's a heavy cab. Looks cool, tho'.
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Comments above about "preamp tube" are re: HD-500 amp.

People are commenting on very different series of products made decades apart, not realizing it because so few have seen the Y2K-ish amps & cabs, much less the supposed current BH500.
 
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#54
A HD130 Reverb is on my list "to buy" when I find the right one. I stumbled across a Music Man 115 RH cabinet that looks like brand new, so why not. I think it would be a cool "art-piece" slice in time that I think would be fun to have available in my "barn studio" for guitar, maybe bass if the tone-goal matches a particular whim, and my main target for it: pedal steel: I just have a hunch all that clean power through a 15/horn box might be pretty monumental. My understanding is that the speaker "upgrade" offered by Music Man for the 115 RH at the time was an Electrovoice EVM15B, and I have a few of those laying around, so if I ever find my cherry 130HD Reverb we'll see which I like best.

The 12AX7 tube in earlier versions was part of the phase inverter. That circuit was later changer to a solidstate inverter circuit which my tube-amp repair guy says doesn't really sound different in a 130HD, but told me it would be preferable to find the tube-version because it is easily repairable while the solidstate inverter circuit not-so-much. The other thing these MusicMan amps have due to the high plate voltages is a really oddball transformer, so best to avoid having to deal with replacing one.

I think this write-up has some pretty good information:

Music Man HD-130 Reverb | Vintage Guitar® magazine
 
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#57
badinage said:
A HD130 Reverb is on my list "to buy" when I find the right one. I stumbled across a Music Man 115 RH cabinet that looks like brand new, so why not. I think it would be a cool "art-piece" slice in time that I think would be fun to have available in my "barn studio" for guitar, maybe bass if the tone-goal matches a particular whim, and my main target for it: pedal steel: I just have a hunch all that clean power through a 15/horn box might be pretty monumental. My understanding is that the speaker "upgrade" offered by Music Man for the 115 RH at the time was an Electrovoice EVM15B, and I have a few of those laying around, so if I ever find my cherry 130HD Reverb we'll see which I like best.

The 12AX7 tube in earlier versions was part of the phase inverter. That circuit was later changer to a solidstate inverter circuit which my tube-amp repair guy says doesn't really sound different in a 130HD, but told me it would be preferable to find the tube-version because it is easily repairable while the solidstate inverter circuit not-so-much. The other thing these MusicMan amps have due to the high plate voltages is a really oddball transformer, so best to avoid having to deal with replacing one.

I think this write-up has some pretty good information:

Music Man HD-130 Reverb | Vintage Guitar® magazine
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Not sure why he chose to play bass through a guitar amp unless he wanted to take advantage of the reverb and tremolo functions, which it appears he didn't. The MM bass amp sounds much better with a bass.
 
#58
Odinbass said:
Guitar Center's online used section is pretty good for amps. A lot of private sellers either don't list or won't ship amps online due to the size and cost. Guitar Center will do it. Of course, a saved search on Reverb doesn't hurt either. You never know.

Specific to EBMM I'll say good luck. I had an EBMM Audiophile 2x10 cab and looked high and low for the HD-500 head to match, no dice. There are other Music Man bass amps but they seem to only be available in Europe and not widely.
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If you are still pooking i have hd500 amp with the 410 cab and 210 cab if you're still interested in one, I've been toying with the notion of putting on the market. I know this post was a few years back, but puttin it out there.
 
#60
I still own an HD130 head that I bought new in Australia back in the '70s and a 115B One Twenty solid state wedge shaped combo given to me by Music Man in the early '80s in L.A. The HD130 is in service at the moment in preparation for sale. I don't use it anymore - it's heavy. It has served me well though.

The 115B is also very heavy. It has an EV 15" in it and it also came with an extension cabinet with an EV 15". The extension cab was too small and not great. I got hold of an empty TL style cabinet and put the extension cab's 15 in it. That rig served me professionally for many years. Running at 4 ohms that amp was pretty loud. I never needed to run the volume knob much past three. The wedge shape worked well standing on top of the TL box. It faced upward slightly and I could hear it well. I still use it occasionally for rehearsal and at home.

I've never seen another one in the wild here in Australia for 45 years. I did see a similar lightweight version at a store a few years ago. Most likely one of the Italian made amps.
 

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