Getting Started With
Matchless Amplifiers
Tips On Tone
MATCHLESS manufactures a variety of models, each with its own personality and
character. The choice of speaker cabinet type has as much to do with tone as does an amplifier
itself. Speaker cabinets with two twelve inch speakers tend to emphasize midrange frequencies and
tone texture may be characterized as
nasal,
The DC-30 and ESD cabinets utilize
two different
twelve inch speakers. One is rated at 30 watts while the other is rated at 25 watts. This combination
is very much part of the tone of our twin-twelve design. The 25 watt speaker breaks up a little
earlier than the 30 watt speaker. This adds greater flexibility of tone especially when microphones
are used with the amp. The speakers can be differentiated by the size of the magnet structure.
When miking a DC-30 or ESD speaker cabinet you will discover how flexible this combination is.
Our ESD-85 cabinet utilizes two 75 watt speakers. The twin twelve design offers a tone reminiscent
of the fabulous sixties. Fourten-inch speaker enclosures have smooth, deep, bass and silky highs
with less midrange. Country players are very fond of this combination. The overall smoothness of
this design is wonderful. for power chord lovers too! Our four-ten cabinet can be used with C-30 or
Clubman `35 amplifiers. Single speaker models produce a clean, rich, tone and perform well in
almost any situation. These are a smart choice for recording and small club dates. Jazz players are
especially fond of the rich clean tone and the compactness our single twelve design. Matchless also
offers a Twin-Ten, a Four-Twelve, and our unique
Twin-Twelve-TwinTen
cabinet, each with it's
own distinctive character. All Matchless speaker cabinets utilize specially modified speakers.
Multiple speaker cabinets, spread apart and angled slightly toward each other, are a real pleasure
to listen to. The distinctive
"Class A"
design with
"no negative feedback,"
employed in all
MATCHLESS amplifiers, allows every instrument to be heard in a fresh new way. This design
philosophy offers an
openness
and
richness
of tone that clearly distinguishes MATCHLESS
instrument amplifiers from all others.
Matchless has put together a collection of typical control settings that may be used as a starting
point with several popular guitar types and Matchless amplifiers. Several selected guitar models
and musical styles are chosen for illustration and experimentation. These offerings are not to be
considered the
absolute ultimate
setting for
your
guitar or musical
style,
only a helpful starting
place. Locate a guitar type closest to your own, and a tonal characteristic from the chart and set the
controls as illustrated. Vary the control settings as indicated by arrows and shading. In addition to
suggested control settings, experiment with Hi and Lo power settings as covered in the
Operation
Instructions Manual.
Typical settings are shown for each sample guitar type for channels one and two. Remember that
the "Tone Boost" tone controls on Matchless amplifiers are
highly interactive,
so explore!
When using the
Master Volume
control for a dirtier tone keep in mind that a master
volume control cannot duplicate
faithfully
the sound of a heavily overdriven amplifier. A truly
overdriven amplifier has the output amplifier, transformers, and speakers contributing much
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