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Robert Cray Interview - Quote

Discussion in 'Amp Central Station' started by Hpilotman, Dec 5, 2020.

  1. Dec 5, 2020 #1
    Hpilotman

    Hpilotman Tele-Meister

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    For a long time, you used Fender amps and then you switched over to Matchless setups. How did that come about?

    Robert Cray:
    “We were doing a show in Hollywood opening up for Bonnie Raitt, and I had the chance to try out her guitar player’s setup; I played down by the bridge and the sound through the Matchless just flipped me out.

    Some people collect guitars, but I collect amps!

    “I still have the Fender Super Reverb and use it for recording sometimes, with a Fender Vibro-King as a second stage amp, but the Matchless Clubman 35 is my main amp - Class A 35 watts with a 4x10 cabinet, and I use two of them. Jimmie Vaughan used the same setup for a while.

    “We change the tubes around a bit, experimented doing various things. They’re just great amps. I also use a Magnatone Stereo Vibrato that my guitar tech made for me years back. Some people collect guitars, but I collect amps!”
     
    jspartz, BobbyZ, theprofessor and 2 others like this.
  2. Dec 5, 2020 #2
    schmee

    schmee Doctor of Teleocity

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    Interesting, I had the Clubman and I would call it one of the worst amps I ever had for tone. But playing in clubs is different than playing the big stage like Cray. I could see how the amp would start to breathe on the big stage maybe.
    His tone is a percussive attack with very minimal sustain though, and so is JV's. That's exactly how my Clubman sounded, and exactly what I dont want. So it works for them I guess. There was one spot on the volume dial, about 1 oclock or higher where it started to sound really good, but it was deafening at that setting for club work.
     
  3. Dec 5, 2020 #3
    Hpilotman

    Hpilotman Tele-Meister

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    I noticed that RC has a common thread with the mentioned amps. They all commonly use 10" Speakers and his Matchless cab is a 4x10 . Was your amp a 4x10 setup?
     
  4. Dec 5, 2020 #4
    Hpilotman

    Hpilotman Tele-Meister

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  5. Dec 5, 2020 #5
    Hpilotman

    Hpilotman Tele-Meister

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    Was your amp a 4 x10 speaker configuration? I noticed that the amps he mentioned all use 10 inch speakers and he also mentioned some tube changes in the Matchless.
     
  6. Dec 5, 2020 #6
    schmee

    schmee Doctor of Teleocity

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    No it wasn't. The CLubman is a head. I tried various cabs with it actually, cant remember if I tried 4 x 10 but I dont think so. Just 12 or 2 x 12. The thing was superbly built and very simple clean layout inside really. Just not my thing I guess. But they are EL34 power and I have never bonded with an EL34 amp. :D It just seemed like a one trick pony and there was a great setting in one narrow setup range.
    They are highly touted, yet you dont see them much.
     
  7. Dec 5, 2020 #7
    Hpilotman

    Hpilotman Tele-Meister

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    Yep I owned a EL34 Rivera and it was a good amp but I've been listening to 6L6's for too many years.
     
  8. Dec 5, 2020 #8
    bgmacaw

    bgmacaw Poster Extraordinaire

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    I like Matchless Chieftain amp models, especially with a 4x12 cab impulse response, I've used but I've never had the opportunity to play the real thing. I can't see myself owning the real thing outside a lottery win or the like though.
     
  9. Dec 5, 2020 #9
    StevesBoogie

    StevesBoogie Tele-Holic

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    I always enjoy hearing stories of the superstars trying each others equipment. Thanks for sharing.
     
  10. Dec 6, 2020 #10
    BobbyZ

    BobbyZ Doctor of Teleocity

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    Saw Robert Cray in Fargo several years ago, he was on tour with Eric Clapton. My (ex) wife got the tickets and I had to make a mad dash home from California or some damned place for the concert.
    Anyway Robert Cray just blew me away that night! Never even bothered to look at his gear and I was certainly close enough. :)
     
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