What low powered vavle amp

[PhilKing]

quick question to phil about the minimat: i think i read that the attenuator only works when you're using the 8 ohm speaker jack? any reason why this is? or is it even true?

Yes - the attenuator is only on one output jack.  I don't think it really cares if it is 8 or 16 ohm to tel you the truth!   If the shop had the speaker in the other jack then the attenuator wouldn't work.

[jt]

:D I`ve got a Sheldon TT3 it`s a 1/3 watt A /AB combo 1 x 12` Vintage 30 & believe me when i tell `ya it`s way way way to F***ing loud !!!!

Great sound to it mind lovely cleans but it`s really a blues amp. If you want punishing overdrive then you`ll need to put a pedal infront of it.

http://forum2.sheldonamps.com:81/

 :D  8)

[dave_mc]

Minimat has no problem driving a 4X12 with V30's in. Probably sound louder than a 1X12.

awesome, thanks dean! :drink:

Yes - the attenuator is only on one output jack.   I don't think it really cares if it is 8 or 16 ohm to tel you the truth!  

Thanks phil. In the bold bit, do you mean that if my cab is 16 ohm, i could plug it into the 8 ohm socket and it'd be grand?

:drink:

[fps_dean]

Minimat has no problem driving a 4X12 with V30's in. Probably sound louder than a 1X12.

Dude, my first name is Dean and last initial is S too.  I had to read this twice to be sure that I did not have a second nick on these forums that I forgot about!

Anyway,  what you want is the Roccaforte 18 watt combo or a Bad Cat.  
PROS: Sound really awesome....
CONS: You pay for what you get.

[wwwales]

All,
  Thanks for your replies. I've just had a listen to the Steve Stevens clip on the Roccaforte Amps site (18 watt combo as recommended) and it's AMAZING! Not sure if I can spend that much but I'm tempted! I could afford a Minimat but I'm not sure it will be heavy enough for me - does anyone have any sound clips they could post?

Thanks again!

[Underground_Player]

I'm sure a few Matamp forum members posted clips soon after it came out; they're under links in the forum as opposed to on the actual Mat website.

[froglord]

I agree the Roccaforte sounds brilliant (especially in Steve Stevens' hands with a Rebel Yell equipped guitar) but I don't think you're going to be able to run it "flat out" and avoid upsetting the neighbours. Watts are not linear, so that 18 watt combo will be nearly as loud as a 50 or 100 watt amp:

http://amptone.com/g112.htm

I really, strongly recommend the Minimat for your purposes. Ring up the factory, book a visit and take your guitar along. If the Minimat doesn't have enough gain, you have two options: (a) put a booster in front to push the valves further into distortion, (b) get the Matamp guys to build you a custom version with more gain. There's a guy on the Matamp forum who had this done. Tell Jeff and Dave what you want and they'll fall over backwards to do it for you. Matamp are to amps what BKP is to pickups: total customer service.

God, they ought to be paying me to say this stuff! But seriously, they are a hell of a company. Give 'em a call.

[froglord]

Here's an MP3 of me playing my Minimat ... badly. Be gentle with me, guys, this is the first thing I've ever recorded and my back was killing me. Enough excuses, here it is:

http://salsbury.f2s.com/first_attempt.mp3

This is an Alnico IV Mule neck pickup in a Patrick Eggle Berlin (about the same tonality as an SG, I'd guess).

The signal chain is:

Guitar -> Xotic RC Booster -> Minimat -> Palmer PDI-09 Speaker Sim

I wasn't using the Minimat's internal boost. It gives roughly the same amount of push as the RC used here, but I've also added some treble. Additionally, I've swapped the power valve out for a NOS Brimar 6v6 (£5 off eBay!).

If I hit the front end with my Barber Direct Drive as well as the RC (not in this clip, I'm afraid) I have more gain and harmonic saturation than I know what to do with.

So, of course, I do. Frequently.  :twisted:

[dave_mc]

^ that sounded pretty nice, actually. nice playing too!

so, is that about as heavy as it gets at full volume, and with the in-built booster up full?

:drink:

[froglord]

^ that sounded pretty nice, actually. nice playing too!

so, is that about as heavy as it gets at full volume, and with the in-built booster up full?

:drink:

Cheers, matey!

Yes, that's about as heavy as it gets - possibly a touch more with the built-in booster.

[dave_mc]

^ hmmm. I'd like one just for a laugh, but if that's as heavy as it gets...

sounds pretty awesome for what it is, though. was that clip at full volume?

[froglord]

^ hmmm. I'd like one just for a laugh, but if that's as heavy as it gets...

sounds pretty awesome for what it is, though. was that clip at full volume?

The volume control was at full, if that's what you mean, but the clip was recorded silently using the Palmer. Obviously it sounds better through a real speaker (especially my Celestion Blue - woo-hoo!) but the Palmer does a pretty decent job.

I'm more of a low/medium gain man myself, but if you want heavy drive, just put your favourite insane distortion device in front - the Minimat is designed to take pedals well.

[Dakine]

Ahh, bollocs!
Now am Matamp reading.
So those in the know, Mr.Frog :) What is their Metal amp, i.e. Engl/Marshall JCM800 amp. Think Sabbath, Metallica, Anthrax, Priest et all.

[froglord]

Ahh, bollocs!
Now am Matamp reading.
So those in the know, Mr.Frog :) What is their Metal amp, i.e. Engl/Marshall JCM800 amp. Think Sabbath, Metallica, Anthrax, Priest et all.

Their heritage is in blues/rock amps, and this is still what they specialise in. Having said that, anything in the Hardcore series (XV, 1224 Mk V, LX) looks pretty potent:

http://matamp.co.uk/amps.htm

I haven't tried any of them, I'm afraid.

The LX scares me. It's rated at 60 watts clean. Given that the "7" watt First Lady actually maxes out at 20 watts, I dread to imagine what the LX would do to your hearing.

Then there's the one-off 1000 watt amp they're trying to build ...

[Dakine]

yeah. after lil reading the 1224 mk II looks bout right area.