My need-a-new-amp-survey answers

**Rainer.** · 06-07-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

Jon, you are evil for making me seriously consider tripling my budget.

Before I go any further in researching Matchless amps, who are the respectable makers of clones? Unless I can snag a killer deal, I don't see a real Matchless ever being in the budget.

Matchless amps are friggin' killer. The only clones I know of are high end boutique deals, though. Unless you're interested in something like this...
http://www.ceriatone.com/productSubPages/Muchle$$DC30/Muchle$$DC30Cabinet.htm

metropolis4 · 06-07-2011, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobthecockroach

As for reissues, is there any chance they will hold their value? And how to they compare in tone to originals?

It all depends on the reissue and the original. I've heard originals that sound worse than the reissues... The problem with originals is that it's a crap shoot. Some are in great shape and sound good, others not so much. There's a lot of components in the vintage ones that can be shot: tubes, speakers, caps etc.. If you look at one plan to spend more money making it gig worthy. The reissues are pretty well done and reliable out of the box.

As for Matchless, you can often find good deals if you look long enough. I got my Matchless Clubman for $1400. They are absolutely killer amps!

Also, if you're looking at Matchless make sure to look at Bad Cat. Mark Sampson, the guy behind Matchless amps, started Bad Cat when Matchless went under. The early Bad Cat amps are basically Matchless amps with a different name. Many of the early ones even have components labeled "Matchless" on them. I've seen Bad Cat Cub's go for $1000-$1200 on eBay. Those are very very nice amps too!

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 06-07-2011, 04:45 PM

I figured since you don't like effects, a princeton non reverb would be cool. Killer clean tone, have owned two. One out of a shop, one off of ebay. The silver face, non reverb it's a killer amp. Oh, and the frenzels have a vox and matchless clone channel pretty much.

Another low budget option for a similar tone to a fender is some of the old gibson combos from the 60s. I got my mint skylark off ebay. 130 was the cost for a great little tube combo that sounds fender ish. It does have trem as an effect as well.

**tenwatt** · 06-14-2011, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

Also, if you're looking at Matchless make sure to look at Bad Cat. Mark Sampson, the guy behind Matchless amps, started Bad Cat when Matchless went under. The early Bad Cat amps are basically Matchless amps with a different name. Many of the early ones even have components labeled "Matchless" on them. I've seen Bad Cat Cub's go for $1000-$1200 on eBay. Those are very very nice amps too!

Yup...I just picked up my Bad Cat Cub IIR for $1200 (shipped and PP'd). It's a 2002 and it reminds me SO much of a Matchless Lightning.

I did a LOT of research on buying and/or building a Lightning clone and couldn't figure out a way to do it for a very reasonable price. The Ceria Tone site was the best deal I could find but once you add a speaker cabinet and shipping to the mix you're still going to be spending much more than you want.

I have a nicely modded AC15 in the classifieds. That could end your search if you please.

Plexi8759 · 07-19-2011, 08:06 PM

Bob, I recently bought a 67 bassman on eBay for $511. Just out of curiosity because my tech recommended it to a friend who was looking for his first good amp and he was on a budget. 50w and it's small but it seriously is becoming my favored amp for overdrive tones oh yeah and it's got incredible cleans as well. The classic overdrive however blows me away!!! I use a ts808 with the overdrive turned all the way down so I get a tiny bit of edge on the tone. The only other pedal I use with it is a katana boost for lead tones. Im using a 1960AV cab with celestion vintage 30's. If it were me I'd get an empty 2x12 cab and put a WGS vet 30 and a WGS et65 in there and you would probably have about $750 in the whole thing. IMHO it would be better than a $3k boutique amp!!!

Blackface Bassman: Great Value! Timeless! Pure! Simple! Awesome!!! And anyone who's actually experienced one will drool when they see it!

here is a pic of my bassman ... doesn't look like much but man its simple and thats great for guitar signal!!!

Oh yeah ... that strat is loaded with lindy fralin woodstock 69's ala Hendrix with reverse stagger pole pieces just like if you strung a right handed guitar upside down. This guitar and the bassman is as close as I've ever come to Hendrix type tone.

telecasting · 07-20-2011, 10:16 AM

Plexi: I seriously love that head. I have been looking at some bassman heads for a while, as I can't afford for a second a blackface fender deluxe reverb, which is what I would really love but considering you can get a blackface bassman head or bandmaster head and an attenuator cheaper than a new DRRI (at least in England), and it looks that awesome, that's what I'm fishing for right now.

I've heard some really good things about Ceriatone generally...

Plexi8759 · 07-20-2011, 09:47 PM

Yeah!!! I'm building a head cab for my twin reverb RI since I stole the baffle for my other twin. I'm gonna relic the cab and sell it and then I'm probably gonna be looking for another bassman! There's an earlier circuit with a master presence knob that supposably sparkles up the clean tone.

Dark Helmet · 09-08-2011, 03:27 PM

I'm the Orange guy in here it seems...

They are scrapping the Rocker 30 and there are some GREAT deals on them... I know of a used one that would qualify for your price range (combo w/ 1x12). GC has them NEW for $1100 used are another 2-300 less.

that's 1 "natural" (clean) channel and a dirty channel w/ 3-band EQ & Gain controls and I THINK it has a switchable effects loop.

daddyo · 09-08-2011, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metropolis4

The best Hendrix tone I ever had was using a Pro Junior through an extension cab with Greenbacks in it. The Pro Junior is a small, old school amp with a volume and a tone and nothing more. All tube, 15 watts and sounds killer when slightly broken up. I played blues/rock/country gigs in bars for years with a pair of these amps and they were perfect for it.

I haven't run 2 of them but I agree that the tone is killer. A new one for $400 is really affordable great tone. I have been using mine for about a year and still have the stock tubes and speaker. I bought it to replace an ever dying Marshall that I won't replace. I was really suprized with the PJ.