MusicMan 65 1x12

[travisthedog]

There's one just appeared in my local shop that sounds epic

It's a 1974 with the built in phaser. Trying to ascertain if its one of the ones with a valve preamp (didnt look)

Anyone know what an appropriate value would be for one of these - it's tatty looking but has just had a full ground up service and revalve

[jpfamps]

Pretty certain that model doesn't a valve in the pre-amp; even the model that does the pre-amp is predominantly solid state.

Musicman amps are well-built, sound good and are good value.

I would to pay between £300 and £400 for that model depending on condition.

[travisthedog]

Sorry my bad its a 12ax7 phase splitter that it has, they were changed out to SS

[jpfamps]

Sorry my bad its a 12ax7 phase splitter that it has, they were changed out to SS

Actually the version with a pre-amp valve I've seen employed it in the pre-amp.

The phase splitter in solid state in all the Musicman Amps I've seen. It's actually quite a innovative circuit with the power valves driven from the cathode.

[ICBM]

Actually the version with a pre-amp valve I've seen employed it in the pre-amp.

That's the RD-50. I don't know of any other models with preamp valves, although there may be.

The phase splitter in solid state in all the Musicman Amps I've seen.

Same here.

It's actually quite a innovative circuit with the power valves driven from the cathode.

At scary plate voltages too! There are two problems - if a valve shorts badly it can blow the driver transistor, and if you don't realise before you put a new valve in, it fries that immediately. The very high voltage and the necessary very cold bias they require as a result are also a trap for the unwary.

Not a bad design as such and very reliable when working correctly, but can be problematic when things go wrong and for inexperienced techs. You even need to be careful with the voltage ratings of a lot of multimeters and their probe leads, they're typically 600V, and the amps operate at around 700.

[travisthedog]

Ok - this clears it up - it's the third picture down - definitely says tube used for phase invertor

http://www.mk-guitar.com/2009/02/15/...n-guitar-amps/

[Blueingreen]

I have the version with the 15" speaker and have had it more or less from new. I'm not technically minded so I can't help but if you google musicman amps there are good online resources about the history.

The Sixty Fives were among the first MM designs and before they started cutting costs on components so should be among the best. Mine is badly in need of TLC having been stored in sheds, basements etc for many years. IMO these are among the best sounding amps ever made, the only issue I have now is that a 1 x 15 combo is heavier than I want to lug around. Otherwise I wouldn't hesitate to get mine fixed up for use as my main amp.

[erictheweary]

I'm not at all familiar with model numbers but I've seen a few MM combos in use on gigs and they have produced some of the best clean guitar tones I have ever heard. I know I've also related the story on here before about when the ownership of MM changed the first thing they did was to stop making the amps because they made a loss on everyone that went out the factory and to charge enough to make a profit the price would have been so high they didn't think the market would bear it.

[ICBM]

I'm not at all familiar with model numbers but I've seen a few MM combos in use on gigs and they have produced some of the best clean guitar tones I have ever heard. I know I've also related the story on here before about when the ownership of MM changed the first thing they did was to stop making the amps because they made a loss on everyone that went out the factory and to charge enough to make a profit the price would have been so high they didn't think the market would bear it.

I heard that too - or at least that they didn't make a profit, I'm not sure the original company would have kept making them at a loss. They are certainly very high quality amps, both for construction and tone. The distortion sounds are not to most modern tastes though, so that's one reason they may not be as valuable now as they should be.

Apparently quite a few of the 'legendary' Dumble amps were built with Music Man transformers as well.

[erictheweary]

I heard that too - or at least that they didn't make a profit, I'm not sure the original company would have kept making them at a loss.

There may have been some poetic licence! The quote from Ernie was:

The first thing we realized was we couldn’t afford to make the instruments and the amps. The amps were built so solid that there was no profit in them, so I killed them.

Full interview should be here: http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/...versary/148853

Some cool old ads and stuff there as well.