Ampfest

Duppy03

Last night myself and a couple of friends finally did what we'd threatened to do for too long and got all our amps together in one place at the same time, plugged in and rejoiced.

The amps are (from left to right):

Vox AC15C1

Orange AD30 with Zilla Fatboy cab

1971 Fender Silverface Pro Reverb

1968 Laney Supergroup 60

1974 Marshall Superbass with 1968 4x12

Matchless DC30 clone with Marshall JCM800 4x12 (G1265's)

Fez

One guitar into all of them at once?

dano

Duppy03

That would have been something to experience, unfortunately we didn't have the means.

I imagine it would have been like being strapped to the bottom of jumbo jet during take off.

Dave_Mc

nice

citizen68

Sounds like a great evening - who made the Matchless clone?

Deijavoo

citizen68 said:

who made the Matchless clone?

and how close/good is it?

Duppy03

The clone was made by a friend of mine, Simon Kets from Origin Effects http://www.origineffects.com.

I've no idea how sounds in comparison to a Matchless as i've never heard one in the flesh, but what I hear from the clone I like a lot.

Deijavoo

Cool, do you have any clips?

Deijavoo

I heard a Matchless Chieftain years ago and it was frankly beautiful sounding.

Duppy03

I'll try and get a couple of clips at my next band practice. Never heard a Chieften, going to look them up now.

Duppy03

Just been looking at their line up of amps, I really like what they do. Never really paid them much attention before as i've always been a little sceptical about the whole boutique thing. But I get it, especially these Matchless amps. I really like the look of the Independence. But the price of them!!! God damit, that's as much as I paid for my car!

[Deleted User]

I played through a Matchless DC30 a few years ago. Without question the best amp I have ever tried. Outstanding touch-sensitivity, made me sound better than any other amp I've used or owned....

citizen68

Have always heard that Matchless amps are something else sound wise - the way they are wired looks pretty scary but must have something to do with the tone? Seriously thinking of a DC30 clone at some stage - the real deal is way out of my price bracket.

IvisonGuitars

Matchless are in another league sound wise. An almost 3D quality to the sound and built like tanks! The hand wiring is something to behold too.

I've had a couple (DC30 & HC30 Stack).

If you are looking for a 'slightly' cheaper alternative, try a Bad Cat. They were set up by the same guy who designed the classic Matchless' (Mark Sampson) after Matchless went bust in the late 90's and his aim was to improve(!) on the original design. Allegedly slightly quieter signal to noise ratio and higher spec transformers. I sold my last Matchless to move to the Bad Cat Black Cat (DC30) design and I think it has the slight edge on the Matchless.

Due to Bad Cat not being as we'll known as Matchless, they can be had for reasonable money. And if you find an early Bad Cat, chances are it'll be full of Matchess branded caps & resistors anyway, like mine is!

Either way they are the ultimate class A amp IMHO

jaygtr

Never tried a matchless, but had a go on a bad cat lil 15 in mansons a couple of years ago whilst on holiday and it was stunning. Especially with the 56 reissue gold top I used.
It was only the lack of reverb that stopped me reaching for the credit card.
It was tiny too.

I still dream about it now. :-\"

Duppy03

@Miserneil, hello mate. It's Matt from The 13 Club, Paul Connops mate. I believe he showed you pics of this very clone a while back and I was enquiring about you building a head shell for it. We i've finally got it and love it to bits. Have you ever tried a Chieften?

Phil_aka_Pip

Maybe the East Anglian GearFest will look as impressive. I hope so!

IvisonGuitars

@Duppy03 Hey Matt! Good to hear from you! Ah, the insides of this beast looked very impressive, I bet it sounds awesome?!

I one tried a Chieftan when I was buying a HC30 Stack, it was BEAUTIFUL! The main thing I remember is how gorgeously rich the clean sound was with the reverb simmering, it really filled the room! I was very tempted to sell another kidney and get one!

Phil_aka_Pip

@miserneil how many kidneys have you got ?! I'd never considered that as an option to finance the GAS ... but mine aren't in particularly good nick so I doubt if I'd get much for them

rockmonster

I had a Matchless Independence 35w reverb head and cab. It was OK but I really didn't like the C30 reverb head I had- I didn't have that for long! I wouldn't have another matchless again. I did like a Bat Cat Hot Cat I tried in Mansons one Saturday ages ago though......