Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $650

Standard/Professional

$300

$701+

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Budget

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High-end

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Description

  • 130W
  • solid state preamp (pre-'77 had one 12AX7 tube in the preamp)
  • 4 x 6CA7 power amp (EL34's can be substituted)

Product specs

Brand Music Man
Model 212-HD One Thirty 2-Channel 130-Watt 2x12" Guitar Combo
Finish Black
Year 1974 - 1979
Made In United States
Categories Guitar Combo Amps
Built-In Effects Built-In Effects
Color Family Black
Direct Output No Direct Output
Electronics Hybrid
Impedance 4 ohms, 8 ohms
Number of Channels 2 Channels
Number of Inputs 4 Inputs
Output Power (Watts) 130
Power Tube Type EL34
Reverb Spring Reverb
Speaker Configuration 2x12"

FAQs

What kind of tones can I expect from the Music Man 212-HD 130 for rock music?

The Music Man 212-HD 130 delivers powerful, clean tones with a robust midrange, making it ideal for rock music. Its spring reverb adds depth, and the hybrid design with EL34 tubes provides a classic, punchy sound that excels in both clean and overdriven settings.

Is the Music Man 212-HD 130 suitable for gigging with a live band?

Yes, the Music Man 212-HD 130 is well-suited for live performances. With its 130-watt output and 2x12" speaker configuration, it offers ample volume and projection to compete with a full band, including drums.

How does the hybrid design of the Music Man 212-HD 130 affect its sound?

The hybrid design combines solid-state preamp with tube power amp, offering a unique blend of warm tube tones with the reliability and clarity of solid-state electronics. This results in a versatile amp with both clean headroom and rich overdrive.

Does the Music Man 212-HD 130 take pedals well?

Yes, the Music Man 212-HD 130 is known for handling pedals effectively. Its clean channel provides a great platform for effects, allowing modulation, overdrive, and other pedals to shine without losing clarity or dynamic range.

What is the speaker configuration of the Music Man 212-HD 130?

The Music Man 212-HD 130 features a 2x12" speaker configuration, which contributes to its full-bodied sound and excellent projection, making it suitable for both stage and studio use.

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Music Man 212-HD 130.

Build quality

  • The Music Man 212-HD 130 is known for its significant weight, rivaling even a Fender Twin in heft.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Owners highlight the amp's excellent performance as a pedal platform, with some noting the value of the tube phase inverter, particularly the 12ax7.

    Source
  • The onboard reverb is notably quiet, possibly due to a faulty tank or requiring higher volume to fully activate.

    Source
  • The amp's channels can be jumped, allowing for blending both channels for a fatter sound using both sets of controls.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Retubing requires careful biasing, a necessary step for maintaining optimal performance.

    Source
  • Unplugging and re-plugging reverb tank cables and cleaning the footswitch jack can help resolve reverb issues.

    Source
  • It's advised to check if the amp has undergone a cap job, as failing caps can lead to hum or even transformer loss.

    Source

Comparisons

  • It's often compared to a Fender Bassman for its sound, though some mention its similarity to a Super Reverb with a more intense character.

    Source
  • The Music Man HD130's preamp distortion is described as sputtery and fizzy, similar to a guitar pedal, contrasting with full valve amps.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • While some owners paid as low as $350, others suggest a value up to $650 depending on condition and features like the phase inverter.

    Source
  • An HD130 head needing new tubes and a recap was acquired for $250, highlighting potential deals for savvy buyers.

    Source
  • A clean head with a matching 4x12 cab is considered a good deal at $900, especially with included original footswitch.

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User experience

  • The amp delivers excellent sound at high volumes but suffers from crossover distortion at low volumes.

    Source
  • Some users prefer using the amp for bass with alternative cabinets like an Orange 1x15, highlighting its versatility.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners have noted that modern EL34 tubes may not handle the over 700V these amps run at, as originally equipped with Philips tubes.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The amp is favored for its powerful and punchy clean tones, making it suitable for genres requiring rich cleans like late 70’s Clapton tones.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Music Man 212 HD 130 combo

guitarinteractivemagazine.com

The Music Man 212-HD 130 Vintage amp is a powerhouse for clean tones, boasting a solid state pre-amp and tube-driven power stage for 130 Watts of output. It shines with its responsive controls and dynamic sound, making it an ideal base for pedal enthusiasts. The lightweight design, thanks to neodymium speakers, and versatile voltage switching add modern conveniences. However, its high price point lacks a footswitch, which is disappointing. Overall, it's a robust choice for clean sound aficionados, though its niche appeal may limit broader market success.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 7 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Mark Knopfler uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Mark Knopfler

Singer, Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via Mk-guitar

Mark Knopfler started to play Music Man amps around September 1978. These amps were used for all live gigs from then on until the end of the Making Movies On Location tour in 1981. The Music Man amp was used on some studio recordings from this era, probably also on Making Movies, but it was most likely not used on the first album, and neither on Communiqué (here amps borrowed by Robert Palmer, probably Fenders, were used).

See how Eddie Vedder uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Eddie Vedder

Singer, Guitarist

Pearl Jam

...
Verified via Premierguitar

According to this article about famous gear used during the original punk era of the late 1970s, Vedder purchased Joe Strummer's HD-150 2x12" combo after the Clash leader passed away.

"Strummer’s Music Man came up for sale a few years ago and was purchased by [his] fan and friend, Eddie Vedder. [Eddie] wanted to use the amp onstage but, alas, found it too loud and too clean. Some horses can only be ridden by one rider."

See how Courtney Barnett uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Courtney Barnett

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via TikTok

In this TikTok of her playing in the LA River she is seen playing the amp

See how Joe Strummer uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Joe Strummer

Singer, Guitarist

The Clash

...
Verified via Photo

From a Premier Guitar article titled "The Gear of the Original Punks," detailing Joe Strummer's use of a Music Man HD-150 212 amplifier:

"Strummer’s tone could be summed up in one word—clean. After dabbling with a number of heads and combos, everything from a Vox AC30 to a Marshall SLP, Strummer settled on a silverface 1970s Fender Twin Reverb. He used this until the end of 1979, when he switched to a Music Man HD-150 212. His famous quote on the subject, from a 1981 Musician magazine interview, was, “I don’t have time to search for those old Fender tube amps. The Music Man is the closest thing to that sound I’ve found…that plastic motif on the front is repulsive. Those little guys in bell-bottoms. Ugh!.” Strummer found the Music Man to be durable enough to withstand the Clash’s rigorous touring, and powerful enough to provide loads of clean volume, even when driving a 2x12 extension cab. His clean tone was a singular contrast to Jones’ saturated, effects-laden onslaught. Strummer’s Music Man came up for sale a few years ago and was purchased by Strummer fan and friend, Eddie Vedder. He wanted to use the amp onstage but, alas, found it too loud and too clean. Some horses can only be ridden by one rider."

Original source article here.

See how Dean Ween uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Dean Ween

Guitarist

Ween

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo of Dean you can see him plugged into a Musicman 212-HD 130 amplifier.

See how Joan Jett uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Joan Jett

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via guitarworld

Joan originally used a Marshall during her time with The Runaways, but later switched to this amp, which she used to record songs like “I Love Rock ‘N Roll.” Joan uses Music Man amplifiers to this day.

See how Eric Butler uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Eric Butler

Singer, Guitarist

Mom Jeans.

...
Verified via YouTube

You can see a Music Man 212-HD 130 going to Eric's pedals at the begining of this video.

See how James Burton uses Music Man 212-HD 130

James Burton

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via James-burton

According to the official James Burton website, James Burton used a Music Man 212-HD 130 Vintage combo amplifier from the 1970s.

See how Dave Fielding uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Dave Fielding

Guitarist

The Chameleons

...
Verified via Photo

As seen in the "Live from Camden Palace" video, Dave Fielding switched to using a Music Man 212HD amplifier (Reg at this point is using the Carlsbro Stingray Dave used previously)

See how Dan Boeckner uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Dan Boeckner

Singer, Guitarist

Arcade Fire

...
Verified via YouTube

At 30:40 in this video (and throughout), you can see Dan's vintage Music Man combo amp near the back.

A close-up of his amp can also be seen at 5:24 in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CWTrb7SQgc

See how Mario Mutis uses Music Man 212-HD 130

Mario Mutis

Guitarist, Bassist

Los Jaivas

...
Verified via 13

That TV special shows Mario's basses, amps and cabs.

J

Jake Duzsik

Guitarist

Health

...
Verified via DrownedInSound

This is a vintage, hybrid, solid state/tube combo amp. It has a more brittle tone that an all tube classic like a twin reverb. I bought it years ago when we were starting the band because I saw a photo of Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd of Television both playing out of them. We recorded a lot of stuff for this record direct, but the combination of this amp and an American Stratocaster remain close to my heart. Fuck it, I'm old.

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Music Man 212-HD 130, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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