anyone played the Masotti X100 amp?

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mooncobra

mooncobra

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I have seen demos over the years and some demos sounded pretty good. Italian amp maker, possibly inspired by Bogner XTC. who has actually played one??
 
I have one. A modern with 5881.
Not really inspired to the Bogner; the modern version is more like a SLO meet a Mark, and the classic version should be more marshall flavor ( available only with EL34). Anyway i never played the classic.
Is built like the SLO: mallory TC and PVC, high quality transformers, mil-spec pots, thick PCB.

It is really touch responsive at every level of gain, like a single channel.
The passive suppression bands equalizer is a bit weird to dial with, but is VERY powerful.
And is very picky with guitars, cables and cabs; so don't aspect to plug in everything and sound always stellar.

Mine:
IMG_2038_zps80b92d1b.jpg
 
Luca79":m4p5qrm3 said:
I have one. A modern with 5881.
Not really inspired to the Bogner; the modern version is more like a SLO meet a Mark, and the classic version should be more marshall flavor ( available only with EL34). Anyway i never played the classic.
Is built like the SLO: mallory TC and PVC, high quality transformers, mil-spec pots, thick PCB.

It is really touch responsive at every level of gain, like a single channel.
The passive suppression bands equalizer is a bit weird to dial with, but is VERY powerful.
And is very picky with guitars, cables and cabs; so don't aspect to plug in everything and sound always stellar.

Mine:
IMG_2038_zps80b92d1b.jpg


cool, thanks for responding!!!
 
Luca79":5kegn51r said:
I have one. A modern with 5881.
Not really inspired to the Bogner; the modern version is more like a SLO meet a Mark, and the classic version should be more marshall flavor ( available only with EL34). Anyway i never played the classic.
Is built like the SLO: mallory TC and PVC, high quality transformers, mil-spec pots, thick PCB.

It is really touch responsive at every level of gain, like a single channel.
The passive suppression bands equalizer is a bit weird to dial with, but is VERY powerful.
And is very picky with guitars, cables and cabs; so don't aspect to plug in everything and sound always stellar.

Mine:
IMG_2038_zps80b92d1b.jpg

As you can see in my sig I own a SLO (best lead amp ever IMO) and several marks and plan to get a mark iic+ one day. In your opinion, do you think the Masotti would still add something unique to the table or would there be too much overlap? Is the Masotti as good as a SLO? Also, is it one of those amps that is very smooth and refined/polite and can't get that aggressive (like a Carvin Legacy or Bogner XTC)?
 
braintheory":1oivjesv said:
As you can see in my sig I own a SLO (best lead amp ever IMO) and several marks and plan to get a mark iic+ one day. In your opinion, do you think the Masotti would still add something unique to the table or would there be too much overlap? Is the Masotti as good as a SLO? Also, is it one of those amps that is very smooth and refined/polite and can't get that aggressive (like a Carvin Legacy or Bogner XTC)?

Probably is too similar to the SLO, but is tweaked for greenbacks speakers.
Is less stiff in the mids (is how i hear the SLO), can reach higher gain levels on lead channel, and for sure your ears traduce the Masotti sound more modern, because have a own sound.
Clean and crunch are much better compared to the Soldano, no doubts about.
Is MIDI integrated (love it); mine have all the options like the MIDI switchable "bright", "boost" and the "dual master".

Polite and refined? NO, very raw.
As i said you can clearly hear the differences between guitars, pickups, cables, pre tubes... every thing you put, in come out; and isn't always a good thing ;)
But it can be smooth with different speakers. What you use with the SLO?

Don't take old youtube vids like reality, because lately it had been upgraded in all channels, and sound much better!
I bought it in 2007, and there been few steps of upgrades, all for cheap. Not MK1, MK2, MK3 for sell more amps :thumbsdown:


The answer is: the X100M could give you some versatility, more sounds from a only one amp, but the lead don't go too much far from the SLO.
So if you love the SLO, and don't need more features, probably don't need to buy an X100M modern.
But you could look for the classic version, that is more far to the SLO.

This is the crunch of the last upgrades of the classic:

 
Luca79":17u4dvdu said:
braintheory":17u4dvdu said:
As you can see in my sig I own a SLO (best lead amp ever IMO) and several marks and plan to get a mark iic+ one day. In your opinion, do you think the Masotti would still add something unique to the table or would there be too much overlap? Is the Masotti as good as a SLO? Also, is it one of those amps that is very smooth and refined/polite and can't get that aggressive (like a Carvin Legacy or Bogner XTC)?

Probably is too similar to the SLO, but is tweaked for greenbacks speakers.
Is less stiff in the mids (is how i hear the SLO), can reach higher gain levels on lead channel, and for sure your ears traduce the Masotti sound more modern, because have a own sound.
Clean and crunch are much better compared to the Soldano, no doubts about.
Is MIDI integrated (love it); mine have all the options like the MIDI switchable "bright", "boost" and the "dual master".

Polite and refined? NO, very raw.
As i said you can clearly hear the differences between guitars, pickups, cables, pre tubes... every thing you put, in come out; and isn't always a good thing ;)
But it can be smooth with different speakers. What you use with the SLO?

Don't take old youtube vids like reality, because lately it had been upgraded in all channels, and sound much better!
I bought it in 2007, and there been few steps of upgrades, all for cheap. Not MK1, MK2, MK3 for sell more amps :thumbsdown:


The answer is: the X100M could give you some versatility, more sounds from a only one amp, but the lead don't go too much far from the SLO.
So if you love the SLO, and don't need more features, probably don't need to buy an X100M modern.
But you could look for the classic version, that is more far to the SLO.

This is the crunch of the last upgrades of the classic:


It doesn't seem necessary to have more gain the SLO. The SLO already has tons of gain on tap. Also, the crunch mode on the SLO is phenomenal (every bit as good as the lead channel). It just needs to be turned up really loud. It moves more air than almost any amp I've played on the crunch mode and is very growly and organic. I find it hard to believe that the crunch mode on the Masotti would beat the SLO.

Also, with the SLO I mainly play through a Bogner Ubercab, which has V30's and T-75's. I personally never liked greenbacks no matter what amp I tried with them. They're too nasally/boxy IMO.

Also, since you're from Italy, have you tried any of the Brunetti Custom Work amps such as the Mercury, Wizard, or Mark? I wonder how those would compare to either the SLO or Masotti. I've played their other amps (Revo-XL and 059) and they were good, but not in the same league as the SLO or my other favorite high gain amps.
 
braintheory":mg3okisb said:
It doesn't seem necessary to have more gain the SLO. The SLO already has tons of gain on tap. Also, the crunch mode on the SLO is phenomenal (every bit as good as the lead channel). It just needs to be turned up really loud. It moves more air than almost any amp I've played on the crunch mode and is very growly and organic. I find it hard to believe that the crunch mode on the Masotti would beat the SLO.

Don't imagine a SLO with more gain.
Is a different lead, a bit more liquid, with different mids to my ears. The pick attack, the big bottom and that "roar" is really similar.
For me the SLO is always a bit crunchy in the lead, and have that peculiar sound like a double notes... don't know how to explain.
For that i would describe the X100M like a SLO meat a Mark.

The crunch is a really long talking :D
Better or beat is a matter of tastes.
But let me say the crunch of the X100M is usable for all the range of the gain pot, and with the boost engaged can touch soft lead territory (for example a Warren Haynes very similar sound).


braintheory":mg3okisb said:
Also, with the SLO I mainly play through a Bogner Ubercab, which has V30's and T-75's. I personally never liked greenbacks no matter what amp I tried with them. They're too nasally/boxy IMO.

I switched to the Marshall with GB not so long ago, so i know what you mean.
I can't judge yet because i wan't try more guitars with this configuration, but are more hard to dial with.
A bit boxy at low volume, but if play VERY loud they get much better, with more bass response. Anyway mine are the 6402 cone.


braintheory":mg3okisb said:
Also, since you're from Italy, have you tried any of the Brunetti Custom Work amps such as the Mercury, Wizard, or Mark? I wonder how those would compare to either the SLO or Masotti. I've played their other amps (Revo-XL and 059) and they were good, but not in the same league as the SLO or my other favorite high gain amps.

Sorry, i never had my hands on the Custom Works.
I know Brunetti is a big fan of Lukather and seem he follow the CAE sound.
There is video of Sam Vilo with the Mercury (is on this pages too!) and it reminded me the Surh SE.
You should ask to Sam. ;)
 
Pretty sure the one in the OP is my old X100M.
I owned that for a couple of years and it's probably the only amp I ever regret having sold.
When I bought it, I had a couple of mods done, I believe it had a midi-switchable boost on the crunch channel and a 2nd master volume.

All channels sounded excellent, good loop. The amount of tones you could get from the crunch channel alone was staggering.
 
Is this the same manufacturer that makes the midi motorized amp head?
 
supersonic":3vw720gw said:
Is this the same manufacturer that makes the midi motorized amp head?

Yes, they do the preamp too now.
 
I have a Masotti X100M Classic (EL34's). The thing that originally sold me on this amp was the outstanding lead tone came with great cleans too. So many amps force you to choose between one or the other.

Mine is going up for sale on eBay tomorrow unfortunately to help pay some bills.
 
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