Matamp incoming

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Soundstorm

Soundstorm

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So I just put an order in for a new GT2 MkII. Estimated turnaround time 2-3 months. Pretty excited. I owned a GT1 MkI back around 2012 but ended up moving it on for something higher gain. The GT2 has extra gain plus a footswitchable additional gain stage. Build quality on these amps is second to none, and I think they're a great deal for 2-2500. Looking to write a straight sludge/doom album with it.

Anyone else using a Matamp these days?
 
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That's the model I would get if I got one. I'm in two sludge bands, but one kinda fizzled out. In that one, the bassist got the GT150 and split duties with it. When he used the bass settings on bass, it was killer and surprisingly versatile. I heard him use it in a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band, Lynyrd Skynflute, on guitar and it nailed that sound.

The bassist in the other band brought a GT120 to use in that band. He ended up using my SVT until he got his own. The Ampeg was better on bass. The amp sounded killer for straight forward rock though. It was pretty spot on from what I remember of my 1976 Orange OR120 I had. Their build quality is Stout.

I use raw amps instead of pedals, and so I use a clean channel. I looked at the GT2 for a while. I just never ponied up the cash. I'm using a Verellen Skyhammer and/or a Mesa Mark V in both bands now. I will be watching your purchase with great interest to see how it turns out.
 
Wow, are they still made to old standarts nowadays?

I heard there was some clusterfuck related to the company.

2500 sounds like really great price for what you get ?
 
CrystalSky said:
Wow, are they still made to old standarts nowadays?

I heard there was some clusterfuck related to the company.

2500 sounds like really great price for what you get ?
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I think if anything the build quality has gotten even better in recent years. Some of the MkII models have had some circuit improvements for better reliability and higher gain, additions of master volumes etc. The general layout inside is brilliant. Very easy to service.

I think the clusterfuck stems from their old USA distributor Joel Wheeler aka Buttpussy. The guy basically took over the Matamp.com website after he sued them for it. Then started making Matamp clones under the name Electric amp, all while slagging them online at every oppurtunity. He had outsourced the Electric Amp tech work to another builder, had a falling out with him, and then reports started coming in of 2 year waits, or buyer's never getting their money back, etc. He still has the Matamp.com website today, even though he hasn't produced any amps in over a decade as far as I'm aware. The website's pretty full of unhinged egocentric ramblings and looks like it was designed on Angelfire some time in the mid 90s.

The real Matamp is over at Matamp.co.uk now. It's still a small operation of just a handful of guys, but they've been able to stick to their 2-3 month turnaround window, and everyone I know that's had one has been really happy with them. There were some years where their reliability had been questionable, but I believe that's been redesigned and remedied. They've made some component upgrades including sourcing new transformers.

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They’re not really that far from where I live, I would love to get a gt120 or green gt120mv, but I mostly play metal so probably wouldn’t have much use for it. Just one of those things I want even though I know I would barely use it.
 
Soundstorm said:
I think if anything the build quality has gotten even better in recent years. Some of the MkII models have had some circuit improvements for better reliability and higher gain, additions of master volumes etc. The general layout inside is brilliant. Very easy to service.

I think the clusterfuck stems from their old USA distributor Joel Wheeler aka Buttpussy. The guy basically took over the Matamp.com website after he sued them for it. Then started making Matamp clones under the name Electric amp, all while slagging them online at every oppurtunity. He had outsourced the Electric Amp tech work to another builder, had a falling out with him, and then reports started coming in of 2 year waits, or buyer's never getting their money back, etc. He still has the Matamp.com website today, even though he hasn't produced any amps in over a decade as far as I'm aware. The website's pretty full of unhinged egocentric ramblings and looks like it was designed on Angelfire some time in the mid 90s.

The real Matamp is over at Matamp.co.uk now. It's still a small operation of just a handful of guys, but they've been able to stick to their 2-3 month turnaround window, and everyone I know that's had one has been really happy with them. There were some years where their reliability had been questionable, but I believe that's been redesigned and remedied. They've made some component upgrades including sourcing new transformers.

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Thank you for the insight! Good to hear they deliver quality stuff!

Happy incoming NGD ??
 
Soundstorm said:
I think if anything the build quality has gotten even better in recent years. Some of the MkII models have had some circuit improvements for better reliability and higher gain, additions of master volumes etc. The general layout inside is brilliant. Very easy to service.

I think the clusterfuck stems from their old USA distributor Joel Wheeler aka Buttpussy. The guy basically took over the Matamp.com website after he sued them for it. Then started making Matamp clones under the name Electric amp, all while slagging them online at every oppurtunity. He had outsourced the Electric Amp tech work to another builder, had a falling out with him, and then reports started coming in of 2 year waits, or buyer's never getting their money back, etc. He still has the Matamp.com website today, even though he hasn't produced any amps in over a decade as far as I'm aware. The website's pretty full of unhinged egocentric ramblings and looks like it was designed on Angelfire some time in the mid 90s.

The real Matamp is over at Matamp.co.uk now. It's still a small operation of just a handful of guys, but they've been able to stick to their 2-3 month turnaround window, and everyone I know that's had one has been really happy with them. There were some years where their reliability had been questionable, but I believe that's been redesigned and remedied. They've made some component upgrades including sourcing new transformers.

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dang! 😍
 
I’ve thought about them for over 15 years. Just won’t buy without being able try first an amp that would have no returns and questionable resale in the U.S. My dream is to be on vacation near them and see if it was possible to stop by and play what they have and then go..that one please.
In the late 2000’s I got to play a GTO and a GTL (or 1). Memory is fuzzy on if it was a GTL. It was basically a JCM800 layout with an F.A.C. Like control for the front end. It was a very solid, great rock tone. Unfortunately it was in Australia at the time and it wasn’t something I could buy and ship to the U.S.
 
> questionable resale in the U.S.

My GT1 sold wicked fast and easy. There's a pretty big "doom lawyer" market for these things. Was a really cool amp, just overlapped with a few other things I had. They look cool as hell though and I kinda liked just seeing it over there after wanting one for like half my life.
 
yeoldefortran said:
> questionable resale in the U.S.

My GT1 sold wicked fast and easy. There's a pretty big "doom lawyer" market for these things. Was a really cool amp, just overlapped with a few other things I had. They look cool as hell though and I kinda liked just seeing it over there after wanting one for like half my life.
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Agree I think they move pretty quick on the used market and you might even make a little extra on it given the wait times if you do decide to sell. I bought my VHX several months after putting in the order for the Matamp and am already leaning towards letting go of one of these two after a couple weeks of testing. The VHX kills anything for flexibility, but then there’s nothing else that can do what a Matamp does convincingly. So it may be a rare case where I keep both.
 
mnemonic said:
They’re not really that far from where I live, I would love to get a gt120 or green gt120mv, but I mostly play metal so probably wouldn’t have much use for it. Just one of those things I want even though I know I would barely use it.
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I grew up near Huddersfield. Are they still there, or have they moved?
 
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