LordWellfleet
Joined: Jul 12, 2012
Posts: 171
Cape Cod, USA
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 08:59 AM
Noel,
Let me offer a belated congratulations. Music Man was the favored amp of one of the heroes of my youth, the late, great Joe Strummer.
http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/449.jpg
Reading this thread has got me jonesing for one!
—
Everybody up!
https://www.facebook.com/TheHydronauts
https://thehydronauts.bandcamp.com/album/interstellar-clambake
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 09:11 AM
LordWellfleet wrote:
Noel,
Let me offer a belated congratulations. Music Man was the favored amp of one of the heroes of my youth, the late, great Joe Strummer.
http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/449.jpg
Reading this thread has got me jonesing for one!
That's epic!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 09:35 AM
LordWellfleet wrote:
Let me offer a belated congratulations. Music Man was the favored amp of one of the heroes of my youth, the late, great Joe Strummer.
http://www.rockstarsguitars.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/449.jpg
Must be later in his career - In the Clash I believe he had a Vox AC30 and a 4x10, and what was widely regarded as "The shittiest guitar sound in rock music". (to quote his road manager Johnny Green!)
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 09:35:26
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JObeast
Joined: Jul 24, 2012
Posts: 2762
Finknabad, Squinkistan
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 10:00 AM
Strummer's good rhythm guitar sound featured a lot of phaser, might be the onboard effect, which sounds 'just right'.
— Squink Out!
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 10:41 AM
Looks like a Twin Reverb to me. Maybe the Vox or MusicMan was too heavy to shift to Germany!
One of the greatest bands, and one of my most missed frontmen, doing what they did best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feH9NVtYtJM
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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LordWellfleet
Joined: Jul 12, 2012
Posts: 171
Cape Cod, USA
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 11:12 AM
From Wikipedia (re: Strummer): For amplification Strummer was known to use amplifiers such as a Roland Jazz Chorus, a Selmer Bassman while he was in the 101ers, a Vox AC30 and various Marshall amplifiers,[50] but his main amplifier was a Music Man HD 212,150.[51] Strummer commented on his choice of amplifier with "I don't have time to search for those old Fender tube amps. The Music Man is the closest thing to that sound I've found" and that the "plastic motif on the front is repulsive."
Regarding the last comment, I believe I read somewhere he ripped the MM logo (abstracted guitar dudes in flared slacks) off the face of the amp.
—
Everybody up!
https://www.facebook.com/TheHydronauts
https://thehydronauts.bandcamp.com/album/interstellar-clambake
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 11:23 AM
LordWellfleet wrote:
From Wikipedia (re: Strummer): ... that the "plastic motif on the front is repulsive."
Regarding the last comment, I believe I read somewhere he ripped the MM logo (abstracted guitar dudes in flared slacks) off the face of the amp.
It's supposed to be in the upper-left corner and it's definitely missing in the picture. It's not the most graceful logo I've ever seen.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 11:23:38
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 11:24 AM
He's certainly right about the logo, I'll be taking it of mine when I get my hands on one.
Enjoy the amp, Noel - from surf to the Clash in the turn of a knob. Sounds my ideal amp!
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 11:50 AM
da-ron wrote:
He's certainly right about the logo, I'll be taking it of mine when I get my hands on one.
Enjoy the amp, Noel - from surf to the Clash in the turn of a knob. Sounds my ideal amp!
The badges are still on mine. It's kind of a source of pride that the amp is so original, ugly badges and all.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 11:59:44
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 11:58 AM

— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 02:59 PM
The inside of the amp...

— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 03:12 PM
As you can see, this is set to 8-ohms. I have two questions. 1) It this correct? 2) Would I switch it to 4-ohms to connect it to an extension cab?
And an extra comment with a question. All four power tubes are lit using either the Lo-power of Hi-power setting. Is this something that would make sense on Fender-style amps, rather than pulling tubes, or is an unnecessary complication?
Thanks.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 15:15:43
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alphaking
Joined: Jan 02, 2013
Posts: 214
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 03:29 PM
Noel,
I don't think it's a lo/hi power switch, strictly impedance matching. So you could run 1 4 ohm cab in the 4 ohm setting, the built in speakers in the 8 ohm setting, or the built in speakers PLUS an additional 8 ohm cab in the 4 ohm setting. I've had amps with BOTH a half power switch and a separate impedance selector. So I believe that is it's only function while running all power tubes. If you pulled 2 of the tubes while it's set for 8 ohms, I would expect it to jump to 16 ohm. Or pull 2 tubes (1 and 4 or 2 and 3) set to 4 ohms, and run the built in speakers 8 ohm at half power. But PLEASE allow Dario or another amp tech to chime in before taking my word for it.
Chris
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 03:38 PM
Sorry to be confusing. On the front panel is a on switch with 2 positions, down (Lo) for 65 watts and up (Hi) for 130 watts. It operates independently of the ohm switch in back.

— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 15:45:10
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alphaking
Joined: Jan 02, 2013
Posts: 214
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 03:43 PM
I misread. But the amp I had with a half power setting was a 50 watter that could do 25w. It only had 2 power tubes (only 2 power tube sockets), and of course they both stayed lit in either setting. I'd assume it's the same for amps with 4 and it's normal. But again, I'm just offering up assumptions and guesses based off of what I've seen myself.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 03:50 PM
Chris, I added a close-up of the power switch. Should have included it with the original question. Your answer makes sense, since it doesn't make sense that I'd have to throw the ohm switch along with the power switch just to use half or full power.
Someone with a lot of experience with these will have to tell me if I should even think of pulling pairs of tubes to go down to 32.5 watts on the Lo-power setting. The only reason I can think of doing that is getting a lot of overdrive at lower volumes. I'm not even sure that would work.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 15:51:15
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alphaking
Joined: Jan 02, 2013
Posts: 214
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 03:57 PM
So if you we're trying to cut the 65w in half with the existing 8 ohm speakers, you would probably do the following;
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Pull either tube pair (2 and 3) or (1 and 4)
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Switch to lo on the front and 4 ohm on the impedance selector (4 ohms with 2 tubes pulled would jump up to 8, and would match the impedance of the existing speakers).
The other thing that would be worthwhile is to put an ohm meter on the ring/tip of the speaker connector, to verify they are infact wired at 8 ohms and not 4 ohms.
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Noel
Joined: Mar 15, 2011
Posts: 8528
Back in Piitsburgh, Pennsylvania, where I grew up.
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 04:05 PM
Thanks, Chris. I think I need an owner's manual for this thing.
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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alphaking
Joined: Jan 02, 2013
Posts: 214
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 04:07 PM
Yes, definitely. And again, I'm just guessing and don't want you to break anything that sounds like it's working great right now.
"If it ain't broke..."
Chris
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LeeVanCleef
Joined: Oct 05, 2011
Posts: 744
France
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Posted on Feb 20 2014 04:08 PM
Noel wrote:
Someone with a lot of experience with these will have to tell me if I should even think of pulling pairs of tubes to go down to 32.5 watts on the Lo-power setting. The only reason I can think of doing that is getting a lot of overdrive at lower volumes. I'm not even sure that would work.
I don't have a lot of experience with that, but I know you can pull 2 of the 4 power tubes on the red knob Twins from the 80s (which have a 100W/25W power switch) to further reduce the volume. But I have no idea if that would work on your MM. From what I've read the Fender red knobbers were quite different from the 70s amps circuit wise.
EDIT: woops, too late
— Old punks never die... They just become surf rockers.
Last edited: Feb 20, 2014 16:09:50
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