Matamp cabs

[bass_steak]

Hi

Can anyone tell me where do they stand sound-wise amongst well known cabs like Ampeg, Aguilar DB and Bergantino? What is their inherent voice?

Thanks!

[Mr. Foxen]

Since there are loads of different box options, with loads of different speaker options, there is no particular voice. But they tend to be more trad sounding, not hifi, because they aren't thiele/small parameter maths type boxes, and have more in common with vintage designs, although use more modern speakers.

[droskobass]

Go try them out. There is a Montreal Dealer that has Matamp 610s 810s, EBS 410, 1x15s and and Bergantino 412s and 610s cabs in stock. go compare for yourself... then share your thoughts!!

[TaySte_2000]

Having tried everyone of the new range of Matamp cabs (and owning most of them)

They do lean to the more vintage side of things but not in muffled way that most people associate with vintage.

The 8x10 is flat out better than every Ampeg 8x10 I've tried, louder, clearer, fatter etc etc.

6x10 is a very sparkly cab, lots of high end, suits the more clicky pick players amongst us but still very full sounding and very loud.

4x10 depends on the speakers you get I have a ported cab with some heavy eminence speakers and it's very aggressive sounding, most of the instock cabs are sealed with neos these are much more polite but again very full sounding, a friend of mine use to use 2 of them when playing a lot of Motown covers

2x12 again depends if you get the neo or heavy weight very, the neo is usually in stock and this is the one I own. The heavy weight version has more bass but weights near double the neo 2x12. It's a great cab and when I can't be bothered taking my 8x10 I take this and it's more than enough for a very loud rock band (if we weren't loud I wouldn't need an 8x10 would I?). This cab is a bit more refined than the 4x10, certainly a lot more polite than the ported 4x10.

Now I've not tried any of the Berg stuff, I was actually going to buy the NV610 and NV215 when I ent to Matamp on the off chance that they could make something for me (they didn't have the range they do now of bass cabs) and they made me the first 8x10 and new style 4x10 and I was just blown away and I haven't liked another cab since.

What I will say is the build quality is way higher than what you'll get from companies like Ampeg, Ashdown etc.

Hope this helps, they do, do other cabs as well but not sure if you've be interested in those 2x15, 1x18, 1x12 etc> I'm getting the 1x18 soon as it has internal cross overs so then my 4x10 will be just for mids and treble, sounds amazing smooth across the full range.

[cheezus]

I ordered a non-ported Matamp 4x10"-cab with Eminencen Ferrite Delta 10A - elements (8ohm/1200W) on the middle of December. Now they are starting to build the cab and they sent an email that "the bass cab is available only with a metal grill is that OK?". Do you know that is the metal grill same as TaySte_2000 has in his cabs or is it this "silverface-type" of cloth?

Now I'm planning to buy either a second 4x10" or a 1x18". Suggestions? I asked the 8x10" in the first place but they said from Matamp that they don't build them anymore...

I'm playing a 2003 Rickenbacker 4003 with a custom-made finnish "Monster el Monarca" 300w point-to-point tube amp http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/91204.jpg Cannot even imagine the sound when the Matamp arrives...

[TaySte_2000]

It will be the metal grill I have, honestly they look so much better than grill cloth also it's safer for the speakers when moving them

[Mr. Foxen]

My mate had Matamp build him an 8x10 about two months ago, they definitely do them.

[oinkbanana]

the montreal dealer is really nice, just give him a call and go try em out for yourself.
some are at the moog store (some display units are on discount), the others he'll arrange if you want to try em out.


the 810 is 25" x 20 " x 50 ". that's BIG and extra deep.
i'd get it if i had the funds.

[bassboysam]

I tried the 810 once and I wasn't a fan of the Celestion neo speakers. Kind of shy in the low mids and the highs were too brittle. Loaded with better speakers it would have been great but it was way cheaper for me to just replace the speakers in my Ampeg 810 with Legend B810s from Emminence. To me it sounds a lot better, heavier but worth it.

[Mr. Foxen]

Same mate had his cab loaded with B810s.

[bassboysam]

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

Same mate had his cab loaded with B810s.

That's what I would go for but why spend $1700 on the Matamp when it only costs me $550 to replace the speakers in the Ampeg. Maybe one day, I do love the look of the Matamp cabs.

[oinkbanana]

i know the matamp montreal dealer can offer different speakers for the guitar cabs, maybe he can do the same for the bass cabs &/or offer the cab empty.

[Mr. Foxen]

Originally Posted by bassboysam

That's what I would go for but why spend $1700 on the Matamp when it only costs me $550 to replace the speakers in the Ampeg. Maybe one day, I do love the look of the Matamp cabs.

Yeah, situation is different where the factory is more than a few hours drive away.

[cheezus]

I enquired the shipping costs of 8x10" cab to Finland in December and they sent from Matamp that "We only build 4x10" and 1x18" bass cabs at the moment, interested in those?"

Any experiences of the 1x18" cab?

[TaySte_2000]

The 1x18 is built with a cross over inside it, so the low pass filter sends the 250hz and below to the 18 and everything above to the 4x10, it sounds amazing I'm hoping to pick one up in the next few weeks.

It is however a totally different cab to the 8x10, I suppose their argument will be the shipping costs will be prohibitive, I know they don't like building the 8x10's as it's tolex'd as a complete piece so it takes 2-3 guys to complete.

If you hassle them enough they'll make an 8x10 but you have to be prepared to pay a fairly expensive shipping bill and the cab is like £1099 (I recall, might be more now), feel free to drop my name in.

[cheezus]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

The 1x18 is built with a cross over inside it, so the low pass filter sends the 250hz and below to the 18 and everything above to the 4x10, it sounds amazing I'm hoping to pick one up in the next few weeks.

"Also - we have ported and non-ported versions of 410, if it's used on it's own normally ported, unported if the customer also uses a 1x15 or similar cab at he same time." I chose the non-ported (or is the right term unported) version of the cab because I have planned to order the 1x18" in the near future. TaySte_2000 you have the ported 4x10" if I understood correctly? I have used big unported (2x15" and 8x10") cabs but all my three 4x10" cabs in the history have been ported - would the ported model be better/more versatile choice than the unported?

They haven't started to build the cab yet so I could still change it

[TaySte_2000]

Personally I prefer the ported version but mine is loaded with Eminence drivers which they don't do as standard (I think?).

The ported is louder and way more aggressive, it isn't far off my 8x10 in volume but it's a lot wilder, great as a gritty cab. The sealed is more versatile and will do pop, funk more naturally but the ported just has that in your face rock tone, a bit more of a one trick but what a freakin trick

I can agree the sealed 4x10 and 1x18 is probably a more natural combo whereas I can see my 4x10 overpowering the 1x18 but will see, I've got the 4x10 already (was the first of the new model they made) I'm not going to order another just for the 1x18

Hope this helps

[cheezus]

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Hope this helps

Huge thanks, helped a lot. I also ordered my cab with Eminences (Ferrite Delta 10A). I sent an email to Matamp that what they would recommend. Let's see what they answer...

[cheezus]

I ordered my 4x10" cab at the beginning of December so I think that it's going to be ready quite soon. I also enquired the price and the specs of 1x15" and 2x12" cabs. The 4x10" + 1x18" setup would be great but if I have understood correctly, the 1x18" cab is as big as the 4x10" (?!?) so the 1x15" would suit my needs better I think.