Hi,
Firstly, I will say that I am excited to find a Music Man amp site! Now for some background information. I have a 212 HD150 amp. I bought it second hand around 1998. I used to play a lot of gigs back then with it. Usually to crowds of up to about 400 people. That thing was loud!! Nothing could compete in pure volume with the Music Man. The band then went its separate ways and the Music Man literally gathered dust for about 15 years.
Now, I have started another band and would love to crank up the Music Man HD150 again. I have given it a good clean and plugged it in. It sounds ok not great but not as good as it once did.
I don't think it sounds as loud as it was but I seem to remember that the truly loud volume occurred when I cranked it above 8, it wasn't a gradual sound, it leapt in the final couple of notches. I am yet to push it.
However, it does have a distortion sound when nothing is plugged in. I don't remember this from before. It is hard to describe exactly but a kind of white noise. I guess not unlike this https://youtu.be/bNqERBWaJeM The sound is not extremely loud and is not affected by turning the master volume up or down. Is this normal?
Now before I sell it to some insomniac, do people think replacing the tubes might help? I have never done so on them. And I have no idea about how or where to adjust the bias if I do. If there is an opinion about bias I am interested too.
The 6L6G 's in there are Sylvania STR 387 (035) made in USA if that means anything to anyone. I wonder if they are the originals.
I can get some BUGERA 6L6GC-4 POWER PENTODE pretty cheap. Funny name. I don't mind spending some good money if people think there is a recommended brand.
All opinions are appreciated.
Kind Regards
Marco
Australia
New Tubes?
Sounds like the amp needs a general tune-up by an experienced tech.
The capacitors might have dried out etc. and should probably be replaced.
Those Sylvania tubes are likely original. Don't let the tech "keep" them for himself. I put Tung-Sol 6L6GC STR in my RD112-100 based on good reviews elsewhere and ability to handle higher voltages that MM used. Elsewhere on this site someone mentioned the Tung-Sol 7581a... these tubes also have high power ratings and good reviews.
Good luck!
thanks
Thanks for the reply RD112. I had been thinking along the same lines. I think it needs a general service or looking at by someone that knows what they're doing. It would be great to breathe some new life into the amp. Considering it has not had a tech look at it since I have had it - it might be the 40-year service :) Unfortunately, this means an 800km round trip to do so but I'll work something out. Thanks again and I will check out those tubes u mentioned.
Maybe you do, maybe not
Hello there,
the fact that your amp sat unused for 15 years should have no impact on the tubes. Unless the amp was moved around and dropped a lot during this time, the tubes will just as good as when you used it before the 15 year hiatus. As pointed out by others, the same may not be true for the electrolytic capacitors which will certainly degrade over time. Sometimes speakers go bad over time as well, but of course speaker performance is relatively easy to verify - you can plug in another speaker and/or amp to compare against.
Current production JJ tubes from Slovakia are excellent also and will work fine in Music Man amps.
Where in Australia are you located? I may be able to put you in touch with someone who can help.
Cheers,
Lars Verholt
I ALSO have a bud in Oz but
I ALSO have a bud in Oz but that's a big ass area. Where y'all at? Mike.
thanks for the comments IMV
thanks for the comments IMV and MM210.
Good to see a couple of choices of tubes recommended. Also great to see an active MusicMan forum. I am in Western Australia, Albany.
follow up
I'm still dealing with this issue. It seemed to get a bit better (it might be my perception) but I am wondering about the replacement of the capacitors. Do people (RD112 - especially if your still around) think I should replace all the capacitors or some particular ones?
Thanks
Capacitors
Hi Marco,
I am not Tech by any means...just a guy with a soldering iron.
I have read good reviews and recommendations for F&T, Fischer & Tausche Capacitors. I used them in my Fender Band Master that I recapped. The F&Ts are made in Germany but are widely available.
In my RD110 112, I used Illinois Capacitors...TTA Series...also widely available.
Don't buy anything that is not reputable. There was a lot of crap from Asia...so be forewarned.
Interestingly I contacted Mallory, which is now owned by CDE, hoping to convince them to start making the old style electrolytics in brown paper wrap...sure, all they need is a firm Order for about 1,000,000 pieces, and they will make whatever I would want.