Minimat for metal? Other options?

[Hozze]

I'm looking for a sweet setup for use in the apartment, where almost all my playing takes place nowadays. I've got a decent budget (~1000 euroes or so) and after looking over my options the Minimat feels more and more tempting.

All I want/need is three basic tones; a sweet clean sound, a warm "bluesy" overdrive and a crushing metal tone, all at neighbour friendly volume levels. I figure the Minimat would be ideal for the first two, but I'm not so sure about the last option.

I obviously know it's not going to cut it on it's own, even in the EL84 version, but how does it take to distortion pedals? I've heard it works nicely boosting it a little with an OD pedal, but that won't really be enough to get into metal territory, or?

I've got Warpig- and Miracle Man equipped guitars, so I'm set as far as pickups go.

I'll be calling the guys at Matamp and discussing it with them of course, but as I know there's a few people around here with Minimats I'd like your opinions also, especially if you've found a particular pedal that you think works great.

And of course, If you feel a Minimat just won't cut it feel free to add other suggestions that would work better for my situation.

[TwilightOdyssey]

Having played PhilKing's Minimat ... I would say no.

Don't know which version he has, tho.

[indysmith]

I've got a 6V6 minimat here right now. I've played it with a variety of different pedals, and even a mesa preamp. Metal it just doesn't do well; Sorry. I don't know what to suggest in terms of quiet valve amps for metal... A definate gap in the market.
A modeller might be what you're looking for since you're only going to be using it for low volume playing anyway. maybe a vox valvetronix?

[Davey]

6L6?? .. he has the one that is not the EL84 version


i would also say no. stand alone, it hasnt got enough gain to do metal. it will do the clean and raunchy blues tones just fine, but for that bone crushing metal sound, you need something much heavier IMO

[Dakine]

After talking to Hayden and playing a mates, with EL84's I would say close, i.e. Metal, but not METAL!!! :twisted:
This is in conjunction with a good pedal, I used a HBE Power Screamer, Fulltone Fulldrive compressed it alot so pedal choice is important it seems.
It's kinda Marshally like but the bass (being so small) is abit lacking.

Another option is a Z-Vex Nano, this is more gainy but less in clean stakes.

Guess for small tube amps there is a compromise to be made somewhere.

I am always on a lookout for a Bad Cat Mini Cat, which may be another option. Their MkII model has 2 x 12ax7's along with the single EL84 and 12" speaker.

Anyway, good luck and keep us updated :)

[Miracle Man Matt]

Well  I have a Vox Valvetronix AC30VT and I reckon I can get ace metal tones out of it!!! I mean I bought a boss Metal zone off ebay recently and after hearing how cr@p it was compared to my Vox i havn't used it since.  Plus it is Valve so it sounds good!! ( I think that they are el34's but don't quote me as Im not an Amp expert

Also being a Vox it does cleans and blues very well!!!

My last guitar teacher played in the Shadows Tribute band and amonst his gear, he played a 62 strat through an original AC30 top boost and said that he could gardly tell the difference between his original and the AC30 setting on mine..... which he wasn't too please about considering his cost him around £4000!!!

the metal settings on it kick Ass!! and I have phoned up a few shops into inquireing about buying effects pedals and they said that the built in effects are actually better?

Anyway Id say go get the AC30VT If you want a small but decent amp for under £150!!

I take it to my local village hall and have a blast and don't/can't turn it up above 3/4 volume on gain.

MMM

[Hozze]

Yea, I figured the boosting thing wouldn't quite be enough. I wonder if maybe something like a Line 6 Uber Metal while running the amp more or less clean might do the trick though? Damn shame I'm in Sweden so I can't go to the factory and try it out for myself. :(

I was going the modeling route originally, was thinking about a Pod XTL with an Atomic Reactor, but I was afraid it would be a little loud for the apartment. Couldn't find one locally to try out either, so I pretty much abandoned that idea.

[_tom_]

Well  I have a Vox Valvetronix AC30VT and I reckon I can get ace metal tones out of it!!! I mean I bought a boss Metal zone off ebay recently and after hearing how cr@p it was compared to my Vox i havn't used it since.  Plus it is Valve so it sounds good!! ( I think that they are el34's but don't quote me as Im not an Amp expert

Also being a Vox it does cleans and blues very well!!!

My last guitar teacher played in the Shadows Tribute band and amonst his gear, he played a 62 strat through an original AC30 top boost and said that he could gardly tell the difference between his original and the AC30 setting on mine..... which he wasn't too please about considering his cost him around £4000!!!

the metal settings on it kick Ass!! and I have phoned up a few shops into inquireing about buying effects pedals and they said that the built in effects are actually better?

Anyway Id say go get the AC30VT If you want a small but decent amp for under £150!!

I take it to my local village hall and have a blast and don't/can't turn it up above 3/4 volume on gain.

MMM

I think they are only preamp valves though, whereas most people prefer the sound of power amp valves distorting. Still, I'm thinking of getting one of the Valvetronix for a bedroom amp, would you say the AD30VT is too loud for bedroom use?

[Tinus]

The Valvetronix amps carry a single 12AX7/ECC83. This is a preamp tube although according to VOX they place it inbetween the preamp and poweramp in a circuit designed to mimic some of the compression of valve poweramps. The AD30VT is OK for home use: it can be much louder than that but will also work turned down. Compared to the 15 watts version the bigger speaker and maybe higher power rating make for a fuller sound. I agree these combos are versatile and sound pretty decent for what they are although IMO they don't even come close to a good valve amp (or the the VOX AC15/30CC's for that matter) in terms of dynamics, touch sensitivity etc.

Low-powered valve combos that do the metal thing convincingly are rare. The Koch Studiotone (http://www.koch-amps.com/products/index.cfm?fa=mainframe&product_id=&product_cat=&CFID=3843035&CFTOKEN=91517605) could work: three channels, hi-gain and 15-20W power rating. However I never tried one myself. Also this is maybe too powerful already for home use.

[deg0ey]

although IMO they don't even come close to a good valve amp (or the the VOX AC15/30CC's for that matter) in terms of dynamics, touch sensitivity etc.

Are you saying that the AC30 isn't a good valve amp? One of the best IMO :P

[Tinus]

owwww damn..... NOOOOOOO!!!! I love voxes! :oops:

I meant to say that you don't need a €4000 boutique valve amp to sound better than the VT, even the very affordable VOX CC's are much better already. Boy did that one came out wrong  :lol:

[deg0ey]

:lol: I figured you meant something like that, I just thought I'd comment anyway :drink:

[rahnooo]

Not a hope in hell of getting metal tones out of a 6V6 Minimat I'm afraid.

You might have better luck with the EL84 version and a few choice pedals. The EL84 head would certainly tick the sweet cleans and blues overdrive boxes, and it does love pedals.

If you can stretch your budget a little then the Matamp XV sounds like it would do the job - 7W nominal (clean) high gain head with more modern sound than most of the matamp range, based round a switchable EL34 and 6CA7 set of valves. See the spec at: http://www.matamp.co.uk/xv.htm

The Zvex Nano might do the high gain sounds you want, but at 1/4W I imagine it's a little short on headroom to get any workable cleans from it.

Hope that helps

*Rahnooo*

[Hozze]

I did consider the XV too, and it would probably be great for my needs, but at 7W clean I'll still need an attenuator of some kind. With that and an extension cab I'd probably be way over my budget, as the XV itself is over 600 pounds with shipping to Sweden. :(

I think I'll ask for a quote on a custom 1*12 XV combo with a built in attenuator anyway though, if they can do that at a reasonable price I just might stretch the budget a little extra.

As for the VOX suggestions, I'm sure the Valvetronix range are decent amps, but I was looking for something that's more than "decent", as this will be what I'll most likely be playing through exclusively for the foreseable future.

Also, the problem with modellers is that they give me much more than I want, I don't need 20 different amp models and 30 effects or whatever, I'm just looking for something uncomplicated with a few great sounds.

[Dakine]

New Suggestion, for uber new kiddy on da block


ORANGE Tiny Terror!!!!!!!!!!  Got me salivating as we speak (can see one in music room asap)  :twisted:



(2) EL84 Power Tubes
(2) 12AX7 Preamp Tubes
Switchable output 15 or 7-watts.
1-Channel with Gain, Tone, and Volume controls