Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 12:24:41 PM

Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 12:24:41 PM: Controversial..but seriously considering them
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 05:55:01 PM: No one?
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: WezV on May 24, 2008, 06:00:08 PM: i have my little rock... still loving it!!
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: PhilKing on May 24, 2008, 06:34:15 PM: I have a mini-mat (original one), with a Matamp 1x12. If I was living in England I might be tempted to get a King Street or 1224. They are great sounding amps, but very different to Marshalls. They are a cleaner amp, but work really well with pedals. The 1224 is like having 6 or 7 amps in one because you can configure it any way you want.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Jonny on May 24, 2008, 06:59:08 PM: How does the 1224 compare to the Switchblade? (I'm obsessed with that amp)

Or is it a different kettle of fish?
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: HairyChris on May 24, 2008, 07:02:08 PM: I'll probably get one one day.... I have the urge to get a lower wattage one just to crank the living &£$% out of and play dirty stoner through it. :wink:

Maybe when I've stopped spending all my cash on guitars. :roll:
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 09:10:38 PM: am having amp gas at mo
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Jonny on May 24, 2008, 10:57:04 PM: I should have bought one, tbh. When I had the money (damn it!)
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Ted on May 24, 2008, 11:02:55 PM: I own a King Street and a Minimat 6v6. Used to own the EL84 minimat too, but sold that after I got the King Street.

I love em and I have a lot of time for Jeff & Co at Matamp.

Some people on the board have them and don't like them.

Try before you buy I reckon.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 11:20:53 PM: am thinkin first lady minimat2
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Twinfan on May 25, 2008, 01:00:10 AM: I agree with Ted - try before you buy. They're not for everyone...
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Brow on May 25, 2008, 10:41:49 AM: I have a 6V6 4w Little Rock head and love it :D
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: martinw on May 25, 2008, 10:57:55 AM: I make them, so no comment! :wink:
One thing though, anyone who's tried a Matamp in the past might want to have another go.
We've revoiced most of them a tad so that they're less of an acquired taste, as Dave can testify.
The 1224 is nothing like a Switchblade; although it has multiple switching options, it doesn't have two channels, and goes from clean to classic rock crunch.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: HTH AMPS on May 25, 2008, 11:35:49 AM: I've found the modern Matamps to be able to cover alot of ground right upto hard rock. I wouldn't recommend them for metal though (from what I've tried).

I tried the Chino (Fender'esque combo) one time and was very impressed by it, a cool little bluesy combo that would be perfect for the average gig if you're playing anything in the blues/rock/indie vein. A few pedals would give further versatility too.

I like their simple non-mv amps best, the old Green/Orange type heads with a 4x12 and a fuzzbox = magic :D
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Ted on May 25, 2008, 11:37:12 AM: I'd like to try minimat II.

I might at some point build a little Fender Champ clone, but apart from that I'm a loyal Matamp-er...
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: donovan.x on May 25, 2008, 03:05:14 PM: Whats the difference between Matamp and Martamp?
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: martinw on May 25, 2008, 03:13:44 PM: Two different businesses.
One's mine:http://www.martamp.com
The other's the one you've heard of http://www.matamp.co.uk/home.htm who I do subcontracting work for.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: donovan.x on May 25, 2008, 06:25:43 PM: Thanks for the clarification. Also thanks for the info on the 'neighbour friendly' amp suggestion, the 5 watt Goldstar looks like a definite contender. Would it cost much to add a fx loop for the modulation effects?
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: martinw on May 25, 2008, 06:32:22 PM: £20.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: donovan.x on May 25, 2008, 06:41:21 PM: Just one more question then I will stop being a hijacker.

Would it be worth doing?
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: martinw on May 25, 2008, 07:23:49 PM: Depends how much you think putting time based effects after preamp distortion is important. If you are fussy about delays etc then yes. For other people (me included) then no.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 25, 2008, 07:35:25 PM: what about reverbs
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: martinw on May 25, 2008, 08:49:18 PM: The same applies.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 25, 2008, 09:06:19 PM: Thought reverb sounded better after drive/gain
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: Will on May 25, 2008, 09:22:21 PM: I would think that Matamp and Martamp 's amps would probably have a large degree of power tube distortion, so I am guessing you can't win about getting reverb / delay after the overdrive?

unless you take the signal from the amp head into a dummy load, and then put that into a clean power amp... No idea if that would work, or break anything, but I read EVH did it (so I guess it probably did break something :P )

That Goldstar looks tasty
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: martinw on May 25, 2008, 10:31:04 PM: Quote from: sgmypod
Thought reverb sounded better after drive/gain

Err exactly.
The FX loop insert point is after the preamp, where some (or most) of the distortion/colouration is generated.
Not sure what you mean. :?

As Will says, in an amp where the distortion is largely output stage, you can interpose the time-based effects after the output stage. You'd have to be very particular about your effects to do this though.

Effects loops are always a bit of a compromise.
Title: Matamp - Who owns one and are they really that good
Post by: sgmypod on May 25, 2008, 10:37:32 PM: hmm something new cool