Is a Matamp worth it?

[pelliott]

I swear if we find ONE patch on your jean vest that belongs to an vntrve band we are revoking your license so help me

Basically if you don't look like Zoroaster circa 2005 don't even show up to the gig.

Zoroaster rules, for the record.

Definitely. And awesomely loud.

[rustywire]

If it's an OR100, it is

[whiskey_face]

with 2 grand. . . .

buy a FUCKING TRUCK LOAD of cheap 4x12s
a buncha 70s SS bass amps people give the fuck away

rat, muff and earplugs for the lady.

[ALLisNOISE]

I swear if we find ONE patch on your jean vest that belongs to an vntrve band we are revoking your license so help me

I've got a pretty metal Lady Gaga patch on mine:



Right next to my Dopesmoker patch

[TheStevenLasombras]

Since it hasn't been brought up yet - have you looked at Hovercraft at all? If your criteria are loud, stoner/drone tones, and more economical than a Matamp, they might be a good option... Even my mere 50w Falcon is super loud and super stoney (and they come in many bright colors, including orange and green...)

Then again, if you're talking about dropping like 2 grand then I would definitely get a Verellen.

[GAS KING]

OH YEAH! I just sold a Hovercraft Andromeda! forgot about that one. lol

It was pretty beastly. Lots of tonal options.
Sounded real good when I down tuned to C standard or lower.

I think my stoner rock amp days are over now though.
They seem to come and go while all of my amps with exceptional clean tones end up staying around.
.......well...........unless I found a Laney Klipp for a reasonable price.
Don't think I could pass something like that up.

[D.o.S.]

I swear if we find ONE patch on your jean vest that belongs to an vntrve band we are revoking your license so help me

I've got a pretty metal Lady Gaga patch on mine:



Right next to my Dopesmoker patch

That's fucking awesome.

[pelliott]

Yeahhhh that's amazing.

[spacelordmother]

I swear if we find ONE patch on your jean vest that belongs to an vntrve band we are revoking your license so help me

I've got a pretty metal Lady Gaga patch on mine:



Right next to my Dopesmoker patch

[abandonist]

For me, the whole Tone Search is over. I found a Red Bear about 7 years ago and since bought their Cub 1x12 combo, and a backup 120. They're super rare, but not necessarily expensive. When they're on ebay they usually fetch about 5-600. Well worth it imo. They're not just Sovetek JCM clones. It's almost like the schematic was mistranslated. Every knob has a WAY TOO MUCH option. I'd swap out the plastic channel knob for a miniswitch, but that's it.

I used to have a couple Oranges and the rest (never a Matt tbh) and I couldn't justify owning a $2000 head over 2 other great amp and 2 guitars just for the cool points.

They're no doubt great amps, but just not worth the asking. Now, if I had coin to spend like that right now? I'd look into a Gnome. They're not active, but dude'll build you one for right around that if you email. If you're interested just ask and I'll give you his personal mail.

[K2000]

Instead of a Matamp, you could buy three Ampeg V4's. One thing that Matamps (and Sunn Model Ts) seem to do exceptionally well... is sound crystal clear at insanely loud levels. If your sound is based on having dirt pedals that are always on, it's kind of a waste of money to buy an amp like that, IMO. (Just speaking as an audience member, never an owner of those amps).

I look at it like this... anybody can spend 150 dollars at a restaurant and have an amazing meal. I'm more interested in getting an amazing meal for 10-15 dollars.

[theavondon]

Having owned basically my all time dream stoner amp (Sunn 1000s), I can attest to things not being as great as you may imagine once you own them. I recommend V4, Sunn solid states (Beta Lead very well may be the loudest 100w amp I've ever used), Traynor YBA-3 (insaaaaaaaaaane wattage, and really versatile amp, also cheap) or if you wanna spend silly money, get a Super Lead or a vintage SVT. All this being said, probably the only amp I want still is an OR120. And, I don't even know why.

Test with your ears, buy low, sell high, stay high.

[phantasmagorovich]

Test with your ears, buy low, sell high, stay high.

Quoted and sig'd

[ALLisNOISE]

I had a Matamp 1224 that I sold a few years ago to fund my EGC. It was one of the newer Matamps, and voiced with a more modern tone. I loved it, but it was super fickle with what you put in front of it. It was super hifi, so some fuzzes had this harsh sheen that I just couldn't dial out.
After that, I happened on a SVT II, but it was "sluggish". It was ultimately a dark amp, that made everything sound huge, but didn't sound as aggressive as the punchy Matamp.
Then I found a Sovtek Bassov Mig 100b. It truly feels like a good medium between the Matamp (clean anyway) and the Ampeg.
It's thunderous and aggressive, and it takes any pedal I throw at it.
Also, I have trifecta of solid state Sunns: the Concert Lead, the Beta Lead, and the Coliseum Bass.
Each of these is stupid loud, and would be a great investment for doom

TL; DR

For the price of a Matamp, you can get a Sovtek, and all the solid state Sunn you can handle.
And at the end of the day, more amps always equals MOAR DOOM!!!!

[misterstomach]

I swear if we find ONE patch on your jean vest that belongs to an vntrve band we are revoking your license so help me

I've got a pretty metal Lady Gaga patch on mine:



Right next to my Dopesmoker patch

shit, that's awesome. i really like lady gaga.