Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Lew on October 26, 2013, 12:51:42 PM

Title: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Lew on October 26, 2013, 12:51:42 PM
and I still can't afford it. And I've never actually played one  :o anyone have one? I keep having moments where I consider selling my Morgan (a great amp) and ordering one - they don't seem to come up used except for the 1224 which isn't really what I'm looking for. I think I want a GT-1.
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Oli on October 26, 2013, 01:45:44 PM
I have two, a C7 and a MiniMat (2nd generation), I quite like them, but I think i'll be getting rid of them as im just not really playing with them these days... but every time I plug in, I think I should keep them!

Where abouts are you based? I'd be interested in hearing your Morgan, if you wanted to meet up and have a bit of a shootout.

They don't often come up, but if you keep your eye out, there's one every now and again-- I think i'd like a 1224, but i've not played one yet, so i'll reserve judgement!
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Plenum n Heather on October 26, 2013, 02:24:34 PM
The GT1 is a BEAST of an amp! I played one at the London Guitar Show a few years ago. Loved it!
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: tekbow on October 26, 2013, 03:26:42 PM
Lew where are you?

Matamps are quite cheap all things considered, you're talking at least comperable to the Usual marshall suspects (mebbe less) for handmade, handwired amps made in the uk.

I think the last all valve minimat was only slightly north of £300 for the fullest featured one.

The 1224 head is insane for what you're getting for under a grand new.

Only thing i'll say is that they don't sound like much else, they def have a voice of their own and you either love it or hate it.

I always find it amazing everyone goes so nuts for Orange amps when Matamp are the original Orange.
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Brow on October 26, 2013, 06:08:01 PM
I have 1 of the very short lived Little Rock 4w 6v6 amps.

I think I've tried some of the others on a trip to the factory but can't remember which  :lol:
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: tekbow on October 26, 2013, 07:04:30 PM
I have 1 of the very short lived Little Rock 4w 6v6 amps.

I think I've tried some of the others on a trip to the factory but can't remember which  :lol:

That the one with the solid state preamp? they revisited it in the gen3 minimats, think they called it the minirock. Tried that one, thought it rocked.
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Lew on October 27, 2013, 12:25:18 AM



If you're anywhere near Gloucestershire we should hook up :-) The Morgans kind of a cross between a Plexi and a JCM800, kinda. Way too much gain available for the voicing and the clean sounds aren't super dogs bollocks amazing but the mid gain is and that's how I use it  8)



I rang Matamp up a few months back and I think I was looking at about £1200 odd for the GT1 or was it the GT40? I'm pretty sure they said that the 1224 was about £1300. Yea, price seems good for what you get. I don't want an all singing all dancing thing, just something that gets that poweramp GREEN tone.
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: tekbow on October 27, 2013, 01:30:15 AM
they musta gone up a bit since i last looked, but thats still not a bad price. The all singing all dancing thing with the 1224 is probably way more than i'd use, maybe the different wattage settings, and i'd find a good clean OD and lead tone i liked. would have a play around with everything, but just to find the voicing i wanted.

The 1224 is their most "modern" sounding amp though, but don't think we're talking ultra high gain.

GT120 is probably what you want for the "Green" sound (is it named for Peter? I know they did a green tolex 120 that they called a Green, presumably playing a little off Orange as well), but that was a limited reissue they made a while back. I would presume the Current GT's are probably related though. Be aware that you have to crank them LOUD..

Unfortunately (or not as your preference may be), most matamp GT clips on youtube seem to to be Stoner and Doom, so it's hard for people who can't access em to know what they do.

about as versatile a clip i can find for the GT's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdwGfU7VWgc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdwGfU7VWgc)

like i said, very distinctive sound.. I love em personally, great for trashy blues. Puts me right in mind of things like "hole in the sky" by Sabbath too.

this dude waffles on a bit but does go thru the 1224 really well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vDU5a4Y08Y (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vDU5a4Y08Y)

I think it's capable of the "classic" matamp sounds, but with some modern stuff thrown in too. it still sounds low fi and old school though. when i say modern i mean in relative terms :lol:
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Brow on October 27, 2013, 10:48:42 AM
That the one with the solid state preamp? they revisited it in the gen3 minimats, think they called it the minirock. Tried that one, thought it rocked.

I don't think it's a solid state preamp, I think it's a pair of 12AX7s if my googling research is correct  :lol:
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Lew on October 27, 2013, 11:55:04 AM



Yea, stoner and doom is what I want it for, so not a problem.

The GREEN sound is the sound of DOPESMOKER rather than Peter Green :-)

Like this beast GT-1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeJlrNZzQ-M (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeJlrNZzQ-M) watching clips like that makes me want to set up an eBay auction for my current gear and just order a GT-1  :lol: but I shall resist, for now.

Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Lew on October 27, 2013, 12:10:28 PM
oh and then there's the volume issue. The GT1 is 120W clean which makes it about 180W gained so I've read 0_o so it would mean a new cab too.
Title: Re: I'm still gassing for a MATAMP
Post by: Lew on November 13, 2013, 08:55:41 PM
If all goes to plan (it could fall through) I may be ordering a GT1 at the end of the month.

I'm thinking green tolex, black faceplate and green lettering.