Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Twinfan on May 09, 2007, 08:44:25 AM
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http://www.matamp.co.uk/littlerock.htm
Tried one of these out at the Manchester Guitar Show at the weekend - cracking little amp for the price. Great tone - classic Matamp.
Fired up my GAS for a King Street again though :roll:
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Go on... You know you want one... ;)
Matamp are superb.
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Seriously gassing for either the Little Rock or a King Street. SERIOUSLY.
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^ :lol: :lol:
haha I can feel your GAS through the internet cyberspace.
Go on Dave, you know you want to :wink:
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Just tried to ring them with a few questions about the Little Rock but got no answer. I'll try again later. I only had a quick noodle on it on Sunday and didn't try out all the gain options and EQ. I was testing out a guitar not the amp at the time :roll:
What can I sell to get the cash for one...
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Is this the TinyTerror Killer?
Same price point at least ...
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It's not as cute as the Minimat (too many knobs!) but it looks like it should be more versatile - and only slightly more expensive.
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Hunter - yep, it's the Tiny Terror killer...
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One day, Matamp will make a truly pocket-sized powerful tube amp. You just know it, they're the veritable masters of mini.
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I AM WEAK!
I CAN NOT RESIST!
ORDER PLACED!
SHOULD BE READY IN 3 WEEKS!
Arrrggghh!! Must now sell stuff to pay for it...
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What can I sell to get the cash for one...
wife...
seriously, though, i must check the matamp site... i haven't been there since that was released.
:drink:
EDIT: ah, you just ordered it!
£299 sounds really, really good... garg! shame i don't really like the metal front... and no options...
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slightly off topic, but still on, has anyone got a kingstreet head, & if so how good are they?
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I've played one. I take it you've seen the used one on eBay? I was pondering over that too but decided to stick with my Klipps for now. It's a good price too.
The King Street is what I would describe as the son of a Marshall JMP Master Volume and a Bognor Shiva.
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I played one L O U D L Y at Matamp's factory last week ... that little demon is GREAT!!
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You gotta post a proper "Back in Black" recording here once the head arrived and you found a few minutes to throw a mic in front of it
Matamp are really poor when it comes to offering clips on their site ... not so easy for a belgian citizen to test their product ....
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Matamp are really poor when it comes to offering clips on their site ... not so easy for a belgian citizen to test their product ....
Don't hold your breath; I don't see that happening any time soon.
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You gotta post a proper "Back in Black" recording here once the head arrived and you found a few minutes to throw a mic in front of it
I'll see what I can do when it arrives, plus my recording setup isn't as rofessional as yours ;) Should be good enough to get the general idea though so I'll get something sorted as soon as I can.
:)
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damn I hate you..was just looking at them was going to pay the factory a visit
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I AM WEAK!
I CAN NOT RESIST!
ORDER PLACED!
SHOULD BE READY IN 3 WEEKS!
Arrrggghh!! Must now sell stuff to pay for it...
It's amazing how quickly a situation can change under the influence of GAS. :wink: :lol:
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I played one L O U D L Y at Matamp's factory last week ... that little demon is GREAT!!
same, on all accounts :D
with a pedal like the HBE Big D, it SLAYS!
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I reckon it'll be amazing with my MI Audio Crunch Box up front...
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I reckon it'll be amazing with my MI Audio Crunch Box up front...
Any high end boost/OD will work. One of the things Matamp strives for is amps that need a pedal in front of em to really drive them. This way, instead of getting bored with your distortion tone and selling the amp, you simply swap out your pedal for a new one and voila! New high gain tone!
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what cab you going to be running it with?
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what cab you going to be running it with?
Marshall 1936 2x12 with Vintage 30s :)
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I played one L O U D L Y at Matamp's factory last week ... that little demon is GREAT!!
How does it cope with more metally stuff?
I fancied a minimat but it put me off that it wouldn't manage gain in the maiden territory I occasionally wonder into.
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have a strange thing twin fan my marshall combo has 2x10 eminence heratage speakers and celestion heritage 1x12 extension cab
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what cab you going to be running it with?
Marshall 1936 2x12 with Vintage 30s :)
i suggest you swap them out for celestion Hot 100's MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better tone.
with the V30's it sounded a bit fizzy on the top end, but with the hot 100's, it sounded much fuller and punchier.. but then again depends on what style you play.
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I was there while TO and Davey tried the amp @ the Matamp factory last week, and also agree with them that it sounds great.
It sounds so great infact that I ordered 1 on the spot while I was there :lol: :twisted:
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what cab you going to be running it with?
Marshall 1936 2x12 with Vintage 30s :)
i suggest you swap them out for celestion Hot 100's MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better tone.
with the V30's it sounded a bit fizzy on the top end, but with the hot 100's, it sounded much fuller and punchier.. but then again depends on what style you play.
Cheers Davey. I've heard soundclips of the Hot 100s with a King Street and much preferred the sound of the V30s with it. When I go and pick it up I'll see if I can have a play through the speaker wall and compare them :)
Brow - good call! I think there's about 20 of us with an order in already. They're waiting on the first batch of output transformers arriving (due any time) then the first run of 20 or so will be built.
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just be sure, that you dont order with some specs, that the amp was not intended to do (like doubling the output wattage)
dave (head assembly and amp guru) will NOT be happy about it hehehe
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I played one L O U D L Y at Matamp's factory last week ... that little demon is GREAT!!
How does it cope with more metally stuff?
It doesn't, imo.
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I've played one. I take it you've seen the used one on eBay? I was pondering over that too but decided to stick with my Klipps for now. It's a good price too.
The King Street is what I would describe as the son of a Marshall JMP Master Volume and a Bognor Shiva.
Ohhhhh yesy-yes, yes! It looked beautiful & everyone says they sound lovely soooo...
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You guys have made me want a new amp, not in place of my Mesa Bogie, but as well as, the Mesa's tone is great, but along with having just played through my guitar teacher's JMP, and this thread, i'm thinking that i need that classic 'British amp' sound as well... i really need money before i can get anything though, and i also want more BKPs, anyway, for futer reference, would i be able to plug an amp head into my Mesa combo and bypass the Mesa amp and go straight to the speaker?
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I played one L O U D L Y at Matamp's factory last week ... that little demon is GREAT!!
How does it cope with more metally stuff?
It doesn't, imo.
through a 1x12, it does for recording imo. very saturated sound.
through a 4x12, you are pushing all it has to oblivion (and that is with the amp completely dimed) so imo, it wouldnt fare that well at metal gigs
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just be sure, that you dont order with some specs, that the amp was not intended to do (like doubling the output wattage)
dave (head assembly and amp guru) will NOT be happy about it hehehe
Can't be done. Little Rock is one spec only - NO options whatsoever. Standard panel, chassis, spec, tolex etc. One size fits all.
:)
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It's amazing how quickly a situation can change under the influence of GAS. :wink: :lol:
:lol:
if the pharmaceutical companies came up with a pill for it, they'd be rolling in it... unless said pill cost more than the guitars... though new guitars/amps don't really cure GAS, just put it off for a few weeks...
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slightly off topic, but still on, has anyone got a kingstreet head, & if so how good are they?
I've got one with a slanted 2x12 Matamp cab. It's a phenominal little amp, that deliveres a wide variety of great tones. To my ears, it sounds similiar to old Marshalls (JTM 45, 1959 early Master Volumes), although it has a faster attack than any Marshall I have experienced (including my early 70's Marshall 1959 head).
As with all Matamp's, the wattage/volume equation is deceptive as the wattage quoted is at the point the amp starts to break up. At 7 watts it's loud, but at 15 watts I have had no problems at being heard over a band. 8)
Again, it works well with pedals (that statement has already been made!), I've coaxed some great rock tones out of it using a Fulltone Fulldrive II and my TC effects rack.
Here's mine (click on the pic link). As far as I am aware, this is the first production King Street (I tried it as a prototype, it was then called the Flexi). I hope this gives you GAS! :twisted: :)
(http://thumb16.webshots.net/t/60/160/3/92/2/483639202kRDRgS_th.jpg) (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/1483639202067881716kRDRgS)
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im getting one as soon as i can find a decent cab! i seen a 1x12 on ebay its home made but sounds pretty solid? has anyone seen it?
i played one at lgs and id sounded sweeeeeeeeet! it was between this and the tiny t but i prefered th rock!!
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I don't own a King St, but I do own a Matamp and I can only totally agree with what March was saying about them having a fast attack and Matamp's conservative output figures (which are based on CLEAN output, and not total output like all the other amp manufacturer's).
A Matamp at 15w is bloody loud!
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that's it...I'm selling my body now!
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just be sure, that you dont order with some specs, that the amp was not intended to do (like doubling the output wattage)
dave (head assembly and amp guru) will NOT be happy about it hehehe
Can't be done. Little Rock is one spec only - NO options whatsoever. Standard panel, chassis, spec, tolex etc. One size fits all.
:)
bla bla bla. i see your mouth moving, but i cant hear anything. :roll:
i know the deal. and i know why it's like that.
about the wattage... matamp spec it at clean volume. not full output power ;)
that's it...I'm selling my body now!
man.. you're better off robbing a bank ;)
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bla bla bla. i see your mouth moving, but i cant hear anything. :roll:
i know the deal. and i know why it's like that.
They why mention speccing it "wrongly" then you numpty?
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yup body sell for a matamp..damn them
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bla bla bla. i see your mouth moving, but i cant hear anything. :roll:
i know the deal. and i know why it's like that.
They why mention speccing it "wrongly" then you numpty?
sorry.. insider joke :P you'd have to be @ matamp when we were, to fully get it
i was there when dave was trying to wire a king street, so it would have double the output power. a lot of curse words were used and a lot of cigaretes were smoked.. in the end he came to the conclusion that he'll have to put in another valve... for which the KS had no room for ... was rather funny.
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Gotcha ;)
I can imagine the swearing now!!!
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Davey fancy setting up a robbery cause I've only made 50p, a bus token & an old lady who has given me the clap
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name the time and place.
then i'll set it up, so you get all the blame and i get all the loot...
oh damn.. i wasnt supposed to say that out loud, was i?
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will share loot..but not the clap or the old lady...(shows what happens if you pimp yourself in Hull Horsehead)
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name the time and place.
then i'll set it up, so you get all the blame and i get all the loot...
oh damn.. i wasnt supposed to say that out loud, was i?
I can see a movie in all this!!!
SG I knew it'd be hard work, but I think I've done well :wink: :D
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Just spoken to the factory and my Little Rock should be ready later this week. I should be picking it up from them on Saturday. :D
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Seriously gassing for either the Little Rock or a King Street. SERIOUSLY.
You're gonna hate me...but could not resist...
(http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m14/ved1980/CIMG2166.jpg)
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I HATE YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!
;)
I'm going to try out the King Street again while I'm at the factory on Saturday plus I'll see if they'll let me try my Little Rock through the speaker wall...
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You're gonna hate me...but could not resist...
Excellent! :D And good to see they do the Minimat with the "Black" logo, I fancy getting a "Green" one.
That Matamp factory seems to be constantly packed to the rafters with BKP forumites. There'll be designated parking spaces next...
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They'll let you try all the speakers no problems. I don't know if you've seen the Matamp board but rumour has it Dave used HOT 100 to fine tune the Little Rock tones. Its a very neutral speaker so lets true voice of amp & guitar through. I have one in my burgundy cab, although I'm toying with getting seperate cabs for the Minimat and the King Street and adding a ABY switch and things get interesting! If I do get a new cab a HOT100 is a must in one and Celestion Heritage G12H is very tempting especially for the King Street.
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I was told on the phone that it wasn't voiced for any speaker in particular? I'll be using it with V30s but I'm curious to compare it with other speakers while I have the opportunity.
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I was told on the phone that it wasn't voiced for any speaker in particular? I'll be using it with V30s but I'm curious to compare it with other speakers while I have the opportunity.
Yes I didnt mean to say it was voiced for HOT 100, the speaker is so neutral so it doesn't impart any of its tonal characteristics on the amp hence using it for testing - it may just be bullshitee. I'm sure V30's will be fine, If not get some Hot 100 they are dirt cheap.
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Ted you need a slap for creating that must GAS :wink: :D
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They'll let you try all the speakers no problems. I don't know if you've seen the Matamp board but rumour has it Dave used HOT 100 to fine tune the Little Rock tones. Its a very neutral speaker so lets true voice of amp & guitar through. I have one in my burgundy cab, although I'm toying with getting seperate cabs for the Minimat and the King Street and adding a ABY switch and things get interesting! If I do get a new cab a HOT100 is a must in one and Celestion Heritage G12H is very tempting especially for the King Street.
the little rock sounds FABULOUS through the hot100!!! i loved it
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Anyone got one yet?
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Nope - supplier hold ups have delayed the release of the first production models. I'm in the first batch so it shouldn't be too long now.
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Nope - supplier hold ups have delayed the release of the first production models. I'm in the first batch so it shouldn't be too long now.
f%&&§&/ HELL, I hope this little bitch will arrive soon, I WANT CLIPS !!!!
:P
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I'll do what I can, but I only have a basic recording setup and hardly any spare time at the moment!
I still owe Woogie some EHX Metal Muff clips...
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Well I did the Metal Muff clips for Woogie as promised. Now it's time to help Hunter.
I'M LEAVING WORK EARLY TODAY TO GO AND PICK UP MY LITTLE ROCK
:D
Woohoo!!! I'm also taking my Riff Raff'd SG to try out the King Street. It might be an expensive afternoon...
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evil, lucky man
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I'm also taking my Riff Raff'd SG to try out the King Street. It might be an expensive afternoon...
Don't do it! Or at the very least, leave the credit cards at home...
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yeah a very expensive day
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what did you buy! :roll:
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Ha ha - haven't been yet! Leaving in half an hour...
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Just take the lady with ya, this will ensure you don't do any unreflected purchases ... it will actually make sure you won't make any purchases ... probably you also won't buy the one you've been waiting to pick up today 8)
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I'd be broke if I didn't have the Missus! :D
I'd love to be in your shoes trying out amps today!
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So ... what's the new baby like ... hello?
Anybody there? Could you please turn down the little bar-steward for a sec? Helloooooo ........ :wink:
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give him some time with his new toy!!!
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What's it like? :D
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He's found his tone, now he doesn't see a reason to speak to us anymore ...
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Ha ha ha - I'm still here :)
These Little Rocks are GREAT! I found the amp on its own to sound pretty good. A bit warm/fuzzy and almost a touch dark sounding. I was very happy with it and it sounds better than my Epi Valve Junior (which it should of course).
Then I put my Z.Vex Box of Rock in front of it.
Whoa baby! Tightened up the tone, added a some more gain and also a touch more brightness. Me like, me like a lot :)
Then I grabbed my SG and my Treble Twister. Absolutely CRACKING Angus tone :D
Then I had to turn the amp down 'cos it was getting late :(
While I was at the factory I tried out the King Street Combo they have and while it was good, it didn't blow me away. Actually, it sounded like I imagine my Klipps would sound with a Master Volume mod as the basic tone was very similar (a clear, chunky Marshall-type tone with added bass). So I'm going to keep my collection of Klipps instead :)
To test my Little Rock, I ran it through the wall of speakers they have there and tried it with a whole bunch of Celestions - Greenback, G12H Heritage, G12H Anniversary, Hot 100, Alnico Blue, Alnico Gold etc). I'd been thinking about trying some of the G12Hs in my 4x12 so I spent most time comparing them to my favourite, the Vintage 30.
The G12H has a great low-mid thump which I would imagine works well with a Super Lead Marshall (as they create a lot of upper mids). However, I think it would be way too bassy with my Klipps or a King Street. The Vintage 30, to my ears, works really well with a more bassy amp as it gives the tone some upper mids and stays nice and tight.
So - I didn't spend any more money. GAS? Has it gone for good? :o
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Sorry to kinda go OT, but would you say either a Box of Rock or Treble Twister (made by HTH I assume?) into a GH with the drive fairly low would give a decent 'DC tone? At the minute, it seems to be missing something in the upper mids and the way notes sustain or something, cant put my finger on it!
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HTH's Treble Twister is a booster so it's not adding much gain or EQ by itself. It enhances the tone you've already got, so it won't help with your specific problem.
The BOR works best into a clean or slightly crunchy amp. If you have a lot of gain to start with, you won't get the best out of it. It's designed to make your non Master Volume Marshall into a Master Volume model (e.g. Super Lead into a JMP) although the tone of the pedal is based around a JTM-45 at full tilt (a la Angus in the studio).
To get a decent 'DC tone you need the amp as clean as you can with plenty of bite. I think the lack of high mids on your setup is due to you using a GH50L (more bottom heavy than a Marshall) and your speakers (G12Hs have a lot of lower frequencies). You'll need an upper mid boost pedal, probably quite sharp sounding on its own, running as a bit of a boost with a medium level of gain. I'm thinking an MXR Distortion+ (or DOD 250 Overdrive as they're virtualy the same pedal) would be ideal.
Didn't you have a RAT distortion? Have you tried that in front of the GH50L (with the gain fairly low) to give it some bite?
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I see, thanks for your help :) I'll try just cranking it with the gain low later on (only quicky though, everyones at home today!). I have tried the rat which does seem to work quite well but it only seems to sound good when using the bridge pickup, neck gets too muddy and fuzzy.
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That's neck pickups for you! I find them to be really sensitive.
An old skool treble booster might work well for you?
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thanks for the review of those matamps and the speakers.
:drink:
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No problem - thought it might be of use to some people!
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I'm still waiting for mine to arrive :(
They said it might get shipped last Wednesday.............. then it was Friday.... then it was this Monday :roll:
Ah well, I know it'll sound great when it finally gets here :twisted: 8) :D
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There was a pile of chassis' all wired up at the factory yesterday, and Dave was working on a big batch for Canada. Not sure why they haven't boxed them up and sent them out...
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I spoke to Dave (I think) yesterday on the phone and I'm going up to fetch my amp today :twisted: :D
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Superb! Let me know what you think of it :D
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Superb! Let me know what you think of it :D
I got my amp today and it sounds great :)
The Voice switch doesn't seem to do an awful lot, but aside from that, it sounds awesome :D
I'm gonna be testing it more tomorrow with my pedalboard, as I remember that it really likes OD pedals :D
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The Voice Switch has been the subject of quite a bit of discussion on the Matamp Forum. From what I am hearing...... it appears that a few have been in need of a tweak, but then again, I think that people "possibly" rather over estimated what it does?
The Voice switch on the GT1 is very responsive, but of course it does do a different job.
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The voice switch thins out the sound. Dave described it to me as a way of controlling the use of your overdrive pedals. The voice occurs before the drive/volume stages so you can thin the sound out as it goes into the amp. So if you're using a TubeScreamer for example and you've got the amp cranked it might sound a bit too thick. Knocking back the voice one notch will thin it a little. It's a subtle trick.
How have you got your box set up to fix the cooling problem they were having? Have you got a vent on the top with the Matamp logo like I have?
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I've only used the amp on it's own, without any OD pedals, so maybe that's why I'm not hearing too much difference when using the voice switch?
As regards the cooling issue, when I spoke to Dave on the phone on Friday he said he was playing around with CPU cooling fans and that he found 1 he thought would work in the amp.
I picked my amp up yesterday, and when it's switched on with all volumes at minimum, there's a whirring noise, so I'm guessing that it has a fan in it :)
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Sounds that way. I must have the only one with a vent in the top then - cool!
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I spoke to Dave (I think) yesterday on the phone and I'm going up to fetch my amp today :twisted: :D
if there was a lot of cursing and long pauses, with an audible exhale at the end, then yes.. it was dave :D
and they do have fans in their amps hehe.
which speakers are you using your little rock with craig?
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if there was a lot of cursing and long pauses, with an audible exhale at the end, then yes.. it was dave :D
and they do have fans in their amps hehe.
which speakers are you using your little rock with craig?
It was Dave I spoke to, recognised him yesterday when I fetched the amp :)
The only cab/speaker i've used my Little Rock with upto yet is my Award Session 1x12 cab with a Celestion Classic Lead 80 speaker in it.
I also have a 2x12 with the 75w speakers in, and an Orange 4x12 with Greenbacks and McKenzie speakers in :)
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Just spoke to Dave and Hayden, i was going to order a minimat II with red basket weave cover and white faceplate but after talking to them i decided to go with a little rock - now i just have to wait a few weeks . . . damn it!!
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whats a mini mat 2 as in what different from the minimat
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It's all on the website dude :)
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damn would help if I could read *L*
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It sounds as they are really pushing the Little rock over the minimat's. They were saying that the minimat is more for blues and jazz purists whereas the little rock is more versatile and modern with more gain and therefore better for me because i need something that people will use when they come to try out my guitars - if it was purely for my own use i might have gone for a minimat II combo, especially since i am building a tri-boost pedal at the moment so dont need that feature.
Also the MM II's will likely be more expensive than the little rock because of the valve powered boost section - but the combo version (without the boost but with added reverb and a 12" speaker) will be similar in price to the MM II head - - - thats got to be a good value little combo, especially with all the custom options for finishes.
Now i have a few weeks to sort out a speaker cab - i have been offered a cut in half 4 x 12 speaker cub with two old 70's carlsboro speakers from my cousin so i will probably start with that but make up a new cabinet and then probably replace the speakers :wink:
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Just a brief update on the Little Rock. I was playing it for a few hours last night on the "fat clean" setting with my Treble Twister up front giving a boost.
It gives a beautiful, beautiful tone with my P-90 Les Paul Junior Lite. I was riding the volume and tone controls and there just wasn't a bad sound to be made. I was playing ZZ Top to the Foo Fighters to Green Day to the Kaiser Chiefs. I didn't want to stop playing it was that good!
Some combinations just work - and this seems to be perfect for me. I don't seem to need the drive settings, which surprises me. Sometimes less equals more I guess!
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i hear ya about some combos just working! glad you like it!
:drink:
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check out this puppy on fleabay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MATAMP-King-Street-Valve-Head-2x12-Cab-TRADES_W0QQitemZ170130106328QQihZ007QQcategoryZ10171QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Sexy! :D
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I saw that - a beauty ain't it?