TheButler Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 (edited) Well, just as i thought i had pretty much decided what i wanted i thought i'd post on here, and get me some advice from the seasoned, experienced lot that you are! Truth be told, i'm not too clued up and i'm naive to the ways of such things. I kinda know that i'm wanting valve. Call it a psychological thing, or maybe its just the sound being much more pleasing to my ear... or both, but i'm wanting valve. My last rig was a Hughes and Kettner BassBase600 and a 300W H&K 410. The cab didn't release the potential of the amp, which was a shame, but i was young(er) and couldn't afford anything better. Anyway, thats gone now and all that i have t play through is my laptop and headphones! As i've put in many a thread i've been thinking about a Mesa 400+, Matamp GT200 or a Hiwatt 400. I've only ever played a 400+ and a Hiwatt 100... but nonetheless i think they're all quite tasty, i'm just finding it difficult to differentiate between them, or justify getting one over the other. I'll set the scene. I'm 19, and reasonably able - so rig weight ain' no thang. The money side of things will be sorted out in November thanks to slave labour in the local bakery. I reckon i will have near enough £2K to spend on the lot (shh!) The band i'm in right now is perfect for me, and i'm ready to make a big commitment to it. We're gigging extensively, but right now i'm sponging off others, using their rigs I have 2 guitars to compete with; we're talking post-rock instrumentation - think Mogwai, Explosions, 65dos etc - so they're bloody loud. I think she is getting an Orange rig sorted out at the mo' which will be an AD-50 or Rockerverb 50 and at least a 4x12. The other guitar will likely just be through a smaller Orange rig... still loud no doubt. We're talking about UK and maybe Europe next year too, and playing some big venues when we support other bands on the label. Anyway, what do people think? Its not really very easy for me to try out a GT200, or indeed a Hiwatt 400. My mate has the 400+ and i already love it. Oh, and i haven't even thought about cabs Cheers for any help folks, much appreciated. Edited October 12, 2009 by TheButler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Mesa 400+ + Matamp cabs = god. Simple as Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted October 2, 2009 Share Posted October 2, 2009 Im biased....match it with some Orange AD200b Mk3 + Aguilar cabs, or Orange cabs. Fat and bloody loud. Oh, and dirty as hell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted October 3, 2009 Author Share Posted October 3, 2009 I think the Matamp cabs are a given, they seem to be really good value and sound awesome - for my likings - going by internet words. Would i be realistically be able to gig the above amps (Mesa 400+, GT200, Hiwatt 400) without a back-up? I've been getting told by some folk that really i should only put 100% faith in SS for lengthy sets and touring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibob Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I really don't know much about valve amps, but I once played through some backline of a Hiwatt head and cab and it sounded fantastic!! Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 [quote name='TheButler' post='615713' date='Oct 3 2009, 02:29 PM']I think the Matamp cabs are a given, they seem to be really good value and sound awesome - for my likings - going by internet words. Would i be realistically be able to gig the above amps (Mesa 400+, GT200, Hiwatt 400) without a back-up? I've been getting told by some folk that really i should only put 100% faith in SS for lengthy sets and touring.[/quote] I've heard that too, but I've come to the conclusion as long as you keep some spare tubes with ya and don't chuck your head around then things should be fine. Enough people tour with all valve equipment to back that up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 [quote name='ashevans09' post='616138' date='Oct 3 2009, 11:52 PM']I've heard that too, but I've come to the conclusion as long as you keep some spare tubes with ya and don't chuck your head around then things should be fine. Enough people tour with all valve equipment to back that up [/quote] Yeah. I'm going to explore all routes. I like several ideas atm. Either a valve amp - matamp or a 400+ most likely - or maybe a huge power amplifier and high end pre. I would love to just get out there and play stuff, but it really isn't that easy an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 I'm back with more consideration: I'm thinking of maybe pre-amp/power amp setup. Pro's/con's? Would this be the simple solution to my problems of volume and large gigs? Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finbar Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 Biggest advantage of pre/power to me is you can chop and change different preamps as you wish (providing you have them). As for volume, if your cabs can take it, these power amps will chuck out well over a kW of power quite happily with some of the mid/high powered ones in bridged mode. A pre/power setup is lighter than quite a lot of heads too normally, especially valve ones. But you won't get power tube distortion, if that's what you want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted October 12, 2009 Author Share Posted October 12, 2009 [quote name='Finbar' post='624512' date='Oct 12 2009, 10:36 PM']Biggest advantage of pre/power to me is you can chop and change different preamps as you wish (providing you have them). As for volume, if your cabs can take it, these power amps will chuck out well over a kW of power quite happily with some of the mid/high powered ones in bridged mode. A pre/power setup is lighter than quite a lot of heads too normally, especially valve ones. But you won't get power tube distortion, if that's what you want![/quote] I do love that, the distortion is the only thing that keeps bringing me back to the valve amps. My Holy Fire can do some amazing low-gain distortions though... i wish i could just get out and use my ears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plux_the_Duck Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 Hartke LH500, with some Bergantino cabs - sweetest sound ever, but you probably won't get any tube distortion from a LH500 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 [quote name='Plux_the_Duck' post='625698' date='Oct 14 2009, 07:21 AM']Hartke LH500, with some Bergantino cabs - sweetest sound ever, but you probably won't get any tube distortion from a LH500 [/quote] Those hartkes are quality pieces of kit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 (edited) Well as for touring with tube amps, I gig loads and tour quite often and all my amps are tube, as our both my guitarists, we don't have problems with them. I just had my 400+ serviced and it was about £100 but at the same time it's from 1982 and none of the previous 3 owners (all bc'ers) mentioned that they ever had anything fixed. The tall and short of it is if you want a tube amp sound nothing but a tube amp will do you, regardless of people going on about the benefits of tube preamps and ss power amps, tube pre's do not add that extra harmonic depth. I'm looking at getting rid of my 400+ to get 2 Matamp GT200's, I also have 2 Mesa Boogie Stategy 400's that I'm going to pair with an Alembic F-1X, So I might end up with the Alembic and a Strategy and 2 GT-200's, or a GT200 and the Alembic and 2 Strategies or 2 GT200's and the 400+ Not sure at the moment, they all have their pros and cons the main Matamp con is the cost of buying 2 of them which I can't do outright and I can't sell my Mesa gear off to fund it as I'd have nothing gig worthy then but once the Alembic comes the 400+ can go and the first GT200 can come in then a Strategy can go as I can use a GT200 and Strategy and then the 2nd GT200 will come in and then I can take it from there.........maybe How I've broken it down recently is this Mesa 400+ [b]Pros[/b] Loud Rackmountable Cheap relationally to other tube gear (2nd Hand) Very robust and roadworthy Lots of eq and tone options and plenty of I/O for all your needs Mesa Tone [b]Cons[/b] Very expensive to retube No support from Mesa or Warrenty Mesa Tone (This is in both because you either love it or hate it, I plugged a GT200 into my Strategy and it still has all that clean top that Mesa's have, this can be great or awful) GT200 [b]Pros[/b] Loud Reliable Cheap to retube (£120 to do all the power tubes) Lifetime warrenty where most repairs are done for free Custom built to your spec both sound and asthetics [b]Cons[/b] Cost due to people never selling them second hand but at the same time still cheaper than Hiwatt and Orange Won't do a 2ohm load (But you were never going to run 2 8x10's on this like me) That's about all I can think of Edited October 16, 2009 by tayste_2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='ashevans09' post='626108' date='Oct 14 2009, 03:31 PM']Those hartkes are quality pieces of kit! [/quote] A little birdy tells me your cab will be finished very very soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monz Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='tayste_2000' post='627628' date='Oct 16 2009, 10:25 AM']A little birdy tells me your cab will be finished very very soon [/quote] feckin tweet tweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umph Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='TheButler' post='614712' date='Oct 2 2009, 12:45 PM']Well, just as i thought i had pretty much decided what i wanted i thought i'd post on here, and get me some advice from the seasoned, experienced lot that you are! Truth be told, i'm not too clued up and i'm naive to the ways of such things. I kinda know that i'm wanting valve. Call it a psychological thing, or maybe its just the sound being much more pleasing to my ear... or both, but i'm wanting valve. My last rig was a Hughes and Kettner BassBase600 and a 300W H&K 410. The cab didn't release the potential of the amp, which was a shame, but i was young(er) and couldn't afford anything better. Anyway, thats gone now and all that i have t play through is my laptop and headphones! As i've put in many a thread i've been thinking about a Mesa 400+, Matamp GT200 or a Hiwatt 400. I've only ever played a 400+ and a Hiwatt 100... but nonetheless i think they're all quite tasty, i'm just finding it difficult to differentiate between them, or justify getting one over the other. I'll set the scene. I'm 19, and reasonably able - so rig weight ain' no thang. The money side of things will be sorted out in November thanks to slave labour in the local bakery. I reckon i will have near enough £2K to spend on the lot (shh!) The band i'm in right now is perfect for me, and i'm ready to make a big commitment to it. We're gigging extensively, but right now i'm sponging off others, using their rigs I have 2 guitars to compete with; we're talking post-rock instrumentation - think Mogwai, Explosions, 65dos etc - so they're bloody loud. I think she is getting an Orange rig sorted out at the mo' which will be an AD-50 or Rockerverb 50 and at least a 4x12. The other guitar will likely just be through a smaller Orange rig... still loud no doubt. We're talking about UK and maybe Europe next year too, and playing some big venues when we support other bands on the label. Anyway, what do people think? Its not really very easy for me to try out a GT200, or indeed a Hiwatt 400. My mate has the 400+ and i already love it. Oh, and i haven't even thought about cabs Cheers for any help folks, much appreciated.[/quote] those new oranges never really do the wattage and there not really THAT loud, so i'd try and avoid the 400watter heads since your never going to be able to crank them and i figured bass in tpr is either mixed out or over the top distortion so my recomendation would be to go for the gt200 or something with lots of el34s (4 or more) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='tayste_2000' post='627628' date='Oct 16 2009, 10:25 AM']A little birdy tells me your cab will be finished very very soon [/quote] Bwahahaha! I know! Was going up to get it on Monday but I didn't realise I was working that day (usually don't work on a Monday) so I'm going up next monday instead. Lovely guys to deal with, thanks for putting me on to them! I can't wait! porn pics will follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plux_the_Duck Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 [quote name='tayste_2000' post='627628' date='Oct 16 2009, 10:25 AM']A little birdy tells me your cab will be finished very very soon [/quote] I doubt that, I play at a sensible volume, they'll last a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tayste_2000 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 [quote name='Plux_the_Duck' post='628791' date='Oct 17 2009, 03:35 PM']I doubt that, I play at a sensible volume, they'll last a long time[/quote] Erm I was talking about Ash's cab that is being built by Matamp, it's now either finished or nearly finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finbar Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I thought it was basically finished when I was there on Thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 [quote name='Finbar' post='629114' date='Oct 17 2009, 10:31 PM']I thought it was basically finished when I was there on Thursday[/quote] Is it looking good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finbar Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 You might have to remind me what it looked like, there were a couple around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashevans09 Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 black black and more black with white beading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheButler Posted October 21, 2009 Author Share Posted October 21, 2009 Just so y'all know, it looks like for now i'll be running an SVP Pro with power amp, not sure which yet into a couple of Matamp 410's. I'm still thinking on the cabs, reckon i'll pay a visit to the factory next year... in which case i will likely get an amp at the same time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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