1995 Matchless Chieftain Boutique Tube Guitar Amp 2x12, Sampson Era
$4,399.99
$4,399.99
Shipping calculated at checkout.
Up for sale, a 1995 Matchless Chieftain 2x12” combo amp in exceptional condition and in perfect working order. Matchless amps are among the best sounding and most versatile British-flavored amps of all time, featuring no-corners-cut construction and premium componentry. This particular Chieftain was made during the Sampson era of Matchless production in the ‘90s: widely considered the high point of Matchless production, the tenure of Matchless founder Mark Sampson resulted in amps that have garnered a reputation for their optimum build quality.
The Chieftain is a single channel design with streamlined controls, pushing 40 watts via a pair of EL34 power tubes. This amp is warm and rich-sounding, exceedingly dynamic and responsive to user inputs. The cleans are crisp, and the overarching sound is hyper detailed, offering the cut and ripping British-flavored drive for which Matchless is known. The tube-driven Reverb is lush and atmospheric, dialing up the Brilliance control yields plenty of treble glassiness and sparkle.
The circuit is virtually untouched, and all of the original transformers are present, with a Oct. 10, 1995 date stamp on the output transformer. The circuit layout is extremely clean, with premium components used throughout, and CTS pots that date to the 29th week of '95. The tube complement comprises a pair of EL34s in the power section (one EHX and one GrooveTubes, matched), a SovTek 5AR4 rectifier, and five 12AX7s (four EHX, one Tung-Sol).
The M-prefix serial on the serial/model badge inside the cabinet further identifies this amp as a Sampson era example. The original pair of speakers, custom built for Matchless by Celestion, have pristine frames and Matchless foil stickers on the ceramic magnets.
Cosmetic touches including black tolex (white tolex face), black sparkle grillcloth, light up faceplate/Matchless badge, and silver piping. This is a very clean example, with just a handful of minor marks and scuffs on the enclosure. The original cream chickenhead knobs are present, and the faceplate graphics are pristine.
The Chieftain is a single channel design with streamlined controls, pushing 40 watts via a pair of EL34 power tubes. This amp is warm and rich-sounding, exceedingly dynamic and responsive to user inputs. The cleans are crisp, and the overarching sound is hyper detailed, offering the cut and ripping British-flavored drive for which Matchless is known. The tube-driven Reverb is lush and atmospheric, dialing up the Brilliance control yields plenty of treble glassiness and sparkle.
The circuit is virtually untouched, and all of the original transformers are present, with a Oct. 10, 1995 date stamp on the output transformer. The circuit layout is extremely clean, with premium components used throughout, and CTS pots that date to the 29th week of '95. The tube complement comprises a pair of EL34s in the power section (one EHX and one GrooveTubes, matched), a SovTek 5AR4 rectifier, and five 12AX7s (four EHX, one Tung-Sol).
The M-prefix serial on the serial/model badge inside the cabinet further identifies this amp as a Sampson era example. The original pair of speakers, custom built for Matchless by Celestion, have pristine frames and Matchless foil stickers on the ceramic magnets.
Cosmetic touches including black tolex (white tolex face), black sparkle grillcloth, light up faceplate/Matchless badge, and silver piping. This is a very clean example, with just a handful of minor marks and scuffs on the enclosure. The original cream chickenhead knobs are present, and the faceplate graphics are pristine.
