| Author | Message | ||
| Recky |
Hi, I'm being offered either a Sixty-Five 210 or a 112 RP but can't audition them (too far to travel), so maybe you guys can help. What's the difference soundwise? Which gives a better bass response, and which would you prefer and why? Thanks for your help! Recky | ||
| michael kaus |
In my worthless opinion, if the 210 is a 12ax7 version, I'd get it. If the 210 is the SS driver version like the 112, I'd get the 112 just because I like twelves better than tens(even though I OWN a 210 65!). I assume the 112 is a 65 also. The bass response will be better with the twelve. When I use my MM out, I put it through an old single 15 cab with a JBL d130 in it to get a little more thunp. I just prefer the sound of the amps wit the tube driver and honestly, I just like them better. Mike. | ||
| Steve Kennedy (admin) |
Come now, everyone's opinion is worth at least $0.02! Because of its 12" speaker, insert jacks and Phasor circuit, the RP is probably the most tonally-versatile amp (or potentially so) of the two "out of the box". However, since the 210-65 is a two-channel amp it is possible to link the two channels to invoke a much wider tonal palette than that found in a single channel of the same amp. Either amp would be a good choice (assuming they are in comparable and good operation condition). Depending on the vintage of these two particular amps, the 112RP could be as much as 10 years NEWER than the 210-65! A newer amp might not require as much immediate "sprucing up" (cap job, speakers, etc.) to sound its best. It is always a tough call when buying amps long-distance without the opportunity to try them first. I would make sure I was getting the amp for a good enough price to allow me to sink additional funds into it if necessary. The good news is that regardless of model, Music Man amps are all well-built enough that you can usually make them sound good through standard maintenance procedures and they respond well and in consistent fashion in most cases. Steve | ||
| Carl. |
according to the tube amp book old "sixtyfive/one thirty" MM with 12ax7 are the most sort after, i believe there is a very good reason for this. | ||
| Steve Kennedy (admin) |
I believe the reason they are preferred is that IF you drive the phase-splitter to near overload it will add its own distinctive tube overdrive sound to that of the output tubes. This results in a "warmer" or smoother sound than the solid-state version under the same set of circumtances. This comes with the increased possibility of failure as described in many places on this site. In my experience, most people will not hear this difference unless you push the amp hard and is almost "invisible" if just playing clean nowhere near distortion territory. Steve | ||
| c. |
so do the rp's sound like the old 65's? | ||
| Steve Kennedy (admin) Username: admin Registered: 03-2002 |
They are not the same design at all, so they won't sound exactly the same. They ALL sound like Music Man amplifiers, however. They share the same design philosophy of having a high-headroom clean base tone on which everything else is based. Steve |
Tue, 03/25/2014 - 09:26
#1
RP 112 fizzes when using OD box and hard attackwhy?
My 112 RP has a fizzy overtone when using a distortion box in front of it it is the el34 rp 112 one hundred
OK-first, does it fizzy
OK-first, does it fizzy without the od?
Re: fizzy
It used to clean if run on high power with lots of bass and hard pick attack on low power clean mode no fizz only when using a distortion pedal has these residual fizzes with high gain and hard pick attack also when I turn amp on I hear distortion sound that fades away to clean. My gain stage on this amp also sounds awful totally unusable when crank gain knob if I play clean or use a clean boost usually amp sounds ok but with any gain sounds like a blown speaker but speaker is fine
Link to sound
http://youtu.be/bzV21Wnh14A
While I am having a hard
While I am having a hard time getting what you are saying, I have to ask, has this amp ever been re-capped and serviced? Cleaning sockets, replacing any carbon comps on he sockets, etc. You could very well have a cap letting down too but without actually working on it , it's a guess. I DID listen to you sound file and it DOES sound a little ragged. I am also a little suspicious of the driver transistors as I have had a couple (one being mine) that had a bad driver on one side that did this too. I know I'm not much help here but we are flying blind without more accurate technical information. I am going to assume that the tubes are known good or have been swapped with others? Mike.
112 RP
I had a tech look at it but I don't think he knows these amps he said the preamps don't handle overdrive pedals well and that's why also when I turn up the gain to natural OD it's sounds awful like a sound of spaghetti or broken speaker also when I turn on amp or turn off I heard distortion just before it fades on or turn off is this normal Thnks!
Is this Normal?
If the power is switched off while putting a signal into the amp. the output will sound distorted for a few seconds while the power supply voltages decay. This is perfectly normal. Same would be true when power is switched on while the power supply caps charge up. As far the pre-amp not handling OD pedals very well, it would depend on how large the output signal from the OD pedal is. Try reducing the volume on the pedal output and use the Lo Gain input on the amp. Lastly, try using an extension cab to verify your speaker is good. Also do the pressure test on the speaker. Does it feel scratchy when the speaker cone is manually pushed back and forth? If yes, that speaker is mechanically compromised even if the ohms read good. -mgriffin
Thanks mrgriffin
I may also take off the bottom baffle and that seems to vibrate a lot as well adding to the unpleasant overtones
Also ...
How is it that these amps send such a phat signal they imho sound better than reissue deluxe fenders etc even tho the MM amps were circuit board any ideas why? Also what speaker sounds most Fendery? I have a c12k Jensen reissue and I think it's nice also tried a eminence ev12l copy that sounded big with distortion box but the clean tone was kinda blah not sparkly enough for me any suggestions on nice Fender sound? Is the 112 RP like a deluxe or supposed to be? The deep switch is what makes this amp imo!
Speakers
Opinions about speakers are like belly buttons...everybody has one. I'm partial to Celestions. Many of the new Fender Amps are loaded with Celestions, and so are Marshalls. After doing a lot of comparing and ear-search, I put a Celestion Creamback in my 112-65 RD and it sounds great. Clean or dirty, it just doesn't matter. No resonance buzz at low frequencies but plenty of punch. Also, no ice pickiness with the treble. Mids are creamy smooth. You can throw anything at it. Well worth the price. My mama raised me to say something nice or say nothing at all. That being the case, I won't talk about Eminance, JBL and EV. Mr mm210 likes Weber speakers and he has a good ear.