Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

[OlinMusic]

I rather like these amps - I have mostly heard the Lightning and Chieftan. I once saw Scofield with a DC30. However, my fave boutique has so far been BOGNER.

I see a lot of great players with Matchless amps. They sound great. I just don't get why people pay upwards of $3K for them. Are they all that? I feel like vintage Marshalls can get you there.

As well, if I were to spend $3k, I am thinking Shiva or Ecstasy. Someone help me on what I am missing.

ARE THEY $2-$4K of KICK A$$?

Feel free to explain Bad Cat to me while you are at it.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

First, they're designed mostly for clean/edgy clean for roots/blues/pop players, NOT hard rock or metal at all. Matchless spearheaded the 90's boutique amp craze by introducing military spec point to point amps for a high premium, during a time when everyone was interested in racks. Matchless caught the attention of all the vintage amp buffs who were growing tired of the standard stuff, and too tone-snobbish to even consider a rack setup. The price scared off everyone but the wealthy and famous, but it also opened the floodgate for other builders charging big money for top quality amps. The 'first boutique' reputation and the impeccable workmanship is why Matchless is popular, and will also become one of the highest priced collectibles of our time.

As far as sound, Matchless never claimed to 'do it all.' Sampson used to work on Vox and Marshall amps for famous players, keeping them tour worthy.
When he started Matchless around 89-91, his goal was to make a new classic amp, loosely based on Vox, RCA, Marshall, and there's no amp that can get better, bigger, or richer cleans than a Matchless DC-30 and Chieftain.
Different, yes, but not better.

I've owned about 4 Matchless amps, and paid the lowest possible price, and made money off the other 3. Amps of that caliber are mostly for investment/collectible purposes, which you can enjoy playing. I've put a lot of nice clean amps next to the Chieftain, such as the Bassman LTD, Gibson Goldtone, AC-30, Blues Pearl.......however, the Matchless still wins for overall tone. The Goldtone is an amp I like equally though, and it's reverb is even better than the Matchless IMO.

http://matchlessamplifiers.com/match00.html

 

[firebirdVII]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

I've been told that the BadCat BlackCat is almost exactly the same amp as the DC 30. There were a few minor improvements, (half power switch and a different cab to make the bass better) but other than that, they're the same (continuing from what I was told).

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

I have quite liked the Matchless and Bad Cat amps I've played. The DC30 has a very cool spongy feel to it, that is rather unique, real fun to gig with at gig volume, but it's not a gain machine. The 2x12 BadCat I played had two 6L6's in class A/B and it reminded me of a real good vintage Bluesbreaker but with a very good reverb.

 

[cream123]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

i was to afriad to ever touch them :laugh2: . the price tag made me scared to even go near them, might break something

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

I love them. I based two of my amp offerings off of two of the Matchless designs (C-30 and LIghtning)

Remember how they got their start... aC30's were and are notoriously unreliable. Sampson was a whiz at fixing AC30's. He and another guy formed Matchless to make a rugged version of an AC30. Think of the Lightning as being an AC15.

They used the most massive iron they could find. The transformers are the true "secret sauce" of these amps (quoting a friend )

I'm a believer, that's for sure. So much so that I sourced the same transformers that the big boys use. I'm convinced it makes a difference.

But, jonesy is right about the gain thing. They give up a wonderful EL84 crunch, but you'll never find metal high gain type bands using them.

 

[Curly]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

I played an SC 30 on vacation and fell in love.

Mark used to have an amp with a plexi cover and you could see the flawless craftsmanship. Pretty awesome.

but it's certainly a different animal than the Bogners.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

Oh yeah, curly gets the credit for the term "secret sauce".

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

Go play an HC/SC/DC-30 & you tell US !!!

Or listen to the Refreshments albums "Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy" &/or "The Bottle & Fresh Horses"

Brian Blush used an HC-30 thru a Fender cab & an LP Goldtop w/Duncans on those albums......SMOKIN' fat a$$ full round etc etc etc tones just ooze out & off those discs!!!! :32:

 

[shaka]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

Go play an HC/SC/DC-30 & you tell US !!!

Or listen to the Refreshments albums "Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy" &/or "The Bottle & Fresh Horses"

Brian Blush used an HC-30 thru a Fender cab & an LP Goldtop w/Duncans on those albums......SMOKIN' fat a$$ full round etc etc etc tones just ooze out & off those discs!!!! :32:

I second this. Brian Blush had the best live tone I've ever heard. He used a Matchless and a Groove Tubes Soul-O to get his sound.

I love my DC-30.

Eric

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

I've tried them, they are cool. I like them to the tune of $1200 perhaps. I mean NO INSULT - I am glad sooo many things are out there.

I made this thread bc once upon a time I thought this amp called the Bogner Shiva was overrated, the distortion was just ok, and it was not much better than a Marshall.

Then in one sitting, someone said THAT amp sounds amazing on you - and I trust their ear. I said really? I heard it A/B'd against other amps - everything from Marshalls to Roccafortes and Riveras - and I was sold.

I am thinking perhaps I have a thing or 2 to learn about Matchless, and once it hits me I may never look back.

I have heard people sound quite good with 65, Matchless, and BadCat, but it was never a mile away from a mini-Marshall or Vox for me.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

The magic of the matchless is the dirty/clean sound. A lot of amps can do distorted and some can do clean but usually most amps can't do either at the same time. With a matchless you can turn up the amp and get a wonderfull half dirty sound that you can't find in most other amps. If you want distortion roll up the volume on the guitar if you want clean back off the volume. You get that power tube growl from the low wattage and EL84's. Even cranked up they really aren't that loud either. They are very responsive and they always sound controlable.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

The magic of the matchless is the dirty/clean sound. A lot of amps can do distorted and some can do clean but usually most amps can't do either at the same time. With a matchless you can turn up the amp and get a wonderfull half dirty sound that you can't find in most other amps. If you want distortion roll up the volume on the guitar if you want clean back off the volume. You get that power tube growl from the low wattage and EL84's. Even cranked up they really aren't that loud either. They are very responsive and they always sound controlable.

good description

 

[aleclee]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

Different strokes for different folks. Some players swear by the Shiva while I'm as happy with my Rivera Rake as I would be with a Shiva. That doesn't mean it's a bad amp or even overpriced, just no worth it to me.

As for Matchless, they're not my cup o' tea. The cleans are very nice but not particularly preferable to a number of other amps I've played. When it comes to overdrive, I really don't like Matchless. While some folks like Scott might groove to that raw sound, it does nothing for me.

The one thing about Matchless that should impress everyone is the craftsmanship. It might not totally justify the price in some minds but the attention to detail in the wiring is superb.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

I want to be clear here - I would love to own a Matchless - but at that price, I would have to replace some gear, sell a few things. I could imagine myself doing that for certain things - Brazilian Rosewood McCarty, Bogner Ecstasy most of all. When I think Matchless, I would want it in a multi-amp rig, and then it would be pricey. I can't say they are "my" sound per se, but damn they are toneful.

Getting back to that "not in my studio" thread, this would be the amp to bring!

 

[RushOfBlood]

Re: Explain the Magic of Matchless to me

The magic of the matchless is the dirty/clean sound. A lot of amps can do distorted and some can do clean but usually most amps can't do either at the same time. With a matchless you can turn up the amp and get a wonderfull half dirty sound that you can't find in most other amps. If you want distortion roll up the volume on the guitar if you want clean back off the volume. You get that power tube growl from the low wattage and EL84's. Even cranked up they really aren't that loud either. They are very responsive and they always sound controlable.

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