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65-210 (?)


65-210 (?)

Music Man Amps Discussion Forum » Identifying Models, Dates & Chassis Numbers » 65-210 (?)

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 Matt Baker
Posted on Friday, January 20, 2006 - 08:11 am:   

On Monday I bought a 65-210, but I think it might originally have had a 15. The cabinet looks quite a bit taller than the ones in pictures on this site and others I've seen. The model badge is missing from the front. It has the 12AX7 tube, and a pair of Eminence Legend 10" speakers wired in parallel. The baffle board looks newer than the rest of the wood, and it looks like someone did a poor job of trimming the side pieces to make the speakers fit. The speaker wire for one of the speakers doesn't look original either. The serial # is BN00574. Is there any way to know, from the serial, if it was originally a 115? It sounds great. What year would it be from?

 mike kaus
Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 05:00 am:   

The year is 74-77 but the speaker change, no, there's no way to tell. The chassis is the same in all the amps and the only thing they change is the badge. Personally, I have a 2-10 the I WISH was a 15"! You'd better check to see if the speakers are 8 ohms giving you a 4 ohm load. Other than that, it's only the height that's a problem. I have to use my 2-10 with a 15 incher in a second cab to get any bass resonse at all.

 Matt Baker
Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 09:04 am:   

Well, I am pretty sure now that it was originally a 1x12.
It's too tall to be a 2x10.
The baffle board looks new.
There is a slight shadow of a 12" circle on the front of the amp...
Here's a pic of the amp...the circle probably won't show up, but you can tell the size is not right for a 2x10.
I also have pics of the back and of the somewhat shoddy speaker wiring job!
\image My 65-210, or is it a 112?

 Terry
Posted on Thursday, February 02, 2006 - 06:52 am:   

The dimensios for the RD115 is 19-3/4H - 22-5/8L - 10-7/16W The RD112 is 17H - 22-5/8L - 10-1/2W

 Matt Baker
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 04:59 am:   

I measured the amp using the dimensions in the '74 brochure, and it turns out it WAS a 115 originally.
So, now the question is, would it be worth changing it back to a 15, or changing it to a single 12 for that matter? Obviously it will NOT be all original so the collector value won't be that great, but soundwise... Then again, maybe I could find the parts and make it at least appear all original. But would I want a 15 for guitar? I play classic/progressive rock.
I am fairly happy with the sound it has now. It works best with my Gibson LP Melody Maker(2001 model) with a single P-90. I use a Big Muff Pi with it right now, and also a Boss DF-2 distortion/feedbacker. Neither gives me quite the sound I want-too harsh.

 mike kaus
Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 04:40 am:   

I personally LIKE a 15 in MM's. When I use mine(also a 2-10 65 but it's the small cab) I use a 15 in conjunction with it. Maybe try that first. Plug a cab into in and find out before you go a whacking. My 15 is an old JBL d-130 in an even older Sunn cab that was originally a 4-10 cab.How's that for a hacked up mess? The cab even squeaks when we're loud(which is pretty much all the time unfortunately). Sounds pretty good but I'm afraid my MM is going to have to come apart for some tweaking. It's starting to sound all midrangy with NO bass response so I guess I'm going to have to break down and work on my OWN stuff! I use the Twin mostly now since I went to the heritage guitar(535 with Gibby classic 57's). The MM feeds back constantly and the only way to cure it is to eq all the good stuff out. Mike.

 Matt Baker
Posted on Sunday, February 05, 2006 - 05:13 am:   

The amp came with the set of 10s in it AND another set of 10s(Carvins) that were in the amp when the previous owner bought it. So I have already built a 2x10 cab. I could easily replace the 10s in the amp with a 15 that at least LOOKS original, and use it with a 2x10 cabinet too. IF, that is, I could afford to go buy a 15 and rebuild the amp.
I also need to work on that cab, because I tried to close the back on it and the body is too small to port it properly. Right now I get almost ZERO output from the cab!

 carl.
Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 05:08 pm:   

for me 2 10's are heaps punching with my strat, bass response is excellent and i love that. plus its easier to carry around. for my es175 2 12's or 1 15 is the go though for sure. peace.