Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: indysmith on July 06, 2008, 10:47:06 AM

Title: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: indysmith on July 06, 2008, 10:47:06 AM
Does anyone know? I have a feeling it may have been mentioned before, but I wasn't really interested in the Little Rock anyways back then.
It seemed like a good amp with a useful place in the matamp lineup - has it just been replaced by the minimat 2 now?

Thanks guys.

P.S. If any of you ever want to sell one, let me know.
Title: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: March on July 06, 2008, 11:50:16 AM
I've spoken to Hayden about this and I think it was that the cost of the parts to build these amps were becoming so costly that producing them and maintaining a sensible selling price was becoming prohibitive.

I also know that since Dave Green's departure Matamp have been radically revamping the range. Sounds like some interesting developments are on the cards.
Title: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Will on July 06, 2008, 01:05:37 PM
Because a certain Marshall MG50 was clearly far better than a particular Minimat  :roll:
Title: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: sgmypod on July 06, 2008, 01:28:21 PM
Quote from: Will
Because a certain Marshall MG50 was clearly far better than a particular Minimat  :roll:

yeah not sure I'd agree there...
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: indysmith on July 06, 2008, 07:05:51 PM
Quote from: Will
Because a certain Marshall MG50 was clearly far better than a particular Minimat  :roll:
yeah not sure I'd agree there...
It was an in joke ;)
a very depressing one
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: sgmypod on July 06, 2008, 07:14:52 PM
sorry missed it...not sure about site upgrade
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Will on July 06, 2008, 07:54:28 PM
Quote from: indysmith
ur stupid cousin gave me my MG50 back the other day and took his minimat
it's not fair

heh.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Twinfan on July 06, 2008, 07:57:06 PM
They discontinued it for the reasons listed above - range revamp, cost and becuase it was so similar to the (more popular) Minimat II.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: JamesHealey on July 07, 2008, 08:09:11 PM
Matamp are a company im not 100% about, I've heard lots of strange tales about Matamp and seen some pretty horrific gut shots of the 90s stuff, Jeff seems nice enough and my boss has used Matamp for years without any real problems.

Still dunno what I think of them myself, Hayden is a fantastic individual though and I love his work.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: JamesHealey on July 07, 2008, 08:10:20 PM
little off topic but yea Matamp's Little rock has been superseded by a newer model.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Twinfan on July 07, 2008, 09:17:28 PM
They're not for everyone I'll admit, but they're worth a try.  Especially if you're into all that down tuned Doom stuff.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: indysmith on July 07, 2008, 10:15:41 PM
They're not for everyone I'll admit, but they're worth a try.  Especially if you're into all that down tuned Doom stuff.
Everyone always says that. Seems strange; the clips I've heard, and the Matamps I've played have all sounded their best on-the-edge of breakup.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Twinfan on July 07, 2008, 11:09:04 PM
Oh I dunno, here's a nice one with a bit of gain.  Apologies for the rough playing...

Little Rock & Motley Crue (http://www.doppelganger-rock.com/Twinfan/Girls.mp3)
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: indysmith on July 07, 2008, 11:12:33 PM
See? that sounds silly to me (no offence Twinfan!); it just doesnt seem like the right kind of basic sound for that genre of music, or anything that heavy in fact.
It's kinda like if everyone was telling me that Pantera riffs sound awesome on a Fender champ.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Brow on July 07, 2008, 11:47:15 PM
See? that sounds silly to me (no offence Twinfan!); it just doesnt seem like the right kind of basic sound for that genre of music, or anything that heavy in fact.
It's kinda like if everyone was telling me that Pantera riffs sound awesome on a Fender champ.

The amps own distortion/OD tone (which I'm not sure if Daves clip was or not) isn't anything like the sound that most people would use for something like Motley Crue.

But stick a MI Audio Crunch Box etc infront of it and it'll definitely get you in the ballpark.
Title: Re: Why did Matamp discontinue the Little Rock?
Post by: Twinfan on July 08, 2008, 08:36:00 AM
That was just a guitar and the amp via a very quick recording.  It was using a Palmer speaker sim on the 'mellow' setting so it gives a darker tone (which I like).  Pretty much sounds like that in the room though actually.  On the amp there was plenty more treble available, bass was on full and can be backed off, plus the speaker sim can be set to 'normal' or 'bright'.

Matamps generally sound very thick and bottom-end heavy, unlike a Marshall which is generally thin and top-endy.  They do sound best as I set mine up though - thick and dark.