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210RP One Hundred

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Andy Simons (billster)
Username: billster

Registered: 12-2010
Posted on Monday, March 07, 2011 - 11:42 am:   

Hi Folks

I wonder if some of you out there might be able to help me?

A little while back I acquired the above amp and, seeing as it was over 30 years old, I took it to a local amp tech for re-tubing and a general overhaul. However, after 2 visits to the repair guy and having various failing components replaced (capacitors, resistors etc.) the amp still exhibits an unpleasant and unmusical distortion when playing notes on the bass strings. I have every faith in the repairman but just wondered if anyone out there with specific Music Man experience might be able to shed some light on a possible causes or causes (failing speakers perhaps?).

Also, the amp seems to start breaking up too easy for my liking; gain at 4 or higher and the Hi/Lo switch results in almost no change in output volume or tone and the master volume causes no significant increase in volume in the range 5 to 10 to speak of. Is this normal for these amps?

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Bill Traylor (bozzy369)
Username: bozzy369

Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Monday, March 07, 2011 - 10:30 pm:   

yeah the gain to volume ratio takes a bit of playing with.best way to remember is gain below volume clean ,gain above volume dirty ,I find mine to be pretty clean at equal settings as well.now speakers play a huge part on breakup,if they are too low a wattage,not engineered for certain applications,wrong impedance....ect.hope this might help.
Andy Simons (billster)
Username: billster

Registered: 12-2010
Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2011 - 01:39 am:   

Thanks Bill, I'll play around with that.
Any more more info on this and some of the other points anyone please?
Lars Verholt (lmv)
Username: lmv

Registered: 11-2009
Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2011 - 05:30 am:   

Check for cross-over distortion. A very common problem in the MM amps with solid state drivers. The output tubes are biased very 'cold' (i.e. low idle current) and if one tube is going into cut-off (so no current is flowing) the result is an annoying ver un-musical distortion.

This sort of distortion is very easy to spot on the oscilloscope.

Cheers,
Lars Verholt