Music Man Amps

Joseph Barlow · From: Virginia, USA

I recently bought a Music Man 112 RP. I was wondering if anyone has used one for pedal steel and what you thought of it. The speaker in mine is Peavey Sheffield Triple X. I can’t find much info on these speakers and was thinking something else might be more friendly for pedal steel. I was also thinking of swapping my Blue Marvel out of my early Nashville 112 and see if that was an improvement. What do y’all think? Should I try that or look at something else like the TT12? Thanks for any advice that anyone has.

Robert Parent · From: Gillette, WY

Hi,

I still have two Music Man amplifiers. One is a 100w 112RD with an EVM series II speaker. The second, is a 112 50w with a JBL.

They are very nice amps, but the 100w versions are a bit heavy. Have been using them since the early 80's. I like them much better than the Fender Twin which is a standard issue tube amp.

Robert

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

The Sheffield came in the later 6505, Bandit and other guitar amps. From the name, it's supposed to have a British flavor. Those were 1230 models. They also used a version of them in bass and sound reinforcement cabinets.

A good Peavey speaker for steel might be the 1203-8 or the 1201-8 assuming the MM needs an 8Ω speaker....something you need to pay attention to when considering the TT speakers, if they are 4Ω...same with the Blue Marvels.

I believe Celestion has a neo mag speaker that was used in some of the later Peavey steel amps too, but again the impedance may be different.

Ideal speaker would be the aforemntioned EV or the JBL K120 if you can find either that doesn't cost a fortune.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

I also have 2 Music Man amps, a '79 210-65 bought new, and an '81 212HD-150. The 210 is hands down the best six-string amp I've had in 65 years of gigging, but it's just average for steel. The 212 has Eminence (Legend, IIRC) speakers, and sounds excellent for steel. I wouldn't hesitate to gig it.

Overall I think Music Man amps are very much underrated, although carrying one around is a bit of a workout. IMO the OP's RP is definitely worth doing a few speaker swaps to see what would happen. BTW if that RP's phaser setup is like my 212's, the speed control is a pull-pot that will give some cool cocked-wah sounds.

Dave Grafe · From: Hudson River Valley NY

The Music Man circuits are somewhat comparable to SF Fender amps, warm tube response, clean enough to take pedals well, but when overdriven have a bit of a harsher edge than the Fenders. Very good tube amp for clean pedal steel IMHO, not so much for lap steel unless you're using an overdrive pedal to get your howl, the amp breakup is just not that friendly.

As for speakers, I'm a big proponent of seeing what can be done with what you've got before throwing money at an ever-elusive nirvana. The worst that can happen is you learn a bit more about speakers, your amp's eq, and what your hands can do tone wise. I'm a hardcore JBL guy, but the TT12 has been a pleasant surprise and a weight saver too. I purchased a TT15 cab but didn't care for the sound of the 15" speaker so loaded the cab with an 8-8-ohm K130 for serious stage duty and it has proven to be a great match with Quilter's TB202.

Hope this helps somehow.

Bob Carlucci · From: Candor, New York, USA

I had several MM amps,, They are ok, but sounded more like really good SS amp, than a tube amp.. I was never a fan of "tube amps" with SS front ends.. They are lacking the warmth and richness of a good all tube amp.. just my opinion...
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Clark Connell · From: Emmetsberg,Iowa USA

I have a MM 210 HD(100 watts) but I just use the head, I took the speakers out of it, the 10" speakers just weren't cutting it for steel, especially on the C neck. I run it into my PF400 cabinets and I like it for the most.part; depends on the guitar I'm using whether it's great or just good.
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Rains D-10 8X8 Black
Rains D-10 8X8 Mahogany
Emmons Lashley LeGrand II 8X8 Black(of course ) , Emmons LeGrand, Pewter Gray,
Emmons LeGrand II Lacquer 8X8 Two Tone tan & brown, Mullen G2 D-10 8X8 Teal,Rittenberry D10, 8X8,Blue Mica,
Evans FET 500, Peavey Session 500 mk IV,Peavey Vegas 400, Webb 6-14E, Sho-Bud Amp, Profex II, Sarno Black Box, Sarno Tube Preamp, Blue Tube Preamp,MosValve 500 Power Amp, Lab Series L5 Amp, Quilter Power Block 200 Eminence PF-400 & PF-350 in Telonics cabs, Crate 212 amp

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

To attempt a reply to Joe's original query, Music Man didn't seem to have much interest in steel guitar amplification, so his RP was most likely used exclusively for six-string and its Peavey Sheffield selected for six-string suitability.

Joe, if you do swap in that Blue Marvel, please let us know how it worked out. As far as other steel-friendly speakers go, I'm very impressed with the Telonics 15 in my Milkman PS300.Sounds as good as the D120Fs I have in a '64 Bassman and the BW 15 in my Session 500.

Bill A. Moore · From: Silver City, New Mexico, USA

My friend Ted played through Fender and Peavey amps until he found his RD115 One Hundred in the early 80's, with an EVM speaker. His LDG really sounded great through it, and when I bought his guitar from his widow, I got the amp too, (dead). I brought it back to life, and it sounded glorious again, but more amp than I need noodling around the house, I traded it to a real steel player who sent some clips of him playing through it, still sounded great!

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