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Matchless DC-30 2x12 Combo Amp

8 ratings | read 1 review

This is what changed the amp world. The DC-30 was the company’s first design and still leads the lineup.

Thirty very conservatively rated watts from a quartet of EL-84’s, through two channels, each with unique voicing and tone control layouts, ...

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17 Artists Use This
Caleb Followill

"Caleb is playing the Matchless 2x12s DC. It’s kind of cool, it's its own thing. It's got tone selector switches, it sound can't really dial out the middle, bass, and stuff like that. It just gives you what it gives you. It's pretty good though, pretty loud if you want it to be," says Caleb Followill's guitar tech.
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Matthew Followill

First submission notes: its a costume dc 30. Complementary submission notes: Since many years back, the Followills have been using Matchless amps for their performances. However, opposite to Caleb, who recently plays his guitar with a pair of AC15C1 amps, Matthew Followill have been playing through a Matchless DC-30. There are more pictures and videos showing up his amp (or amps, when he carries out a backup).
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Dave Keuning

In this Instagram post by Matchless Amplifiers (@matchlessamps) from 31st Oct 2015, there is the caption, "New #MatchlessAmps #DC30 for Dave Keuning of the Killers in #KCRoyals colors."
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Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow is using Matchless DC-30 guitar amps.
Stone Gossard

[...]Stone has used on stage for several years is a "DC-30" 30w 2x12" combo amp. [...] the Matchless has now taken a back-up role for Stone on stage. For parts of last spring's Hawaii/Australia tour, and for all of last summer's U.S. tour, Stone switched to a Savage Audio "Blitz 50" 50w 2x12" combo amp for his stage sound. Pearl Jam Sinergy
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Billy Duffy

On the [Gear page](http://www.billyduffy.com/gear/matchless-dc-30-amplifier/) of Billy Duffy's website, he says, "I’m a big fan of Matchless. Their amps were introduced to me by Bob Rock when I was recording ‘Sonic Temple’. I used them in the studio but didn’t use them live until after the ‘Ceremony’ tour. At that point I finally went and bought one in Los Angles and started using it in sessions and stuff. They’re a great sounding combo amplifier, better than a Vox AC 30 and better than a Fender Twin."
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Richard Fortus

According to Fortus' website, Fortus also uses the Matchless DC-30 amplifier.
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Jeff Lynne

Jeff Lynne played MATCHLESS DC30s during thr Royal Variety Performance in 2016.
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A.C. Newman

At 2:13 minute mark on performance of "Brill Bruisers" the black Matchless DC30 combo can be seen behind Newman.
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Gary Louris

AMEN!!! HUGE Gary/Jayhawks fan, have spoken with Gary a few times. His setup has varied a bit, and have not seen them live in the past few weeks so I can't say what he's got now, but on the Smile tour it was definitely a Fulldrive II, vintage Fuzz Face, Script Phase 90, and a Buddha Wah into the DC30. [http://www.musictoyzforums.com/showthread.php?24721-All-hail-Gary-Louris]
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Steve Pedulla

Steve Pedulla, of [Thursday](http://equipboard.com/band/thursday), and his tech discuss his Matchless DC-30 2x12 in this [interview](http://www.guitargeek.com/steve-pedulla-thursday-guitar-rig-and-gear-setup-2003/).
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Michael Guy Chislett

In this photo, along with the Fender Jazzmaster, the Matchless DC-30 combo amp can be seen.
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Adam Gardner

Listed under Adam's gear on Vividgreen.net.
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James Mankey

Live rig, concerts
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Nigel Hendroff

Same as the VOX. Nige gets part of his effects sounds from here.
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Reggie Young Jr

"I have a Matchless 2×12 combo, and I use it a lot. I’ve also got a ’65 Fender Deluxe Reverb, I guess it’s my all-time favorite little amp. That’s mostly what I use in the studio. Another one I use for the studio is a Hullett Deluxe, which is all-tube with one 12? Eminence speaker; the extension cab has a 12? Weber VST. It’s kind of like a Deluxe Reverb…except it doesn’t have reverb. [Nashville session guitarist] Bill Hullett’s son, Clay, makes the amp."
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Kylie Miller

On this picture we can see Kylie using a Matchless DC-30 stack amp
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Details

Description

This is what changed the amp world. The DC-30 was the company’s first design and still leads the lineup.

Thirty very conservatively rated watts from a quartet of EL-84’s, through two channels, each with unique voicing and tone control layouts, produce a world of tone choices. True “Class A” configuration gives rich, complex harmonics whether played clean, mildly overdriven, or with all out power tube saturation. This means you should sound great in any situation, in any music style.

A long list of musician designed features includes: highly interactive tone controls and circuitries unique to each channel, bypassable master volume, individual channel effects loops, cut control for high frequency shaping, high and low (30 or 15 watt) power settings, selectable output impedance and phase inverter switches allow the use of additional speaker cabinets or amps in-phase with the DC-30.

The preamp sections are based on a layout of two 12AX7's in Channel 1 and one EF86 in Channel 2. The two 12AX7's in Channel 1 create a parallel-triode circuit with interactive bass and treble. The one EF86 in Channel 2 consists of a high-gain pentode coupled to a six-position tone switch. Outright benefits include quick dial-in of new tones and an easy return to the settings you prefer. Also "high treble" cut control, master volume, with a bypass feature that offers flexible control of the power amp section. The power amp is fed by a 12AX7 phase inverter, which drives four EL84 power tubes. The rectifier circuit gives you the flexibility of using one 5AR4 for a quick attack or you can use two 5V4's for a smooth, round response. Other professional features include an effects loop, half power-mode switch (a conservative 30 watts switching to 15 watts), output impedance selector (4, 8, 16 ohms) and a speaker phase-reverse switch.

Sound on the 212 Combo is delivered through two dissimilar Celestion speakers: a G12H30 and a Greenback 25, each specially modified through a proprietary MATCHLESS formula. All of this is encased in an extremely sturdy hand-made 11-ply, ¾” Baltic birch cabinet, wrapped in richly textured black vinyl. The finishing touch is our signature backlit nameplate and control panel, which lets you (and the audience) know when the power is on.

1 review

dailydoze

136

I regret trading this.

Bought it on reverb.com for about £600 in mint condition, and it was my main amp for 3 years. I traded it carelessly for a Boss GEB7 and would do anything to have it back. It has a beautiful clean sound as well as a decent overdrive sound and can take pedals to the point of insanity. I loved it to tears.

+2

about 10 hours ago
- 1 Comment
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dailydoze

Mistake: it was a GE7 not a GEB7.

about 5 hours ago