Matchless Thunderman

This is an addendum to my earlier review. Just wanted to add that (obviously) I'm still thrilled with it, and also to note that I just picked up a G&L ASAT Tele-style axe (red w/"red pearloid" pickguard, and white pickups, nice looking). The pickups are the standard "double ASAT" type configuration, as in the big P-90 looking pickups, plus a regular Strat type single in the middle, like a Nashville Tele, except much better. The point here is that, while my other guitars sounded "really good" through the Matchless, the G&L sounded "really excellent, and beyond". I mean, I've always loved the G&L pickups, but there's some kind of magic to the combination of these guitars and Matchless amps (i.e. John Jorgenson). I've never really been into any of the Hellecaster guys, but the sound combination here is incredible. Usually, when I find a guitar that seems to make every amp sing, and an amp that seems to make every guitar sing, when I put them togather it usually creates an "overkill effect" and doesn't sound that well. Not the case here. Now, this isn't going to be everyone's sound, but I think all who played (or heard) this combo would have to admit that it is a killer sound, whoever's sound it is. I mean, I can't use this sound ALL of the time either (I'm fortunate enough to have a couple of different nice sounding amps and a few guitars), but if I had to choose just one amp and one guitar, this would be the pair.

45-watt bass amp. In the grand tradition of the 50's Fender Bassman, I am a guitar player who has perverted a bass amp by using it for guitar. I bought it this year (early '00), but it was still new in the store. In other words, I paid the new amp price, but $2000 wasn't bad for a new Matchless. Besides, the old DC30s seem to be going for actually more than they were new (and they were pretty dang expensive new).

So anyhow, on to the features. 45 watts from (I believe) 2xEL34 tubes, and it has a tube rectifier, though I don't know what type or model (I haven't taken the cage off the top to look - you'd think the guys at the store could have at least given me some literature, the amp being new and all).

Very interesting looking amp. It's very similar to the old Ampeg B-15 flip-top amps, as the head unlatches from the body, and can be flipped over (with electronics inside the closed back cab), latched down, and ready to be moved. Clever design by Ampeg, and Matchless capitalized on it. Though be forewarned, it is not light. Actually it's a complete beast to move, but somehow I still really don't mind (until load out time). The thing lights up like a power plant when turned on, and of course the backlit controls not only look cool but can be seen onstage.

It has an eq complement of Treble, Bass, Brilliance (similar to a presence, but it can really add crispiness or take it away), Volume, and a knob also for Sensitivity. I assume this is an input sensitivity control, so you could use active and passive pickups for bass. But like I said, I use it for guitar, so I turn the sensitivity all the way up. It also has a switch on the front, and under this big, heavy duty switch it says Comp Off. I assume that it gives you some amount of compression with it flipped up, but I have trouble telling much of a difference (compression for me has always been a very "invisible" or transparent effect). It has two speaker outs (and a big chicken head knob to switch from 4, 8, and 16 ohms), and also has effects send and return jacks (a very passive loop - I'd get one of those Dumbelator tube FX loop buffers if you're a serious loop guy - lots of guys make clones now). I usually just run my effects through the front end, they still sound great that way (at least with guitar). I'd have liked a good spring reverb, but I'm an addict, so pay that comment no mind.

It has a 15" speaker, but I don't know what kind. I guess Matchless figured that since it was a closed back amp, that they didn't have to put a label on the speaker. I know they modify Celestion speakers for the guitar amps, but I'm still fuzzy as to what this is. I'm sure that, whatever it is, it was modified by Matchless just like the guitar speakers.

I use various Strats, and old Fender Flame (from the '84 Japanese Custom Shop), and a Paul Reed Smith Custom 22 (with Dragon II pickups, nickel covers, 3-way with coil tap). While realizing that Matchless amps are known for getting a good semi-dirty sound, the only reason I still hadn't bought one was that I wanted a great clean tone as well. But I loved the dirty overdrive sounds I always got from the SC30. I think I figured out that it was mainly the Matchless transformers I heard (I still want to find out who made those, now that Matchless is out of business). Well, believe me, this amp will get clean. What's weird, though, is that when I was trying it out, I was plugged in with a maple neck Strat, and with treble way down and bass way up (and of course volume and sensitivity up), I could get a very fat Clapton-esque (think Ccream) almost Eric Johnson like lead sound - on the bridge pickup, with the guitar's tone knob up as well.

I have a lot of different "boutique" overdrive and fuzz pedals, and wanted an amp I could get all the subtle (and not so subtle) overdrive flavors. With the H&K Tube Factor on extreme settings, you can get very aggressive, fat, and chunky full on Metal sounds that actually sound great (Factor 2). I hardly ever use that, but it's nice to know that I could, though (makes me grin - like having a rocket launcher, "just in case"). I have the Maxon OD-808 (they made the origional Ibanez 808's), Barber Burn Unit, many Fulltone pedals, etc., plus reverb and delay pedals (nice ones), and you can get any sound but a super skinny one (you can get it kind of skinny if you want though). And like all Matchless amps, yes, they respond great to pedals. Love it! And at any club volume (with the right pedal), you still can get that signature Matchless super rich "kick and scream and wail" overdrive. I'm pretty sure the Transformers allow that, which are big and super heavy (that's a good sign, but not for my back, though). The overall tone is the opposite of nondescript, yet it's very hard to describe. I would compare it to an old Hiwatt, except without the muddy, throaty lower midrange sound - it's a little more crisp airy than the Hiwatts I've played, but it still has the closed back cab "thump". You can also dull the amp to a smooth lead sound, thanks to the active eq controls. The overall sound seems to be dialed in just right.

Oh yes. It's hard to make it blow up, but through a bonehead maneuver I almost did the other night. I corrected the problem eventually and thought that I'd really worn the tubes and it wouldn't sound right now. To my surprise, it sounded as full as it ever did. You could blow it up if you really wanted to, of course, but it takes some effort. Just don't be stupid with it, and it'll be fine. And you gotta love the super thick speaker cable that came with it (it and the power cable store nicely in the bottom of the cab when you take the head off and flip it over for transport).

Ha! Oh man, they are so out of business! However, simple tube designs like this can be easily serviced by a technician who know what he's doing. Though I don't know what I'd do if the transformers went out. Despair I guess, until I could find some others.

Actually, I should give it a "9" here, because you kinda have to know what you're doing to get the best sounds (active eq is a double edged sword - you can get many great sounds, but tweaking is required to get the best - but they all sound "good"). I personally give this amp a 10, period. Sounds great. I've owned all manner, size, and shapes of boutique amplifiers, and this one is a no-brainer. I'll just say that it's the only one of the bunch that I still own. I still love the other amps I used to own, but there was always just that one thing that I didn't like about them (different things on different amps). This amp, despite the incredible weight, is probably the most "giggable" amp I've owned - and it wails in a real good studio. The newness has worn off, but I still like it just as much as when I got it. That's saying something, because I'm incredibly fickle when it comes to gear. I've gone through my "other gear lust" while owning this, and this amp hasn't given me any reason to get rid of it. In fact, I'm still finding ways to make this sound better on occasion. Like it, love it! We want more of it! I don't know what made me plug into a bass amp, but I'm glad I did. I thought it would be unusable for guitar since it's optimized for bass, but it's turned out to be great for both (I've let bass players use this when their rigs have blown up - when I was just in the audience and happened to have it with me - and the bass guys just love this thing). And it's pretty simple really, because it's everything a good guitar amp should be, in that it simply amplifies the signal, using the purest signal path, and the best possible components. That philosophy can work even on high gain amps (take the Dumble Overdrive Special amplifiers, for instance - case closed). I've been putting this review off for a long time, because I wanted to be as objective as possible, but I guess now is the time. Man, I just can't say enough, so I guess I'll just leave it there.