At first look, you would think
it came from a Sharper Image Catalog. Simple, straight forward
with the exception of the XLR
and VOICE knob which is rarely used. This amp is engraved in England
with the script text font "Since
1958" which is when MATAMP was started by Mat.
The engraving shop put
their name on it, per request by Joel Wheeler as they were the
original Engravers for Mat
and were used only on the USA ordered Matamp's .
The UK amp orders were engraved
in house, as they continue to do for thier new units.
The new engraver for Matamp
[post August 2005] thinks the company started in 1945,1946 and 1948.
[based on the new promo out
for Matamp UK].
The Original Engraver and Panel
materials ceased at Matamp UK entirely the same time
MATAMP USA quit producton with
MATAMP UK for amps in August 2005.
Voltage Selection is on the
side of the chassis. Folded chassis with cage nuts sleeve mounting.
The beginning of back to Hardwire,
with the intro to Dave Green's Turret Trak [tm] design.
The DC Voltage is run on the
Printed circuits, which is done on nice board material.
The turrets are the small vintage
style and the design was very clean. This was the intro also
to Joel's 4 bias adjustment
and test point section in the amp units. Amps did not
have to be removed
from the sleeve for bias set
up, and no need to match tubes or replace sets. The neat thing was
techs do not have to poke around
mega voltage areas in the process.
This was back in the day when
the UK shop still had the balls to mark the boards GT120 !!! That
ceased
in all of the production by
2003 as the items being made were being more and more blended with
HIWATT and ASHDOWNE sourced
components. Few boards were marked GT120 from 2001-2003.
This was a clean board design
and Matamp in th UK should have stuck with it.
AMP
BLUE BOOK VALUE:
GOOD
WORKING CONDITION: $1250-1650
GOOD
WORKING BUT BEAT: $
900-1250
BLOWN
but GOOD CONDITION: $ 600
BLOWN
but BEAT:
$ 200-600
NOTES:
The amp has brilliant tone
for both clean and heavy distortion. BIG SOUND, great warmth and
articulation. When the amp is not being played it is quiet
with no wierd humms or buzz.
It can spank out warm jazz
and acoustic tones and then bulge with MONDO killer authentic
distortion. Not metal
and crunchy and MesaDano compressed. Pure organic distortion.
Think Sabbath... the designer
in the USA did !
This particular amp was originally
owned by an awesome Oregon, USA customer who was
a roadie for the band YOB.
He wanted it because Mike Scheidt in YOB purchased the very
first BLACK Amp in the USA
and loved his tone as well.
When the amp arrived in the
USA the black amp sleeve was torn on the inside and the back
panel had been glued by someone
in the UK Shop. [as shown in the photo above] When it
was being set up, MATAMP USA
realized that the reason the back was broke was due to the
fact the sleeve was made too
narrow. The VOLTAGE jack on the side tore the vinyde being
crammed in the sleeve and that
is what broke the panel corner too. Hence they glued it and shipped.
Per customer approval Matamp
USA put the amp into a temp GREEN vinyde sleeve and shipped
the amp out. It went on tour with YOB, and many wondered what was
up with the BLACK amp.
MATAMP USA replaced the amp sleeve with a the new correct black one.
Later on Mike in YOB
acquired the amp permanently
into his rig line up. He ran two of these BLACK GTO's from 2001
through 2005. Now
he has traded the amp unit in for a new ELECTRIC AMP.
This unit is in great shape,
and has been played by a pro musician in a working band on stage
and in the studio. ALL of the functions work great. The
filter knob seems stiff, but works
great. With exception of the crack in the back panel the amp
is awesome to excellent.
Mike takes care of his gear
in good fashion, and has a great tech in Oregon.
The new owner of this amp will
enjoy lots of good tone and volume and the last of the simple
amps that were made in the UK. Also, the last of the BLACK logo amps
authorized by the USA
to be made in England.
Use this amp as is straight with your guitar and cab, or use it for the
ultimate tube amp foundation
for your pedals / fx etc.
If you
want to hear the awesome range of tone this very amp provides LISTEN TO
YOB !!!!
www.yobrock.com
www.12threcords.com
www.blackamps.com
