Decisions decisions...

boycey

Howdy lads, opinions/advice needed please so sorry for a long post!

Right, I had a major clearout last year, got rid of 3 or 4 guitars and an amp. Im now down to two great guitars (not counting my Squier Tele which lives in Donegal for when we're up in my parents) and I'm now operating on a strict one in/one out basis. Next up is the amp situation!
Currently I have the Matamp head and 2x12 cab and a Laney LC30 1x12 combo sitting in the bedroom taking up too much room (and an LC15 up in Donegal!)- too much for a non gigging guitarist with no spare time anymore (kids and all that!!). The Laney is good but not great, the Matamp on the other hand is bloody awesome, I love it, but its a big brute and I feel kinda silly having such a great but big amp for the bedroom even though its flexible enough to get great tones at bedroom level. I suppose I'm asking do I get rid of my dream amp and the Laney and get a great 1x12, such as a Cornford Harlequin or something to replace 'em? It really would break my heart to let the Matamp go- what say ye?

Voodu Child

I've always thought of that Matamp as an amp you could keep for life. Even if you don't play it as often as you'd like, its just gorgeous, awesome build quality etc. Things like that are going to be the 'vintage' amp of the future, especially if everything goes digital or made-in-china.

So i'd keep it if you could, especially as you referred to it as your 'dream amp'. But if you need the money, sure, sell it and buy something you could play more often.

So thats a yes...er I mean no...I mean..er..

spoonbadger

boycey wrote: »

Howdy lads, opinions/advice needed please so sorry for a long post!

Right, I had a major clearout last year, got rid of 3 or 4 guitars and an amp. Im now down to two great guitars (not counting my Squier Tele which lives in Donegal for when we're up in my parents) and I'm now operating on a strict one in/one out basis. Next up is the amp situation!
Currently I have the Matamp head and 2x12 cab and a Laney LC30 1x12 combo sitting in the bedroom taking up too much room (and an LC15 up in Donegal!)- too much for a non gigging guitarist with no spare time anymore (kids and all that!!). The Laney is good but not great, the Matamp on the other hand is bloody awesome, I love it, but its a big brute and I feel kinda silly having such a great but big amp for the bedroom even though its flexible enough to get great tones at bedroom level. I suppose I'm asking do I get rid of my dream amp and the Laney and get a great 1x12, such as a Cornford Harlequin or something to replace 'em? It really would break my heart to let the Matamp go- what say ye?

You've already answered your own question. You clearly dont want to get rid of the matamp .

I wouldnt anyway. Just because you're not a professional guitarist, doesnt mean you cant enjoy having good gear . Just curious, what model is it?.

If i were you,i'd sell the laney (which you seem fairly indifferent towards) and use the cash to buy a weber MASS or a hotplate, so you can squeeze even more out of the matamp. But dont sell what ya love .

Doctor J

Keep the Matamp. Just keep it. Lose the Laney, if you've gotta lose something, definitely.

You're never going to get a tube amp that's really suburbia friendly. Maybe look at a modelling amp or something along those lines for playing at home and keep the Matamp for special occasions.

Johnny Storm

yesss..... special occasions.......

punchdrunk

as the Muppet who previously sold you the Matamp...

PLEASE DON'T SELL IT!


it's an amazing amp

Quattroste

Boycey, Boycey, Boycey...... what can I tell you..... how can I make this right for you??? The fact that you're even thinking selling the Matamp is a sign from the guitar (and amp) Gods that you no longer deserve this average piece of kit. Such a big amp in a house with children to too Rock and Roll for you now. You're getting old my friend, and dispite your best efforts you can no longer make that Matamp sing. Give it to me Boycey...... let me look after her for you. You know I would :pac:

P.S. I warned you before.... don't make me do it again!

Sell Laney + Buy 5watter.

Dord

Sell the Laney('s)? and keep the Matamp. If you're gonna have one amp it might as well be a nice one.

If space is an issue maybe you could get a 1x12 cab instead of the 2x12 cab and flog that.

Kenny_D

Agree with others. Sell the laneys and 2x12 cab. Buy an attenuator and a 1x12 and all your problems are solved What Matamp have you got btw?

punchdrunk

it's a 1224 mk II

sorry eh i'll let the man himself answer! :pac:

Kenny_D

How come you sold it Punch? The Orange just that good eh?

punchdrunk

GStormcrow wrote: »

How come you sold it Punch? The Orange just that good eh?

basically because of my pedalboard :rolleyes:
the matamp has so much on it that i'd spend ages tweaking away on it,plus 15 or so pedals and i'd spend far too long messing around rather than playing!

the tone of it is really something else but the orange with only one channel,five knobs and no effects loop or onboard effects means i can dial it in pretty quickly

oh and at the time MBNA were only short of sending around men in woolly faces to pay me a visit

Seziertisch

In terms of playing at home, I really enjoy using the Vox Amplug. Sounds pretty good, is super portable, and obviously super quiet. It also doesn't cost the world. It is probably the single piece of gear I use the most.

punchdrunk

Seziertisch wrote: »

In terms of playing at home, I really enjoy using the Vox Amplug. Sounds pretty good, is super portable, and obviously super quiet. It also doesn't cost the world. It is probably the single piece of gear I use the most.

do you use headphones with it?

Dord

punchdrunk wrote: »

do you use headphones with it?

I have one and yeah you kinda have to use headphones as there's no speaker. It works fine although mine is a bit noisy because I'm using it with a guitar with a P90.

boycey

Thanks for the replies lads, you know as obvious as it sounds I had'nt thought about selling the Laney for an attenuator- its one of those 'd'oh' moments!
I was all set to buy the Blackstar 5 watt head- however there's been problems with them so I've held off on that one. I suppose like manys a guitarist its all about looking for that valvey goodness at home- hence me thinking about chucking the Matamp for something like the Cornford Harlequin (a size & wattage reduction).
A quick question- re ohmage and attenuators. Does the speaker ohm rating define which attenuator you get or is it the ohmage of the amplifier itself? (apologies if thats a crazy uninformed question!)

Quattroste

I think the attenuator has to match the output of your amp and also the Cab. I know some amps have mutli ohm outputs but you have to transfer that to the cab so I guess if you match the cab you have you'll be alright. When I was talking to the lads in Matamp they told me they would build me an attenuator, so I'd go there first if your thinking attenuator.

boycey

Quattroste wrote: »

I think the attenuator has to match the output of your amp and also the Cab. I know some amps have mutli ohm outputs but you have to transfer that to the cab so I guess if you match the cab you have you'll be alright. When I was talking to the lads in Matamp they told me they would build me an attenuator, so I'd go there first if your thinking attenuator.

Nice one Ste- I'll give 'em a bell tomorrow and see what they suggest!

Ancient1

Don't sell the Matamp, dude, you know you'll regret it!
That amp is so sexy you could keep it in the sitting room as stylish piece of interior furnishing and design! :pac:
And just chuck that flightcase into the attic - sorted.

On second thoughts you probably don't want it in the sitting room coz you're looking to avoid marmelade and nutella fingerprints all over it, yeah?

Hockney

....with a Choc Ice down the front of it and the lollipop stick jammed into the back!

Rough!

boycey

Well I rang Matamp today and spoke with an extremely helpful old english gent. I had a different idea altogether -

A Minimat finished in the same burgundy leather as the 1224 = £359 of their finest British pounds! So thats a single ended 2 watt (nominal clean) 6v6 powered head with built in attenuator and footswitchable boost- about 1 months build time and roughly £30 shipping.

T'is time to get the Laney's serviced and sold and save a few pennys. Hows that for an idea!

Dord

Hahaha what a U-turn!

Quattroste

Nice One Boycey.

Fingers Mcginty

I can't help thinking you'd be better with a tiny terror. Sorry for planting that seed.

punchdrunk

pffft... a made in china/Taiwan/wherever orange for €489 versus a handmade in the u.k head which will match his beaut of a cab for fifty quid less?

Quattroste

That's just snobbery that is. True nevertheless, but pure Matamp snobbery. The best kind :pac:

Fingers Mcginty

which sounds better though?

Seziertisch

And even if he just went for the Tiny Terror head he could use it with the cab he already has at reasonable enough volumes. Also, the Tiny Terror could be a bit more than a practice amp for home, being able to hold its own against any drummer who isn't a complete shed builder. But yeah, in terms of build I am sure the Matamp trumps the TT.

punchdrunk

sorry guys but that argument goes out the window because his amp can already go to 15watts for small gigs!

well i'm saving up for one in orange to go with my orange 2x12 anyway

Seziertisch

punchdrunk wrote: »

sorry guys but that argument goes out the window because his amp can already go to 15watts for small gigs!

well i'm saving up for one in orange to go with my orange 2x12 anyway

But the TT goes down to 7 watts.

punchdrunk

Seziertisch wrote: »

But the TT goes down to 7 watts.

so does his matamp!

1 Valve Single End 3 watt Pentode
1.5 watt Triode

2 Valve Class A or A/B
14 watt Pentode
7 watt Triode

4 Valve Class A or A/B
28 watt Pentode
14 watt Triode

boycey

Im sure those Tiny Terrors are sweet amps (and a great suggestion by the way Fingers/Seziertisch) but I've kinda been bitten by the Matamp bug- and I like the old school handwired approach they use- much easier for a tech to service should something go wrong. And speaking of service Matamp are renowned for their customer service- the company is basically a 'custom shop' builder who'll tailor an amp to your specs and even make it look the way you want!! I know I'm biased but I think Jeff and the boys in Matamp are legends - knocking out seriously high quality amps at a very reasonable price. A company like that is few and far between nowadays unfortunately.
All I have to do now is try and stay off the fags (1 week done!) and save a few bob then its hello Matamp- gimme a shiny new Minimat please!

Fingers Mcginty

Sound...Make sure you post pics and soundclips.
Regarding the smokie Joes...Allen Carr's book worked for me. Off them 3 years now. Ironic the man died of lung cancer in the end after being off them for over 20 years.