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The MusicMan Amp Club

I'm sure most of you are thinking, "where are the moderators at, this moron is posting about his Stingray in the Amp forum!"

But you are mistaken. I am soon to be the proud owner of a MusicMan HD-500 Head. MusicMan has not been making amps since it was acquired by Ernie Ball (or was it the other way around?) in 1981.

Soon, once my money order goes out, and a package comes in, I will be the proud owner of one of these amps.

Moderator SMASH once said (actually, someone else said it but he said it was a good analogy), "it's like a mix between an Aguilar and a Fender Bassman".

:hyper: :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:
 
stu FORD said:
was musicman really bought in 81? i thought was more into the mid 80s

yes, but apparently my amp was made in 2000.

My HD-500 arrived three weeks ago (I have been on vacation for the past two weeks.) Now I am officially a member of the MM/EB Amp Club. My amp is absolutely amazing. Maybe I can take some pictures soon.
 
Pictures, pictures, pictures!!! :) I'm still looking for a mm/eb head at a fair price (they're a bit harder to get your hands on in the Netherlands). But I just bought the cab (hd212) and 'diggin 'it' completely! What a sound. Man, this stuff is really underrated.
Have fun playing yours!
 
tombowlus said:
Interesting. Any thoughts on how the HD-500 sounds relative to the current Markbass head offerings?

Tom.

I haven't played the HD-500 or the Markbass head that replicates it. Some of the lads from Italy can best answer that. If I'm not mistaken, the Musicman heads say "Made in Italy".

I have a Little Mark F-i limited edition head. It's the only Markbass I have played.
 
danomite64 said:
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This is my '82 120-B

Nice, many years ago I had a head that looked just like that (I think it was a 100-B), great sounding amp but would cut out a lot. Tried to get it fixed a couple times but nothing ever worked 'til a guy told me where to hit it (on top, about 1/3 of the way from the right) to make it work again... sold it cheap to a guy with a garage full of old mm and fender amps.
 
I had the HD-500 head and traded it to a TBer for a G-K 700RB-II. One of the best trades I've ever made.

I liked the MM head fine, but it just wasn't my thing, tonally. It seemed kind of "bland" to me, but then, I like a more modern tone. It also seemed to lack headroom, especially when compared to the G-K.
 
my school has an
hd120
hd120b
hd150
...
i'm waiting for one of the tubes to go bad, so i can pick one up on the cheap, because while my band teacher, can tune a trumpet by ear, and take a dent out of a trombone, his electronics skills are lacking;)
 
any good info on the net about the old musicman bass amps? i'm always trying to find a nice compact tube amp to save up for... and don't most of the old musicman amps have tube power sections and solid state pre's? i've always wondered what that would sound like...
 
Info:
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Mine HD150 that I like a lot:
MMHD-1506.gif

It's a solid state pre, and 4x6L6 power section. So, the ss pre sounds like arse when oversriven, but if you run the master on 10, and keep the input under 5 or 6 it sounds really great!