Billy Apple Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 (edited) Hi All, I found myself at a bit of a loose end today, so thought I'd do a bit of housework and dust the inside of my Matamp GT200. Took a few snaps for the followers of this fine head, and for others to see just how good Matamp craftsmanship is. Here we go.... [u][b]The Amp in all her glory[/b][/u] Starting from left... High and low input, not for increased gain, but for passive (low) and active (high) basses. 3 position depth control. Tone by-pass filter (I think) bassiest at left position, trebliest at the right. 4 position drive. A pre-amp gain, increasing from left to right. Bass Treble Presence. A mid boost Volume. Makes it louder! Power and Stand-by.. Switching the power warms the valves, switching the stand-by puts her on proper. By the way, she weighs in at 26.5kg/58.4lbs, so plenty heavy. [u][b]Pedigree[/b][/u] Not many can truthfully lay claim to this title [b][u]Detailed user manual[/u][/b] Very Matamp! [b][u]Pulling amp free[/u][/b] Four pretty sturdy screws secure the chassis in the sleeve She slides out easily, there is plenty of space within the sleeve. The sleeve itself is very well made. very solid, fully painted on the inside and all tolex neat and tidy. [u][b]The Amp undressed[/b][/u] The sides and back make her very rigid and easy to handle. Still very weighty though, as all the beef is at the front due to the transformers. [b][u]Valve detail[/u][/b] A quartet of very handsome JJ KT88's... And the undressed JJ EC81/82/83 pre-amp stage.. I love the handwriting on the chassis. [b][u]The spaghetti underneath[/u][/b] I was knocked out at the quality of the lead dress, soldering, positioning and order.... This put a big smile on my face. It's what you pay your money for. Not many people will take the time to have a look at this stuff. I suppose that's why other manufacturers would be able to hide a few sins under here. Craftsmanship like this must be the reason I can turn this amp up full and she still sits silent, and the great tone of course. And the other side..... The work here is IMHO a work of art, and it's a real shame it gets hidden away. For example, there are 4 resistors on the 4 position drive pot, and each one of them is soldered perfectly, and next to each other they are all identical, and in itself makes a pattern. I don't know much about electronics outside of of wiring a plug, but I remember my old physics teacher saying that electricity flows much like water, and it would seem to me that if it can flow easily, chances are it will sound great, and the GT200 does indeed do that. Anyway, that's the housework done, I'm off for a cup of tea Edit: Grammar and tidying up Edited December 29, 2011 by billyapple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 Damn, how neatly done! Pure valve porn. Congrats on the amp, really nice one. How much is it? Maybe one day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 [quote name='Immo' timestamp='1325104834' post='1479958'] Damn, how neatly done! Pure valve porn. Congrats on the amp, really nice one. How much is it? Maybe one day... [/quote] Hi Immo, I prices have changed since I got mine, and I wouldn't want to post spurious info, but drop Matamp an email, I'm sure they'd be only too happy to give you the current retail [url="http://www.matamp.co.uk/"]http://www.matamp.co.uk/[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 Yeah, but I'm not from England... But I have a buddy or two there, so maybe I'll ask them for a favor. You thing Metamp would do a european plug amp? You have 230V in your sockets, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 28, 2011 Author Share Posted December 28, 2011 [quote name='Immo' timestamp='1325111657' post='1480021'] Yeah, but I'm not from England... But I have a buddy or two there, so maybe I'll ask them for a favor. You thing Metamp would do a european plug amp? You have 230V in your sockets, right? [/quote] They would spec the supply voltage to your needs. They retail all over the world, so are probably very up on this issue. I'm sure you could email them from Poland Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted December 28, 2011 Share Posted December 28, 2011 [quote name='billyapple' timestamp='1325112154' post='1480025'] I'm sure you could email them from Poland [/quote] Damn, I sounded silly. I meant the fact that my friend's English would be better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quimbymeat Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 That looks amazing, i did the same with my bass D.I but i still need to have a look of the guts of my GT200 but yeah looks great mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 29, 2011 Author Share Posted December 29, 2011 [quote name='quimbymeat' timestamp='1325168583' post='1480454'] That looks amazing, i did the same with my bass D.I but i still need to have a look of the guts of my GT200 but yeah looks great mate. [/quote] Cheers. I was thinking that the individual components, electronics, valves and chassis, even the sleeve, don't weigh that much. Makes you realise the poundage in those transformers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Wow, that's like an iconic piece of sculpture. Very neat job! I bet it sounds the business, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Jamin Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Nice one! That looks like a work of art. My brother's got a Matamp and it's the same story inside, here's Hayden doing a service: Can't wait for mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 29, 2011 Author Share Posted December 29, 2011 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1325177917' post='1480649'] Wow, that's like an iconic piece of sculpture. Very neat job! I bet it sounds the business, too. [/quote] The sound is very very good. One of my better life decisions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Apple Posted December 29, 2011 Author Share Posted December 29, 2011 [quote name='Ben Jamin' timestamp='1325181533' post='1480710'] My brother's got a Matamp..... Can't wait for mine [/quote] I can't wait either, I reckon you're going to be amongst the first to get one round these parts, so pics up and a review soon as, please! Which head has your brother got? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Jamin Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 [quote name='billyapple' timestamp='1325189926' post='1480817'] so pics up and a review soon as, please! Which head has your brother got? [/quote] Will do! It's a 1x12 combo he had made, actually. I think it's 25w, but very loud, suits his guitar-ing Can't find any better photos of it though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanbass1 Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Great workmanship - when i took my Badcat amp apart was staggered by the workmanship - and the Matamp looks right up there with the best of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quimbymeat Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Matamp are the best of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immo Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 Okay, found one, 150W version, on eBay. I think I'll pass it for next few years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted December 30, 2011 Share Posted December 30, 2011 If you are looking at a dealer's one in America, you are looking at massively overpriced compared to going direct to factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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