Matrix Power Amp on fire at gig

bchulse

bchulse

Inspired
Not a FM9 specific issue, but I figured it would get noticed faster here...

First gig with FM9. I've had it for a while, but finally got it dialed in.
Outdoors on the deck at a beach club under a tent. Comfortable temperature & a breeze.
I never run the amp higher than 2-3 o'clock and I don't beat on it.

I was running FM9 Output 2 L/R into Matrix GT800FX L/R 1U to a stereo cab for stage, then
FM9 Out 1/L to FOH.
Middle of 2nd set, I hear what I think are fireworks down the beach.
Then the smell & the smoke. My bass player yells at me, I turn around and the Matrix amp
is literally on fire in my rack! Quickly shut it off and blow out the flames.
I also had my AxeFX III in the rack as a backup. Thankfully, that wasn't damaged!

This is the 2nd failure I've had at a gig with this amp. First time it just sparked out and died.
Took a long time to get it repaired as it was during the shutdown.
Since I got it back a little over a year ago, it's been working fine. Now it's DOA.

Finished the gig with a QSC CP8 I was using as a floor monitor.

Except for these 2 incidents, it's been pretty dependable.
Needless to say, I won't be recommending these any longer. I noticed they have a new line
of amps on their website. No mention of the GT's.

I'll probably go for the Seymour Duncan Powerstage 700 as a replacement.
If you use a Matrix, carry a backup (a good practice anyway)!
 
That's crazy! Have you contacted them? Maybe @Lightningboy can help?

Regarding the website, which one? Matrix split into 2 companies a while back. One in the US and the other in the UK. I think the GT amps are only available from one.
 
Sorry, I was on http://matrixproaudio.com
I found the other site which still has GT amps listed at:
usa.matrixamplification.com

I haven't tried to contact them for repairs yet. To be fair, they did repair the previous
failure for a reasonable price, although it was a 2 month wait.
 
Sorry that happened. During a gig is terrible timing. Man, I hope mine continues to work. I have been gigging it roughly 2 times a month solid for at least 3 years. I may have to get a solid permanent backup. I have a EH 44mag power amp as a backup in case it fails.
 
I had been using this live for several years before the first failure in Feb. 2022.
And after the first repair, it was OK for over a year.

I just ordered a Seymour Duncan Powerstage 700 as a replacement.
I also sent a message to Matrix Support. We'll see what happens.
 
bchulse said:
...

I haven't tried to contact them for repairs yet. To be fair, they did repair the previous
failure for a reasonable price, although it was a 2 month wait.
Click to expand...

This is the somewhat damning piece of info. I would be inclined to think that something went gravely wrong in the manufacture, or that their repair was botched, for a piece of equipment to go up in flames like that. I suppose it is possible it wasn't their fault, but for the sake of good customer service and the opportunity to do forensics on the device, they should probably provide you with credit towards another product. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable replacing it with the same model. Really lucky it didn't damage the Fractal in your rack.
 
I don't like to condemn a company or product outright. It's only a machine.
Parts fail for lots of reasons. I'll see if they can or will repair it and go from there.
Just a reminder to carry backups of everything practical. And it is a good story!
 
Tahoebrian5 said:
It makes for a great story though. I doubt you will ever forget that show!
Click to expand...
Well said.
StuntGuitar said:
and a fire extinguisher. :(
Click to expand...
Even better said.
bchulse said:
I don't like to condemn a company or product outright. It's only a machine.
Parts fail for lots of reasons. I'll see if they can or will repair it and go from there.
Just a reminder to carry backups of everything practical. And it is a good story!
Click to expand...
Yeah. Any manufacturer can put out an occasional lemon. Might’ve had to do with the venues’ wiring, as well.

I just did a search for a similar problem with this Matrix and came up with just this post. In English, at least. There were some posts in German which I can’t read…but I’d imagine there’s be more if it was a widespread issue.
 
An update to this. Sent the Amp back to Matrix. Got confirmation from shipper
that it was delivered, but not a word from Matrix that they received it.
Since then (several weeks ago), I am getting a constant stream of robo-emails claiming
that the ticket is closed and resolved. I have to keep replying to these to keep the ticket open.
I have contacted them several times to get an update, and no reply from anyone.

I must say, their support procedure really sucks. You basically need to purchase the support,
as if it were a product, and are given a Ticket number. There is no $$ up front, but that's where it sits.

All I'm asking is that they:

1) Confirm that they received the unit for repair
2) Send me a status, whether it's in the queue for someone to look at, or what the
diagnosis is, or whether it's even repairable at all.

So, at this point, radio silence.
Very disappointed. Even if they're very busy, they could still take 2 minutes to reply
and give me a status update. And turn off those @#%ing Robo-Emails!!!

To be continued...
 
We’ve become too reliant on technology in the area of direct person to person communication. It’s like an unwanted “middle man” who’s not a human being at all.

Cost savings at the expense of quality service. 👎
 
bchulse said:
Not a FM9 specific issue, but I figured it would get noticed faster here...

First gig with FM9. I've had it for a while, but finally got it dialed in.
Outdoors on the deck at a beach club under a tent. Comfortable temperature & a breeze.
I never run the amp higher than 2-3 o'clock and I don't beat on it.

I was running FM9 Output 2 L/R into Matrix GT800FX L/R 1U to a stereo cab for stage, then
FM9 Out 1/L to FOH.
Middle of 2nd set, I hear what I think are fireworks down the beach.
Then the smell & the smoke. My bass player yells at me, I turn around and the Matrix amp
is literally on fire in my rack! Quickly shut it off and blow out the flames.
I also had my AxeFX III in the rack as a backup. Thankfully, that wasn't damaged!

This is the 2nd failure I've had at a gig with this amp. First time it just sparked out and died.
Took a long time to get it repaired as it was during the shutdown.
Since I got it back a little over a year ago, it's been working fine. Now it's DOA.

Finished the gig with a QSC CP8 I was using as a floor monitor.

Except for these 2 incidents, it's been pretty dependable.
Needless to say, I won't be recommending these any longer. I noticed they have a new line
of amps on their website. No mention of the GT's.

I'll probably go for the Seymour Duncan Powerstage 700 as a replacement.
If you use a Matrix, carry a backup (a good practice anyway)!
Click to expand...

Man, I hope you learned your lesson, never play so fast and hot again :)

On a more serious side, wow, that's crazy and you are lucky the III wasn't damaged.
However I can say from my experience (not trying to protect Matrix) that I have the GT1000FX since 2014 or so, I had hundreds of hundreds of rehearsals ang gigs with it, many times I used to crank the shit out of it, running sometimes 2 4x12 cabinets and it didn't even blinked once!
all in all, very trusty piece.

I don't have any experience with Matrix these days but I hope you will be getting answers soon.
Good luck.
 
Amen on the backups. I’ve been preaching it for decades.

Sorry to hear you‘ve had that problem. Two such failures in one amp is enough to say you don’t return that one to stage duty, repaired or not. I’m sure you’re already on with that! I had a Carvin bass amp go like that once years ago, but haven’t seen it in a more modern amp. Just bad luck there.
 
Last edited:
Your Matrix customer service experience is identical to mine. My amp fried onstage and cooked two speakers. Shipped the amp back and they went dark. Lost $400 in speakers and $60 shipping the amp back. Luckily the amp fried a month or so after buying it so I was within the 6 month window for PayPal protection. I had to go through them to get my money back for the amp. They said Matrix never responded to them either. I know people that have the older amps are happy with them but I’ve read story after story in the last few years what a disaster they’ve become. You’ll be fine with the Duncan. I've had both and there’s nothing special about the Matrix despite the internet hype. The Duncan has the eq making it far more versatile and they’re a reputable company that’s been around for decades.
 
Update. The Robo-Emails have stopped and I reached out to Support
a couple days ago for an status of any kind. So far, radio silence.
No way to run a business.
 
This is a bananas thread. I've considered buying Matrix in the past, but not now. Going to add a note to my database with a link to this thread in here just in case I find myself wondering about this later.
 
I am after Matrix UK ´cause I wanted to buy a 4-channel poweramp for my PA, but no stock since two years (I guess), conversation is very aahh, slow...looking for other options, reminds me a lot of Atomic
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom