Matamp King Street Major

Hand wired 15/50w 1x12 combo built Jan 2007.
Essentially a single channel amp but incredibly versatile.
Originaly 4x12AX7 pre-amp, 4xEL34 power amp.
v1 replaced with 12AY7, 2xEL34 replaced with KT77.
Original Hot 100 speaker replaced with Celestion Alnico Gold.
Low input = 15w KT77, High input = 50w EL34 & KT77. Inputs footswitchable from low to high.
Voice switch = thins the tone. Footswitchable - ideal for a slight boost.
Gain & overdrive. Overdrive footswitchable.
Presence, treble, middle & bass tone stack.
2 x master volumes, footswitchable.
Effects loop.
Triode/pentode & half power switches.

I have been playing guitar off and on for 35 years and have dabbled with many guitars, amps etc forever searching for "that sound".
I've finally found it !
My main guitar is a V neck USA Deluxe Stratocaster with Bulldog Formvar 50's pickups and a Fishman piezo bridge.
I play guitar and keyboards in a mainly 60's/70's covers band with a female lead singer.
I therefore have to cover a huge range of sounds from ultra clean to Pat Benatar crunch but no heavy/thrash scooped mid range (thank God).
The KSM is superb using gain & 50w for clean and overdrive & 15w for crunch. Perfect balance between the 2.
Hit the voice switch for a little more gain & bass for solo's then again to back off & thin out for rhythm.
Hit master 2 for as much volume boost as you could want.
I gig using the half power option so 25w clean, 7.5w overdriven miked through the p.a. This is the ideal power to be able to drive the power amp for real "tone".

Built like a tank - totally dependable.
Totally handwired not a pcb in sight.
I just carry spare valves & fuses - just in case.

I ordered direct from the Matamp factory in Meltham, UK.
Agreed the specification with them (the KSM is only usually available as a head), agreed the design of the cabinet, tolex, grill cloth, even the Matamp logo (all made to look like a Fender Blackface).
Went to the factory to play the amp and agree final tweaks before final assembly - it doesn't come any better.
The only downside is the wait while it is hand built for you.

I also own a Fender Baja Telecaster as my back up guitar and have access to a Marshall TSL half stack should I need to use it. I never have !
I would replace it in an instant.
This is my third Matamp. The C7 is a brilliant little amp but not quite enough clean headroom to gig with. The 1224 is also superb but a bit too fiddly for me. I've also had Fender, Marshall, Engl, Cornford but not of them came close.
The only thing missing is spring reverb but I couldn't get Matamp to build this is as there aren't enough valves to power it.