On this functional Friday I Review Matchless' Chieftain amp. It's a great sounding amp. Is it the right amp for you? #matchless #matchlesschieftain #bestamp
Honestly I've never heard a matchless amp I haven't liked. So many awesome artists use em, Im biased towards my vintage Celestion combo amp.....but for real if I hadn't inherited mine, I'd go out and buy one tomorrow
You can’t tell what it sounds like until you turn it up a little bit. I mean, we can hear your strings ringing out. It just sounds like any old amp till you open it up. As far as “I don’t know if it’s good for gigs” you don’t know what you’re talking about it is probably the most gigable robust built amps made.
Matchless are so overbuilt I’ve learned over the years as I’ve become a seasoned matchless guy that issue are rarely EVER the amp. It’s always tube or something dumb. They do eat tubes. But If you gig with a back up set of extra tubes you’ll be fine. Nothing in the world more dependable in my opinion. I’ve seen friends who turned them on after being in a car wreck or a flood and they still work. They are tanks, and I don’t think it’s doing them justice to say otherwise. Insanely overbuilt
Mine broke on the 4th gig and matches said "we don't take returns you'll have to have a tech fix it". They definitely "tank" when it comes to customer service.
This sounds good, but this amp will sound better and better the more you turn it up. It sounds good quiet, but this demo is like taking a Ferrari to pick up groceries. These amps are build like a tank. They've been gigged all over the world. If you had a problem with yours, I wouldn't discount these as being roadworthy. Look on big stages all over the world and you'll see Matchless amps.
I do mention that. If you have a road crew to help I'm sure it's great for that. I'm not saying it's a bad amp. But for the working musician who isn't touring with a crew I think there are hardier more adorable options.
The master volume is at 7-8o clock in this video. This is not showing what any matchless sounds like at that volume level. I get it you’re in a condo but this amp is so suffocated/choked down it’s not doing what “it does”.
Okay, I promise to everyone who has said this comment that I will record at stage volume so that everyone can see that on this amp the power tubes do very little to change the tone.
My experience has brought me through lightning, dc 30 , chieftain , independence and spitfire. I’ve finally settled on chieftain and clubman as my favorite - my favorite prob being clubman. But every malfunction over my long history with them has been something not related to a dependability issue. And I’ve always freaked out thinking it was amp related every time it happened. Not saying you didn’t get unlucky and have a rare issue with yours - it happens. But I have a lot of years with them under my belt that have shown me how dependable they are
Facts! I've been down to Matchless in LA and talked to Phil and the guys about this same topic. They say the problems that develop with the amps are usually a result of the users, not the amps. As an owner I would tend to agree.
Too much talking, the master at a low setting artificially clips the output ( compresses in a good way) being a post Phase inverter, cross plate master volume. There is a LOT of headroom in these puppies when you open up the master volume.
People need to understand. These arent for copycats. You write your own music on them. Matchless is one of the first boutique amps. Boutique is a term i hate. But its basically an amp doing its own thing. Its an interpretation. Even if you are matchless sponsored. My point is that if you play hendrix or whoever. You are comparing matchless to how well it sounds with other people’s music... if you dont get it. Then you are waiting for an artist to make music with a boutique amp so you can buy it and play the same thing. Which is all fine but in a video for a consideration of is it right for you. I believe it should be addressed about what a boutique market is about. Truth is for the rest of us that do enjoy matchless for original music. The fact that people need to ask means music is dead. Where are the people inspired by these fine amps?
I haver 2x12 coming in two days... to sit side by side with my Magnatone, Friedman, Tone King and Supro amps! I can't wait to compare the tones.
I've got a Freedman on the way
Thanks for adding more Matchless content for the rest of us!
Honestly I've never heard a matchless amp I haven't liked. So many awesome artists use em, Im biased towards my vintage Celestion combo amp.....but for real if I hadn't inherited mine, I'd go out and buy one tomorrow
You can’t tell what it sounds like until you turn it up a little bit. I mean, we can hear your strings ringing out. It just sounds like any old amp till you open it up. As far as “I don’t know if it’s good for gigs” you don’t know what you’re talking about it is probably the most gigable robust built amps made.
Fair enough.
I did another video of it just last week. czcams.com/video/QUpN9QylOX8/video.html
Had it louder in this one.
@@guitartris8455 Bless you though, you still can hear the strings acoustically in your new video as well :(
@@everglass that's because the only mic in the room is 10 inches from my guitar and face. I didn't directly mic the amp.
I'll do a video with it cranked this year.
Matchless are so overbuilt I’ve learned over the years as I’ve become a seasoned matchless guy that issue are rarely EVER the amp. It’s always tube or something dumb.
They do eat tubes. But If you gig with a back up set of extra tubes you’ll be fine. Nothing in the world more dependable in my opinion.
I’ve seen friends who turned them on after being in a car wreck or a flood and they still work. They are tanks, and I don’t think it’s doing them justice to say otherwise.
Insanely overbuilt
Mine broke on the 4th gig and matches said "we don't take returns you'll have to have a tech fix it". They definitely "tank" when it comes to customer service.
This sounds good, but this amp will sound better and better the more you turn it up. It sounds good quiet, but this demo is like taking a Ferrari to pick up groceries. These amps are build like a tank. They've been gigged all over the world. If you had a problem with yours, I wouldn't discount these as being roadworthy. Look on big stages all over the world and you'll see Matchless amps.
I do mention that. If you have a road crew to help I'm sure it's great for that. I'm not saying it's a bad amp. But for the working musician who isn't touring with a crew I think there are hardier more adorable options.
ps... I love taking the Farrari for Groceries ;)
It’s like a super model. Is she right for you ? Expectations are sky high if that’s your amp.
LMAO great comparison.
My goto and favourite amp. A+
I'm lovingit more and more the longer I use it in my office.
The master volume is at 7-8o clock in this video. This is not showing what any matchless sounds like at that volume level. I get it you’re in a condo but this amp is so suffocated/choked down it’s not doing what “it does”.
Okay, I promise to everyone who has said this comment that I will record at stage volume so that everyone can see that on this amp the power tubes do very little to change the tone.
My experience has brought me through lightning, dc 30 , chieftain , independence and spitfire. I’ve finally settled on chieftain and clubman as my favorite - my favorite prob being clubman. But every malfunction over my long history with them has been something not related to a dependability issue.
And I’ve always freaked out thinking it was amp related every time it happened. Not saying you didn’t get unlucky and have a rare issue with yours - it happens. But I have a lot of years with them under my belt that have shown me how dependable they are
Facts! I've been down to Matchless in LA and talked to Phil and the guys about this same topic. They say the problems that develop with the amps are usually a result of the users, not the amps. As an owner I would tend to agree.
Too much talking, the master at a low setting artificially clips the output ( compresses in a good way) being a post Phase inverter, cross plate master volume. There is a LOT of headroom in these puppies when you open up the master volume.
Yeah I did a better video comparison of 5 amps and I cranked the matchless in that one
People need to understand. These arent for copycats. You write your own music on them. Matchless is one of the first boutique amps. Boutique is a term i hate. But its basically an amp doing its own thing. Its an interpretation. Even if you are matchless sponsored. My point is that if you play hendrix or whoever. You are comparing matchless to how well it sounds with other people’s music... if you dont get it. Then you are waiting for an artist to make music with a boutique amp so you can buy it and play the same thing. Which is all fine but in a video for a consideration of is it right for you. I believe it should be addressed about what a boutique market is about.
Truth is for the rest of us that do enjoy matchless for original music. The fact that people need to ask means music is dead. Where are the people inspired by these fine amps?
Probably the best argument yet. Love it. Great point.
Lol. Matchlesses are built like tanks. Not sure what you’re doing but you may want to treat it better if you’re breaking it b
LoL "built like tanks, treat it better". I'm good to my gear but I have to ask... What tanks do you have to be gentle with?