Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Lew on August 28, 2008, 08:43:02 PM

Title: Martamp
Post by: Lew on August 28, 2008, 08:43:02 PM
Heya, I'm getting an amp head from Martamp, it's going to be based on a V6-20.  20watts 6V6

I know a few people here have a Martamp(found Sambos plexi on you tube-sounds awesome)so thought I'd ask what options y'all went for when you ordered.

Martin says his master volume is really good so there's no need for an attenuator. He suggested a second gain stage but I reckon it will have plenty of gain already for what I want.
I think I'm going to go for a Hiwatt look, I am tempted by a purple and gold job though.

Give me some ideas and inspiration  8)
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: indysmith on August 28, 2008, 09:33:36 PM
Get it with Antlers!
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Matt77 on August 28, 2008, 10:19:52 PM
What are you going to play on it?
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: sambo on August 28, 2008, 10:52:48 PM
Get it with Antlers!

+1!!! :lol:


As Matt says-  what are you going to use it for sound wise? Whether an extra gain stage is for you is probably best answered by Martin as he knows his amps best, obviously.

The Master Volume is great and a must-have for me!


Now the fun part- what it looks like. :twisted: I'm a big fan of bright/bold colours for amps- red, orange, blue, red, white would all look awesome. And I love the black panels + white control knobs on mine :twisted: :D
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Lew on August 28, 2008, 10:53:17 PM
Get it with Antlers!

hmmmmmm!!


What are you going to play on it?

Mostly scrabble! ... oh right! Hmmmm that's actually a difficult question as I dont play any one style. I spend alot of time pretending I'm Scott Henderson though ;P

I'm hoping to be able to get early Van Halen on full gain and roll back the gain for Steeley Dan style leads.
As far as clean goes I'd like dr103 tone but I've been told that's practically impossible with a small amp.
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Lew on August 28, 2008, 11:13:04 PM
Now the fun part- what it looks like. :twisted: I'm a big fan of bright/bold colours for amps- red, orange, blue, red, white would all look awesome. And I love the black panels + white control knobs on mine :twisted: :D

The Hiwatt look will be the way to go for the control panel.

(http://www.rocknrollvintage.com/prodimages/hiwatt.jpg)

(http://www.martamp.com/images/km18_027.jpg)

Probably gonna ask for a plexi front like the Hughes and Kettner Triamp- I reckon it would look sexy with the Hiwatt style control panel...

(http://www.bmusic.com.au/links/prodnews/archives/images/hughesandkettner/handk_alex_lifeson_triamp_2.jpg)
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Matt77 on August 29, 2008, 04:16:13 AM
mmmmmm amp porn
go for the extra gain stage and get flames put on the side of it 
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: horsehead on August 29, 2008, 06:48:10 AM
hmm the film will suck if you put flames on optimus...:o sorry wrong thread! I've got the DR103 Hiwatt & I've gotta say it looks luuurrrvely. I'm still scr@pping the money together to get a tweed amp from Martin...tweed is good
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: hamfist on August 29, 2008, 07:58:48 AM
If money allowed, I would definately go for the extra gain stage, and have it switchable in and out, to suit what you're playing at the time.
 Other useful options could include cathode-biasing (automatic biasing) for power tubes. Or, if it's a fixed bias amp, you could have external biasing points on the back, so you could safely re-bias new power tubes with a multimeter.

  Other useful stuff could include switchable voicing options, switching in and out appropriate resitors/capacitors, to give you different tonal voices for the amp. All pretty straighforward stuff for Martin.

 An FX loop would be very, very useful too.
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: sgmypod on August 29, 2008, 08:37:30 AM
(http://a155.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/123/l_df9a2bb4bef79be48b0ba00eef19446a.jpg)
(http://a602.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/93/l_29c293cb75c47e63e6bcd16b8dd573b9.jpg)

Just got to say what a lovely amp........this is mine...and she's sweeeeeeeet
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Matt77 on August 29, 2008, 10:59:16 AM
Well if you're getting yours out......
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: sambo on August 29, 2008, 11:34:15 AM
^Mmmmm lurvvly!!


Lew the plexi front with Hiwatt-style panels would look awesome. What colour tolex would you put with that? I quite like the sound of purple, like you first mentioned.
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: MrBump on August 29, 2008, 11:44:56 AM
Well if you're getting yours out......

Excellent mic placement!

My technique for that is far superior... I balance it on the top of my Peavey Bandit 65.  It rolls off occasionally, but I think that adds to the overall ambience of the track...
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Matt77 on August 29, 2008, 12:10:26 PM
Well if you're getting yours out......

Excellent mic placement!

My technique for that is far superior... I balance it on the top of my Peavey Bandit 65.  It rolls off occasionally, but I think that adds to the overall ambience of the track...

I have the occasional errant thud when recording.... but I just tell people it's the drummer and he's rubbish.
Maybe we should start a business as sound engineers? :D

That mic setup actually works suprisingly well as a wet / dry home rig. A splash of reverb and a bit of doubling on the active monitors and I can pretend I'm in a stadium.

anyway, I might have gone off the topic....
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Twinfan on August 29, 2008, 12:11:11 PM
Well if you're getting yours out......

You know what's coming  ;)

Here are my current two, I've got a combo on order and I'm also working with Martin on a prototype new model for his range which will be mine when development is finished  :)
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Lew on August 29, 2008, 02:48:48 PM
Thanks for all the messages  8)

It's definetley going to have an FXloop, I e-mailed Martin last night and suggested using the extra gain stage as a switchable boost type thing. Cathode biasing isn't something I had thought about! I asked for black tolex lol but I reckon your right, im gonna shoot him an email for purple tolex!
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: JamesHealey on August 30, 2008, 11:54:30 AM
fixed bias with test points, dont go cathode bias ruins the feel of the amp, make it too spongy.

Im not a fan of Cathode Biased amps.
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Twinfan on August 30, 2008, 03:37:44 PM
Lots of other people are though James  :)

Might be something you need to try - Martin can always switch it to fixed bias if needed?
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: Lew on August 30, 2008, 05:22:33 PM
I spoke to Martin and he thought a cathode bias would change the tone away from what I want aswell as a power drop.
Title: Re: Martamp
Post by: martinw on August 30, 2008, 05:26:45 PM
As Lew says I've advised against cathode bias in this case. I think it will detract from the particular tone of this amp, which is aimed at a Marshall-y sound. I think it would be too much of a change with 6V6's as well.
That's not to say that it wouldn't sound good, just that it would, in this case, be further away from the target sound than I'd like. Probably.  :)