GT1 or 1224 for me ?

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SirJackdeFuzz	GT1 or 1224 for me ?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 51 (20/01/08 02:02:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Guys . . . i need some serious help please ! Gonna try and keep it short ! I always thought i needed/wanted a GT1, but some folk told me i must look into the 1224 (...after i told 'em what i play/listen too). I am about two months away from getting a new amp, but i do not know much about the 1224, as all my attention was spent on looking into the GT1. I play (will do small gigs soon - need a vocalist) all kinds of Blues, incl. Fuzzed-Up Garage Blues (Black Keys, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, White Stripes), Classic Rock, Stoner Rock, Southern Rock, Sludge & DOOM. Can some GT1 & 1224 Owners (and everyone else on this forum) please help me out ! All info very welcome ! (...clips even more so !) Cheers Jack
Marcus	Re: GT1 or 1224 for me ?	#1	[-]
Posts: 351 (20/01/08 09:20:54) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The GT1 will do stoner, off course, but like all other amps it may feel a bit tame on its own. It depends on what you like. If you want the drugged out out of control Dopethrone tone you may want to add a fuzz and EQ. If you prefer the smoother more organic Kyuss tone, the GT1 is perfect on its own. If a fuzz pedal is going to be half your sound, you might as well look into the 1224 as it probably covers your other styles (blues) better than the GT1. The GT1 is a very dark amp, and turning the low-end down while increasing the highs and presence may give you fizz instead of Marshall. Something in between the two would be the LX that supposedly does both GT depth, "modern Matamp gain" and King Street brightness, so good luck. I think the question you need to ask is how these amps are meant to be implemented. What features do you need? The LX is great for live work, probably the best Matamp amp for that. The 1224 has many options for various situations and would therefor probably be the most fun amp to carry from the gig to the bedroom. The GT1 is a dB monster and hard to appreciate in the bedroom as it requires to be cranked to levels where you don't really hear the tone anyway because the walls are rattling apart. Add to this that Matamp can customise your amp to ache more toward the other and you're in trouble.
Orphin	Re:	#2	[-]
Posts: 377 (20/01/08 12:11:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jack, my tip is to choose amp for it's features. I haven't tried the GT1 myself but many other Matamp models and they all sound very similar. With your custom voicing, any Matamp will sound prefect for you.
SirJackdeFuzz	Re: Re:	#3	[-]
Posts: 51 (20/01/08 17:57:41) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thank you both, Marcus & Orphin ! Marcus, i downloaded your clips on your review of your own GT1, and i love it. I have listened to it more times than i would like to admit ! And all the tones you got, sounds fantastic ! Marcus & Orphin (and every one else) can you guys please explain to me the so called "Custom Voicing" ! How does that work ? Do they build an amp around the sound that is in my head ? . . . so to speak ? IF SO, how on earth do i tell them how it sounds ? How does anyone go about explaining some thing like that ? Many thanx, and keep 'em comming ! Cheers Jack
SirJackdeFuzz	Re: Re:	#4	[-]
Posts: 51 (20/01/08 18:05:17) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Oh, and one more thing about the entier MATAMP range . . . . . . where can i find more info on the amps ? I read the info on the official site aswell as on the US site, but i would love to get my hands on even more info ! Does anyone have more technical/manual-like info ? Thanx to all Jack
Fuzzyface	GT 1 sounds	#5	[-]
Posts: 320 (20/01/08 21:23:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Jack,if you scroll back one page on this general Matamp discussion part of the forum,to 23/12/07,there`s a thread by Rob ,titled "someone wanted clips" with links to 3 short videos which give a good idea what a GT 1 can do.They are extremely good and show that it`s a very versatile amp,as opposed to being a bit of a one trick pony in Marcus`s view.I`ve owned a 1224 Mk2 and now have a GT1 .Using the voice control gives you access to all sorts of styles.I know it hasn`t got the valve switching of the 1224,but if you ordered one with power scaling,I reckon the GT1 wins easily.If you call the guys at the factory ,they can fill you in on all the info you need.(they just love talking!!!!!!!!!!!) Trev
SirJackdeFuzz	Re: GT 1 sounds	#6	[-]
Posts: 51 (20/01/08 21:48:10) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thanx for the info Fuzzyface ! . . . see, that is part of my problem right now, i do not know what type of custom options i have at this point ! I take it, that the "voice control" is something like the Vari-tone control knob on the Gibbo ES335's / BB King's Lucille ? Marcus, why would you say that the GT1 is a one trick pony, * IF * you have one ? ...or did you want a one trick pony ? Keep 'em comming folks ! Jack
Ted	...	#7	[-]
Posts: 671 (20/01/08 22:16:30) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jack, I play pretty much the same styles as you. I have a king street. for heavier stuff I use an SG with a BKP Warpig, with boost it nails the stoner tone. if you want a bluesier tone, it will do that too in spades with a classic PAF pickup. also if you want black keys, just stick a fuzz pedal infront and hear it scream. it takes pedals really well. If you need lots of clean at volume you may look towards the KS Major, but the KS Classic is loud enough for me. hope that helps. ------------------ Matamp King Street Matamp Minimat 6V6 Matamp 112 (hot100) ------------------
RobandCarol	Re:	#8	[-]
Posts: 213 (21/01/08 11:00:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	OK well I have been avoiding commenting because I felt that everyone had more or less covered the bases and the Videos would have also helped. However there are perhaps a few observations that I might make that might un muddy the pool a bit? First off.... I am an Old Git! I am 53 years old and I consider myself to be very fortunate that I started playing at the time when as far as Amps were concerned... there was no such thing as a Master Volume or Multi Channel this and thats.... So we HAD to learn to Drive our Amps from our Guitar's Volume Controls etc. I have a GT1. Mine is the one used in the Video clips by my Dear Friend Neil Cowlan. It is a pretty near Stock GT1 save for it is a 55 Watt version and it has the addition of Power Scaling. I am amazed that anyone would call a GT1 a One Trick Pony!! OK we all hear different things and we all have different Tastes.... but come on!!! That is hardly the most FAIR comment I have ever seen concerning any Matamp. I was under the impression that one of the things both Neil and Myself went to GREAT lengths to prove in the Video clips was that the Amp can comfortably accomodate ANY Style of Playing? For goodness sake, I have a Fender Super Reverb and we got a VERY Close sound out of the GT1 during the "Funk" Clips. Yes, admittedly we concentrated on using a Strat and yes....Neil is a more Blues Funk Player in his current Gig, but he has been in many Metal Bands, Rock Bands etc etc and is as 100% Certain as I that a Matamp can DO whatever you ask of it. He (and to a degree myself) have both played and owned some seriously High End Amps. Divided By Thirteen, 2 Rock, Suhr Badger, Ceriatone Trainwreck Clones to name but a few and we are BOTH adamant that The Matamp beats its very Costly High End Boutique Amps fair and square. My GT1 when used by me..... Gets played with either a Tele, A Musicman Silhouette or a 335 alike and it can cover ALL the Bases that I have EVER wanted and does so with unbelievable authority. Wherever it has been used Sound Men have just Drooled. In Neil's case, he did a Big Gig with his Band just before Christmas with the Hammond Player from Clapton and BB King's Band. This Guy was stunned at the Guitar Sound and is STILL talking about it to this day!! The Power Scaling IMHO is a vital key to the sheer beauty of this sound. You have the ULTIMATE control over just HOW you are going to sound. The Voice Switching is again something that I do use, but oddly, I have found that I only use two of the Five Options. Yes.....it might be described in some respects as a Varitone, but it does SO much more!! The one thing that I feel is vital when first getting to know any Matamp is to be prepared to experiment. It will pay you back in Spades everytime. You can opt for the Plug In and GO route....and we ALL have done it..... But then take time to get to know your amp.... the rewards will be tremendous I assure you!! One Trick Pony? Pah!! Only if you are exceptionally Cloth Eared.
RobandCarol	Re:	#9	[-]
Posts: 213 (21/01/08 11:05:04) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Look....At the end of the day, the best possible advice I can offer is this... Speak to the Guys at The Factory on the Phone and discuss what you have in mind. They WILL Listen, They WILL make suggestions, They ARE interested in everything you wish to talk about and above all else..... A Nicer, More GENUINE Bunch you will never meet. Sermon Over
Fuzzyface	Old Git	#10	[-]
Posts: 320 (21/01/08 11:56:49) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi Rob, you`re not an old git.I`ll be 57 next month and I can still manage a 4 x 12 (well, compact version anyway)so you should have no worries.I play in a 60`s rythm & blues/soul band ,using a Tele and a Guild Starfire 4(335 a like).The GT1 does it all. Trev
Orphin	Re:	#11	[-]
Posts: 377 (21/01/08 12:20:29) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* can you guys please explain to me the so called "Custom Voicing" ! Well, I went to England and visited the factory. Then I tried the 1224 MkII in the showroom, talked to Dave about what features I wanted and which I didn't. Then Dave had an idea of what I wanted. When he was finished with my amp I played it and had the oppurtunity to change whatever I didn't like.
Gareth	Which amp?	#12	[-]
Posts: 166 (21/01/08 13:42:44) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The GT1 still surprises me after 7 months. I couldn't get a decent clean sound out of it, then plugged into the other input. Instant clean, glassy sound. It was beautiful with a bit of reverb on there.
amoun	Re: Which amp?	#13	[-]
Posts: 4059 (21/01/08 14:23:47) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	the difference between the inputs is quite dramatic on a few of my matamps too even going way back to the early seventies orange matamps, that with the voice control makes a lot of mats several amps in one box
Marcus	Re: GT 1 sounds	#14	[-]
Posts: 351 (21/01/08 16:30:36) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* Marcus, why would you say that the GT1 is a one trick pony, * IF * you have one ? ...or did you want a one trick pony ? Hi, I haven't stated it's a one trick pony. Far from it. Perhaps it's my playstyle that would give rise to such a claim as I usually only play two things - badly super clean and super cranked. But the GT1 has in-between things as well and should sound extremely nice with a single coil strat or similar as it's very sensitive to the kind of pickups you use. Personally, I'm planning to get a mini-humbucker Firebird as I've found humbuckers to be a tad flat and boomy on any amp I've used. Thanks for the kind words on the clips. Some of them I feel represent the sound well, others not so well. Some are fizzy because of the attenuator I used or the room which is completely dead or general bad micing technique. But rest asure that the GT1 is thick, creamy and vintage with great note separation (6-string chords completely possible at cranked levels) and no fizz at all if you don't want it to. Just keep the presence low, or on 0, and all is well. Presence to me is a great way to add sparkle to the cleans, but not much more than that as I want my distortion dark and thick. In any way, I can listen to certain CDs and truely feel I have that sound at my disposal in the GT1. Have a listen on Heavy Lord "Scorpion Sting" www.myspace.com/heavylord and you get the idea. That's what it sounds like cranked, maybe even a little more. The rest is in your fingers. The custom voicing options Matamp offers probably make more sense if you're within driving distance. You order a standard unit, take it home, play it. Should you need something added, for example if you're not happy with the amount of mids present or something, you could always take it back and have them tweak it for you. Personally I just asked them to make me a stoner amp, they laughed and made me a great amp. No idea how/whether it differs from other GT1's though. Also, perhaps you could get other tube types mounted and so on. For example KT88. My best bet is to get a standard unit with a custom look.
Marcus	Re: GT 1 sounds	#15	[-]
Posts: 351 (21/01/08 16:49:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ah, "a bit of a one trick pony". I'm sorry if it came out that way or gave you that impression. What I meant was - if a certain bright marshallesque plexi crunch with a Matamp twist is your main sound, the King Street would probably do it "better" than the GT1 even though they both cover that area. If that wasn't the case there would only be one Matamp, right?
williams123	Re: GT 1 sounds	#16	[-]
Posts: 252 (21/01/08 17:11:37) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi, why not go to the factory and play them both? Let your ears decide...If you are in the North ( Manchester ) you can come and play my 1224..!
RobandCarol	Re:	#17	[-]
Posts: 213 (21/01/08 17:52:01) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	And sadly (for me) my GT1 is holidaying up at The Factory for a while as of Tomorrow so that the mysteries of Power Scaling can be committed to a Circuit Diagram. On the UP side...... I wonder whether I can wrangle the use of a certain Prototypr that I know of?? Muwahahahhahahaha......
SirJackdeFuzz	Re:	#18	[-]
Posts: 51 (22/01/08 20:53:27) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	WOW . . . i had 24hour inter-net loss and when i came back, i found sooo many good replies - thanx to all so far ! I will answer to everyone and ask more questions as i find the time ! Again, thanx to all
SirJackdeFuzz	Re:	#19	[-]
Posts: 51 (22/01/08 21:20:42) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Thank You Roband Carol for your time and voicing your thoughts ! I LOVE YOUR AMP - as i downloaded the clips from youtube ! That thing must shake if you run it through a 6x12 After looking at those clips many times, i like that amp even more - like i stated in my 1st post, the GT1 IS my 1st option, but good friends told me to look into the 1224, just incase the amp might suite me better, because they know how much i love Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and even the CRAMPS ! I too, do not see this amp as a one trick pony - the youtube clips says it all ! Am i correct when i say that a "stock" GT1 can do a Fender'ish Growl, think a louder 5E3 TWEED (...not Fender clean, as i hardly play clean) all the way to slow Sabbath riffs, to more modern Stoner/Sludge/Doom ? I am NOT into the modern Hi-Gain stuff, and i find even a Marshall DSL or TSL have too much gain ! I am a rhythm player (no fancy leads/solo's fo me), that love the classic dark goove of bands like Sabbath, and newer stuff like Electric Wizard, Orange Goblin, and yes, also Heavy Lord. Another reason i like Stoner/Sludge/Doom, is because i see a big similarity between the riffs of Blues music & Doom. Can Doom be just a much heavier form of Blues ? I THINK SO !!! Back to topic: I like to play around with things . . . a twidler i think is the word ! I am also a big gear head - i love the technical aspects of things. So playing around with an amp for months on end, is not an ishooo for me ! I want to discover new soundscapes in my amp(s), years after i bought it ! And if there is anything else you feel you want to add, please feel free to do so ! Cheers Jack
RobandCarol	Well	#20	[-]
Posts: 213 (22/01/08 23:46:26) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jack.... I have just got back from the most tortuous drive home from Meltham yet. I'll answer in detail tom orrow...But...Will say this. Mine is now with Jeff and The Boys. IF you can get up there.....DO feel free to ask for a trial run. It will blow your Sox Off. Also....Marvelous to actually meet "G" at long last who is over from Canada for a few weeks.

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GT1 or 1224 for me ?

GT1 or 1224 for me ?