| Author | Message | ||
     Alex Ives (tiss34) Username: tiss34 Registered: 07-2013 |
Hello, I am the proud owner of a Musicman 210 RD One Hundred. Lately I have become more and more curious about bands/artists who are using these amps and the main differences between the models, it seems to me by far the most popular among professionals are the HD series, could anyone please explain to me why this was? Was it just because of the extra wattage available on these amps or was there a significant tonal difference? Looking through the MM range apart from wattage was there considered a difference in quality in the amps eg the budget range through to top end in the range or were they generally all considered equal but with slightly different tonal qualities ala Deluxe, Twin reverbs? Many thanks for your insight! | ||
| Mike Kaus (mm210) Username: mm210 Registered: 05-2006 |
Honestly, I saw no tonal differences between the sections that were the same. The tone of the amps WITH the 12ax7a PI tube were better TO ME, but the SS driver versions were cool too! THEY DIDN"T BLOW UP! I've had and have both(sort of) and the SS driver versions were cool when pedal driven but honestly sucked when trying to naturally overdrive them. They work better when pedal driven. Actually, they all work better when pedal driven. Anyway, back in the day, it was a horsepower race. Fender was trying to say that their twins in 78-80 something were 130 watts but they were considered too sterile sounding. I have one. "78 twin and it has jbl's factory and it's LOUD and clean. Most people don't like it. Mine took a dump and had to put a POS Hammond OT in it that is only rated for 120 watts and it actually breaks up a little. Nice amp and I still have it retired in the flight case in the basement. it's just too lous and TOO STINKING HEAVY. When I do play a combo amp out, I use the Music Man 2-10-65. Plent loud and does the job. Astually, mine's KIND of broke in that it breaks up pretty early but it works with the quieter gigs that I play now so I don't fix it. WOW-waht a ramble. Anyway, my point is that one amp works in one setting and another doesn't. Have buddy who uses a RD something that absolutely SCREAMS clean and he's playing a freaking strat on top of it. Have NO idea how he gets the tone he does but it works for hims. SSSOOOOO, my advice is-if it works play it! Rant over! Mike/ | ||
| Dave Gossett (davey) Username: davey Registered: 05-2006 |
Never played through a RD series amp but a lot of time playing with a 2/12/65. later I picked up a 130HD reverb head and ran her through a couple of 2/12 cabinets. I have to admit, back then I did buy the HD for the extra wattage,the two cabinets to push more air, and I like the way it looked. No difference in the sound, all good. Dave. | ||
| Alex Ives (tiss34) Username: tiss34 Registered: 07-2013 |
Ahh interesting, thanks for the insight. For me I am just keeping it clean and plonking a fuzz pedal in front which seems to work a dream, the other guy in my band runs an RP 65 which sound the bomb, personally I prefer the 2x10 set up but yea I was just wondering if there was any other difference between the HD and non HD models, if it is mainly down to wattage there is NO need for me to want over 100w & due to the ss pre amp it stays clean very loud...Good to know sound-wise there is not much difference! | ||
| Lars Verholt (lmv) Username: lmv Registered: 11-2009 |
In my experience, the 2-channel amps (i.e. the premium range when the RD/RP/B models came along) all sound the same within each model type. In other words, an old sixty five reverb with the driver tube sounds the same as the HD-130 reverb with the driver tube. If you don't use the filter buttons an RD and RP will sound the same as a SS driver 65/75/130/150 - if you keep it clean. The bigger amps will of course allow you to provide more power to your speaker(s). Either way, it's so nice to be asked 'how do you get that great tone? What do you play through?' (this question normally means 'what kind of computerized gizmo with banks of programmed sounds do you use?') - and the answer is 'uhm, I have this guitar and an amp, oh and a cord between them!'. Well - ok I do use an OD pedal (with a 12AX7 tube in it) - but a good many tunes in the band's current set are played with only what the amp offers. The 'country music button' (bright switch) is an effect in itself. Cheers, Lars Verholt | ||
| Bill Moore (bill_moore) Username: bill_moore Registered: 03-2013 |
Interesting, only last week did I punch in the "bright" and "deep" switches, and found the sound that my friend Ted had. I listened for years behind his Sho-Bud, and RD100 while playing drums. Now I have both, and I found his settings! |