Matchless SC/30

This amp was purchased new in April 2006. The design was originally based on a VOX AC30 Top Boost. Mark Sampson???s intention back then was to create a bullet proof player???s amp based around this design but to eliminate all the design and dependability issues that were associated with it. This so called class ???A??? design amp is loaded with a single 8 ohm Celestion G12 30 Anniversary speaker and runs on 4 cathode biased EL 84 output tubes. It features two channels. One is the so called ???top boost??? channel which consists of Volume, Treble Bass and the other channel offers the much hotter pentode tube driven ???click??? channel plus volume. Same setup that was later also implemented by Divided by 13, London amps, Top Hat and others. The master section offers a Push/Pull Master volume that has to be activated by pulling it out. Otherwise it is not activated and the Master volume control does not have any effect. In this mode the amp runs wide open just determined by the individual volume settings of its two channels. Last but not least there is a cut control to tame high frequencies for both channels simultaneously. On the back side of the amp we have two separate effects loop, one for each channel (never used), a half/full power selector, a speaker phase reverse switch, a speaker impedance selector (4, 8, 16 ohms) and two convenient AC courtesy outlets. The amp is rated at 30 watts full power and about 15 watts half power. These ratings are probably a little underrated and the amp delivers actually more around 40 watts RMS in full power when used wide open and with the pentode channel. The amp is very heavy and weights in at 70 pounds. Quality and performance come to a price, but everybody agrees on the fact that Matchless really set the benchmark in terms of ???build??? quality. The use of top grade components and its meticulous PTP wiring is still pretty unique among hand built amplifier manufacturers.

The amp sounds great with single coils. P90s equipped guitars, Strats and Teles all sound gorgeous, but also my Les Paul shines through this amp. For Strats I still utilize some beef from a classic Treble Booster, but the Les Paul does not need this boost. The amp can cover everything from clean to mean to very ballsy and cholesterol dripping single note leads. It reacts very well to individual picking dynamics. Notes come out clear, even when the amp is fully maxed, but it seems more forgiving than a lot of other high end boutique amps, which might make it a better choice for sloppy players. Just kidding. This amp can???t do Twin Reverb clean and it can???t do Marshall ???crunch??? convincingly. While it offers very good gain and distortion for blues and rock when driven hard, it is not a Heavy Metal amp by any means unless you use an appropriate pedal for that. Treble boosters or distortion units, vibe, chorus and delays effects all work just great in front of this amp. The Matchless seems to take them as a very natural ingredient to the amps own sound and not necessarily as an add-on. It certainly helps to use quality effects. The amp can get noisy when fully driven especially with single coil equipped guitars. However I don't have an amp that doesn't provide me with the same added bonus.
This is the only 1 x 12??? combo amplifier that I ever placed on top of a case or speaker cabinet and still sounds absolutely HUGE. All the other combos I ever used before had to be placed directly on the floor to reflect the low frequencies better and to give me a fuller sound. The downside was always that band mates and sound guys complained about my volume since I din't get the full impact of the speaker like others. The Matchless does not need that. Place it on a case, play at lower volumes while still getting a huge sound and everybody is happy. Impressive! It almost matches the sonic thump and impact of a 50 watts Marshall driven through a 4 x 12??? cabinet loaded with G12 M greenbacks. It is also the most consistent amp I have ever used. It seems to sounds always the same and to delivers its sonic goods very independently from the acoustical environments you are using it in.

I just had it for 9 months now, so I can't really say how dependable it will be. The quality of the materials and workmanship is probably the best among all my amps. Carry spare tubes and a fuse and you will be just fine. I had my first Matchless HD-30, which was actually the ???Head??? version of this amp during the end of the 80???s. It was one of the very first Matchless amps that were shipped to Germany, where I lived back then. I never had a problem in the past and can attest you that this new Matchless Amp sounds as impressive as the original Mark Simpson amp as far as I can remember. Word has it that the new production amps are even more consistent than they ever were in the past.

No idea. I bought my amp from Fat Sound Guitars and Stu will take care of everything if I schould ever have a problem.

Besides my vintage amps that I have all sold over my 39 guitar playing years (Marshall, Fender, VOX, Selmer) I own or have owned following newer amps: Blockhead 18 Firstborn, Fuchs ODS30, Fuchs Train 45, Germino Club40 (Serial #1), Fender 57 Twin RI, several Dr. Z MAZ 18s, MAZ 38, Budda Twinmaster Ten, Sovtek MIG50, Boogies MK1, MK2, MK3, MK4, Dumble ODS, Swart Atomic Tone 20, Divided by 13 RSA 23 and Louis JTM 45 Baby Bluesbreaker.
Since I had the amp for a while now, the honeymoon is over. All I can say is that this amp would be my desert island choice if I had to select between any of my amps. The only downside is the enormous weight of this little package. Make sure that whoever has to haul this thing around knows what to expect.

I have a New era SC-30 made in 2005. I have owned the Sampson era SC-30 and DC-30 and I can tell you there's no difference in the quality and tone...Phil Jamisson has got it right one the money. This is a 2 channel amp ...1st channel is clean 2nd gets much nastier and sweet No reverb on this model but I dont miss it at all. This amp has lots of useful feature nontheless...1/2 power switch ohm switcher and effects loop.

This amp covers all the tones (Rock,Bllues,countryand Jazz) no metal here and with just reason ..the amp wasn't designed for it. I don't use any effects just guitar to amp...I use a highway 1 strat loaded with Jason Lollar Blonde PUPs ..sets this amp on fire. Mainly play blues and classic rock, this amp does them increadibly well. the amp has a 8 position tone knob you dial in any sound you can imagine..the tone on this amp is drop dead gorgeous ..simply killer.

built to "old world" Matchless standards, this amp is build like the space shuttle. No Worries here

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I've been play for 25 years and have owned tons of gear. I think I'll stick with Matchless! nothing beats classA tone.... nothing beats Matchless! The sc-30 has unbeleivable tone and clarity.

My amp is one of the early Sampson models. Burgundy tolex and mathching extension speaker. custom ordered from the factory new in Nov. 1992. It kills everything I have ever owned. I have over 15 fine electric guitars and every one of them sounds stunning through it. I use the effects loop for a delay only. I have the Matchless A/B channel switching unit which came with it an it gets occaisional use. I use a variety of effects. A re-issue Fender '65 tube reverb unit(don't use this in the efeects loop), a Fulltone OCD and I almost always keep my Carl Martin compressor on for subtle compression. Occaisionally I use a vintage Boss CE1 and a Crybaby. Everything sounds amazing through this amp and it's way loud on the low-power setting.

I play blues, country, folk and rock. I strive for vintage tones and it nails the sound I seek regardless of the axe. Warm and yummy. The clean tone is the best I have heard. Like glass. The distortion tones are the real vintage deal even at low settings when I use the master volume. Usually my amp is is set clean and I use the OCD for distortion/overdrive or clean boost. You cannot make it sound bad(unless your playing sucks, of course). I have two 17th Street guitars built by John Carruthers in Venice, CA, a G&L ASAT classic, a G&L S500, a Gretsch Tennesee Rose, Customized Fender Stratocaster, Les Paul Custom Plus, Heritage H140 w/ classic 57 PU's, ES 335, Rickenbacker Tom Petty, Brian Moore 8.13 synth etc. etc. etc. Even my Takamine Santa Fe Ltd. sounds great thru this amp.

No breakdowns ever. Replace a couple of tubes. That's it. Sherman tank equivalent. I have had the amp inspected maybe 3 times. It records and gigs perfectly. Who need's a backup. I have a small Tech 21 Trademark 10 for living room jams at other people's houses. I have never had the Matchless fail.

never needed it.

I have been playing 40 years. If I lost this amp, I would cry even though it is insured. I owned other amps before this. When I heard one in a music store back in 1992 I had to own it. It was a stretch financially at the time. It did not stop me. I have built my style around this amp. I have played many other fine amps in the years since I got it and I will never sell it...ever. I can see owning other gear, but never as a replacement for it. Don't be cheap, buy one great amp that you can plug into straight and get a warm, complex, pleasing sound that makes you hard (even if you're a girl). It ain't cheap, and it is worth every penny. If only it weighed what my Trademark 10 does I would be in heaven But hey, it's kind of heavy because it is "overbuilt" like a freaking tank.

They're listed by other users. Mine has 2 5U4 rectifier tubes.

Let me just say that this is an excellent amp, with exactly the right features.

When wifey is out for the night, I let it rock out. Other times, I use the master volume. Rarely have ever switched up to 30 watt mode.

Use a Gibson BluesHawk (semi-hollow w. 2 P90s) and a G&L ASAT Bluesboy (humbucker in neck, and single-coil in bridge), and play a variety of bluesy, jazzy, mellow-alternative type stuff (almost only my own stuff). I use a Peavey Valverb for tube reverb/tremolo in front. I have a Digitech RP-10 for chorus/flange/phase/digital-delay when I want something different, am home-recording, or am entertaining my wife, and it sits in the closet when I don't.

The sound is the only one for me. Glassy and smooth through the first channel, so sweet it could kill, with clear breakup for biting blues. Thick and huge through the second, with nice midrange, and the breakup is even thicker. Complex midrange? HELL YES. Bright and defined? HELL YES. Warmer than a summer night? HELL YES!!!!!

Very warm. A friend from church has a '67 Fender Deluxe Reverb, and it's as warm as this. Talked to Mark, the designer and original owner, and this is apparently in large part to a process which artificially ages the speaker at the factory to sound like one that's seen 3-4 decades of use.

An Ovation sounded pretty darn good through this as well, trough the second channel...something of a swampy electric thing, with good breakup--want to record that on an album someday.

Just got it a few months ago. Sit in my den with my guitars, a beanbag chair, and a hallogen lamp. Moves across the street to my church once in a blue moon. Would like to gig with it if I could find a band with an opening that I can dig on (fat chance).

Maybe Jamison will service the old ones? Dunno. Talked to Mark when he worked at Royer Labs, and he sent me a beautiful letter about what he was trying for in the days of Matchless, and the scematics in case I ever need to service it. I keep the letter in my box of stuff that's moved me.

The sound for me. Glassy, swirly, warm, woody/organic... It's beyond words.

I hear the new ones are great, that Phil Jamison is now making, but they're quite expensive. Mark is also making amps again, even better that these from what I've heard, called Two Rock amps. I have never tried one, but would very much like to someday, just to see what he's accomplished since the Matchless days.

I'm a semi-talented bedroom player: I make a good income, have few expenses, and this is my only hobby other than eating out and taking walks. It's all the amp a guy like me possibly needs, and I feel guilty enough owning something this sweet as it is!

New Matchless made in 3/01. They're back...and they're AWSOME. Phil Jamison is heading up production, again at the new Matchless Amplifier Company and the EL84 tone is sweeter than ever. Same 2 channel lay-out.

Channel one is the mojo. Tone, tone & more tone. Chimey with cascading overdrive that's magical. The interactive tone controls make for great tone.

I owned an original sc/30 back in '94 and this looks and feels identical-built like a tank.

Got the amp from Eddie at Indoorstorm! It came with an original manual without the address or contact info in it. Eddie says they are still deciding on whether to have a "lifetime" (oh no!) or 1 year warranty. This leaves me a little warry as they are already shipping without a policy. I do hope they will last this time.

Been playing for 3 decades now and this is TONE to me. I've owned many, many boutique and original amps. This has the tone that I've been lusting after. For me, this is it.

The Matchless S/C30 combo has an effects loop and master volume control, but no channel switching. I no longer use the effects loop, even for reverb, as the Matchless sound is too pure. It appears to have more power than its conservative rating. It is of course all tube vintage design. I bought it new from the factory maybe ten years ago. I play a variety of styles,without a pick, and the Matchless picks up subtle playing variations.

Matchless IS tone. After one has played enough, that's what it comes down to. The amp is very clean, doubtless due to its quality construction. The user can shape the palette of overtones almost at will, with the few controls the amp has (or needs). The sound drips with subtle overtones and shadings. Unsurpassed. Distortion is natural at high volume on channel 2, although the amp is friendly to its matching all=tube floor pedal if desired.

This combo is built to withstand a nuclear attack, being constructed to military specs. It has never broken down.

Never needed repair (its about ten years now).

I have been playing since 1956 (my God!) through recordings and a stint with Roy Buchanan, god of the Tele. The amp is irreplaceable. I know I sound like I own the company, but it's true. As can be characteristic of all-tube design, it sounds better and better over time. If you are going to have one amp, this would be it. I also have a Peavey Classic 60 stereo amp, which is perhaps best for fragile, ethereal crystalline type playing as it sounds almost like a lyre.

Mine is a pre-randall matchless. The amp is surprisingly versatile; friendly to stompboxes, (I have a TON of them). Lo power option is a very practical, as this amp likes to be played loud. The effects loop might not be as friendly because it's gain is tied to the volume of the amp. But shame on those who'd try to put a digital box NEAR this amp. By the way, this amp is sounds significantly different than the DC-30. It breaks up (a little bit) more like a fender. I tour a bit, and on occassion, end up with rental gear (DC-30). One thing I noticed was the DC didn't get along with my fuzz pedal quite as well. The reason: The DC runs @ 4 ohms, whereas the SC runs @ 8 ohms. I know, because I once tried the DC-30 @ 8ohms (sorry, rental dude) and it sounded more similar to my amp.

I play pop and rock gigs/sessions. For my regular rock gig, I'm using a guitar w/P-90's with either a Fulltone Soulbender or Fulldrive2. The amp handles the over-the-top fuzz surprisingly well. I have noticed, however, that the amp doesn't like humbuckers as well as single-coil p/u's. Maybe my reissue les paul is a little too tubby. The strat/ voodoo-1 combination is excellent. The overall voicing of the amp is smooth and glassy. The left channel is bright, more about smooth highs. Everyone always uses this channel in the higher gain input. I always end up using the right channel, with the low-gain input, because i'm hitting it with pedals. The right channel also has slightly more gain, with a more complex midrange voicing.

built like a tank. NEVER had a problem.

out of business.......so what happens when all those little lightbulbs (in the nameplate) finally burn out? customer support? Zilch, Nada, buh-bye. Good thing they're built so well

This amp does it's thing GREAT. It's not as Vox-ish as some would have you believe. The amp, to me, is somewhere in between Fender and Vox. Real smooth, real glassy. It's nicer to pedals than any Fender I've played through. Although, I think Fender fans would consider it too bright. The amp's brightness does translate well in recording situations. A close miked '57 doesn't "hear" all the reflections in the room that contribute to an amp's brightness. The overall sound of this amp reminds me of a Pretenders record. My other amps, by the way, are a '55 Tremolux and an Egnater TOL 100

This is a 1996 or 97 near as I can figure- Its many features are covered by prior reviews. I use this amp as my main rig and play rock to rockabilly to country and blues. I have used it live and in the studio where it was an instant hit with our engineer, who remarked on its pleasing tone and low noise. Is it loud enough? Oh yeah! I rarely take it out of the 15 watt mode- a feature I really like, that is, switchable between 15 or 30 watts. It won't do "shred" but I don't either, so no points off for that!

I use a Tele and a PRS McCarty, plus delay, Tremulator and TS-9. I mostly use Ch.1, the more Vox like sound. Nice to have the factory suggested settings to use as a benchmark. The amp sounds very shimmery, swirly when played clean, but will bark with authority if you dig in. It handles fx well. This is a pretty quiet amp, unless you max the pre-amp. All together a nice "feel " when you play through it, love the string definition.

I am second owner for this amp, and although I have only had it a month, besides my busy schedule with two current projects, I had been going down to visit it at the music store where it has been out on the demo floor for the past 10 months, getting wanked and abused by anyone who wanted. Although I have in the past had problems with another Matchless (Clubman- see my review elsewere in HS), I have faith this puppy can and has stood up well. But I ALWAYS gig w/ a back-up anyway!

Matchless, so I hear, is out of business as of this writing, so...the lifetime warenty is maby not so much...

Been playing 20 plus years, I actually sold my beloved Bruno to a band mate to get the scoot for this amp. I would be really bummed if it got stolen, not only for the loss of $, but for the great tone it get. I LOVE this amp! Oh, forgot to mention it has 2 three prong powre outs in back, a feature much like the old Fenders- very handy! Is it value for the $? At what price tone?? I am fortunate to be able to afford it...just barely.

I used to think that this any amp with more than a volume knob and tone was complicated. This is one step up...pretty simple but functional. I really don't miss the lack of reverb or tremolo - the tone is there without them. The 1/2 power switch is great and adds more of a tonal difference and headroom than actual volume when switched to 30 watts. Each channel is voiced differently and I use an A/B box to switch between channels. Channel 1 is Vox-like and Channel 2 has more girth and gain. All-in-all this is a simple amp but has more features than the old Fenders I'm used to (by far!).

An incredibly harmonically rich amp! I play blues/rock and this amp is it for me. After Fenders, Buddas, etc. this is the best amp for what I do. Channel 1 is a shatter glass Vox sound with very interactive tone controls. This channel is my fave. I use it 3/4 of the time. Channel 2 has less sparkle and is aggressive. I constantly flip in and out of high/low power modes for the tonal changes. This can be a really fun exercise - lots of variation in tone/headroom. This amp can "appear" very clean but it's pretty..."high cholestrol" ...as they say.

It's new, so no problems yet. I gotta say that the condition of the UPS box indicates that this amp took abuse...and came out of the box working fine. From what I hear (and I had a Matchless Lighning Reverb for a year) these are solid amps

Dealings fine so far.

Boring answer but...this is a phenomenal amp. I've owned at least 30 amps. This is the best! If you are considering a DC-30 but don't like the size and weight, consider the SC-30. For me that was the choice. The SC-30 is not too heavy or large. I actually borrowed a DC-30 for 1 gig and thought it was too heavy and bulky. I would buy this amp again. I don't miss the lack of reverb at all. Feel free to e-mail me if you are considering a Matchless.

This 2 channel amp is unique, one channel is pentode and one is triode. There is no channel switching however. Simple, easy to use controls with the neat feature of bypassing the master volume via push-pot. The amp also has a half power switch and effects loop. The single 12" speaker is a Celestion Vintage 30 re-tweaked by Matchless.

This amp goes from sparkling clean to a bluesy distortion in channel one. Channel two becomes a little nastier with both channels fuller through the high input. The amp is very full considering it loads only one 12. The class A circuitry shines with full crunchy chords, probably not enough sustain though for some tastes.

No problems in 18 months of use, for the original owner a lifetime warranty is given.

Service at dealer of purchase has never been a problem in past and they state any big problems will be handled by Matchless without fail. Phone calls to Matchless just for general information have been helpful. A chance meeting with original co-founder at music store of purchase resulted in a wealth of extra information and background. a

Overall this amp is a gem, well-built, great looking, reliable, versatile for many styles and sounds great as one would expect for the price. You do get what you pay for.