da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Feb 10 2015 02:40 PM
I've been after one of these for a while. I'm looking to replace my Hot Rod Deluxe with something a bit brighter. I've only heard good things about MusicMan amps, so I was keen to try one.
This is an 110 RD Fifty - decoded that means one 10" speaker, reverb, distortion and 50 watts. Powered by two 6L6s and a 12AX7 that is used for phase splitting and overdriving the 'Limiter' channel.
The amp is covered in white pinwhale that was dirty and looked a bit tatty. But I consider myself lucky - the pinwhale versions have EVM speakers and this is no exception. It's huge for a 10 " speaker.
I bought this on eBay for the measly sum of £205GBP, pretty much half he price I've seen far tattier amps go for. The transformer is rust free, and it even has the footpedal.
The reverb wasn't working, but I figure it can't be much if the guy is gigging with it. When I looked in the pan, there was a broken wire to the transducer. Fixed that and the reverb works, but weak, with some hum. Maybe a re-cap will fix it, or a new pan.
Anyway, how does it sound? It sounds fabulous. Very clean and transparent, but with a solid bass that the HRD sort of lacks. Can't wait to gig with it. It's very loud. Very. I love this amp - the HRD is up for sale.

— 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 10 2015 02:43 PM
Congratulations!
— This is Noel. Reverb's at maximum an' I'm givin' 'er all she's got.
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Brian
Joined: Feb 25, 2006
Posts: 19342
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Feb 10 2015 03:15 PM
Thank you for including the name of the gear in your thread title. All these NAD, NGD, etc. threads (where the thread title SOLEY consists of "NGD" or "NAD") do not help future searches.
— Site dude - S3 Agent #202
Need help with the site? SG101 FAQ - Send me a private message - Email me
"It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Feb 10 2015 03:29 PM
That's a beautiful amp! Patrick of the Madeira has a black tolex one with a 12" speaker, and it's the amp he always uses for practices, and occasionally for smaller gigs, too. I love the sound of that amp! Just fantastic. You can hear it in action in the video below.
Enjoy your great new amp!
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Feb 10 2015 04:12 PM
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mad_dog
Joined: Sep 23, 2008
Posts: 349
Montclair, NJ
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Posted on Feb 11 2015 03:13 PM
I had the RD 50 head. And if I weren't such a restless idiot, would still have it. That's a great amp you have there.
MD
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da-ron
Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
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Posted on Feb 12 2015 02:35 AM
Thanks, everyone. I'm certainly pleased with it - it's a punchy little thing, with a surprisingly solid bass. Going to try an A/B test with my HRD and see how it competes. Whichever loses is sold...
At the moment I'm struggling with the reverb channel on it. Wasn't working when I got it (I knew this at the time) and I found a broken wire in the pan. Fixed that and now it does all sorts of weirdness - either works weakly, whistles, or buzzes. I'm hoping a cap job will fix it.
Apart from that, it's hard to get a bad tone out of it!
— http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/
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