Author Topic: You'll like this, valve lovers......... (Read 16385 times)

HJM · « **on:** October 20, 2005, 09:47:55 PM »

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)

HJM · « **Reply #1 on:** October 20, 2005, 09:49:41 PM »

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....

willo · « **Reply #2 on:** October 20, 2005, 09:56:57 PM »

i saw that on the site the other day, very impressive!

willo · « **Reply #3 on:** October 20, 2005, 11:34:46 PM »

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.,

indysmith · « **Reply #4 on:** October 21, 2005, 12:34:01 AM »

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...

PhilKing · « **Reply #5 on:** October 21, 2005, 02:16:20 AM »

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?

HJM · « **Reply #6 on:** October 21, 2005, 07:01:58 AM »

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

Skybone · « **Reply #7 on:** October 21, 2005, 11:33:46 AM »

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... :?

aisuru · « **Reply #8 on:** October 21, 2005, 01:26:01 PM »

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:

HJM · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2005, 02:24:04 PM »

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....

aisuru · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2005, 04:04:59 PM »

cool. i'm not really looking for a new amp right now, but it's a definate option in about six months or so

big steve · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2005, 04:53:16 PM »

the ultimate over drive pedal :twisted:

Skybone · « **Reply #12 on:** October 21, 2005, 06:47:13 PM »

Now there's a thought. Cheaper than a Boogie V-Twin.

HJM · « **Reply #13 on:** October 21, 2005, 08:24:51 PM »

You could nearly have two and A/B......

Brow · « **Reply #14 on:** October 23, 2005, 01:43:01 PM »

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