Finally, after all these years.........
Yes, finally indeed. About 25 years ago I had 2 MM HD 130s that I used live and in studio. I sold one for the pathetic equivalent of about $150. The other one I kept in my closet. I pulled it out about 3 times in the ten years after, the last time being when one tube glew a very violet purple and the amp made farting noises. I quickly turned it off and stuck it in a cubby under the stairs and basically forgot about it. A couple weeks ago I pulled it out after meeting a person, that actually works for a very large HI-FI manufacturer, who had a overwhelming passion for tube amps and 70's rock. Turns out this person was also a trained electrician that specialized in tubes and built his own amps. Besides his stunning collection of vintage amps (Gibson to Fender to Marshall....you name it) he also built a lot of great sounding amps of his own and the work he has done is impeccable to say the least. He told me that it's his hobby to rebuild amps and that one day he would like to have his own line of amplifiers (something actually in the making now). Remembering my old MM head I asked if he would be willing to restore it to it's glory days. He agreed. The entire refurbishing process including parts, materials and his time, cost me a flat 200 Eurs :) Me happy!
Now this thing was covered in dust and mold from my old smelly practice room of the late 80's. I had no idea that there was still an amp under this mess. I turned the amp on and remembered my old settings and went to town. I love this thing and I'm sorry I ever stopped using it. Actually, the main reason I did stop using it was because I ran it so hot every night that I would have to change tubes at least once a year and this was getting expensive. I love the hybrid effect of the SS preamp and tube power amp. A very special overdriven sound on bass. I'm not going to use this on stage anymore mainly because I don't want any harm to come to it. But I look so forward to my next studio session where I can really enjoy it again.
Anyway, this is the end results. I'm very curios to know how old it is but after reading up on this amp it would seem that there is no official date/serial number chart. Too bad :)
Member for
11 years 2 months
Also own a few Fenders: Dual Showman, Excelsior, Hot rod Deluxe and a Champ XD.
Guitars are a MIM Jazzmaster with a few mods, and a Rickenbacker 330 owned since new in 1989.
I play surf mostly, with my band: www.thewaterboarders.net
Member for
10 years 4 monthsMusic Man 410-65 (1979)
Music Man 112RD-100 (1980)
Music Man 210RD-100-EVM (1982)
Music Man HD-130 Head (1975)
Music Man RD-50 Head (1982)
Music Man 112RD-50 (1982)
Member for
11 years 1 month
Age of your HD-130
From the photos it appears that your HD-130 has the 12AX7 phase splitter tube (in addition to the 4 6CA7/EL34 output tubes). This model was made between 1974 and 1977. The silver-badge units like this cover the time span from 1974 to late 1979 but the ones with the 12AX7 were only made before 1978.
Steve
Member for
10 years 1 month
amp age
I recently acquired a 65 Reverb head. I knew it was 79 or older because of the badges, it needs tubes, it's a P.I. It has a definite "nicotine patina" on it but over all the transformers are in good shape visually and it sounds wonderful other than a little microphonic on one tube. I remembered that CTS has always date coded their pots so I pulled it apart and checked them. Most dated March of 74 and the master dated May of 74. Who knows how long they sat in a box before being installed but it gives you an estimate anyway of the year.
Nice looking amp. Export
Nice looking amp. Export version I see. Can't see what tubes you put in it. Mike