Matamp Bass Preamp!

[Bassmec]

Here we are chaps I bet this would give a Jule Monique a very good run for its money.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matamp-bas...29508#viTabs_0
Shame I am broke at the moment. Or it would be mine!.

[Mr. Foxen]

That thing has been tempting me, since I have a Matamp Slave 300 to go with.

[dunwichamps]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

That thing has been tempting me, since I have a Matamp Slave 300 to go with.

you have the skills to build 1. no doubt.

[Baird6869]

That is awesome.... But too big.

I love my Monique to death, but something inside me wants to buy a big backup rack and fill it with different preamps for fun.... Alembic, Demeter, a SVP, Sansamp, etc. if the Matamp came in a 1U or 2U rack format, I would be all over it!

[bluestarbass]

Originally Posted by Baird6869

That is awesome.... But too big.

if the Matamp came in a 1U or 2U rack format, I would be all over it!

My thoughts exactly. I want one, but that's just stupid. Hopefully they can shrink the production ones down a bit.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by Bassmec

Here we are chaps I bet this would give a Jule Monique a very good run for its money.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matamp-bas...29508#viTabs_0
Shame I am broke at the moment. Or it would be mine!.

I find it really amusing that it uses a move-able C clef (also called a K clef, of which the only two still in use are alto and tenor clef) for the mids.

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by bluestarbass

My thoughts exactly. I want one, but that's just stupid. Hopefully they can shrink the production ones down a bit.

Sometimes really small and seriously light is not quite as attractive to me as very slightly bigger.

While this may be a perfectly suitable vehicle for the average Talkbass micro bass amp user, after all with the simple addition of a roof rack the Fearful 15/6 can travel too.

Rolls Royces are however somewhat conveniently, sufficiently proportioned for the Matamp rig owner.
I don't see any commercial advantage in shrinking the Rolls to fit a new market, it is what it is and always has been. You either want to afford a Matamp design and all that it entails, or you simply don't.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by Bassmec

Rolls Royces are however somewhat conveniently, sufficiently proportioned for the Matamp rig owner.
I don't see any commercial advantage in shrinking the Rolls to fit a new market, it is what it is and always has been. You either want to afford a Matamp design and all that it entails, or you simply don't.

I guess that means I need to get to my next gig in a Rolls Royce.


I think I would still be more interested in the Dunwich GT120 pedal.

[Bassmec]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

I guess that means I need to get to my next gig in a Rolls Royce.


I think I would still be more interested in the Dunwich GT120 pedal.

Absolutely!, My former employer a Mr Entwistle Esq of Stow, had a roomy estate version custom built for him, even though he never had a driving licence.

Our Mr Entwistle was very concerned about maintaining standards and quite rightly so in my estimation.

[BassmanPaul]

While I enjoy the good Bassmec's humour and enthusiasm I can see no point in a pre-amp the size of a 100W amp. As for the car, what else should you expect from an Ox!!!

[N.F.A.]

I am a total Matamp fan. However, I don't see the point of making this so large. I guess they have their reasons. Make it smaller and I am all over it.
If anyone ever runs across a Matamp GTO for sale, PM me. I miss mine...

[dunwichamps]

its that big because they did not use a toroid for the power supply which could have made it much smaller. Plus its entirely PTP so thats going to take up mucho room. Bigger is nicer to build, less noise, less chance of circuit interaction.

[bassboysam]

you gotta love all the iron in that thing though...not bad for "just" a preamp/DI.

how big is it? I thought it would be about the same size as the Minimats, which really are not all that big.

[dunwichamps]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

you gotta love all the iron in that thing though...not bad for "just" a preamp/DI.

how big is it? I thought it would be about the same size as the Minimats, which really are not all that big.

Wouldnt bother me but then again I build 100W amps that are 12" x 12" x 26"

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by dunwichamps

its that big because they did not use a toroid for the power supply which could have made it much smaller. Plus its entirely PTP so thats going to take up mucho room. Bigger is nicer to build, less noise, less chance of circuit interaction.

While I agree totally with our friend's post, smaller is more fun.

This is what I use:
Amp Guts Photos - Official Thread - Lets see those pics


Edit: BTW it is almost totally silent in operation.

[dunwichamps]

We do have some big difference in build approach



This is a modded Matamp GT120 but fairly close to the 70s specs.

of course thats not a preamp

I am doing an Acoustic 140/150 modded preamp in a small 10 x 5 x 2 enclosure but its all SS so much simpler and lot less wiring then a tube preamp.

Noise level is going to more problematic if the pre has a lot of gain for say clipping and distortion or overdrive. Closer the circuit is, more likely you can get PO. But its a statistical thing, or a general rule of thumb. Doesnt always mean smaller is noisier of course.

[JGR]

No reason they shouldn't be able build a preamp in a 2U rack format, even using conventional iron. Even my single space units are dead quiet and they have quite a bit of gain on tap. Layout and grounding is key, but those guys build really clean stuff, so I'm sure they could pull it off with a bit of planning.

[bassboysam]

I think they just wanted to keep the Matamp aesthetics, they are not exactly known for being the most practical amps.

[JGR]

That's probably a big part of it, and ya gotta respect them for doing their own thing.

[dunwichamps]

if you wanna do it on PCB its easier. PTP is not my preferred choice of building. So hard to decipher the nest. Turrets superior IMO but either way not easy to squeeze it.