| Author | Message | ||
     Recky |
Hi, I'm being offered either a Sixty-Five 210 or a 112 RP but can't audition them (too far to travel), so maybe you guys can help. What's the difference soundwise? Which gives a better bass response, and which would you prefer and why? Thanks for your help! Recky | ||
| michael kaus |
In my worthless opinion, if the 210 is a 12ax7 version, I'd get it. If the 210 is the SS driver version like the 112, I'd get the 112 just because I like twelves better than tens(even though I OWN a 210 65!). I assume the 112 is a 65 also. The bass response will be better with the twelve. When I use my MM out, I put it through an old single 15 cab with a JBL d130 in it to get a little more thunp. I just prefer the sound of the amps wit the tube driver and honestly, I just like them better. Mike. | ||
| Steve Kennedy (admin) |
Come now, everyone's opinion is worth at least $0.02! Because of its 12" speaker, insert jacks and Phasor circuit, the RP is probably the most tonally-versatile amp (or potentially so) of the two "out of the box". However, since the 210-65 is a two-channel amp it is possible to link the two channels to invoke a much wider tonal palette than that found in a single channel of the same amp. Either amp would be a good choice (assuming they are in comparable and good operation condition). Depending on the vintage of these two particular amps, the 112RP could be as much as 10 years NEWER than the 210-65! A newer amp might not require as much immediate "sprucing up" (cap job, speakers, etc.) to sound its best. It is always a tough call when buying amps long-distance without the opportunity to try them first. I would make sure I was getting the amp for a good enough price to allow me to sink additional funds into it if necessary. The good news is that regardless of model, Music Man amps are all well-built enough that you can usually make them sound good through standard maintenance procedures and they respond well and in consistent fashion in most cases. Steve | ||
| Carl. |
according to the tube amp book old "sixtyfive/one thirty" MM with 12ax7 are the most sort after, i believe there is a very good reason for this. | ||
| Steve Kennedy (admin) |
I believe the reason they are preferred is that IF you drive the phase-splitter to near overload it will add its own distinctive tube overdrive sound to that of the output tubes. This results in a "warmer" or smoother sound than the solid-state version under the same set of circumtances. This comes with the increased possibility of failure as described in many places on this site. In my experience, most people will not hear this difference unless you push the amp hard and is almost "invisible" if just playing clean nowhere near distortion territory. Steve | ||
| c. |
so do the rp's sound like the old 65's? | ||
| Steve Kennedy (admin) Username: admin Registered: 03-2002 |
They are not the same design at all, so they won't sound exactly the same. They ALL sound like Music Man amplifiers, however. They share the same design philosophy of having a high-headroom clean base tone on which everything else is based. Steve |