Matamp Series 2000 Vintage Bass Guitar Amp Head

Matamp Series 2000 bass guitar amp head for sale in very good condition and excellent working order.

Due to the size/weight of the speaker cab and the cost of shipping both, we're now offering the option to buy just the head.

One owner from new - for sale on behalf of the original owner’s family. Was owned by a musician local to Matamp who knew Matt from the earliest days. His band used to test amps for Matt and boasted a pair of Series 2000s for many years.

The owner was a bass player but he usually played through the guitarist’s matching Matamp Series 2000 as they felt the guitar sounded better through the bass amp (Peter Green famously recorded Fleetwood Mac's seminal track Albatross through a Series 2000). See the photo of 'Rendezvous' in the 70s with this amp just visible behind the guitarist.

It was in regular use for much of its life until the owner retired from regular gigging and felt the Series 2000 was a little loud for home practice!

The speaker cab itself is a little battered - it's no longer got any tolex type covering but as we’ve never seen another it has to be regarded as something of a miracle to still have the original pair. It once saved the owner’s life when his car was rear-ended on the motorway - the cab completely filled the boot of his Triumph Dolomite and stopped the car crumpling on impact with the central reservation crash barrier. The policeman who arrived on the scene told him the wreckage of the car would have to be towed away for investigation and advised him to unload his gear into his friend's car and all squeeze in and drive it home if he didn't want to risk not being able to get it back from the compound in time for his next gig. Arriving back home, he told his wife he'd had an accident and her reply was 'is the car alright?!'

Comes with these stories and some photos documenting its very full life. Sadly the whereabouts of the matching guitar amp are not known.

We’ve also been asked to find a new home for the owner's very rare Burns Artist Bass which he bought in December 1960 (he’d just got engaged and bought the bass instead of an engagement ring for his fiancée).

We have only seen one other Series 2000 and don't expect to see many more.

These legendary amps were used by early Fleetwood Mac. Peter Green played through a Series 2000 when recording Albatross.

Condition

Good original condition as far as we can ascertain. One owner from new. Was serviced by an ex Matamp engineer a decade or so ago. Working well, we'd advise recapping and a new set of output valves (those JJs are not really up to the job) but will leave to the buyer to decide - we can help if required. The amp is good - the power transformer is a little skewed (a victim of the accident?) and all is original where it should be. Speakers are good - cones look very clean (we've not removed them) so it is possible they might have been reconed - sound great but with some vibration from the cabinet at gig volume. Speaker cabinet is down to the chipboard - no covering - but is solid. See the many detailed photos to assess for yourself.

Voltage Information

240

Tax

Zero rated for VAT.