Matamp Custom Tube Head

Matamp Head- variable power section.Pentode/Triode operation.
High power=100watt pentode/50watt triode
Med power=80watt pentode/40watt triode
Low power=20watt pentode/10watt triode
Single channel,self biasing feature,Vu meter,light and dark controls(pre-amp gain),bass,middle,treble,presence,and master volume.Can use el34's,6l6's,kt66's or 5881's-just about any output valve apart from el84's or 6v6's which can't handle the plate current.2 speaker outs,4,8,or 16 ohm impedance selector.Fuse failure warning light.Not many features compared to a lot of modern channel switching amps but perfect for me.I had a mesa boogie road king for a short while,which is just about the ultimate in multi channel amps but this matamp wipes the floor with it because it's got great tone.I've been swapping and changing amps for a while now and have come to the conclusion that you need a quality clean sound to build on and then put excellent pedals in front.I currently have a Fulltone fulldrive 2 for lead work and a Foxrox Zim for 2 stages of moderate overdrive on my board,I also use a E/H Holy Grail reverb which I put on top of the Matamp for gigs.All the pedals sound superb-this amp works extremely well with effects in front,I haven't tried a metalzone as it's not my style but I think it would probably be ok.
I have the amp set clean with both pre-amp gains set around 10'o'clock and the master around 2'o'clock.
After buying this amp 5 months ago and using it on about 40 gigs I feel that I now can give an accurate review.My band plays mainly soft/classic rock at small-medium venues and I have the power section set at medium either on pentode(80 watts) for larger venues or triode(40 watts)for smaller pubs, and it has plenty of available power played through a matching matamp 2x12 fitted with vintage 30's.A lot of guitarists would give a low score for features as they are mimimal but whats the point in having an amp that looks like the flight deck of a 747 when you don't use 90% of them.So the matamp gets a 10 because I use every feature on it-I should do because it was built to my specifications.

Main guitar is a USA Strat Deluxe fitted with Seymour Duncan hotrails in the bridge and neck and a Lindy Fralin vintage hot in the middle,I have a toggle for splitting both the hotrails to single coil and a blender pot in place of the lower tone control-this brings in the neck with the bridge.
With this set up I can replicate most of the classic guitar tones,with the amp clean and guitar in single coil mode it can do some funky rhythm chording,step on the Fulltone with the bridge humbucker and it will scream with endless sustain and nice musical harmonic feedback.
As I have said the amp is set for clean on gigs and then the pedals are used for distortion,but it will growl if the gains are turned up and used with no effects-not a brutal distortion,more of a classic rock sound reminiscent of Townsend playing through a pushed Hiwatt for those of you that can remember that far back.
The clean sound of the Matamp is beautiful,very responsive to pick attack-it will 'fur up'slightly if you dig into the strings and is 3-dimensional and alive,if that makes sense.

The fuse blew in the first week,I returned the amp to the factory and it was fixed quickly.Since then it has done over 40 gigs with no problems,I take it out without a backup and trust it implicitly-always take spare valves though.

These guys bend over backwards for their customers,the only problem is you have to go to the factory near Huddersfield yourself,they do not have any retail outlets-not a problem for me as I am only an hour away but could be an issue for someone living some distance away.If there is something that is not quite right with your amp then matamp will do their best to re-design it until you are satisfied-free of charge.But if you live in Cornwall or the Highlands of Scotland and need several return visits this could be a drawback.

I've been playing 25 years and gigging a lot of them,been around the houses with amps,had some of the best-apart from the standard marshalls,fenders,peaveys,laneys,I have also owned several boutique amps-7 boogies(the best being a rectoverb combo)Soldanos,Cornford hellcat,the Matamp is the best of the lot.
I spent some time with Dave Green the design engineer discussing my perfect amp and he is helpful,knowledgable,and very patient(good job)
The great thing about my Matamp is the self-biasing feature,I have the meter on the front of the amp with 4 rotary adjustment controls on the back,1 for each output valve.This means that any venue I play the biasing is set perfectly,and it only takes 30 seconds to set.I have found with the differences in mains voltages it can vary considerably,so that at all times the valves are working at optimum levels,no need to buy matched sets and you can experiment with different sounding valves-I currently have a quad of mullard el34's which sound great.
If you want top quality at a fair price I suggest you get to Huddersfield and talk to Matamp.It is a no frills service,no centrally heated showroom,no sharp suited salesman,just a basic working factory.
Try and make sure you get your amp right the first time and not go back 4 or 5 times like I did though.
The only thing I want now is a 50 watt version of this amp reducing down to about 2.5 watts in low power so I can remain friends with my long suffering neighbours.Looks like another trip up the M1.

This amp was custom made for me in late 2003.
It is the guitarist magazine award winning 1224 haed,with some custom options of my own.
It has hi and lo input,voice,gain,footswitchable overdrive,bass,mid,treble,pres,pres.cut(mid boost)and mine has 2 master volumes,which are also footswitchable.This means that with the o/d switch engagedI can go from crunch to overdrive at the flick of a switch and the 2 master volumes mean that I can get each of these sounds at different volumes.With the o/d switch out,I get the crunch sound at different master volumes.
The 1224 power amp system means you can switch between class A or A/B and switch 1,2,3,or all 4 valves into the circuit,so you can have power tube saturation at any volume.I have 4xel34's in mine,which gives about 50 watts rms output.
Basically this amp has been customized for me to include a massive amount of thick sludgy distortion.I wanted the ultimate stoner rock/doom sound,and thats what I got witha lot more besides!!
Basically this amp does everything I want it to do,plus a few extras.

I play a Gibson Les Paul and a Tokai Love Rock and I play al kinds of music,metal.stoner,doom,blues,classic rock and this amp does it all.
With the o'd switch engaged,this amp gets seriously thick filthy and sludgy distortion wise.This was another custom option I asked for.I can get that sleep/high on fire/black sabbath/electric wizard matamp sound at a more polite volume.But this amp is by know means a 1 trick pony.The voice switch,o/d ,hi and lo input and class a a/b switching make this amp one versatile tone monster.I can get plexi clean,plexi crunch,master volume classic rock,blues,metal,thrash metal and just cos it does the dirty stuff doesn't mean that there aren't some seriously sweet sparkly clean sounds in there too.You will be finding new sounds with this amp all the time.All these sounds come with the clarity,harmonic sweetness and organic sweetness that only a matamp can do.And all of these at home volume,thanks to the 1224 system.
The best thing about this amp for me is that it does EXACTLY what I
want.I can get the any sound I want out of it,but it's my sound too.I can honestly say that I haven't heard an amp like this anywhere else,and everyone wants to be original and make their own sound,right!!
I can honestly say that I will NEVER need another amp.

This amp is handmade and built to last a lifetime.Everything about this amp exudes custom built quality and classy boutique looks.This is the only amp I will need.

Matamp really look after the customer.After I bought my 1st matamp,I decided that it didn't have the features I wanted on it.I rang Dave Green and he said send it back.He ended up building me a whole new amp to my EXACT specifications,as the original one has only halfway there.
The other good thing is that they want you to keep using Matamp.If you want a mod or change doing to your amp,Matamp will do it for the cost of the parts.This gives me the reassurnace that I can have my amp changed to a different spec or new feature at a late date if I want.In my opinion,this adds to the longevity of an amp.Plus if you want another Matamp,Jeff can trade yours in against the cost of a new one.
I a nutshell,Matamp want you to be 110% happy with your amp,and they will bend over backwards to help you.

I have been playing for 18 years and I am very specific about the gear I use.I've played pretty much everything through the years,and it took 2 years of searching for the amp that would satisfy my very specific tastes before I found Matamp.These amps blow everything else away in terms of quality,build,features,cost and tone.I would definately buy another Matamp and probably will.This amp has all the features I need on it,and it is so versatile I can do whatever I want with it.Top marks!!!!!!

This is a custom made 35 watt all valve head.
Light and dark inputs,Solo boost(footswitchable),light gain,dark gain(like a plexi),black,grey,white,hue,master,solo.
The power amp section is 2 6550's pushing out 35 watts rms.and has a pentode/triode switch.
This amp was primarily made for a heavy stoner rock sound,but I also had the light input voiced for a more contemporary brighter plexish sound.The 2 inputs mean that in effect I have 2 amps in one.This amp covers just about all rock territories apart form mesa style mega high gainness or mega sparkly clean.
This amp was custom made for my requirements,so I'm giving it 9 as i would have liked a little more gain.Some people would find the lack of effects loop etc a disapointment,but its perfect for me!!

I play a Gibson Les Paul custom with stock humbuckers.
I play all styles of rock,from the classics right through to punk,garage,thrash,and stoner rock.
The amp has a unique sound,kind of vintage sounding but modern and versatile too!!
The light channel takes me into classic rock territory.Ac/dc,lizzy,led zep,all the sounds are there!!!A bit like a plexi with master volume and more balls!!The footswitchable solo boost adds a little more gain and sustain with some all round fatness.I can even get the brown sound with a little added matampness!!
The dark input is set up for the stoner rock sound,and nothing delivers it like a Matamp!!Really fat and dark and with some tinkering with the eq you can get some really heavy evil tones!Its not a high gain amp but it does sound heavy!!!I can even get a thrash metal sound out of it!!
The eq requires a little patience and experimentation to find your sound.I find a new setting almost every week,and believe me,there isn't a bad tone in this amp!!
The eq is very responsive as is the amp in general.Don't think it won't hear any mispicks!!But for this you are rewarded with excellent tone.
The amp is also very quiet running.There is a little transformer hum,but no hiss,even at high volumes.
This amp is very clear in a band situation.You will have perfect clarity at any volume,so you won't need to turn up just to be heard!!
35 watts might not seem much,but believe me,this amp is loud!!!I play it turned up about 1/2 way.Because of the clarity I don't need to turn it right up to be heard.
There are a million sounds in this amp,all of them great,and it sounds clear even at high volume with no unwanted squely feedback.Fantastic organic harmonically rich tone,and the distortion is awesome!Matamps definately have a sound all of their own and thats another reason to love it!!

I have seen this amp inside and out and it is built like a tank!!!
Point to point wired,and a stainless steel chassis.The wiring is very neat with meticulous attention to detail.Even the knobs have that smooth quality travel to them.This amp is built to last.

Matamp are a great comany to deal with.They believe in their products and Jeff likes to meet his customers in person!!I have spoken to Dave Green many times and have met Jeff both times I went to the factory.This company will bend over backwards to give you what you want.All work is gauranteed,and should you want any modifications done a few years down the line,Dave is happy to do them for the cost of the parts!!
How many companies would make you a point to point wired amp to your exact specification,cover it in your choice of materials,engrave your name on the front panel,let you watch your amp being buil and let you bring it back for mods if you changed your mind later on??!!

I've been playing for about 18 years and I've owned a few amps over the years and never found that perfect tone.
I have owned marshalls and laneys mostly and the matamp beats them hands down in all areas!!The only thing i would like the amp to have is a little more gain.But I'm gonna use a keeley java boost with it,so that should sort me out!!
If you want an amp thats a bit special and a bit different from the norm with vintage character made to your specifications with unbeatable build quality.and awesome tone and flexibilty with the kind of customer service that you won't get anywhere else and for less than the price you'd pay for anything you'll buy off the shelf, then maybe you should take a trip down to Meltham to the Matamp factory and try one out!!
I'd buy another if I had the money just to have two!!