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Just arrived courtesy of @worldguitars a brand new @matchlessamps Clubman 35 head with black faceplate & cream knobs + accompanying ESD 2x12 speaker cabinet in gorgeous black tolex with silver grill cloth & piping, this amp will end worlds.
Firstly a bit about Matchless.
Matchless Amplifiers was founded in 1989 with a simple philosophy: Build the best, most versatile amplifier possible. Built and designed by professional musicians for professional musicians, Matchless amplifiers live up to their name. Our mission is and has always been to build the best sounding, most durable amp on the market. Matchless amplifiers and extension cabinets are all point-to-point hand wired by our staff in the United States using the best materials available.
Class A refers to a particular style of circuitry used in vacuum tube audio devices to extract maximum output from the power tubes. A constant high voltage signal is sent through the power stage without the forced negative feedback (or "cool down cycle") inherent in the Class A/B design. Matchless amplifiers rely on superior design, construction and components to manage the power of true Class A operation.
Matchless Class A amplifiers provide an "alive" response, true tone, rich harmonics and smooth transition into distortion, & true "Class A" configuration gives rich, complex harmonics whether played clean, mildly overdriven, or with all out power tube saturation.
Matchless amplifiers are point-to-point wired, using military-spec components and hand wound transformers. While these construction methods are more difficult and expensive than others, they are necessary to achieve the incomparable sound quality, reliability and ruggedness of a MATCHLESS.
From the Clubman product page on the Matchless website:
The 35 watt Clubman offers pleasingly complex tones due to its unique, custom pentode preamp section based on two 12AX7s and one EF86 tube.
Controls include Volume, Bass, Treble, Brilliance, and Master Volume. Optional Reverb makes this amp truly versatile. A pair of EL34 tubes make up the power section. An effects loop simplifies performance set-up. You will instantly notice why this work-horse is the top choice of pro touring Blues, Jazz and Rock artists around the world. The Clubman can be matched to any Matchless extension cabinet but is most frequently paired with the Matchless ESD.
My own take on this masterpiece of an amp.
With the master dimed & the volume up just a touch the Clubman has a smooth & deep clarity, a thick luscious clean three dimensional swirl, with a crushed-glass-in-honey sparkle & chime.
Yet crank the volume & experience a hugely complex, rich, warm & refined, dynamic & expressive crunch, both steely, bright and aggressive with natural compression a & greasy saturated scooped overdrive.
Like importing an old school muscle car, this almighty amp makes little sense. Its expensive, huge, heavy, hot, loud, power hungry, packed with 1950s tech, tubes & American iron, but its sexy as hell & sounds like oblivion.
Firstly a bit about Matchless.
Matchless Amplifiers was founded in 1989 with a simple philosophy: Build the best, most versatile amplifier possible. Built and designed by professional musicians for professional musicians, Matchless amplifiers live up to their name. Our mission is and has always been to build the best sounding, most durable amp on the market. Matchless amplifiers and extension cabinets are all point-to-point hand wired by our staff in the United States using the best materials available.
Class A refers to a particular style of circuitry used in vacuum tube audio devices to extract maximum output from the power tubes. A constant high voltage signal is sent through the power stage without the forced negative feedback (or "cool down cycle") inherent in the Class A/B design. Matchless amplifiers rely on superior design, construction and components to manage the power of true Class A operation.
Matchless Class A amplifiers provide an "alive" response, true tone, rich harmonics and smooth transition into distortion, & true "Class A" configuration gives rich, complex harmonics whether played clean, mildly overdriven, or with all out power tube saturation.
Matchless amplifiers are point-to-point wired, using military-spec components and hand wound transformers. While these construction methods are more difficult and expensive than others, they are necessary to achieve the incomparable sound quality, reliability and ruggedness of a MATCHLESS.
From the Clubman product page on the Matchless website:
The 35 watt Clubman offers pleasingly complex tones due to its unique, custom pentode preamp section based on two 12AX7s and one EF86 tube.
Controls include Volume, Bass, Treble, Brilliance, and Master Volume. Optional Reverb makes this amp truly versatile. A pair of EL34 tubes make up the power section. An effects loop simplifies performance set-up. You will instantly notice why this work-horse is the top choice of pro touring Blues, Jazz and Rock artists around the world. The Clubman can be matched to any Matchless extension cabinet but is most frequently paired with the Matchless ESD.
- Power: 35 Watts
- Channels: 1
- Controls: Volume, Bass, Treble, Brilliance, Master Volume, Reverb
- Switches: Hi-lo Inputs, 3 Position Rotary Impedance
- Power Tubes: 2 x EL34
- Preamp Tubes: 2 x 12AX7, 1 x EF86
- Rectifier Tube: 1 x 5AR4
- Features: Optional Reverb, Effects Loop
- Speaker Output: Switchable Impedance of 4, 8, and 16 Ohms
- Weight: 46 lbs.
- Dimensions: 9.5 (H)x 21.5 (L)x 10.5 (W)
My own take on this masterpiece of an amp.
With the master dimed & the volume up just a touch the Clubman has a smooth & deep clarity, a thick luscious clean three dimensional swirl, with a crushed-glass-in-honey sparkle & chime.
Yet crank the volume & experience a hugely complex, rich, warm & refined, dynamic & expressive crunch, both steely, bright and aggressive with natural compression a & greasy saturated scooped overdrive.
Like importing an old school muscle car, this almighty amp makes little sense. Its expensive, huge, heavy, hot, loud, power hungry, packed with 1950s tech, tubes & American iron, but its sexy as hell & sounds like oblivion.