Have not updated this journal for a while due to a) temporary loss of interest in blogging, b) several programming projects, c) too much sex. One of these reasons is made up. But anyway, my son plays guitar in a local band (see this for more), and his almost new Fender Frontman 212 amp blew out recently. I did not have the time to take it apart for a couple of days and thus ordered a used, vintage Music Man 212 HD 130 for him. Meanwhile I let him borrow my (also vintage, European Model) Music Man 210 HD130 for his gigs. I purchased the 212 HD 130 via E-Bay for $450.00 and it arrived just as described by the seller. However upon closer inspection I found that it needed new 12 inch speakers. The tubes seem to have gotten changed recently. So, right after this amp arrived I had a chance to look at the busted Fender Frontman 212 and found that one of the load resistors had come loose from the PCB. After soldering the thing back in place the amp came to life again, even though the temporary disconnect of the resistor led to a over current in the speaker coils and made them emit some smoke…but it seems this was not fatal. Two things I’d like to leave for posterity as a result of this experience:

 

1. If you buy a vintage Music Man amp, be prepared to invest in new speakers…I’d recommend Eminence speakers similar to this. I enjoy playing these amps since they offer a rich, clean sound with minimal  60Hz noise. They are also made to last and 100% reliable, which is invaluable.

2. If you purchased a Fender Frontman 212 amp recently and it gave out one you (intermittent crackling, followed by only a hum, followed by acrid smoke coming from the speaker cones) , a) immediately turn the amp off and b) open the amp up and inspect the PCB for loose components and c) re-solder the same.

 

Music Man amps like the one I just purchased (model 212 HD 130) sold for $750 during the 70s. They are sill remarkably popular, despite their age and lack of features.