Conference napalm::guitar

    
    
      That was one of the most objective articles I'd read in GP as far as
    any comparison. They had a lot of problems with a lot of amps. A few of
    them sh!t the bed big time. Among those was a Bedrock 1600 that they
    said was a problem with a PC board supplier.
    
      The Matchless seemed to live up to its name! I guess all the praise
    in the article cause a lot of dealers to look at them pretty close
    at the last NAMM show. The compnay is based in California and the
    design is basically a modernized Vox AC-30 type of unit. Not a lot of
    frills, just a (supposedly) great basic tone. According to the article
    they might be right! One thing for sure, Matchless doesn't advertise a
    lot and they aren't cheap at $2400 a pop!
    
      I think they make a rack mount version as well! B-}. 
    
      I also think it costs (a lot) more than my ACCESS. But not more than
    the ACCESS with the matching power amp.
    
    							-B()()M- 

    We really do need to find out more about this beast.  Isn't there some
    noter out there with a salary in six figures who could be persuaded to
    spring for one?
    
    The other problem is if they don't advertise, how does one find out
    where to get one?  My guess is at $2400 each, not a lot of dealers will
    be stocking them. Maybe their target market is big-name pro rock-stars
    only??  Or maybe they'll be gone as fast as they appeared, like that
    virtual company that produced the mil-spec tweed bassman reissue a few
    years back.
    
    /Steve

    
    Steve, our similar curiosities in amps is a bit scary...  Hey. maybe
    we could buy one on a time share basis?
    
    8^]

    
    
    
    We might be able to work something out...monthly payments at 10% of the
    purchase price, lease term of 12 months, with a refundable deposit of
    something significant....and oh, yeah, we'll need a credit app...I'm
    a little concerned about that company you work for...
    
    

	re: .3

	Pat,

	Yeah,  I've also noticed that we show up in alot of the same
	amp topics... I wouldn't be surprised to find out that we dial
	in similar tones too.

	The time-share idea isn't as far-fetched as it sounds... with
	a dozen or so serious minded people who were interested in
	exotic and/or vintage amps and/or axes, it could probably be
	set up to work real well.

	/Steve

    If you guys are serious about checking out a Matchless, talk to Roy
    Goode.  He has a shop in Cambridge, above the Caning Shop near Porter
    Square (sorry, no phone.  You gotta get lucky and catch him in).
    
    Roy's one of the pre-eminent authourities on vintage Vox gear and does
    killer restorations of AC-30s and such.  He's also in tight with the
    Matchless guys and I think did some R&D on these amps.  If anyone is
    going to have access to one if these in the Boston area, it'll be Roy.
    
    /rick

    Let me guess....  he's Johnny B's son right?  ;^)  ;^)
    
    /Steve

    I talked to Roy recently and got the scoop.  Turns out he's one of the
    founders of Matchless.  The company began as an operation to try to
    create high quality transformers for Vox amp restorations.  As with
    all vintage gear, there are wide variations in old technology, not
    all vintage stuff is "good" stuff.  So they picked "good" sounding
    amps, and took measurements etc., and tried to duplicate what they
    found.  Matchless first product offerings, some time last year, were
    in fact replacement transformers for vintage AC-15s and 30s.  The idea
    then expanded to thinking about what they would do if they could build
    the ultimate Vox from the ground up, put in all the best aspects and
    leave out all the bad ones.  The result of that thinking is the amp
    that scored so favorably in the GP shootout.
    
    Matchless is based in L.A., but Roy is sort of the East Coast wing of
    the organization.  Their plan is to distribute the amp through
    "underground" channels, to vintage enthusiasts and musicians who want
    the ultimate in a vintage Vox sound; similar to what Kendricks and THD
    are doing with their Bassmen.  They are specifically NOT going for
    distributorship with any of the big players; Roy says they've turned
    down Manny's and Sam Ash in NYC and similarly will not be distributing
    through places like Wurlies or Daddy's around here.  For a while at
    least, the only way to see or buy one of these in the East is directly
    through Roy, and probably some carefully selected small dealerships
    sometime in the future.
    
    Roy is expecting his first two amps to come in within the next two
    weeks (both already sold) so I may have a chance to try one of these
    out soon.  If anyone is seriously interested in checking out a
    Matchless, contact me offline.
    
    /rick
    
    ps Note that I am not involved in any way in the business of Matchless
    Amps, just providing information for the benefit of fellow noters.

   Wow.  This sounds surprisingly like (and strangely reminicent of) the 
   Kitty Hawk story.  "ROY Electronics" produced the Kittys, and started
   as a company winding transformers for other companies.  Let's hope this
   Roy is more successful, or at least is around a while longer.

   Cosmic, man.

   -- Sam

    
       Gee, are they trying to put Howard Dumble out of business? Seems
    like the same type of marketing approach.
    
    							-B()()M-

    Right, there are a number of small companies with a similar approach -
    THD, Kendrick, Trainwreck, Diaz, Dumble to name a few.  They fill a
    need in the marketplace for high quality, specialized equipment for
    people who want and are willing to pay for it.  They seem to do alright
    for themselves in their own little market space.  No doubt the
    Matchless customer and the Dumble customer are two different animals.
    
    Wonder if Brian May will show up with a wall of Matchless
    sometime soon...
    
    /rick

    Caught the new Tonight Show a couple of times lately.  First, last
    week I noticed Buddy Guy playing through 2 Matchless combos, looked
    like a 2x12 and a 4x10.  Then last night, Los Lobos had at least one
    2x12 combo onstage.  So I'm guessing maybe NBC grabbed a couple of
    these as house amps.  (I've seen what looks like the same SVT show
    up on everything from the Today Show to Letterman, for years).
    
    For you insomniacs out there like myself, take a good look next time
    there's a band on this show; you may see a Matchless.

    I was over at a local club getting tickets for Steve Morse a couple of
    days ago and the band that was playing that night was setting up while
    I was there.  One of the guitarists had a Matchless 2x12 combo (and
    what looked like a Fender Super).  Wish I could have stuck around to
    hear how it sounded, but I had to get home.
    
    I believe the name of the band was "Soul Hat" or something like that. 
    They're from Dallas (I think that's what the person there told me), and
    apparently sound a lot like the Grateful Dead.
    
    Greg

    The Matchless is one neat-o amp, built much alike a Vox AC-30.  They
    even sell the transformers (BIG $$) as AC-30 replacements.
    
    Ugly as sin, but nicely made
    
    Jay Tashjian
    

    
    Recently I've seen Wolfgang Mothspiel, John Abercrombie, 
    and Mick Goodrick all use Matchless amps at Ryles.   
    
    They sounded really good to me, with a variety of different
    sounds even at the relatively low volume level
    in that small room.    
    
    Maybe these guys have a deal with Matchless, or the club does, I don't 
    know.  Or maybe they just like them!   
    
    Dave