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.

MATCHLESS Guitar Amplifiers Models

MATCHLESS ES-1012 Image

MATCHLESS ES-1012

- 120W, 2-12 in., & 2-10 in. Celestion speakers, 8 Ohm impedance, open back design, various color covering, gray grille, 89 lbs., mfg. 1993-98.

MATCHLESS LIGHTNING REVERB HEAD (LG-15HDR) Image

MATCHLESS LIGHTNING REVERB HEAD (LG-15HDR)

- 15W, head-unit guitar configuration, all tube chassis, preamp: 5 X 12AX7, power: 2 X EL84, 5AR4 rectifier, single channel, reverb, front black control panel, five control knobs (v, B, T, r, MV), various color covering, gray grille cloth,...

MATCHLESS ESD/ES-212 Image

MATCHLESS ESD/ES-212

- 40W or 60W, 2-12 in. Celestion speakers, 4 Ohm impedance, open back design, various color covering, gray grille, 45 lbs., mfg. 1991-present.

MATCHLESS RMC-30 Image

MATCHLESS RMC-30

- 30W, rack-mount head, all-tube chassis, preamp: 3 X 12AX7, 1 X EF86, power: 4 X EL84, 5AR4 or 2 X 5V4 rectifiers, two channels, front black control panel, four inputs, seven black knobs (Ch. 1: v, b, t, Ch. 2: v, tone, Both: Cut, MV), hi/...

MATCHLESS KING COBRA HEAD Image

MATCHLESS KING COBRA HEAD

- 35W, guitar head unit, eight-tube chassis, preamp: 4 X 12AX7, 1 X EF86, power: 2 X EL34, rectifier: 5AR4, single channel, reverb, tremolo, front black control panel, two inputs, seven cream chickenhead knobs (v, tone, tremolo speed, tremo...

MATCHLESS ESS/ES-112 Image

MATCHLESS ESS/ES-112

- 30W, 1-12 in. Celestion speaker, 8 Ohm impedance, open back design, various color covering, gray grille, 35 lbs., mfg. 1991-present.

MATCHLESS RA-30 Image

MATCHLESS RA-30

- 30W, power amp only, rack mount head, all-tube chassis, power: 4 X EL84, front chrome control panel, three ivory chicken head knobs (input level, brilliance, MV), mfg. 1998 only.

MATCHLESS ES-112 Mini Image

MATCHLESS ES-112 Mini

- similar to the ESS/ES-112, except in a mini cabinet configuration, various color covering, gray grille, 30 lbs., mfg. 2009-present.

MATCHLESS JOHN JORGENSEN SIGNATURE Image

MATCHLESS JOHN JORGENSEN SIGNATURE

- 30W, 1-12 in. speaker combo, all tube Class A chassis, preamp: 1 X EF86, 4 X 12AX7, power: 4 X EL84, rectifier: 5AR4 or 2 X 5V4, single channel, front control panel, two inputs, seven white knobs (v, master tone, s, depth, r, cut, MV...

MATCHLESS AVALON 30 Image

MATCHLESS AVALON 30

- 30W (switchable to 15W), guitar head-unit, eight (non-reverb) or ten-tube (reverb) chassis, preamp: 3 X 12AX7 (non-reverb) or 5 X 12AX7 (reverb), power: 4 X EL84, rectifier: 1 X 5AR4, single channel, optional reverb, front black control p...

MATCHLESS PHOENIX Image

MATCHLESS PHOENIX

- 35W, head-unit only, all-tube chassis, preamp: 2 X 12AX7, 1 X EF86, power: 2 X EL84, 5AR4 rectifier, two channels, front black control panel, four inputs, seven black chickenhead knobs (Ch. 1: v, b, t, Ch. 2: v, tone, cut, MV), effec...

MATCHLESS AVENGER 30 Image

MATCHLESS AVENGER 30

- 30W, head-unit only, all-tube chassis, preamp: 2 X 12AX7/ECC83, power: 4 X EL84/6BQ5, rectifier: 5AR4, single channel, front control panel, single input, six white chickenhead knobs (v, b, m, t, post, MV), hi/lo power switch, impedance sw...

MATCHLESS AVENGER 30 REVERB Image

MATCHLESS AVENGER 30 REVERB

- 30W, head-unit only, all-tube chassis, preamp: 4 X 12AX7/ECC83, power: 4 X EL84/6BQ5, rectifier: 5AR4, single channel, reverb, front control panel, single input, seven white chickenhead knobs (v, b, m, t, post, MV, r), hi/lo power switch,...

MATCHLESS SPITFIRE HEAD (SP-HD) Image

MATCHLESS SPITFIRE HEAD (SP-HD)

- 15W, head-unit only, all tube chassis, preamp: 2 X 12AX7, power: 2 X EL84, 5AR4 rectifier, single channel, front black control panel, three control knobs (v, tone, MV), various color covering, gray grille cloth, mfg. 1994-early 1997, 2009...

MATCHLESS THE BABY HEAD Image

MATCHLESS THE BABY HEAD

- 6W, guitar head unit, three-tube chassis, preamp: 1 X 12AX7, power: 1 X EL84, rectifier: 1 X 5AR4, single channel, top black control panel, single input, three cream chickenhead knobs (v, tone, MV), power switch, speaker out, available in...

MATCHLESS TORONADO Image

MATCHLESS TORONADO

- 15W, 1-12 in. speaker combo, all tube chassis, preamp: 2 X 12AX7, power: 2 X EL84, 5AR4 rectifier, single channel, tremolo, front black control panel, four control knobs (v, tone, s, depth), various color covering, gray grille cloth,...