Sonic Machine Factory (SMF) 15 Watt 112 Combo

Bought this amp from Super Sound Music in California in 2008 (great people). It was made in 2005. Amp is incredibly versatile. Great clean sounds in the 1st channel then kick it in to 'high gear' (yes the knob even said high gear!) with the footswitch and you can dial in an amazing nasty overdrive or just a little crunch, whichever you prefer. Amazing lush reverb that is better than any fender reverb i've heard! Even has a swing open door on the amp's back panel for cab tuning.

I'm use a tele with a Lace Sensor Purple pickup and lately been using a Rickenbacker. Words can't do this amp justice. It is the best amp I have ever owned. Period. Fenders, Marshalls, Vox, Orange... this amp is exactly what I was looking for. I used to have 3 overdrive pedals (Fulldrive 2, Analogman modded blues driver and tubescreamer) but now will probably sell 2 of these 3 because the 2nd channels overdrive is just that freakin awesome! I don't need anything else really.

Haven't had it for long enough but it seems pretty freakin' solid.

SMF is no longer with us =(

If this amp were lost or stolen i would probably cry for days because these are hard as crap to find. I hear only about 500 made. Overall best sounding amp i've ever owned. I just with SMF were still around just incase i have any problems or want to buy another. Seems a little too heavy for a 15 watt 1x12 but its solid so they probably had their reasons.

Two channels in class A, with a wonderful lush reverb that even has its own tone control. Seperate tone knob for bright that goes beyond the normal bass, mid, treble. And of course the adjustable closed/open back design. Minus one point for no sperate tone controls for the two channels.

Possibly the best sounding amp I've ever heard. And that's saying something. The best I've heard was a 15 watt VOX Berkeley II from 1968 that when cranked just had a cry and shimmer that was to die for. This amp sounds VERY similar but since I can't back to back them (my VOX is long gone and at the top of my "wish I'd never sold it" list) I can't say for sure. What I CAN say is that this thing is absolutely stunning. Clean or dirty, this rules, and the reverb is better than my old Fender.

It is built to MIL spec and exudes quality. Some famous people play them on real tours. For my livingroom use: Bulletproof.

None.

I've been playing for *ahem* decades and been a gearhead for about the past 15 years or so. I've owned or own some of the best amps out there... vintage Fender, Marshall, VOX, Boogie, Groove Tubes Soul-o, Matchless, Carr, etc. This easily ranks number 1 or 2.

For rock and blues there are no better amps.

If you can find one, buy it.

Paid $1,400 for it in 2003.
Play Clapton Blues, Rolling Stones and Black Crowes

Look guys, it's frustrating to see all the slams on this amp. I find it to be one of the most lush, unique Class A wonders made in the last five years. Sometimes I wonder if the guys above are competetors or just bitter. Features? Two Channels: Sweet milky clean and rock and roll distortion served crisp and crunchy. Reverb so soupy you could swim it. Crazy cosmetic lights run around a sprocket...strange, but draws attention. Open and close tuneable cabinet hatch. Phase switch for feedback issues.

I find the SMF to be on par with any of the Class A masterpiece. First, the clean channel is a real dream. Perfect for any style, the clean channel just feels alive and reactive. All the touch sensitive dynamics are there and mixed with reverb, I don't think I could feel more comfortable and happy with anything else. Effects run well into the clean the channel...preferrably true-bypass. As a pickup and effects dealer, I've run just about every DigiTech, Seymour Duncan and Electro-Harmonix pedal through it. Just about every pedal, with exception to some DigiTech distortion pedals, Multi-FXs and the Duncan Tweak Fuzz, sound good (some sound great, especially the Memory Man, Hot Head Distortion, Big Muff, Holy Grail Reverb and English Muffin).

I run a BJF Mint Green Compressor -> Mesa Boogie Bottle Rocket -> Ernie Ball Volume Pedal -> DLS Chorus -> SIB Echo Drive -> Maxon AD-80 Analog Delay. Awesome combo.

The bright switch really makes a difference for dud pickups without high-end. Bass, mid and treble have versatile sweep.

Dirty Channel is awesome for Rolling Stones/Black Crowes crunch. I play my 52 Tele Reissue in open G with the 6 string popped off. A dream...wide open 2nd harmonics and reactivity that I've never felt from any Fender Amps. For me and my style of music, the distortion is ideal. I probably wouldn't even use a distortion pedal with it, but there's a slight problem. The distortion channel causes your delays to get louder, so much that you have to readjust your effects. Bummer. Distortion sounds best raw and the reverb compensates.

The open and close cabinet is really cool. Keep it open and get a Fender open sound, very balanced. Close it for fat bass and more compression.

Since I'm a pickup dealer, I get to road test a lot of gear.
My favorite pickups that work great with this amp (and most any amp):
Duncan 59 Neck, JB-4 Bridge, Alnico II Pro Strat, SSL-1, Broadcaster Tele Lead, Vintage Tele Rhythm, Van Zandt Blues and Rock Sets, Bill Lawrence L-250 Strat, Lace Sensor Hot Gold w/ Hot Bridge...and more

Pet Peeves:
The Foot Switch jack is in the front.
No Master Volume on the clean. It plays at one volume--loud. Nothing like have dicks for neighbors and multiple visits from the police even on a Thursday afternoon at 2 PM (Don't move to Irvine, CA, if you want to play loud)
The damn thing weighs a ton!!!

Well, I haven't had a problem other than the power switch gets loose occasionally (have to tighten it up). As for the tube sucker comments, that's pure hogwash. I've change tubes once every year. No different than any other amp. Reliability, well, if you bang it around, your chassis will come loose. Just have to tighten the screws.

Pathetic!!! No phone. No Email. Out of business. Luckily, I happen to know the guy who made it!!! Just an hour away.

There are only 300 or so made. Most unique Class A amp to grace the scene. They will be worth something!!! Unlike some of these other circus clowns, I deal with manufacturers and customers directly. I see so much of the propaganda on the forums and have to laugh at the comments, some of which are completely out of line...especially here. I've been spoiled so much with it...my favorite Fender clean channels just don't do it for me anymore.

You probably won't be able to find one of these guys, but if you do, buy one. It's worth it. Couldn't live without it and definitely will be a collector's item. John Mayer and the White Stripes have got them. I believe Jack White uses them on tour.

Oh well, so it goes.

Matt Holcomb
Music Bizness

This review is for a 2005 Series 2 SMF 15 Watter...Apparently it has the same amp ect as the original Retro looking cab , but this unit is much plainer, with no lighted logo, and Fender type grill cloth on the front, with the amp done up in Black Tolex...It is also less $$...I think the list on these is around $1600.00 sells for $1200.00..
This amp is the best bargain in America!!! I've owned a Matchless, and 2 different Bad Cats, and Mark Samson once again has outdone himself once again,....This is a remarkable 2 channel amp, with great reverb, overdrive, and great cleans, providing you don't push it...I like the clean channel up at 12 noon...It's like an AC30 on 6, but more defined, and more complex...The overdrive channel is wonderful...vintage gain all the way to modern gain...can absolutely scream!!!!!...would love to try his 30 watter.. I bought this amp for mostly home use and recording..I use a Pritchard amp out Live...which is every week......Tone controls are very active, like all of Mark's designs....My favorite amp from him yet

I'm what you'd call an aggressive Modern Blues player...sort of Duane Allman meets Robben Ford....Only play Humbucker Guitars...McInturff Taurue, Les Paul, all with WCR Darkburst Pickups...(they're unbelievable)....This is the perfect small enviornment amp

Built like a TANK...The whole amp, Tubes and all are encased in a steel box, so your footswitch can't break your tubes!!!!! what a concept....Uses one Military grade PC Board, although the TONE of this amp SOUNDS handwired....I can usually always hear this....not with this amp...Rick Hamel from SIB pedals is involved with these amps as well....Great Stuff...Better overall than the Bad Cats , for a lot less $$...Much more refined on tone...and that;'s with Ei tubes,,,They come stock with all JJ EL84's and 12AX7's, which sound fine, but the Ei's sound richer to my ears and are fuller sounding with warmer highs

Never ever had any issues with any amp Mark Samson was involved with that I've owned...He builds the stuff to tour around the world, and that they do!!!!!!!!

Been playing for a long time....owned many dozens of handwired amps over the years, from Top Hats, Bad Cats, Rivera's, H&K's, Old Vox and Marshalls, Victorias. Carrs, god, to many....This is my favorite little amp ever...,and it was resonably priced!!!
Just wanted to mention that the guy/reviewer that had all the issues...It was probably funky preamp tubes...I opened my amp up, cause I'm curious, and Mark & Ricks' build quality is superb>>>.all top grade components...There's nothing wrong with a good PC board if the layout ect is done right to begin with....All THD, Bogners and Boogies have PCB's...
If you like EL84 amp tones....This is it

After about 2 months at my highly corporate, highly stressful, better paying job, I decided to treat myself to a really nice boutique amp. It was that or therapy. I took months to decide, as I continually reminded myself that splashing out for and expensive amp, wasn?t going to happen too many times in my life. I wanted the following things:

1. An unusual brand name that I was unlikely to find another musician using.
2. Reverb. (It's amazing how many amps co's leave this off. I sound dreadful without it.)
3. Separate overdrive channel I could foot switch to.
4. Overdrive that can be coaxed at low volume.

My name became an obscenity to every boutique amp dealer in the state. I tried everything, Budda, Dr. Z, THD, Top Hat, Victoria, Sonic Cord, Orange, Holland etc. Each one had something going for it; these are halcyon days for tone lovers looking to stay away from Walmart, I mean Guitar Center. The SMF came out on top. It is one of the select few that possess all of the above features and it has an unmistakable, head turning vibe no other amp can match. More on that later....

Do you know that incredible smell of bacon, fried eggs and coffee that hits you when you open the door to a good diner at midnight? That is what this amp sounds like. Simply put it smokes. The clean channel has it all. If you are looking to bash around on open-chord Byrds or Beatles tune a la Vox, you'll be in heaven. Personally, I like to darken it up and then sit around for hours fingering uptown chords until I'm late for work. This amp nails it all. The reverb is deep and vibey, the bass is articulate and punchy and the clean channel won't break up until you've practically gone deaf. Tweaking the EQ changes your tone drastically, so there is a sound for everyone. The overdrive channel can hang with any other amp you can name. Peg it and you can get the most intense grind I have ever heard. Back off to say 3 O'Clock and you find yourself in the middle of Beggars Banquet. This channel features incredible, complex, harmonic overdrive, that responds dramatically to your guitars volume control and / or how hard you attack the strings. Truly unbelievable.

I have had the amp for 3 months only. It seems to be built like a Panzer Tank. Hopefully this is a propitious sign, because I am about as handy with tools as an epileptic yak.

Probably non-existent because, true to form, Mark Sampson has moved on to other projects. The guy has more work featured on his resume than Michael Cain.

Overall I am smitten with this amp. I do have one reservation about the design. This amp has an unusual placement for the tubes. They are housed in the chassis, safeguarded vigilantly by about four zillion screws. Per the owner?s manual, this design keeps the tubes insulated from the inner workings of the amp, thus reducing background noise. Fine in theory, but the designers should have created a detachable panel to allow access in case a tube blows during a gig. I?m dreading the day I find myself, on stage, sitting Indian style behind the amp, surrounded by a pile of screws with every swear word I know being broadcast over the house PA. That issue aside, everything else about this amp exceeds my wildest expectations. In summation, this thing shakes your ass like a caboose, corners like an Austin Mini, and sings like a Homeric siren. It will bring you down the Mississippi Delta, across the pond to South East London and then over to uptown Manhattan every time you plug in.

Brand spankin new 2004. 15 watts. Can make open or semi closed back. Compared to the THD Univalve this thing is very low volume, can hardly here myself in practice. I play good old fashioned rock and roll Joe Walsh, Stones, Nugent, Aerosmith.

Well the lead is good but buzzy. Everything else about this amp is just average. But this thing is noisy as hell. Can't believe I paid $1200 for an amp that buzzes like a f*$#king solid state amp. Not Cool. Replaced all the tubes from the factory and it is still buzzing. Nothing in my signal chain. Just a '68 Gibson Les Paul straight to the amp. I use a Furman power conditioner, can not figure this out. Also after playing for about 30 minutes the amp starts to make these whirling sounds like clock work. Also doing rhythym on this amp is unsatisfactory due to the flabby assed bass voicing. They just woof out and it is a Vintage 30. So I tried the open backed to relieve the bass and it still to my dismay woofs out. Due to buzzing and all the whirling sounds I give it a middle finger rather than thumbs down.

Never got the nerve to play out with it unless I only had to play a 15 minute opening slot due to the whirling that happens 30 minutes into it lik efreaking clockwork. I had a custom road case made for this amp to. So with replacement tubes and the case plus the amp, I am checking in at around $1600. I talked this amp up thought it was going to be Matchless quality. NOT!!!!!!!!!!

Oh here is the icing on the cake, I spent $1200 of my hard earned money and when the sh*t is hitting the fan there is no one on the other end saying send it back, we will get this where it needs to be. No email no phone call returns. Nothing. These guys need to buy an amp from Mr. Pete Cage or a guitar pedal from Robert Keeley or a guitar from MJ Engineering. Then and only then will they no about customer support. I have no problem spending more money for previously mentioned b/c they care. Hell Pete called me the 3rd week i had his amp to see how things were. He than called me six months later to see how things were going with his amp. These guys expect you to pay out the nose for an inferior product who's market value is based off of Sampson's name and Matchless. Atleast that is how I was suckered.

If you like buzz and whirley sounds after playing for 30 minutes this is the amp for you. If this amp sounds good to you, check ebay for my auction. I am pissed at Guitar player for giving it glowing reviews. This amp is BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The SMF compact 15 watter has been a great experience over the past week it was purchsaed. The amp is deep like a BF Deluxe reverb and has wide tonal response from the EQ options. I use the amp in various situations which require quite and power. I understand that 2004 may be the 1st year for these and this is why I wanted to listen and buy. Mark Sampson of Matchless fame designed with another person who is responsible for SIB pedals. I am shocked at the great sound and tight cabinet work and would easily recommend one to my friends and buy another if mine fell of tall building. I am thrilled about the amp tone enough to write a website about my pleasurable experience with SMF amps.

The amp reverb unit was a little too sensative and I opened up the bag and did some adjustments to my taste with great success. Still lush but more quiet. This is also the only amp that the channel switching sound good enough for me to sell my Mesa Boogie V-Twin pre-amp pedal.

I have had it a short time so I don;t have a long history to relay. It is built like a Tank though and don't expect any trouble.

I could not find any email for SMF for questions on their website and think you would have to be serviced from the dealer.

another review...of my past two..same features..

I am playing in 2 of these in stereo and the sound is killer for leads, but the headroom on the ryhthms is still lacking. alone the ryhthms sound great but as soon as the band kicks in they sound very thin and pale..still a killer singing lead tone...

this is the bad part...I have 2 new models, one eats preamp tubes like no tomorrow, the other has alot of buzz in its tone. I replaced all the tubes, and this is on brand new amps. And It still had alot of white noise going on. it stopped eating preamp tubes but started to have the slight whistle starting...at lower levels it was fine, but they are only 15 watters, so you need to run them at least 1/2 way open..on one of them the speaker started to fart & have alot of ghost notes. I know vintage 30's do this but its only 15 stink'in watts....OH and as I said before..you can't call these bozo's to talk about it, and most dealers are dumping these models out at blow out prices...If ya want a small combo for very light gigs in a small group and don't mind the tube hassles..its a killer..but any loud band stuff...forget it...

NONE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I traded both away last night for a loss of $650. I fell out of love with little combos after this. went back to a 50 watt head and a vintage marshall 4-12 cab....

Ok, now that I am over the shock of buying my 2nd. one, I still hate the fact you can't talk to these Bozo's and the booklet that came with the new amp, looks like a child put it together. The over all features & sound is just awesome.

I loved my clean on the Mojave plexi 45, you could feel the bottle chime of the tubes, and the ping on the notes. I dialed in a tone running 2 of these amps in stereo that sounds just as good or better. I use a boss chorus stereo pedal & my Barber direct drive pedal and thats it. So the cleans are like a vintage plexi, and the crunch is well like a JCM 800, with some added top end jangle of a AC30. The lead tones are smooth and soulful with just the amp, kick in the Barber and it gets you in the higain soldano land. I really like the sag & compression this amp gives when its really being pushed. The notes blossom and ring, with out any buzzy or raspyness what so ever. The reverb alone sounds killer, add the chorus pedal and its just as thick & lush as anyone could want. I also scooped the mids and ran the Barber wide open & the amps gain on about 3/4, it got noisey, but the metal sounds were just like the modern grind we all hear on so many new records. The EG can get you any place ya need to be, its that good. I don't like the tones at lower levels, this amp needs to be pushed. I liked the one amp alone, but it was just a great recording sound, not good enough to gig with as it just did'nt fill the stage. But two of them fits everything I need. It just took the sound I liked and made it alot bigger. I am thinking about running 4.. The stock speakers & the cabs sound killer, no need to do anything, just turn up & play..

these better be good, I had 3 preamp tubes go out with in 2 weeks, I replaced them with the new EH 12AX7's and it sounds alot better anyway. They seem to be built very well, and they weigh a ton. I would hope as much as these sell for, they will last a long time..

Sucks...sorry to say this, but I have had such good dealings with Rivera, Demeter & Mojave, that it bothers me I can't even e-mail them about anything..

I love the 2 amps, and I will play them for a bit..I am looking at a divided by 13 amp, the 6V6 model head, but I will keep these as well. I really have played a ton of boutique amps in the past year, and these SMF's seem to offer alot of bang for the buck. They are not a one trick pony like some of the others. I could use this amp for blues, rock, country, metal, grunge & even Jazz...not bad..

This is my 2nd. one...I have bought 2 of these amps, and you can't even call or E-mail the company..The amps sound unreal, but as for talking or asking a ? to the company ...forget it...

I now play in stereo..and my tone is about the best I can ever hope to have. One sounded killer but needed alittle bit more of a great thing, and adding the 2nd. man it came alive..All the great Vox jangle and Hiwatt type crunch..with extra gain on tap for just about anything ya want..

I hope they hold up, as much money I have in them..I gave up a bullet proof Mojave for these amps...

I hope they last..they say they are built great on thier web site, but as for specs, forget it...For what they ask for these things they need to learn alittle customer service. I don't know anything about the OHM's, Bias, even if it was gonna sound better having 2 then going to a 30 watter?...you would think a amp that sounds this great would have a forum or some type of customer service! what shitheads.

I have played everything, and these two amps with my vintage strat have got the tone Beck wish's he still had...The amps just sound awesome and I hope they are the last amps I ever buy. I like the tones better then my killer Mojave plexi 45 and the old Demeter TGA I had..its kinda got the mojo thing working...

Small 15 watt 1-12 combo with reverb & overdrive. All tube with PC board electronics. They dont tell you what the ohms are, but I think its a 8 ohm speaker, vintage 30 celestion. Tunable back cab. and a speaker dampner (speaker phase) switch. It is fairly loud but still needs mic'ing. for the cab & ease of use I will give it a solid 9

I play a Mojave plexi 45, and wanted a smaller all tube EL 84 amp for some time. I played the Bad CAT & the many DR.Z models as well as some very high priced EL 84 boutique models. I played this side by side with a 1-12 Bogner combo with EL 34's, and I liked this amp alot more in terms of tone & feel. The amp really likes to be pushed hard, and it loves pedals & hot pickups. I mic it with the semmheiser square face guitar mic, and it just smokes with the band, and I have a heavy keyboard player. The leads sound alot like Scott Hendersons blues CDs, and the cleans are smokey & lots of feel. I run a Barber direct drive in the front of the amp and it gets some very cool Robben Ford type tones, and all at a very nice volume. This might make me sell my great Mojave 45, and look for a EL84 Mojave amp..

don't know...I will gig alot with this amp going full tilt all the time..I will ahve a Randall backup amp..

Their website is not working, and when I did get on there is no specs on the amp, like what ohmage you can run, or use an ext. cab?..what the switch on the back really does?...I would like a better more involed website..

reviewed lots of gear on this site..all with a fair understanding of great tones..I think it can be a great amp with alittle good mic'ing. The lead tones are some of the best I have heard. In a few words. it just has monster good tone..

2002 SMF 15, bought as the floor model from Elderly Instruments (who are great to buy from, by the way). Channel Switching Class A with Reverb, no frills except for Reverb Tone, which is kind of cool. This takes the Matchless sound to the next level by adding the channel switching, with high gain. No effects loop. External speaker jack, would have been a huge plus. Having bass, mid, and tone for ech channel would have been appreciated as well. Lack of these features rates it a 8.

Using everything from a 56 DeTemple, 69 and 85 Strats with Joe Barden pickups, a Gretsch Streamliner, and a 76 Gibson L5S. They all sound fantastic through this amp. My style is mostly blues/blues rock, some harder core rock. This amp will do it all, except a full clean "Twin Reverb" sound. The slight clean channel break up makes it perfect for Texas blues / blues rock. I use a Snarling Dog Wah-Wah pedal, a Full tone Choral Flange, and a Fulltone Fulldrive 2, but I could easily do a gig with just my guitar and a chord. The high gain channel sounds great, and can be dialed in for slight distortion, or a full high gain, balls to the wall sound. The hatchback rear cabinet door provides either a compressed (closed) or more Fendery (open) sound. For what I'm doing, the sound is a 10.

Never had any issues with this amp, and I use it exclusively for all of my gigs, without a back-up. No mics for the smaller gigs, mic'd for the medium to large gigs.

The hatchback port clips were messed up when I got it, chassis screw was broken/stripped, and one of the reverb springs had come off. Elderly ordered the parts right away. I spoke with Rick Hamel directly about some questions I had initially, he was very helpful. Elderly gave me a 90 day warranty on a floor model, which I thought was very good, and the amp warranty through SMF is 1 year.

I've been playing for over 30 years, and I've had just about every amp worth having (Marshalls, Matchless, every vintage Fender, 65 Super, Deluxe, Vibrolux, etc.) I'm now down to two, my SMF 15, and my Bogner Shiva with an extension cab for slightly larger gigs, when I'm doing more classic rock / high gain stuff. The only knock on this amp is that at 62lbs, it's pretty heavy for a 15 watter! I wonder if a smaller, lighter cabinet would diminish the tone at all.

The features have been covered before so I'll just point out what I like about some of them. Channel switching and Reverb: Nice to have. The two main reasons I wanted this amp. The flip back was an added surprise and is very useful to change the overall tone and feel of the amp. Makes this amp more than a "one trick pony."

I decided to use something different than the usual Strat, Les Paul for this category. I chose the Gretsch Silver Falcon. I play a variety of music from Funk & Blues to '50's & '60's classics to classic and modern Country. This amp suits all the styles nicely with just a little tweaking of the controls and changing the position of the flip back panel. The clean channel stays nice and crisp until the "Cruise" volume gets past the 10-11 o'clock position with the guitar wide open. From there the amp develops a very musical, sweet amount of overdrive. It is very reminiscent of my old Matchless SC-30 but a lot less nasally plus it breaks up before the threshold of pain. The 15 Watter is very responsive to the guitars volume control, a volume pedal, or a pedal such as the Radial Engineering Switch Bone. The Clean (aka Cruise) channel is my favorite. The High Gain HI-GEAR channel sounds very similar to an Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer. And that's not a bad thing for Blues or Rock. The voicing is noticeably brighter than the clean channel and really cuts through the mix with the Gretsch. A Les Paul in the neck position yields a really nice Blues lead tone. For me the best sound was with the HI-GEAR around 9 o'clock. The reverb deserves special recognition. This amp that gives the classic Fender Twin reverb a run for it's title as THE combo amp reverb. You can just lose yourself in the reverb and go surfing for days. WOW!

Built like a tank and weighs like one too. No surprise.

I was expecting at least an e-mail address on the SMF website but I couldn't find one. I guess they are too busy making amps to deal with pesky questions.

I really like the amp's sound and the styling is very retro cool. The only thing I don't think I'll like down the road are the moving LEDs behind the logo. It's a novelty now but... Much thought and musical consideration has gone into this amp design and it shows. You would really have to try to get a bad sound out of the SMF 15 Watter.

I am just a stay-at-home player--a middle-aged guy with much more in the way of fantasies than technique. I play mostly blue-rock ala Peter Green/Allman Brothers. The amp has plenty of features, with the fairly minor quibble that true channel-switching wold be easier because my tone settlings are very different for overdrive vs. clean. The amp sounds great at moderate, play at home volume-- a major consideration in my case.

I play through a Les Paul with humbuckers. Mostly blues/rock improv. The amp truly sounds great. I'm amazed at how terrific both channels sound. Beautiful, chimey clean sounds and overdrive that easily goes from mild to screaming. Reverb also is conspicuously great. For the overdrive, I need to turn the treble and bright completely off, and the bass all the way up, or the sound becomes far too metallic for my ears. Even with treble and bright off, the overdrive sound is very colorful and fat.

Haven't had it long enough--a month.

15 years, on and off. Mesa-Boogie, Fender, Bedrock. Les Paul, Rickie 330. Definitely would replace, because I know of few if any any true competitors with great clean/overdrive channels without having to crank the volume, EL 84 sound and reverb at a price that is reasonable compared to the competition.

This sucker is very, very heavy (60lbs) and really could use a two carrying strap option. It is not easy for one person to carry with a single strap.

I compared this to most of its competitors in the EL 84 world and bought it because it could deliver great clean and overdrive sounds with a minimum of fuss and without cranking the volume. Plus great reverb. The thing appears to be built like a tank. Anyone who likes the EL 84 sound should check this out. I would not take the time to do this review if I did not think this outfit deserved many more customers.

Class A... 2 channel el34 and 12ax7 amp w/reverb. See SMF website for specs

Great, Great, amp!!! I have owned matchless, tophat, and marshall amps and this amp rules. It is a great combp amp that can do alot. The clean chanel is sparkly clean and I bet you won't find a better reverb on the a small combo. Large cabinet with adjustable back panel. This comes in useful with small or large rooms. I bought this amp for a home companion and have not been disappointed. The distortion/overdrive is amazing and goes from ac/dc to placebo in a quick turn. I did alot of research before i bought this amp and I am still amazed by all the tones... You owe it to yourself to try it out. I bought mine without ever hearing one and I am glad I did. Mark Sampson is a genius. My amp is actually one of the first made. It doesn't have a serial number so I ahve heard from my dealer that it was probably one of the first 5 made.

SO far no problems. Built like a tank and is very heavy. I don't expect any failures from this amp.

You can try a bunch of amps but if you want an amp that is beautiful on the clean end and has the ability to have alot of tones from the overdrive/distortion channel this is the one. It is that great

again, i left out another of this amp's GREAT features. the bloody reverb! tube driven, it has 2 parameters, amount of and tone; it's the tone that is the secret weapon. it rolls off the top end splashiness you get when you either turn it or the amp up. it is, by far, the lushest sounding spring reverb i have ever heard in an amp, to date. it almost sounds like a plate when you roll off the top end. i'll NEVER use a digital reverb again!

i left out one of the most significant features to the 15 watter in my previous review!!! the sonic hatchback! (i think i also missed out on filling the product info above). the hatchback is genius! for both studio & live. it drastically changes the sound of the cab. my pref, for the most part, is closed, but as i'm getting into recording this amp, the ability to open the hatch & stick a 2nd mic behind is ingenious. plus, the ability to "tune" to a club's room is invaluable. well done!!!

bought it in April of this year (2003). a Mark Sampson/Rick Hamel design, it's barking up the AC30/Matchless tree, but so much more versatile. has a clean & high gain channel (w/switching via footpedal), 5 X 12ax7's, 2 X EL84's, & 1 X GZ34 rectifier, i swapped out all the tubes for Mullard NOS valves. OH MI GOD!!! does this amp love those bloody mullard's! it really comes into to focus with the swap. it has no fx loop, & rightly so, as you don't want anything interfering with the fabulous tone. i'm considering having voodooamps.com putting in a d.i. tap at the speaker out, for fx. it's a rather loud bloody amp. & you do need to crank it a bit to get at the tone. and yeah, it is a pcb affair, but they didn't scrimp on the rest of the components, so it easily sounds as good as any point-to-point jobbie i've heard, even if it is a bit pricey. but it's tone is what rates this amp so highly for me, and it's got GOBS of it! but like i said, it really needs the NOS' to bring it's tone into focus. the diff was mind-blowing.

i'm using a u.s. strat plus with Wagner SR's (set of 3 single coils) and a '61 reissue les paul/sg with a set of Wagner "Fillmore's". the chain at the moment is a digitech xp100, fmr audio "really nice compressor", tech 21 double drive (for boost), a sweetsounds "Mojovibe", ashley sg100 gate, alesis midiverb for chorus & VERY slight delay, to the SMF. i play bluesy, avant-garde, rock, & this IS the amp for it!!! it's fairly quiet for a class a/el84 style amp. it does ac30 clean jangle FOR DAYZ!!! & the gain channel has yet to be excelled by any overdrive pedal i've tried. quite glorious tone! it covers the vintage 60's/70's tones to a tee, & easily can do a modern metal, if you will.

apart from the power tubes giving out, i've had no probs so far. it's still early days.

the power tubes went out 2 weeks after i'd bought the amp, & rick was not only extremely prompt in replying, but got me a replacement set via the post within the week. he really is the spokesperson behind SMF, and is 100% committed to the line. and he's a joy to talk to.

i've been playing since i was 6. and i would replace this amp in a second, if it were stolen! the only other amp i had considered was the Bruno Underground 30, but at over $3000, the SMF was a bargain at under $2000, for a "boutique" class a/vox style amp! and as much as it kills not to be able to use eventide quality fx with the amp at the moment, i've been talking to rick re some options to solve that.

I have never played an all tube amp with a 2 knob reverb system, and this really is a nice feature. Both channels are extremely useable, even though they share EQ. I would rate this higher for features, but at this price, there should be even more. The cabinet is larger than a standard 1x12 combo, perhaps explaining the great bass response.

I didn't want to like this. I was biased because Mark Sampson designed less than 50% of this amp, but the advertising makes it seem like he designed most of it. However, when playing it, who designed what doesn't matter, and an incredibly sweet very touch sensitive tone comes out. It has that open feeling. All of the sound spectrum is there, a very deep bass (more than I expected for 15 watt EL84) and clear clean highs. To me it sounds like a cross between some Matchless and Dr. Z designs. The gain is well structured, and can be thick but not too much or heavily so. I hate to use the cliche, but it is a "modern vintage" sound like many of the boutique EL84 designs. If you think you don't like EL84 amps, this one, (as well as some others of course) will change your mind. I would give this a 10, except that it seems overpriced at $1600-1700. Not that a PCB design is bad, but it ought to be cheaper. As is, it is priced about as high as the all point to point Dr. Z Maz 38, and some other excellent all PTP models. I think this would be a great deal used, as I am guessing the used price will be about $1000. At that price, this amp would be like Reverend's Hellhound and sell like hotcakes, because of the sound/price ratio.

I can't rate this, but I'm sure it will be reliable, but probably not as much as the PTP amps in the same price range.

I talked to Rick Hamel at the Dallas Guitar Show and I imagine he will be very helpful to all customers.

The only thing holding back this amp is price relative to the competition. It doesn't lack anything in terms of great vintage type sounds. I also think the price is being artificially raised by the excessive use of the Mark Sampson name.

A new PCB amp design by Mark Sampson (Matchless/Bad Cat)and Rick Hamel (SIB). Features are: Celestion Vintage 30 speaker (8 ohm), Reverb (not foot switchable), 2 channel (foot switchable), 5 12AX7, 2 EL-84, 5AR4 rectifier tube, 15 watts Class A. Has tuneable back panel. By adjusting both the hinged opening and amp placement within a room, you can tune sonic properties of the amp to taste. Cool if you like to experiment/tune by ear. Could be a new concept in Guitar amplification. Controls are; Channel 1 Vol. Channel 2 Vol. Master Vol. (disengagable), Treble, Mddle, Bass, Bright, Reverb, Reverb tone. Speaker Phase on back panel. Only downfalls in features I found are; No effects loop, no ohm select.

I found this amp to be a touch on the bright side at low volumes; but like most of Mark Sampsons designs, once you get the volume up, it just ripps! This is a fast amp, and very touch responsive. The distortion is more brutal than the Black Cat. Not a metal machine, more like an in your face rock and roll brutal! I was floored. The clean is very articulate and chimmey. Reverb is functional. This is worth looking into! I hope they do more in this line.

Yet to be seen. Amp seems very well built though..

If you like Marks Sampsons EL-84 designs, I think you'll find this amp very interesting! Especially for the money. It produces great Class A tones in a PCB design. This amp kicks ass!