Help me understand: why does a Matchless cost so much compared to....

[Jared Purdy]

All right, I need to hear someone's explanation as to why they think a Matchless amp costs more than 2x what the othe,r similar variants are, out there, such as the Marsh, Mission, Allen, etc., amps? They are clocking in at close to $4000! for a couple of their models. Even their lowly 15 watt amps that have little more than a tone and volume control are running $2400! What gives?

[getbent]

in economics they call it supply and demand. It is really simply actually. A seller determines a price for their good and they set the price. Then, consumers either buy the good at the rate the seller wants to sell the good or the seller resets the price.

Matchless Amps have qualities that attract a large enough community of guitar players at that price, so, Matchless stays in business.

[mr.danny]

I guess lawyers and hedge fund managers are still out there buying. I don't know anyone who is an actual player who'd spend $4k on a new boutique amp. If I had an amp budget like that, I'd get a frickin' early sixties AC30 and spend the rest on hookers and blow (just kidding).

[Zillinois]

Don't kid, mr.danny. "hookers and blow" can provide just as much inspiration as a good Matchless combo amp. But hey, at least the next morning, you'd still have the Matchless.

[mr.danny]

But I'd still be a hedge fund manager with no music lol

[Jared Purdy]

Originally Posted by mr.danny

But I'd still be a hedge fund manager with no music lol

I think you've all nailed it on the head. As it has been said so many times, "don't believe the hype". I mean, does the amp have gold in it?

[Tele-Monster]

I spent all my money on hookers and blow....thats why I dont own a Matchless

[dragonbat13]

The main thing I would think of is this:

If your gonna spend that much for an amp is it gonna give you what you want?

I have been playing for 20 years and have come across some nice amps that wouldnt cost near the cost of a matchless.

NOW if a matchless is that good maybe I should start saving money,

but then if I find that kind of money a Dumble will be my first choice.

[teleamp]

Construction technique! Have you ever seen the insides of any Matchless, they are very labor intense to build. The cabinet, no wood screws as everything that is screwed to the cabinet uses a machine screw into a threaded insert. The chassis, heavy duty stainless steel... did you ever read about the Matchless that fell out of a truck going 60 mph and was rebuildable? The wiring, it is PTP/barrier strip.

They have their capacitors custom made. They use NOS carbon composition resistors. They use custom made Celestion speakers.


Have an amp built to Matchless specifications by anyone else and see how much it will cost you. But, none of the builders you mentioned are capable of doing the level of craftsmanship that you will find in a Matchlesss.

And, they sound pretty damn good.

[teleamp]

And, how many of those high dollar 15 watt Spitfires do you see on the used market... that should say something.

[dragonbat13]

Originally Posted by teleamp

Construction technique! Have you ever seen the insides of any Matchless, they are very labor intense to build. The cabinet, no wood screws as everything that is screwed to the cabinet uses a machine screw into a threaded insert. The chassis, heavy duty stainless steel... did you ever read about the Matchless that fell out of a truck going 60 mph and was rebuildable? The wiring, it is PTP/barrier strip.

They have their capacitors custom made. They use NOS carbon composition resistors. They use custom made Celestion speakers.


Have an amp built to Matchless specifications by anyone else and see how much it will cost you. But, none of the builders you mentioned are capable of doing the level of craftsmanship that you will find in a Matchlesss.

And, they sound pretty damn good.

I stand corrected!!!!!!
I had no idea they went through that much to build an amp!

[Mad Kiwi]

Teleamp, you wouldn't be a convert by any chance would you?

[Jared Purdy]

Ya, so what. What does that say about the build quility of the Mission, Marsh, Allen et al amps out there? They are not exactly known for falliing apart mid session! Have you ever seen the inside of a Mission, Allen or Marsh amp?

[backalleyblues]

Haven't seen a Mission or Marsh, but have seen David Allen's work, and he builds 'em just like the old Fenders, pretty much bullet-proof. I guess Matchless amps are bomb-proof then...

I've played a Chieftain, that's an absolutely astounding amp that truly inspires you to play better, so I can see someone shelling out some serious coin for these amps, they are that good. Granted, it's always a deal of 90% of the tone for 10% of the money, and you always shell out big for that last 10%... I'd say the Allen is about 95% there, Headstrong 97-98%, and Matchless 99.9%... jmo, of course, with prices to match...

Franc Robert

[teleamp]

I bought a firs run Bad Cat that was a mirror image to a Matchless Lightning, even the parts were leftover Matchless labeled.

If you ever gett some quality time with one, you'll understand.

After I saw the inside of my amp, I was amazed and inspired to start building amps myself:

[tiktok]

Originally Posted by dragonbat13

The main thing I would think of is this:

If your gonna spend that much for an amp is it gonna give you what you want?

I have been playing for 20 years and have come across some nice amps that wouldnt cost near the cost of a matchless.

NOW if a matchless is that good maybe I should start saving money,

but then if I find that kind of money a Dumble will be my first choice.

Uh, for that kind of money you could just about buy the knobs on a Dumble. Keep saving.

[RubyRae]

I think Allen builds some great amps, and they are still somewhat affordable. Marsh and Mission are not even in the same ballpark as Matchless...they are one of the pioneers of high end boutique tube amps specializing in class A circuits.

"Along with Budda Amplification, Matchless 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 amplifiers."

I would never own a Matchless, but I have played and recorded with one, and they live up to the reputation, just not my cup of joe so to speak.

[teleamp]

Originally Posted by Jared Purdy

Ya, so what. What does that say about the build quility of the Mission, Marsh, Allen et al amps out there? They are not exactly known for falliing apart mid session! Have you ever seen the inside of a Mission, Allen or Marsh amp?

I've built 3 Allen Accomplices, 5 Mission Deluxes and about 100 other amps. All it says about Mission, Allen and Marsh is that Matchless spends a lot more on parts and labor which is reflected in their pricing.

A good circuit will sound good no matter the construction. Some don't mind paying the difference in cost. Some admire real craftsmanship.

[getbent]

There is a huge advantage to having a small market and a premium product. Typically, the person who is in the market for such a device has had success either in the field or in another field and has demonstrated not just the ability to purchase, but the ability and passion for specific details that he/she values.

Matchless isn't a mass producer. They don't want the guy on a budget. They want professional musicians who can write off the purchase on their taxes, they want the professional who is a hobbyist and appreciates the whole buyer experience. Oddly enough, folks who pay a premium are also some of the easiest folks to work with and who deal with customer service issues the most positively.

If a company can create value in their product to target a niche and provide it at a price that will allow them to keep developing products, support existing products and make a decent living... I think that is a better business plan than making a tool for the masses.

The niche may seem the same as mission, marsh or allen, but the educated purchaser knows that Matchless is a much different animal than those folks. All are high quality products, all have value and seem to do well in the marketplace, but they are chasing different buyers.

[dragonbat13]

Originally Posted by tiktok

Uh, for that kind of money you could just about buy the knobs on a Dumble. Keep saving.

Well you didnt have to tell everybody