NAD: Matamp S3000

[echobaseone]

Mildly ironic on the eve of Independence Day.

Having fallen HARD for the thickness of Orange, but being a little annoyed by needing to use the effects loop in my Rockerverb and the consequent issues I was having running a fuzz through it, I started looking about for something that could do the job with a single channel. I got pretty close with the Laney LA30BL Supergroup, but it wasn't QUITE there. Considered an OR50 for a while, but was scared that it would hate pedals. The CS50 sounded gorgeous and thick with harmonics, but the fuzz fear remained. What else was out there? Well, MATAMP.
Thanks to Boris and the Tories, pounds sterling took a hiding, taking the dollar closer to parity than is usual. And so, about 4 months ago I ordered a Series 3000.
It took a while longer than anticipated, but the workmanship is pretty nuts. It has THE THICKNESS. It plays great with pedals. I'm a little bummed that the boost/drive are so subtle, as I love the master volume on the Rockerverb...but maybe that's what creates all the issues with pedals, I dunno. It's LOUD. Band practice is at the 1st hash mark on the volume dial. But it is all reliant on where the boost and drive knobs are set. Pretty pleased with it, might have to play it unmiked at our next (outdoor) show next weekend, I have ZERO fear that it won't be heard.
Bonus faceplate for potential sludgy band future...but the white one has a Jon Pertwee era Doctor Who quality about it I love.

[Pacafeliz]

[marqueemoon]

Wow, that is pretty.

[Domm]

awesome! I play a Matamp gt40 as my main amp.

[øøøøøøø]

Damn, I now have Matamp envy

[OffYourFace]

Damn, I now have Matamp envy

me too! It's only 30w? did i read that right?

Also what's the difference between picture frame and traditional sleeve?

[echobaseone]

me too! It's only 30w? did i read that right?

Also what's the difference between picture frame and traditional sleeve?

It’s a pretty conservative measurement I think.
Picture frame is the Orange type beveled inset (shown on their website, it looks twice as thick as the traditional which is mitred ~3/4” ply).
I THINK there’s a pic of traditional on the Matamp Facebook page.

[i love sharin foo]

There’s nothing else quite like a Matamp. Even my Oranges with similar circuits sounded different. I took delivery of a fresh GT120MV a couple years ago. It’s really fantastic. I run it with my old Orange OD120. The Clean-ish tones are like the opposite of a Fender. It’s really hard to describe. There’s just something about them… thicker, not as sparkly. Just really interesting and a nice option to have available.

[Dr Tony Balls]

me too! It's only 30w? did i read that right?

Also what's the difference between picture frame and traditional sleeve?

It’s a pretty conservative measurement I think.

Keep in mind that power does not have a linear relationship with volume when we're talking about amplifiers. Assuming the same speaker setup, a 30W amp will only be like 5-10% quieter than a 50W amp.

[øøøøøøø]

There’s nothing else quite like a Matamp. Even my Oranges with similar circuits sounded different

Really curious to hear you elaborate on this! What are the distinctions, if you could describe them?

I've never had the chance to mess with a Matamp.

I have an OR50 which I like, but I've been curious about "proper" vintage Oranges... The few times I've gotten a chance to hear one I liked them; quite distinctive in a good way.

I remember decades ago hearing someone describe them as sounding "foggy" and that kind of stuck with me... seems to fit.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

Bonus faceplate for potential sludgy band future...but the white one has a Jon Pertwee era Doctor Who quality about it I love.

...but the green one has a Jon Pertwee era Green Death quality about it I love.

[Dr Tony Balls]

There’s nothing else quite like a Matamp. Even my Oranges with similar circuits sounded different

Really curious to hear you elaborate on this! What are the distinctions, if you could describe them?

I've never had the chance to mess with a Matamp.

I have an OR50 which I like, but I've been curious about "proper" vintage Oranges... The few times I've gotten a chance to hear one I liked them; quite distinctive in a good way.

I remember decades ago hearing someone describe them as sounding "foggy" and that kind of stuck with me... seems to fit.

Comparing them in the most "apples to apples" way, there are a number of differences between a Matamp GT-120 and an Orange OR120. The building blocks are common but rearranged, mostly. Basically like so:

MATAMP: Input > Gain Stage > "Bass Boost" & "Drive" Selection > Gain Stage > Baxandall Tone Stack > Gain Stage > Cathodyne Phase Inverter

ORANGE: Input > Gain Stage > Baxandall Tone Stack > Gain Stage > "FAC" Selection > Gain Stage > Cathodyne Phase Inverter

The Bass Boost switch and FAC are similar strings of caps on a rotary switch. Part values are a bit different also. Oranges had 68nF coupling caps versus Matamp's 47nF, little stuff like that. Another is that if you have an early OR120 (1972-ish) there is a cap between the final Gain stage and the phase inverter making them AC coupled. On later ones they are DC coupled with no cap. I've never seen a Matamp schematic with them AC coupled, so that could explain a bit of difference as well.

[sessylU]

Gorgeous.

[BoringPostcards]

Awesome amp. Real tidy build too.

[repoman]