Matchless Amplifiers
2528572
213224985
2008-05-18T11:10:50Z
Wickeddigital
5463651
/* External links */
[[Image:Matchless hc-30.jpg|right|thumb|Matchless HC-30 model with the trademark backlit nameplate featured on all Matchless amplifiers]]
'''Matchless Amplifiers''' is a [[Los Angeles]] based company which designs and makes electric [[guitar amplifiers]], specializing in [[class A amplifier|class A]] tube circuitry.
== History ==
Named after a British motorcycle manufacturer, [[Matchless ]], the company was founded in 1989 by Mark Sampson and Rick Perrotta, with the idea of making the greatest sounding and most reliable (or least prone to malfunction) guitar amplifier possible. Steve Goodale joined them as the third co-founder in 1991, bringing financing for the company. Borrowing heavily from and perfecting designs of early [[Vox (musical equipment)|Vox]] (a famous British amplifier company) amplifiers, the first Matchless amplifier model - the acclaimed DC-30 (the name bearing tribute to the legendary Vox model AC30), was the first model that saw regular production. Since its first appearance, the DC-30 has won much praise amongst guitar players and has earned several great reviews in guitar magazines like Guitar Player and Guitar World.
Matchless Amplifiers is generally thought of as being the company that kick-started the boutique amplifier craze in the mid- to late nineteen-nineties, paving the way for other smaller manufacturers like Dr. Z Amplification, Bad Cat and Victoria Amp Company, all specializing in making handmade, high end [[tube amplifier]]s.
== Current state ==
Due to financial problems, Matchless Amplifiers closed down in 1998 but reopened in 2000 under new administration and is currently manufacturing several lines of amplifiers and speaker cabinet enclosures.
Mark Sampson went on to design amps for Bad Cat, some of them based on earlier Matchless designs. Sampson has since left the employ of Bad Cat and now produces his own amps under the name Star Amplifiers.
==Current Models==
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;C-30 series
*HC-30
*SC-30
*DC-30
;Chieftain series
*CH-40
*CH-112
*CH-212
*CH-210
;Phoenix series
*PH-35
*PH-212
*PH-112
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;Lightning series
*LG-112
*LG-212
*LG-15
*LG-210
;Nighthawk series
*NH-212
*NH-112
*NH-15
*NH-210
;Independence series
*Independence 212
*Independence 112
*Independence 35
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;Avenger series
*Avenger 212
*Avenger 112
*Avenger 30
*Avenger 210+112
;Spitfire series
*SP-112
*SP-212
;Clubman 35
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== External links ==
*[http://www.matchlessamplifiers.com Matchless Amplifiers official site]
*[http://www.guitarjamdaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=834&Itemid=60 Audio Interview with owner Phil Jamison on Guitar Jam Daily.com]
*[http://www.musicianshotline.com/archive/interviews/badcat_msampson.htm An in-depth interview with Matchless co-founder Mark Sampson]
*[http://www.jacksonsrareguitars.com/Matchless-Amplifiers-p-1-c-311.html Australian Distributor for Matchless Amplifiers]
*[http://www.staramplifiers.com Star Amplifiers]
[[Category:Guitar amplifier manufacturers]]