Tmannion87
27 posts
Jul 10, 2013
6:20 AM
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Hi all,
Sorry for all the recent amp questions, but I was wondering if anyone has any experience with using a Masco MA-50 or MA-25 for harp? I know many others use the ME-8 and MA-17,etc. but I haven't heard much about these. Any info or input would be greatly appreciated!
Last Edited by Tmannion87 on Jul 10, 2013 6:28 AM
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SmokeJS
116 posts
Jul 10, 2013
8:11 AM
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Got a 25 for low purchase price. Too clean on its own for Chicago Blues but still useful. From time to time I'll plug in the line out from my Kalamazoo. Sends a crunchy signal that I can have at lots of volume playing through a cabinet with more speakers.
Last Edited by SmokeJS on Jul 10, 2013 8:12 AM
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Tmannion87
28 posts
Jul 10, 2013
10:33 AM
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That sounds like an interesting idea. Do you think I could do the same with the MA-50? I have a Kay 703 with a line out that gets great tone.
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SmokeJS
117 posts
Jul 10, 2013
11:28 AM
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I got the concept from this forum. Not sure if there's any possible difference between one line out and another but given the general idea is to plug into into a PA, essentially just another amp, seems to me you should be okay. Perhaps wait a bit for verification from others. And be sure your Kay has a true line out not just another other speaker connection. My background is civil engineering so what I know about electronics is minimal. For my piece of mind I hope you measure twice before cutting!
Last Edited by SmokeJS on Jul 10, 2013 11:32 AM
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Bigtone
294 posts
Jul 10, 2013
11:35 AM
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MA25's are sweet!! Some mascos are very clean but if you remove one of those 6l6's you will get the tone everyone dies for. Removing one of the power tubes does not hurt the amp actually in some ways is easier on it. If your masco does not break up like crazy try it and you will be very happy with the result. I have run my mm27 for a year with one power tube and the tone is incredible.
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SmokeJS
118 posts
Jul 10, 2013
11:38 AM
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Bigtone, which 6L6 did you remove? Closer or further from the preamp tubes?
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Bigtone
295 posts
Jul 10, 2013
11:57 AM
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It does not matter which one you pull. The only thing I have been told by many amp guys like myself is that you may wanna run each one say every week. You are putting slightly more wear on that on tube. So you may want to swap them every once and awhile to put even wear on them. I have used this trick on many amps and to me the amp does not feedback have as much and it gets the nasty tone you want instead of the clean as hell tone most mascos can have. All I can say is give it a shot and if you do not like it just stick it back in.
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SmokeJS
119 posts
Jul 10, 2013
3:12 PM
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I've had one of the preamp tubes pulled since the day I got my Masco. Helped me keep the volume up without feedback. Just tried pulling one of the power tubes in each position using a brand new Groove Tubes 6L6 I had in a drawer for one of the guitar amps. Couldn't hear much difference but will be more critical when I have more time. The amp does indeed break up much better. I'm a Kalamazoo fan but the Masco is now a great alternative. Not quite as raunchy but a tone option I'm sure to appreciate. It's like having a new amp. Thanks Bigtone!
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Tmannion87
29 posts
Jul 10, 2013
5:25 PM
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SmokeJS- Do you mind me asking how much you paid for your MA25?
Bigtone_ Do you know if that same trick would work on a MA50? I'm interested in having that extra power available, if possible...
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Bigtone
296 posts
Jul 11, 2013
8:18 AM
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It should work on any of the big mascos. Like I said some amps will not react as big as others. My mm27 makes it sound way better and breaks up way more than with both tubes in. I have where it doesn't do much. All I can say is give it a shot.
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5F6H
1652 posts
Jul 11, 2013
9:22 AM
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Do not remove any 6L6s/power tubes from a Masco, unless a tech has specifically reconfigured the cathode resistor arrangement to allow this.
The amp is normally biased, in part, by the number of tubes installed, removing ANY increases the current on the plates of the tubes left in...and they already run HOT.
It is more usual to remove power tubes in fixed bias amps, which are biased by a separate circuit, that doesn't really care how many tubes are in, regarding idle current.
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www.myspace.com/markburness
http://www.facebook.com/markburness
Last Edited by 5F6H on Jul 11, 2013 9:30 AM
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marcos
114 posts
Jul 11, 2013
11:46 AM
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Can a power tube be removed from a bassman RI (safely, and with good results)?
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5F6H
1653 posts
Jul 11, 2013
1:39 PM
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Hi Marcos, yes a bassman RI is a fixed bias amp. It will severely cut headroom (~1/4 power)...I don't personally like it (so "good result" is subjective), but it's as safe with a bassman RI as it is for any fixed bias amp.
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www.myspace.com/markburness
http://www.facebook.com/markburness
Last Edited by 5F6H on Jul 11, 2013 1:40 PM
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SmokeJS
122 posts
Jul 11, 2013
1:50 PM
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Safety first so the second power tube goes back in. If I decide to have the amp altered so that only one 6L6 is to be used is it enough for me to ask the tech to reconfigure the cathode resistor? Is that as simple as it sounds?
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5F6H
1654 posts
Jul 11, 2013
2:08 PM
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@Smoke JS. Each power tube can be given it's own cathode resistor (& bypass cap), each tube should have a value twice that in ohms of the original shared resistor and the cathode pins of the power tubes should be disconnected from each other.
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www.myspace.com/markburness
http://www.facebook.com/markburness
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SmokeJS
123 posts
Jul 11, 2013
2:21 PM
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Copied that to give to the tech when I take the amp in. I think it's worthwhile as it's a bit like getting two amps in one. Very much appreciated!
@Timmanion87. It's a bit difficult to say how much I paid I as I also got a 12 inch speaker/cabinet, a JT30 with a good condition 151 element and a 20 foot mic cable. And I'm in Canada though these days the pricing is comparable to $US. My guess is $150. The amp looks its age but it had been gone over and updated where necessary by an amp manufacturer who endorses the player I bought the amp from.
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arnenym
167 posts
Jul 12, 2013
1:31 PM
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Hi SmokeJS:
I wrote this before but I deleted it, because i think Marks suggestion was better.
Take this as a alternative.
I was suggesting a self split amp.
If you ground the input on the out of phase tube you got a cathode feed selfsplit amp with a sweet tone.
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Tmannion87
30 posts
Jul 12, 2013
1:31 PM
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Thanks for the info SmokeJS. Is it safe to assume that the MA25 isn't loud enough for a full band setting?
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SmokeJS
128 posts
Jul 13, 2013
7:58 AM
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Tmannion, mine's not maybe as loud as you might need with only a single 12 inch speaker. Maybe two or three very efficient speakers like Lil Buddy might fix that. But the amp is also a good weight so there would be a lot of carrying!
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