| Author | Message | ||
| Ingo Raven (ingo) Username: ingo Registered: 07-2007 |
Hello, this is my first message in this great forum. I didn't find any explanation here on the serial numbers, only the assumption that they are random numbers. I believed that they must contain some information, so I collected serial numbers here from this forum and from ebay to draw my own conclusions. This is what I found out so far: The serial numbers have a form like C004235, BN05663, DP05491, etc. They have 7 digits. The first digit (A, B, C, D, or E) is the chassis size (width): A: small size e.g. 65 watts bass head B: two channel amps, left channel without bright switch and middle control, e.g. 112-65, 410HD-130 C: the big two channel amp like the 212HD-130 or 212-65 D: the RD or RP series with 65 or 100 watts E: the small RD with 50 watts The second letter (N,O,P) denotes the output power (we should read 0 as Oh here and not as zero): N: normal(??) = 65/75 watts, or 50 watts on the small RD, generally "little power") O: 130/150 watts P: 100 watts The following numbers seem to be chronological *for each series*. It seems there were more B models like C models, so a 78 B-model has a higher number than a 78 C-model. What I didn't find out is what exactly happened when they changed to new models (75/150 watts). It seems they kept the first two letters and possibly started the numbering with 0000 again. Here I need more data. Generally this means it IS to some extend possible to identify the model according on only the serial number. Also the numbers have to do with the year of production, but only indirectly. We need to find out which number range corresponds to which year *for each series (A - E). greeting from Germany, Ingo | ||
| Giorgio (giorgio) Username: giorgio Registered: 07-2007 |
Well done Ingo! I give you two S/Ns (both from Germany ;) I bought them on ebay): HD One-thirty 2100-130 EX A001627 Sixty-five 2100-65 EX AN01950 As soon as possible I'll give you the S/N of a RD112-65 that is from 1980 (year written inside the amp). Bye! | ||
| Ingo Raven (ingo) Username: ingo Registered: 07-2007 |
Both of your amps are A series. Do they in fact have the same chassis width, or should I modify something of my theory? According to the rather low numbers they both should have the driver tube. Am I right? | ||
| Giorgio (giorgio) Username: giorgio Registered: 07-2007 |
They have the same chassis an follow the rules of your theory. From the model chart found in this site it seems that the HD130 never have transistor phase inverter. The sixty-five has transistor paraphase inverter, so I think it's a 1978/79. There is a difference between their knobs: numbers on the knobs in the HD130 are bold-like respect the sixty-five's ones. I'm quite sure that HD130 is older than the sixty-five. I compared the components inside the amps but I haven't found any differences. | ||
| Giorgio (giorgio) Username: giorgio Registered: 07-2007 |
Some news about the sixty-five head. It's a kind of hybrid (!) It has a preamp board rev BB-1 B, with LM307H opamps (metal can package), and the "filter circuit" (as mentioned in the schematic) BUT has no 12AX7, so the bias circuit in preamp board is unused and the two EL34 are biased by transistors. If you look the schematics of 2100-65 chassis , in the matter of fact, none of them is correct for this head. This makes me think that has been produced in the period of migration from tube PI to opamp PI. NOTE: In the previous post when I wrote about component differences I was referring to preamp board. | ||
| Ingo Raven (ingo) Username: ingo Registered: 07-2007 |
Hi Giorgio, thanks for your table with the data you sent me. The numbers on the transformers (and also on all potis) also have some information about the date of manufacture, e.g. 606-740 means 606: manufacturer code, 7: 1977 (or 67 or 87), 40th week So the 65 can't be built before end of 77, while the 130 is from early 77 or later. The change from tube inverter to SS inverter was to my knowledge in 77 (not in 76). However, many amps that came with a tube were called back and were equipped with the SS driver board - this was a free service by MM. For this reason you might find SS drivers on 75 or 76 amps as well. On the other hand, the latest tube driver we find should mean that all amps up to that date were originally made with the tube - until now this seems to be early 77 (but I need more data). The schematics with the SS board were from a later version, without choke and with the stand-bye switch at the front. My 1980 HD130 is one of these. Ingo |
Tue, 03/25/2014 - 09:30
#1
amp# 137 or 132...?
Hi,
I tried to date my amp and for now I found out, it must have been built in 68, 78 or 88.
Here's some infos:
Serial# C006336
Transformer# EIA-606-718
Transformer# EIA-606-823
small Transformer# EIA606-740
Cassis NO 2475-130
I'd appreciate any help!
Walter
I'd say 78.
I'd say 78.
Sounds right
In another thread you say either 68, 78 or 88. In this context, it is very simple: Music Man amps were only produced from 74 into 83 or 84.
Cheers,
Lars Verholt
Dating a 412GS cab
I have an old 412GS straight cabinet that I'm trying to find a date on...I pulled a speaker which is dated 1976...is there a serial number, stamps or anything that will help
Thanks, Bill
early 130 head
B0002XX serial
Used it briefly, because a tube red plated shortly after receiving it, and there was smoke. It was sounding good.
Tbh, I never plug in amps anymore. I think it would be good to get all them
serviced by a person who knows these models. A few of them sound good, a few don’t. I run a little electricity through them all every few years or so.
My interest in the mentioned head is due to an anomaly. The feet on the base are small round rubber donuts, probably secured by a screw. IIRC they seemed not out of place, and there were no footprints or signs that any other pads were mounted there. Every MM head I have seen or owned has the big rubber pads. Since this is a very early serial number, I am asking if anyone else has seen such a head?
Another question would be is there anything to the rumor being circulated here and there about there existing some early 65 130 style HD models which had a genuine tube pre-amp? This is being mentioned on some guitar forums and I thought that this place would have the lowdown. The story being put forth, by a person or two who seem to know these amps well, and who are apparently familiar with both the tube and transistor designed PI SS front ends, is that there do exist some first run amps which use true tube preamplification. And that they are rare, so don’t expect to see one. Does anyone have the last word on this rumor?
eta: I just searched the forum and saw that Steve did answer this part of my question for a guy who was asking about the PI tube in regard to 150s vs 130s and are there any true tube preamp MM amps etc.... This subject probably gets beat to death.
It persists in my head because of the supposed MM amp awareness the person putting the story out seems to have, and that he stated the ‘very early/very rare’ mantra. There is nothing ‘rare’ about a tube phase splitter in 65s and 130s...not even a little bit rare. idk.
BTW the new board looks great. I have checked in from time to time and it seemed the board was shut down for a while, not sure. This is my first visit in years. Thanks, Steve, and all involved.
I sold MM's in the 70's and I
I sold MM's in the 70's and I never saw a tube front end in any of them but that was around 77 though. Mike.
Music man amp serial numbers
I have a 1970s 212 music man amp.. serial number CN 00283 output 65 Watts RMS
serial number
My HD 130 reverb has the serial number B005385 can anybody shed any light on that? It also has a plate on the back saying Strawberry Studios
I am of the opinion it is a 1974 amp and cab and it is in immaculate condition and I have not moved it out of my mancave for 20 years but I fired up 6today and it was fine except for the smell of burning dust off the valves for the first few minutes I can confirm it has a 12AX7 PI chassis number is a 2275 130
I am assuming that the amp
I am assuming that the amp HAS the 12ax7 PI tube? I've got a 130 chassis in the basement circa 77 but have never LOOKED at the sn! Have a 65 -210 amp also.
I have an undated 210-HD, SN
I have an undated 210-HD, SN B003987. I believe I purchased this used around 1980. Any idea of the date on this one?
I've had issues with the tremolo (weak effect with a strong "thumping" sound in time with the beat of the tremolo) and am currently having a hard time getting clear information on what to check or repair. I've got it to a tech, but he isn't coming up with anything and isn't sure it's a problem. To me the tremolo is just unusable.
Does it have 12ax7 PI tube or
Does it have 12ax7 PI tube or SS driver. That helps date them. Trem, there is an adjustment on the main board that CAN solve SOME problems unless it has a cap bad or something else. Mike.
trying to date my MM combo
Hi guys, this is my first visit to this great site! Greetings from Lancashire, England!
I have a 112 RP 65 - the chassis number is 2165 RP and the serial number is DN00306.
Is there any way I can get an accurate date from this information?
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Hi Mark,
Hi Mark,
If you open up the chassis and pull it out, you may see a date written on the printed circuit board. That is the inspection date...
The Transformers also have an EIA date code.
The EIA code for Schumacher Transformers typically used in Music Man Amps is 606
The next number is the year.
The next two numbers are the week of the year.
for example
606-7-23 would indicate
606 - Woodward-Schumacher
7 - this could be 1957, 1967, 1977 etc. for Music Man assume 1970's
23 - this would be week 23
is my 110RD fifty original MM 81-84? or reissue
posted my 110Rd Fifty on market place and someone send message saying its a reissue. i bought this in pawn shop about 20 yrs back. Ser EN00191 Chassis 1650 RRD. weight 35# , i bought a MM 112 new in about 83, loaned it a client, touring blues musician, need to get it back one day. it was heavy amp too
Dating a MM 210-65
Hello, I'm trying to determine the year of a MusicMan 210-65.
Serial Number is BN 07759. It has vibrato and reverb, rather than a built-in phase shifter. Non-original speakers (
Celestion G-10 60 watts, dated 04)
I believe it to be between 1975 - 1979, as the vibrato and reverb were replaced with a phaser some time around 1980, but I could be mistaken. "A. T. 12-9" is handwritten on the circuit board. December, '79?