Author Topic: You'll like this, valve lovers......... (Read 16389 times)

HJM · « **Reply #15 on:** October 23, 2005, 02:05:30 PM »

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!

Brow · « **Reply #16 on:** October 23, 2005, 02:24:59 PM »

Quote from: HJM

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 :)

HJM · « **Reply #17 on:** October 23, 2005, 03:49:11 PM »

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!!

March · « **Reply #18 on:** October 23, 2005, 06:41:50 PM »

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.

HJM · « **Reply #19 on:** October 23, 2005, 08:11:04 PM »

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:

froglord · « **Reply #20 on:** October 25, 2005, 11:20:51 AM »

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:

HJM · « **Reply #21 on:** October 25, 2005, 12:06:03 PM »

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

froglord · « **Reply #22 on:** October 25, 2005, 06:58:03 PM »

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).

HJM · « **Reply #23 on:** October 25, 2005, 07:00:34 PM »

Standard phrase at Matamp... :lol:

big steve · « **Reply #24 on:** October 25, 2005, 09:51:24 PM »

not usually in refence to amplifiers though :lol:

HJM · « **Reply #25 on:** October 25, 2005, 10:01:05 PM »

No, Dave's birds...

Brow · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2005, 01:04:53 AM »

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

indysmith · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2005, 08:52:23 AM »

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.

HJM · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2005, 10:14:32 AM »

2w is probably OK for rehersal...just - with an efficient 4x12

rahnooo · « **Reply #29 on:** January 12, 2006, 01:33:39 PM »

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*