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* EDIT: Up-to-date information is available in Yek's Guide to the Fractal Audio Amplifier Models *
Boutique: based on Matchless Chieftain
Matchless initiated the boutique amplifier craze in the '90s. Hence the name of this amp model. One of its founders was Mark Sampson. The amplifiers that were made during the time that he worked at Matchless are considered the best (“Sampson-era”). Matchless amps are often associated with country music (Nashville) but they are also used by bands like Kings of Leon. More information.
Matchless takes the Class-A tone to a higher level. The C-30 is their most famous amp (the DC-30 is modeled by Fractal Audio). The Chieftain is lesser known but a fine amp in its own right.
There are two Boutique models. “Boutique 2” is modeled with a boost for more gain and high-frequency emphasis.
The Chieftain is a single channel 40 watts amp, with a single input jack and two EL34 tubes. Medium-gain amp, thick, yet crisp, with a fair amount of power amp breakup.
The preamp on the Chieftain Reverb employs a 12AX7A tube for the first preamplifier and an EF-86 (6267) tube in the tone control circuit. It uses four 12AX7s for the pre-amp, tone controls, and reverb.
The Volume control sets the gain of the first preamp stage. It acts as a sensitivity control and a drive control.
The Master Volume control adjusts the overall gain of the output amplifier. For maximum clean headroom set the Master to its maximum position. For dirtier sound, lower the Master and turn up Volume.
Bass, Middle and Treble are interactive. The Bass control has a very wide range. Excessive amounts of bass can cause floppiness and lack of definition at high volume settings.
The Brilliance control on the modeled amp adjusts the overall high frequency response of the power amplifier. It is used to smooth out high frequency edginess or bring it forward. It offers extra flexibility and tone shaping by widening or narrowing the broad-band response of the amplifiers. Brilliance is mapped to the Hi-Cut control in the model. Defaults is "0", I like it much better around “5”.
Read the manual for more information about the controls.
Matchless amplifiers commonly use a combo of custom G12-H and G12-M speakers. We’ve got them in our devices: look for the Boutique stock cabs.
A selection of YouTube videos:
Boutique: based on Matchless Chieftain
Matchless initiated the boutique amplifier craze in the '90s. Hence the name of this amp model. One of its founders was Mark Sampson. The amplifiers that were made during the time that he worked at Matchless are considered the best (“Sampson-era”). Matchless amps are often associated with country music (Nashville) but they are also used by bands like Kings of Leon. More information.
Matchless takes the Class-A tone to a higher level. The C-30 is their most famous amp (the DC-30 is modeled by Fractal Audio). The Chieftain is lesser known but a fine amp in its own right.
There are two Boutique models. “Boutique 2” is modeled with a boost for more gain and high-frequency emphasis.
The Chieftain is a single channel 40 watts amp, with a single input jack and two EL34 tubes. Medium-gain amp, thick, yet crisp, with a fair amount of power amp breakup.
The preamp on the Chieftain Reverb employs a 12AX7A tube for the first preamplifier and an EF-86 (6267) tube in the tone control circuit. It uses four 12AX7s for the pre-amp, tone controls, and reverb.
The Volume control sets the gain of the first preamp stage. It acts as a sensitivity control and a drive control.
The Master Volume control adjusts the overall gain of the output amplifier. For maximum clean headroom set the Master to its maximum position. For dirtier sound, lower the Master and turn up Volume.
Bass, Middle and Treble are interactive. The Bass control has a very wide range. Excessive amounts of bass can cause floppiness and lack of definition at high volume settings.
The Brilliance control on the modeled amp adjusts the overall high frequency response of the power amplifier. It is used to smooth out high frequency edginess or bring it forward. It offers extra flexibility and tone shaping by widening or narrowing the broad-band response of the amplifiers. Brilliance is mapped to the Hi-Cut control in the model. Defaults is "0", I like it much better around “5”.
Read the manual for more information about the controls.
Matchless amplifiers commonly use a combo of custom G12-H and G12-M speakers. We’ve got them in our devices: look for the Boutique stock cabs.
A selection of YouTube videos:
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