Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: HJM on October 20, 2005, 09:47:55 PM
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Never heard my Mothersmilk set so clear - just got back from a play test at Matamp. The Mat-Minishould be launched tomorrow. It is a 2w head, in a small form chassis about 8inch by 5inch.
Single ended class A with a lone 6v6, and a single ECC83. Three front panel controls; boost, volume and tone. Line level out on the back and a suprise...read on
Built in is a solidstate boost cicuit, which is tailored to give a treble boost kick to the front end (footswitchable). It was a full range boost, but I felt that a treble boost would suit the amp better for some great bite to the overdrive. :lol:
It works very well with overdrive pedals, the clean sound is very warm, sweet and pure.
And.....there's a built in attenuator.......so you can make it scream quietly! :P
I'll say it would suit anybody going for pure cleans, classic rock and blues tones. The neck Mothersmilk with the booster on gave some sweet SRV tones - and the clean settings sounded like a really sweet fender with the tone up a bit. A Les Paul Studio with the 490 ceramics sounded meaty and powerful - I'd love to try a set of Mules though it! 8)
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And it'll be in the £250 range - hand wired point to point, Matamps entry level amp, so now the range spans from £250 to £1250....something for all tastes and wallets!
Shameless plugging I know...as Tim will ell you I'm not helping Matamp for the money.... :evil:
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i saw that on the site the other day, very impressive!
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So Hayden, whats the deal with you and Matamp, if you don't mind me asking? Do you work for/with them? I only ask cos you seem to know a lot about their products and history - which is no bad thing cos they do seem to be painfully under-represented within the music scene.,
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omg that sounds like the IDEAL practice amp!!!!
awesome.
yeah, hayden, what is with you and matamp? you seem to know ALL about their products, and even their secrets, everything...
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It looks like it is $495 over here. I would love to hear one of them (I have a stero 3 watt that is too loud for the house though!). Are they going to be at Music Live?
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I've been their test guitarist for about 4 years now. I used to do a lot more with them, play testing every amp that was built, but my proper job has got too busy to allow me to spend as much time as I did with them! So I just help out on the R&D side now, they've got a couple of other people to play test. I met Tim when Matamp shared a stand at music live back in 2003.
No plans to do music live this year, there's been a lot of change at Matamp, problems with overseas distribution, bad corporate clients not paying bills...people copying Matamp's designs...that kind of thing! I hope to get them to go to London next may, or Birmingham next year.
One or two shops are looking at becoming dealers, so Matamps should be more readily available. Hopefully there should be some more dealers in the States soon, Juniors Music is becoming a big customer of late.
The nice thing about the Mini is the attenuator, there's not a huge amount of preamp gain, so the dirt comes from the little 6V6...mmmm :wink:
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I was looking at their site the other day and saw that one, there's even been some "heads up" things on good old Harmony Central as well.
Priced on the site at £259, it sounds like an absolute tonal bargain for those wanting to get that valve tonality on to tape (well, hard disk then).
I still want a 1224 MkII though, or should I get a GTO/GTL? Decisions... :?
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intriguing. i'd need a cab as well, that's the only thing. seems like a great option for
HJM: the website says something about custom options. any idea how much a different coloured covering would bump the price up by? or how much i'd cost to have the volume go to '11' :lol:
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Not much I'd guess - give them a call. The big heads I don't think there's a charge for different cloth, depends on the stock though! Front panels shouldn't be a problem to mod....
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cool. i'm not really looking for a new amp right now, but it's a definate option in about six months or so
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the ultimate over drive pedal :twisted:
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Now there's a thought. Cheaper than a Boogie V-Twin.
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You could nearly have two and A/B......
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I seriously want 1 of these amps!
Is this a limited edition or special offer on the price? Ie, if I waited 6 months before I could afford 1, is the price likely to have gone up?
Craig
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That one should be staying put at that price, the pricing has just been updated, so I can't forsee any price increase....unless component cost goes up!
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That one should be staying put at that price, the pricing has just been updated, so I can't forsee any price increase....unless component cost goes up!
That's good to hear :)
I can't afford 1 yet, but I plan to get 1 for use at the studio and for home recording :)
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I've got one next to me...just need to finish off a lecture for tomorrow and I can wail away....they're very well built, same quality as a C7, just £259.....2w is pretty loud, glad there's an attenuator built in!!
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I've already got one on order, tried it out when it was initially a prototype (a bent bit of metal!). With my Fulltone Fulldrive II in the front end of it, it just sang. Amazing sound.
Talking of Matamp, my King Street arrived yesterday.... in a word STUNNING!
http://community.webshots.com/photo/332830655/483640226DSirYe
plus with a liberal sprinkling of Bare Knuckle loaded amps...
http://community.webshots.com/photo/332830655/483639289psYBxE
HJM,
My friend Andy is currently in talks with Matamp about opening a showroom in the Midlands, sounds like there will be a lot of interest in the product, those Minimat's are going to sell like hot cakes! But the King Street is amazing, Marshall inspired tones but with the Matamp clarity and authority. It's an amp Marshall only wished it could build IMHO.
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Yeah...heard about that - small world!!
The King Street is a great rock amp, one of my favs now! The Mini has got a boost on the front, kind of a cross between a MXR micro amp and a Rangemaster, a clean trble boost. Pushes the amp into classic JTM45/1987 gain territory - lovely! I've got one here at the moment, too much fun...I'm supposed to be doing some soundclips, but keep noodling th time away.... :lol:
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Hi, all. Long time lurker, first time poster.
I've been lusting after one of these for a while, but I'm wondering if it's right for my purposes.
I guess this is a question for HJM, since he's played one. Can it do a cranked rock tone at really low (i.e. conversation or TV) levels using the attenuator? I don't have much experience with valve amps, but from what I've read (e.g. stuff at amptone.com) what I need is a really low wattage valve amp, otherwise I'll rarely be able to hear it at its best.
I'm hoping the Minimat might fit the bill - I've got a Mule-loaded Eggle that's just begging to be plugged into a good valve amp. :shock:
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Hi Froglord!
I didn't get as much time with the Mini as I wanted.....Wishbone Ash turned up at the factory and wanted a go! It can be very quiet, with only a small loss in tone, mainly from the speaker not moving much! It'll go from 0.1w to 2w clean, so it can be pretty loud too. It's great for rich midrange overdrive tones. And with a strat it sounds almost like Yngwie.... :P
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Cheers, HJM!
I phoned Matamp earlier and had a good chat. I'm definitely getting sold on the Minimat!
They also said that in the next couple of weeks they'll be doing a 1x12 cab specially for it. Bigger than the C7 cab - so that bass is improved - and loaded with a Celestion Greenback, which is the speaker I was interested in anyway! The Greenbacks have a 97dB sensitivity (3dB less than most Celestions) meaning it's half the volume - or in other words, you can give it twice as much welly without disturbing the neighbours. This is what I need!
Thanks to John at Matamp for the info (and for telling me that it will "scream its t*ts off" if you want it to - I had to laugh at that).
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Standard phrase at Matamp... :lol:
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not usually in refence to amplifiers though :lol:
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No, Dave's birds...
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Does anyone know if it'd be possible to use a Minimat with a band? Because if I get 1 (originally for recording), and it's possible to use it with a live band, then I can sell another of my other amps and make the cash back :D
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2W - i wouldn't have thought you'd hear that over a drummer! Well not my drummer - he's an angry loud bar-steward, hehe.
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2w is probably OK for rehersal...just - with an efficient 4x12
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HJM, have you had chance to compare the Minimat with the First Lady?
They both seem to be different takes on the same idea, low wattage valve recording/practise amps. I blieve the First Lady is a reworked C7 head, but could be wrong. The matamp forum has been remarkably quiet on the First Lady and I'm curious as to how they compare. Obviously the Minimat is a less complex beast, but do the basic tones stand up?
*Rahnooo*
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Rahnooo,
I compared the Minimat and First Lady recently when I visited Matamp.
The First Lady is indeed an evolution of the C7, but with two different (switchable) output valves, a Voice knob (thick and bassy to thin and wiry) plus some other additions.
While they're both "low wattage" it's important to realise that all Matamps are underrated in terms of powere. Matamp measure them at the point the clean sound ends, so the First Lady is 7w clean, but 20w at full distortion. That probably makes the Minimat about 5-6w max - it's certainly louder than you'd think.
I thought the MM was pretty similar in terms of sound to the FL when the 6v6 was selected, although the MM had a bit more distortion. Switching to the 6CA7 valve on the FL (similar to an EL34) gave more distortion and more of a Marshall vibe: a snarlier, more aggressive distortion, ideal for classic rock.
I loved them both, but couldn't attenuate the FL down enough when it was distorted - I mostly play at home volumes. So I ended up ordering the MM. It hasn't arrived yet, but I keep dreaming - literally - about it. I haven't ever heard a low volume amp sound that good.
If you want a lot of dirt (heavy rock / metal territory) neither amp will satisfy you, but for clean / blues / classic rock they are awesome.
A couple of extra things about the MM that make it a lot more flexible than it first seems: (1) the Low Input is designed to take pedals well, so you could put your UberMetal or whatever in here and rely on the MM to give you the valve warmth and (at higher levels) power amp breakup; (2) the DI from the MM is designed so you can plug it straight into another, more powerful amp and get similar tones at much higher volumes. Effectively you're using the MM like an overdrive pedal or preamp.
There are reviews of both amps in this month's (February's) Guitar Buyer magazine. I'm told by Jeff at Matamp that the editor of GB visited and was so impressed he walked away with a Minimat, First Lady and King Street for his own personal use.
Rahnoo - I just noticed you're based in York. You've got to visit the place - Phone Jeff and arrange something!
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Froglord thanks for your reply.
The matamps sound like exactly what I'm after, I'm much more of a clean-to-breakup country and classic rock guy than ubermetal-rah guitarist (epi les paul loaded with mules, playing led zep, rem, jeff buckley and smashing pumpkins during a normal week as well as a lap steel) so the levels of dirt on offer suit me down to the ground. The FL and Minimat both caught my eye as bedroom-level amps as most of my playing is done in the context of a home studio and my 60W ashdown is way too loud (not to mention tempramental in the extreme) to really crank up.
I really will have to trekk over to the Matamp factory before i part with my hard earned cash, but it's nice to have an idea of what you want before you get there. And I'm going to have to delay my trip for a while if the FL is still a sensible option.
I bought this months Guitar Buyer for the matamp reviews, and both sounded glowing but as I'm not a regular reader its hard to get a feel for what the magazine rates in general.
Your points about the minimats versatility are really useful and have been taken on board, cheers :)
*Rahnooo*
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Mine! :D
http://community.webshots.com/photo/332830655/483639202kRDRgS#
http://community.webshots.com/photo/332830655/529729431EZSrjD#
The Mini Mat is a glorious little beast and a seriously loud one at that. Be warned!
The King Street loosens up a little more every time switch it on. It's currently my favourite amp.
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So how loud does the Mini Mat actually go? If you can compare its volume to a 40w valve amp it would be good. Probably not very loud compared to my HRDx but it would be nice to know if it can come close, probably got a better tone though :lol:
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The King Street loosens up a little more every time switch it on. It's currently my favourite amp.
If I ever stop using predominantly girly clean sounds, I'd want a King Street. It was the most impressive amp I played at the factory, apart from the Harry Joyce maybe.
I thought the K.S. sounded better than a.....
JCM800 :o :o :o (I'll hide now!!)
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The King Street loosens up a little more every time switch it on. It's currently my favourite amp.
If I ever stop using predominantly girly clean sounds, I'd want a King Street. It was the most impressive amp I played at the factory, apart from the Harry Joyce maybe.
I thought the K.S. sounded better than a.....
JCM800 :o :o :o (I'll hide now!!)
Are they a kinda Marshallesque old-school sound or do they have their own tone?
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They all sound different. The Chino sounds a bit like a Fender, the KS sounds a bit Marshally. In the run up to my 2nd visit I asked Hayden what Fender amp the Chino was based on, and he said
''The Chino isn't based on any fender - DAve refuses to copy even the slightest bit of any amp and prefers to design from teh ground up - just happens that the CHino sounds a bit fendery!''
Hope you don't mind me quoting you Hayden, its for a good cause I'm sure!
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Ahh right.. whats the Mini Mat sound like? That is the only one I will be able to afford ever :lol:
I still have left over money from christmas and working over summer so I could actually afford one if I wanted :o
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There are samples (or links to samples) on the Matamp forum. Best to read the topics too, coz some of these are with pedals.
http://p203.ezboard.com/fofficialmatampownersclubfrm7.showMessage?topicID=995.topic
http://p203.ezboard.com/fofficialmatampownersclubfrm7.showMessage?topicID=987.topic
http://p203.ezboard.com/fofficialmatampownersclubfrm7.showMessage?topicID=986.topic
Nothing beats hearing one in the flesh, though.
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I don't know I didn't try it, but I see froglord did ^ !
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I don't know I didn't try it, but I see froglord did ^ !
Did I ever! Phwoaarr!
It's difficult to describe the sound. Very thick and midrangey, but also (paradoxically) very clear. The 6v6 gives a smoother distortion than some valves, so if you like really aggressive, snarly overdrive, this may not suit.
Having said that, if you turn everything up to max you're pretty much teleported to the land of Classic Rawk.
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Ok, Wow. I just listened to those recordings. Sounds soo good! I think I want a Mini Mat :lol: