tayste_2000

OK so had a great time at Matamp, firstly decided not to try the Minimat or Spirit as once I heard them on guitar I figured I would be asking too much on bass and it's a little OTT for home practice amp Started with the GT1, didn't do it for me on bass as Jeff said it wouldn't it's just to gainy which is fair enough, the overdriven sounds are great but not what I was after, maybe if I played my Ric all the time more akin to Lemmy I would but overall just not for me. Next tried the GT200 as it was sat next it, just went "yep, thank god I ordered this, can't wait for it etc" Then tried a GT Retro, much better for Bass than the GT1 but again not lots of head room for bass and essentially the same preamp as the GT200 shifted more to guitar so could easily be put back, I could see myself with this but again i don't think I could justify the expense over a vintage amp I already own for those gain sounds. I think the problem for me with the other GT's apart from the fact they sound so clearly voiced for guitar is that the GT200 is just so awesome on bass that something that is acceptable or average on bass just sounds that much more average on bass. Tried the 2x15 mentioned above in Green Tolex, was much better than I remembered but I'd only ever tried it down stairs in the middle of the factory and with it being ported it needs a wall near it to really get rid of that flappyness, I'm currently considering it but the colour is off putting with all my other heads being in red might be a bit christmas'y I think I'm thinking of ordering a 2x15 the same width and depth as my 4x10 with it as high as required (in a slightly staggered configuration) so that I could use the 4x10 and 2x15 stacked making something that might finally give me something that sounds even bigger than my 8x10 Had a good chat about the new Solid State and Hybrid amps they are making, I'm looking forward to testing them out, the 400w valve amp they are making for Julian Cope is looking stunning but very excessive so clearly I want one. Saw my GT200 chassis, I didn't bother taking pictures of it as its just the chassis and bit of wire, they've got to do quite a few modifications to get all the mods I want in but they have got all the parts in so they are starting building them again so anyone waiting on a GT200 I expect you'll be getting it in the next 4 weeks or so depending where you are on the list (some looked ready to go out of the door) So yeah that's where I'm at at the moment, don't think I'll be going through the major change I thought I would, still debating getting rid of the Strategy but also got some ideas about that if I don't need the money. So there we go, not quite what I was hoping but at the same time such a great trip and it seems the GT200 will be ready for my Birthday in July so that might be what I'm doing for the day Bring on the TaySte switch

Well they said the GT Retro is basically the GT120 and if they could they wouldn't make it anymore has it has flaws in it's design as it's basically a historical amp which is why the demand for them is still high and why they still make it. The GT1 is the updated model with loads of extra features and is designed to be run flat out all the time just being hammered whereas the GT Retro isn't and doesn't really like that sort of treatment (similar to all my vintage amps hence the move to picking up a GT1). I don't know what you've been told but Andrew said the GT1 first time for bass, everything else isn't really going to cut it, he could of course be wrong and it's going to come down to the tone of the amps and what I prefer, but feature wise the GT1 is looking stellar especially with that 1/2 power switch for studio work. Either way we'll see tomorrow, if it doesn't do what I want and neither does the Retro then I'll keep my vintage amps but I'd be very very surprised if this was the case, especially with them being able to customise the sound so much at the factory. Also tempted by a GT2 dual preamp setups have always appealed to me, I'll have to see how much extra it is. So all in all an exciting day booked for tomorrow. Have you compared your 2x15 to their newer cabs like the 4x10 and 8x10, I've only tried their Vertical 2x15 which I liked but I ended up liking the 8x10 better.

I was thinking of setting fire to my bosses car, would this do the trick?

I'll snap some pics of it mid build when I'm there tomorrow, sooooo excited wish I was coming home with something tomorrow

Going tomorrow to try the GT1, I guess the GT Retro is if don't like the GT1 (But Andrew is recommending that for bass with some cap changes to make the eq more suitable for bass), also going to try the smaller offerings like the minimat and spirit combo and of course will play through a GT200 while there got to re-affirm my love But if all goes to plan expect a lot of for sale threads and ebay auctions

[quote name='Arrakis' post='869526' date='Jun 16 2010, 10:27 PM']My GT120 sounded great with bass used to run it through my Ampeg SVT 2x10. The GT120 is in affect the same as a GT200 but with smaller transformers and EL34s not KT66s[/quote] That sounds perfect, don't suppose by the luck of the gods it's any lighter is it?

Use a jamman before, it's nice but these bigger twin pedals like the Boss RC-20xl are just record, playback, loop and then you can store it. Where most of the fun is in the organicness of flipping the loop, reversing just a layer, taking things out, adding them back in. Depends what you want, if you pay postage I'll lend you my smm/h for a bit, it's for sale anyway so I'm not using it.

So what's a GT120 or GT1 like on bass? I do like my EL34 100w amps I've got a very naughty thought playing in my mind Going to call Jeff again to discuss

Just called Jeff for a chat my GT200 isn't too far off, really can't express how excited I am guys, he also said when the little spirit combo's are all gone he'll be reordering lots of the tolex he's run out of now, so when that red tolex comes back in I'll have a headcase for my Strategy 400 and Alembic preamp made and another 2x12 because those cabs are the bomb.

My band is looking for a place to finish our second album, so recording, mixing and mastering can you pm some info about rates and such. Cheers

[quote name='wayne58' post='868175' date='Jun 15 2010, 05:09 PM']Just collected these this afternoon, Jeff swapped the 2x12 I bought off Steve as I prefer the Lloyd loom as opposed to black speaker cloth. Can't wait to gig em!! [attachment=52304:Matamp__...2010_006.jpg][/quote] Beautiful, those 2x12's are killer aren't they Oh and the GT200's aren't bad either, I'm so excited for mine.

[quote name='Finbar' post='863940' date='Jun 11 2010, 01:40 AM']The M9's looper works with MIDI controls too I think.[/quote] +1 and I'd argue would replace the G Major M13 of course The RC-50's midi implementation is not great I'm told. The daddy really is the Looperlative If you can find one the EHX 2880 is fairly well regarded.

Unless it's working it's not really worth much money, well to the lay person No ones going to touch that until they know the transformers and speakers won't need replacing or haven't been replaced in the past. I'm not sure of techs in Bath but I know a fantastic one in the Manchester area if you are ever up this way.