Billy Apple Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 I've had to keep quiet about this for ages, but I'm very pleased to announce the partnership of Yorkshire's finest hand-built bass amps and Brighton's lightweight sonic monsters. Mat-Faced, or Bare-Amp if you prefer! I've been lucky enough to have tested a prototype for the last couple of months, and without a shadow of a doubt it's the best thing ever. Great tone, huge volume and all in a one hand lift package. The seeds of the partnership were sown by Matamp fan boi's like myself and Happy Jack who introduced Jeff Lewis at Matamp to the Barefaced line. Jeff and Hayden were working on the digital hybrid and felt the ideal set up would be a combo with the Gen 3 Big Baby II. Alex was initially reluctant to get involved, thinking Matamp were looking at mating up a full-bore GT200. The hybrid has the exact same pre as the GT200, but the back end is a B&O 750 watt digital power section. The EQ is 4 knob hyper-simple with db pad, send and return, tuner out, bass/treble cut/boost and a valve driven DI with 20db cut. The cleaver bit with the amp is the power section uses something called B&O's AF Digital Power Phaser. This handy knob means you can attenuate the watts from 50 to 750, making the combo ideal for home and full on gigging. Alex has been busy redesigning the cab housing as they've gone for a flip-top design to keep the amp gubbins out of the way for transportation. Plus the horn has been re-located to just after 12 noon to give the head some room. When the top is flipped the space inside the cab is exactly the same as a standard BB2, plus the head will run at 4 and 2 ohms should you feel the need to add more cabs. I've been gigging this under a sheet for a month now, and it's truly an insanely awesome combo. Great valve tone with enough clout to fill most venues. The band love it too, and finally the drummer can hear my bass through his ear-plugs. And a one hand lift back to the car! The combo will be coming on both Matamp's and Barefaced web-sites in the next few days. I've been sworn to secrecy, but was fit to burst. Alex has had to tweak a few bits of bracing, but it's here and ready to go. Like most of the best stuff, this will built to order and I wouldn't expect much change from £1.5K. Awesome, Awesome Combo and the best of British! [url="http://i.imgur.com/VdO2EoW.jpg"]http://i.imgur.com/VdO2EoW.jpg[/url] Quote
discreet Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, THAT'S ASTOUNDING!! [size=4] [/size][size=4] [/size] Edited March 31, 2014 by discreet Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 Aren't you a couple of hours early in announcing this? Quote
Diablo Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 You forgot to mention it comes fully PAT tested, and in authentic vintage amp style, is condemned due to failing said test Already said 2 hours early old chap. Quote
Mudpup Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 That finish looks a bit cheap and the handles are dodgy :-) Quote
gjones Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 You had me til I looked at the photo. Then a wee lightbulb appeared above my head. Quote
Roland Rock Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 You lost me when you said it was a BB2 at 4 ohms :-p. :-D Quote
ShergoldSnickers Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 Anyone else baffled by the open-backed speaker loading? Quote
Ticktock Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 The vintage look is in then. Can I have one in purple with yellow polka dots? Quote
TheGreek Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 [quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1396300066' post='2412144'] I've had to keep quiet about this for ages, but I'm very pleased to announce the partnership of Yorkshire's finest hand-built bass amps and Brighton's lightweight sonic monsters. Mat-Faced, or Bare-Amp if you prefer! I've been lucky enough to have tested a prototype for the last couple of months, and without a shadow of a doubt it's the best thing ever. Great tone, huge volume and all in a one hand lift package. The seeds of the partnership were sown by Matamp fan boi's like myself and Happy Jack who introduced Jeff Lewis at Matamp to the Barefaced line. Jeff and Hayden were working on the digital hybrid and felt the ideal set up would be a combo with the Gen 3 Big Baby II. Alex was initially reluctant to get involved, thinking Matamp were looking at mating up a full-bore GT200. The hybrid has the exact same pre as the GT200, but the back end is a B&O 750 watt digital power section. The EQ is 4 knob hyper-simple with db pad, send and return, tuner out, bass/treble cut/boost and a valve driven DI with 20db cut. The cleaver bit with the amp is the power section uses something called B&O's AF Digital Power Phaser. This handy knob means you can attenuate the watts from 50 to 750, making the combo ideal for home and full on gigging. Alex has been busy redesigning the cab housing as they've gone for a flip-top design to keep the amp gubbins out of the way for transportation. Plus the horn has been re-located to just after 12 noon to give the head some room. When the top is flipped the space inside the cab is exactly the same as a standard BB2, plus the head will run at 4 and 2 ohms should you feel the need to add more cabs. I've been gigging this under a sheet for a month now, and it's truly an insanely awesome combo. Great valve tone with enough clout to fill most venues. The band love it too, and finally the drummer can hear my bass through his ear-plugs. And a one hand lift back to the car! The combo will be coming on both Matamp's and Barefaced web-sites in the next few days. I've been sworn to secrecy, but was fit to burst. Alex has had to tweak a few bits of bracing, but it's here and ready to go. Like most of the best stuff, this will built to order and I wouldn't expect much change from £1.5K. Awesome, Awesome Combo and the best of British! [url="http://i.imgur.com/VdO2EoW.jpg"]http://i.imgur.com/VdO2EoW.jpg[/url] [/quote] [URL=http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/media/april_foolgif_zps66bb0eed.gif.html][IMG]http://i1167.photobucket.com/albums/q639/FairfaxAikman/april_foolgif_zps66bb0eed.gif[/IMG][/URL] Quote
Sharkfinger Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 I too was fooled until I looked at the pic. Am I an even greater fool for thinking a BF combo is actually not a bad idea? I would certainly look very seriously at buying something like that if it were priced right. Quote
Happy Jack Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 Hmmm .. like all good April Fools it has an underlying logic that ain't so daft. Quote
Sharkfinger Posted April 2, 2014 Posted April 2, 2014 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1396382321' post='2413025'] Like spaghetti growing on trees. [/quote] That has to be 100% true. It was on TV! Quote
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