Author Topic: new amp time (Read 7071 times)

rahnooo · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2007, 01:55:13 PM »

It's already been mentionned, but i can heartily recommend the Matamp Minimat. The head will set you back £259 new, but there are usually one or two going cheaper than that second hand on the matamp forum.

Two flavours of valve, and an output of either 2W or 4W (nominal) depending on whether you plumb for 6V6 or El84 respectively. Which means total out put is roughly 5W and 8W respectively. Comes with a built in attenuator and a clean boost, which means great value for money. You said that you liked minimal controls, which the matamp has - only volume, tone, and boost controls on the front, attenuator on the back.

Obviously you'd need a cab too, but it's still exceptional value for money, and sounds really sweet.

I did a proper review on this forum, which you can find here:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5196&highlight=

*Rahnooo*

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2007, 02:20:35 PM »

^ I have found the Minimat to sound exceptional using their 1x12 cab and just meh using other cabs, so be forewarned. Just my opinion, though.

rahnooo · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2007, 02:35:58 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

^ I have found the Minimat to sound exceptional using their 1x12 cab and just meh using other cabs, so be forewarned. Just my opinion, though.

Agreed, the Minimat is pretty fussy when it comes to speakers. The most popular choice is an Alnico Blue by Celestion, althoug Hot 100's also work very well. I've got a soft spot for the Cannabis Rex Hemp Cone (a clone of the Tone Tubby) when used in conjunction with the 6V6 model too.

If you can get to the Matamp factory for a day out then it's well worth it - there's 15 or so speaker cabs loaded in the test rig so you can try whatever speakers you want with your amp of coice. A great day out it makes too :)

*Rahnooo*

Kilby · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2007, 03:02:42 PM »

Quote from: rahnooo

If you can get to the Matamp factory for a day out then it's well worth it - there's 15 or so speaker cabs loaded in the test rig so you can try whatever speakers you want with your amp of coice. A great day out it makes too :)

Apparently they have dropped the Eminance range, as they havn't sold anything other than Celestions in the last 2 years. :(

Details on the matamp site

matteo · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2007, 09:40:54 PM »

thanx for the info guys!!

im play mostly rock from AC/DC gnr the darkness zepplin hendrix and chilli peppers as well as some satch and van halen. im not really lookin for a particular tone but something that can get me in the ballpark for the above.

id consider valve or solid state im just trying to determine which would be best for me!! id love a valve but still think it might be too loud. i got a fender gdec which gives me a variaty of effects but the tones just seem more digital than what the guitar actually sounds like?? if that makes sense? and it hums like and absolute b******!!!!

i want to hear the vh2s and alder for what they are. a clean/vintage/modern channels wud be ok though but that sort of contradicts!!

im so confused ill just try a load at LGS and try as much as i can!!

that matamp looks sweet though!! so 6v6 valve is 2w and thye one with the el84 is 4w? thares one on ebay cheap but i think its the 4w though. i think the 2w is for me i cud crank it up then!! how much is a decent cab? never considered a stack but the orange and matamp are appealing!

thanx :D

Kilby · « **Reply #20 on:** March 21, 2007, 10:11:59 AM »

Quote from: matteo

thanx for the info guys!!

im play mostly rock from AC/DC gnr the darkness zepplin hendrix and chilli peppers as well as some satch and van halen. im not really lookin for a particular tone but something that can get me in the ballpark for the above.

From personal experience (as I own one) the Nanohead should cover AC/DC & Hendrix (and perhaps GnR) pretty well at a sub 1 watt level. I know that Malcom Young has 3 of them (one for each house apparently), and that the Band bought 5 or 6 of them a few months ago.

If it's purely for bedroom usage even 1 watt can upset people (running the Nano through a marshall 4x12 caused the manager of the guitar dept in my local music shop got shouted at by the owner to turn the amp down (it's a fairly large store split across 2 floors, and the manager was on the floor below at the time).

The cleans on the Nano are nice, but you do have to turn down quite a bit, sort of a combination of Fender & Vox amps

The Minimat should also cover most of that, but not having played one (yet) it wouldn't be right to comment.

I really would suggest trying out the candidates if at all possible.

From there it's a case of selecting a suitable cab.

rahnooo · « **Reply #21 on:** March 21, 2007, 02:53:43 PM »

Quote from: matteo

that matamp looks sweet though!! so 6v6 valve is 2w and thye one with the el84 is 4w? thares one on ebay cheap but i think its the 4w though. i think the 2w is for me i cud crank it up then!! how much is a decent cab? never considered a stack but the orange and matamp are appealing!

thanx :D

From the bands you've referenced I'd say the 4w El84 head is what you want. Bearing in mind that watts aren't linear, the El84 is not that much louder than the 2W 6V6 - it's best to decide between the two models based on tonal preference rather than a negligable volume difference. Don't forget that there's a built in attenuator, so you can take both amps down to whisper volumes.

The basic price for a Matamp 1x12 cab is £290, but can increase depending on what speaker you want loaded. The basic cost includes a Celestion V30 speaker, but as I said most people seem to prefer the Celestion Alnico Blue. I know I certainly did.

*Rahnooo*

BloodMountain · « **Reply #22 on:** March 21, 2007, 05:31:46 PM »

i've heard clips of the Nano head...... and holy cr@p! it's great for rock!

there's also a video on the Zvex website if you're interested.

Kilby · « **Reply #23 on:** March 22, 2007, 09:21:42 AM »

Quote from: BLOODMOUNTAIN

i've heard clips of the Nano head...... and holy cr@p! it's great for rock!

there's also a video on the Zvex website if you're interested.

If you want to hear a nano head sounding a bit more distorted and thicker try this http://www.prosoundcommunications.com/english/video/michael_thompson/nano.html

Tricalibur · « **Reply #24 on:** March 22, 2007, 02:35:08 PM »

If moneys no option you could look into a matamp. I dont recall the specific model names but Im pretty sure they make some nice 8 - 15 watters. Of course in my opinion $100 + is a little overkill for an 8 watt amp.

matteo · « **Reply #25 on:** March 24, 2007, 05:42:01 PM »

thanx guys!! i think ilts definately between the nano ana matamp. im just going to try them at LGS and see which i prefer. its going to be an ebay job though cant afford a new one. another thing is id have to get the cab first! dont want to get the amp and not be able to play it!! i think a 1x12 will be enough. thats got to be second hand too. any recommendations?

unless of course the mini colossal is too good!! :twisted: