The Matchless Amplifier Company was founded by Mark Sampson and Rick Perrotta in 1989. Mark was born and raised in Iowa where he built streetrods and racecars while playing in a band as a hobby. In the late 1980s, Mark and his family moved to the west coast. Mark then worked in various enterprises relating to music and instrument manufacture. Rick had an incredible collection of vintage radio and tube instruments. The two came together to form a partnership in 1989 to put together an amplifier. They spent two years forming the first prototype amplifier after extensive research and trial and error. Finally in 1991, they had an amp that wasn't too complicated to make or operate; therefore, creating a product that would be reliable, which became the 30W series. The first amp had features that the ones produced today still have, including: shock-mounted tubes, 1-watt resistors, and Teflon wiring. Mark stayed with the company until 1998, and Matchless went out of business in 1999. In 2000, Mark began doing freelance work and became involved with BadCat amplifiers. Late in 1999, Phil Jamison who had worked with Matchless prior, started producing Matchless amplifiers again under new ownership/managment. By 2000, new Matchless amplifiers started rolling off the line. All currently manufactured and most older models are made using point-to-point hand wiring, made in the U.S. Matchless uses this philosophy in their business: To build the best most versatile amplifier possible. For more information, visit Matchless' website or contact them directly.
Amplifiers and speaker cabinets currently produced in Los Angeles, CA since 1999. Matchless amplifiers were previously produced in North Hollywood, CA from 1989 to 1994, Santa Fe Springs, CA from 1994 to 1997, and Pico Rivera, CA from 1997 to 1998.