Since I’ve been playing a lot of bass lately I’ve started doing research into tiny, ultraportable solid-state class D amplifiers like the TC Electronic RH750, Aguilar Tone Hammer 500, and Warwick LWA-1000. I’ve always been a valve guy, and couldn’t imagine not having a set of glowing tubes in my main amp… and yet, sometimes you have to get on a plane. Or you want to go jam with some new musicians and don’t want to load the big amp into a van. And perhaps you want a small, reliable backup amp.
It’s a tougher proposition on guitar though. This is my personal preference, but even with all the Kempers and Fractals running free in the wild I still have found that for venues the size of clubs you just can’t beat the thickness and presence of a tube power section. For bass, it may be optional or preferred, but on guitar it tends to be crucial. Then there’s the added hit to your wallet: a portable solid-state bass amp like the ones I listed above will run you less than a grand, which is nowhere near the cost of a quality modeller and a power amp to match it.
Well, Matrix are attempting to flip the script on us. You may be familiar with the company: often if an Axe-FX is rackmounted with a 1 or 2-space transistor power amp you’ll find the matrix logo on it. Yet now Matrix is making a dedicated guitar amplifier, preamp and power amp included. They’ve named it the Vintage British 800, and given it a Marshall-esque paint job to match. The preamp has a few tubes in there but the power section remains solid-state: up to 420 watts of class A/B amplification. And the price is a very reasonable $750.
But one potential deal breaker… only one channel? Seriously?
- Number of Channels: 1
- Pre-Amp section: x2 ECC83/12AX7 valves
- Tone Controls: Passive (Bass, Mid, High)
- Power Section: Class A/B MosFet SMPS powered delivering
@ 16 ohms: 150W
@ 8 ohms: 300W
@ 4 0hms: 420W - Dimensions: 11.8” x 7.09” x 3.15” (wxdxh)
- Tone Controls: Passive (Bass, Mid, High)
- Weight: 1.8kg / 4lbs
- Supply Voltage: 110v/230v +/- 15%
- Average Supply Current: 5A/2.5A (Full Load 110/240v)
- Mains Connector: 10A IEC
- Input Impedance: 1M ohm
- Effects Send: 3K ohm
- Effects Return: 10K ohm
- Effects Send Level: 0v – 1v (0 to +6db)
Rob Chapman of Chapman guitars, along with his posse, took a look at the amp recently. I’m including that clip instead of the two Matrix provided, since we’re all red-blooded metalheads and single coil guitars into low-gain channels aren’t relevant to our interests.
Goriax / May 22, 2014 3:17 pm
Their power amps are good for weight and convenience but the sound is very solid state.
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Andy / May 22, 2014 4:17 pm
One channel is all you need 90% of the time. Use your volume knob to clean up.
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I Shot J.R / May 23, 2014 10:22 am
That’s if it does clean up with the volume.
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Chris Alfano / May 27, 2014 5:03 pm
I’m all for a volume knob roll but for a lot of players a 2nd channel is kind of a necessity. Sometimes you just want to go from very distorted to very, or at least fairly clean within the span of a 16th note.
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