1964 MATAMP S2000 50watt Guitar Amplifier
Hand Made by Mat Mathias.
Input, Boost, Drive, Bass, Treble, Depth, Volume, Power, Fuses.
MATAMP S2000 : Straight Forward Amplification for Guitar.
Chassis bolts in on the front with 4 screws that fasten the amp unit
to the head sleeve. This is the beginning of Mat Mathias's guitar
amp era as MATAMP. Folded/Bent aluminum chassis ranging from
20watt to 80watt. Tremelo was an option.
120Volt [Updated] Speed & Depth Tremelo Pots, Trem F/S jack
Speaker Jacks on right side, 1 @16ohm, 1 @8ohm
Front panel cracked and missing piece. The Green
Power Light is probably a replacement, but looks great.
Back of amplifier out of amp sleeve. Svetlana EL34's
Top of Chassis View. Bent/Fold Aluminum Chassis. Notice the voltage
selector on top of the main transformer.
Inside the chassis. Hardwire artistry by Mat Mathias. Updates are
obvious and solid.
Pre Tube under Tag
board and hardwire.
Pot Line Faraday
Shield over input jacks.
bottom view of transformer.
Early Style - Solid wood thin cut amp sleeve. Chassis bolts in on front.
Early Style Back of head sleeve
Early Style Bottom of head sleeve. Wood skids installed after market.
REVIEW NOTES:
The Output Transformer has been changed and installed in good fashion.
Although it is not an original transformer replacement, the tone has not
been sacrificed at all. When compared to the other 2 S2000's, this one
definately has the volume over both, and a note tracking exactness to the
actual guitar strings that sets it apart from the new S2000.
The amp has alot of output volume and "incredible" tone. If you
are into
old Led Zeppelin, Peter Green, or the first two Black Sabbath tones
you appreciate this amplifier unit. Pink Floyd, Saucer Full of Secrets
tones are nailed on this unit.
By no means is it as loud as it's evolutionized version late to be known
as the GT-120. Tthe volume is there in good fashion for recording
good clean,
rock tones and great blues-ish-rock tones.
The tremelo was probably not originally on this amp, but was taken
back to the factory for the "tremelo option" which is original
and probably
completed by Mat himself.
The knobs on the tremelo are from the 1990's era and still used
by Matamp in Huddersfield on some units.
Over all the amp is in "good" moderate condition physically.
The cracks
and updates are typical of an amp that is 38+ years old. Sound quality
it rates as and "excellent". No buzz, no frequency squelch. Just
a quiet amp
until you stroke the strings of your guitar. Then you have a hand full
off tone.
This amp unit was in the UK until 2002. It was shipped to the USA and
was owned by the Matamp Dist., USA technician John McNeece.
Used on a regular basis until recent 2004, this unit was tuned and tested
and is now for sale.
It is a "collector's" must own unit. If you want it for everyday
playing,
or just want to own a piece of rock and roll history. This amp is a great
unit to own. Priced low so that an every day player can own it and use
it.
The Matamp UK Factory owner claims original MATAMP S2000 guitar amps
go for $2500 - $9000 US Dollars. A good amp like this needs to be
played
and have a home where it will continue to be used and recorded and performed
on stage with. A 2X12 vertical cabinet from MATAMP with a 200 watt capacity
serves this unit's tone very well to the ears.
This type of amp was used by Peter Green in 1968 and during the
early Fleetwood Mac recordings. After Mat went on tour with
Fleetwood Mac in the USA, he returned with new ideas.
The 20watt amp was just not enough power for the venues in the USA
and the aluminum chassis would need to be replaced with something
"roadie" worthy.
The first change was stepping up to an 80watt version on the same chassis.
The next stage of the equation was the metal welded chassis, enameled
in either off white or orange. The GT's were born in both 2 valve and 4
valve
versions.
This particular amp was probaby originally the 20watt version then upgraded
with larger transformers around 1968-1969. Then the unit blew a transformer
and the replacement was put in the out put. The replacement transformer
is
British made.