How does Matchless compare to Goodsell

[wesc]

I have wanted a Goodsell Super 17 for the last two years, but I have never found one anywhere that I could try out. A band called The Turning played at my church a while back, and they used Goodsell and had amazing tone. Right now, I live in Sydney where there is an amazing guitar shop called Jackson's Rare Guitars. They have tons of Matchless amps there, and I got to play a few. A lot of people at my church have them as well. How would a Super 17 compare to a Spitfire or Lightning?

[Jatmosphere]

The Super 17 began loosely based on the Spitfire/Lightening if I'm not mistaken?
The low-end and the chime of the Goodsell is just killing. I love my MkII 1x12.
It's just a really amazing amp (as you've heard). The MkIII is in a class by itself... the overall tone, 5/17 watt switch, trem and reverb are all standard too. I tried one @ Richard's shop while working in Atlanta last year and it totally blew me away.
If the MkII wasn't already in my possession, I would have had to get the MkIII. Though I haven't compared the Goodsell vs. Matchless side by side (though I have used a Lighting for many rehearsals).
I'd have to say from the tonal point, price point and customer care that Richard gives all his costumers, I would easily go w/ a Goodsell sight unheard (that's what I did), and it's one of the best gear investments I've ever made w/o a doubt! Also, the S17 has a little more power than the 15-watt Matchless amps, and the output section has this really amazing low-end thing happening! Really BIG sound for such a small and light amp! Just my 2 cents. Happy tone trails....

[datguytim]

Nothing else sounds like a Matchless. There it is.

[Steve Foley]

They're both amazing amps, but in different camps, in my opinion.

I've currently got a Goodsell Super-17 Mk II and a Star Sirius 30, which is one of the later Mark Sampson incarnations. the Star is probably closer to a Matchless tone, and I suspect has similar circuitry, since Mark designed them both. I've also had a Bad Cat Black Cat, another Mark Sampson rig, but I think the Star is closer to the Matchless tone than the Bad Cat was.

The Star Sirius has a bright jangly tone, reminiscent of the Matchless sound. All of the notes are distinct, in either channel, no matter the gain. Great reverb. The notes have a bit of compression when hit hard, similar to a low watt Fender, like a Vibrolux. If you really dig in, it gives a bit of that elastic metallic compression, before springing back to full gut. It's El-34 based, but you'd swear it was an EL-84, from the jangle in the tone, until you hear the dirty channel -this one is all -34.

The Goodsell stays pretty clean until cranked past about 70% or so. It's a good sounding clean, though - just a bit of hair on it. Once it's in the higher gain setting, it really gives up the goods - that's where I like it best. It responds well to cleaning up when the guitar volume is lowered, and then cranking raunch when the volume is pushed up to ten on the instrument. It never gets "real" dirty, though, and would disappoint a person looking for a high gain amp. I'm not sure, but I think the Goodsell's an EL-84 based amp. I wouldn't personally think "Matchless" when I think of the Goodsell - it has a tone of it's own. It's more smokey, gritty, but distinct.

Both amps seem to handle pedals pretty well, and you can get a wide range of dirt with a couple of OD's. Both amps have super builders, who stand behind their products, with great support. Both are a bit heavy, if you're needing to baby your back, but not off the charts. I'm happy with both amps, but they are different, for different purposes. If you're trying to hit Matchless, see if you can score a used one - they come up here on TGP frequently. I didn't think the Bad Cat sounded all that "Matchless" but they do sound real fine. If you can come across a Star, they sound REALLY awesome, but they're pretty hard to come by, and pretty pricey.

[TravisE]

With respect to Goodsell, I don't think they're comparable. Every Matchless amp that I've played and/or owned has been a serious piece of gear. They're designed in such a way that you can tell that functionality, reliability and tone is key from day one. They're ultra user-friendly so that you can get your tone no matter what the gig/volume situation. They're hand-built in an old-world perfection, "built to last until the end-of-days" kinda way that you rarely see anymore.

The only Goodsells I ever played (all Super 17s, I believe) immediately seemed EXTREMELY bright and the controls had to be set in such a manner that it left any further tweaking very limited. The amp had to be nearly cranked to sound it's best and it would have been too loud for many small club situations at that point. The tone was very good but I wasn't blown away and the fact that the tone setting was largely affected by the volume would not make it good for those situations where you have to toss your rig on stage and start playing ASAP with no time for tweaking. The styling of the amp (which personally means very little to me but, for the sake of comparison...) was mediocre and unoriginal. You can easily find more than a dozen other "boutique" amps that look nearly identicle. I know there are more than a few people who have and enjoy their Goodsell amps. I think it's a good product and I'm glad people enjoy them and make music with them. However, I do think that, when comparing the Goodsell to a Matchless, the Matchless wins out easily in every catagory. IMO, YMMV, etc, etc. ;)

[shark_bite]

That'd be a tough call for me, but if I could own any one amp in the world that I don't or haven't already owned, it would be a Goodsell Custom 33. I was never as wild about the Super 17 but that seems to be just about the only amp anyone around here thinks of when they hear the Goodsell name. I've played a handful of Matchlesses and while they were all nice, none of them really did it for me. That's partly how I ended up with a Bad Cat. Same idea, better execution in my opinion.

[harryjmic]

I have Matchless amps others have Goodsell, so what? Play both and go from there it's your money anyway.

[riker4208]

I wouldn't buy an amp just because I heard someone else sound good with it. I might become interested in it, but buy it???? Why? Go down and support your local music shop and buy the best amp you bond with in the store. Who cares what 30 different people think on the TGP.....like harryjmic says above...."it's your money anyway"

[Veritas]

I own a Matchless, and I've played Goodsells on many occasions. I love them both.

[riffmeister]

I have Matchless amps others have Goodsell, so what? Play both and go from there it's your money anyway.

Sounds like the OP only has access to Matchless amps, hence the question here on TGP to folks that might have played both.

[wesc]

Sounds like the OP only has access to Matchless amps, hence the question here on TGP to folks that might have played both.

That exactly what I was asking. Matchless is a lot more common around here. The DC30 that I played was very dynamic. I want to know if the Goodsell is this way. I also would like to know if the Super 17 has a lot of drive on tap like a Spitfire, or less like a Lightning. I'm not really trying to compare them tonewise. I think I could develop a fine relationship with my local shops without just walking in and buying the most expensive piece of gear in the store.

[Jatmosphere]

Nothing else sounds like a Matchless. There it is.

:agree

True. Just imho, I prefer the Goodsell, that's all. Perhaps not as much gain as the Matchless, but it loves pedals and if I need more dirt, that's what I do. Super touch sensitivity and works really well w/ the guitar's volume knob.

[Nolatone Ampworks]

I wouldn't buy an amp just because I heard someone else sound good with it. I might become interested in it, but buy it???? Why? Go down and support your local music shop and buy the best amp you bond with in the store. Who cares what 30 different people think on the TGP.....like harryjmic says above...."it's your money anyway"

+1. based on that, just go buy a Peavy Classic 30. Lot's of folks sound great though those as well.

Hearing someone else play an amp only gives you so much. Putting your hands on the guitar and felling how the amp responds to YOUR hands is key IMO.

[RichardGoodsell]

:agree

True. Just imho, I prefer the Goodsell, that's all. Perhaps not as much gain as the Matchless, but it loves pedals and if I need more dirt, that's what I do. Super touch sensitivity and works really well w/ the guitar's volume knob.

It would make more sense to compare individual models... when you say "Matchless" are you talking about a Clubman, Chieftain, DC30, or what? Compared to a Goodsell 5, 7, 5/17, 17/33, Black Dog 20 or 50?

Appropriate comparisons would be between a Goodsell Custom 33 and a DC30, or a Super 17 vs. a Spitfire or Lightning, for a couple of examples.

There is no question that Matchless is a benchmark for boutique quality, and for that matter the DC30 is an industry icon, and I would like to think that some day some of my products would be held in such high esteem.

But for now, I'll offer inspired electronics in uninspired packaging; with features that a lot of players seem to enjoy, such as simplicity, reverb, tremolo, and $800-1200 in change.

[magnus02]

With respect to Goodsell, I don't think they're comparable. Every Matchless amp that I've played and/or owned has been a serious piece of gear. They're designed in such a way that you can tell that functionality, reliability and tone is key from day one. They're ultra user-friendly so that you can get your tone no matter what the gig/volume situation. They're hand-built in an old-world perfection, "built to last until the end-of-days" kinda way that you rarely see anymore.

The only Goodsells I ever played (all Super 17s, I believe) immediately seemed EXTREMELY bright and the controls had to be set in such a manner that it left any further tweaking very limited. The amp had to be nearly cranked to sound it's best and it would have been too loud for many small club situations at that point. The tone was very good but I wasn't blown away and the fact that the tone setting was largely affected by the volume would not make it good for those situations where you have to toss your rig on stage and start playing ASAP with no time for tweaking. The styling of the amp (which personally means very little to me but, for the sake of comparison...) was mediocre and unoriginal. You can easily find more than a dozen other "boutique" amps that look nearly identicle. I know there are more than a few people who have and enjoy their Goodsell amps. I think it's a good product and I'm glad people enjoy them and make music with them. However, I do think that, when comparing the Goodsell to a Matchless, the Matchless wins out easily in every catagory. IMO, YMMV, etc, etc. ;)

Comparing the quality of cabs is stupid. Look at the price tags. Obviously matchless puts more money into this and charges a lot more as a result. Doesn't mean goodsell's cabs are crap, they just arent covered in leather. Richard builds a very quality amp that will not fail and if it does he makes it right quickly and usually for free. Both amps have great tone I just find the goodsell better fits me, allows me to support a local builder, and allows me to have great access to customer support. I'm sure one day he will put one in a fancier cab and charge more for it but I think he's trying to get his tone out there at an affordable price. The goodsell is bright sometimes but it depends what guitar I use. I like a bright amp though and if you want different he'd probably tweak it. Try using the left side of the tone dial though... hard to call that side bright. Sorry but for me the goodsell wins out in everything but appearance but I could always have it rehoused if I want to show off. The build on the inside is anything but cheap. Just my opinion.

[Hangfire]

Nothing else sounds like a Matchless. There it is.

+ 1 in a big way, I've owned and played many amps.

Nothing comes close to a Matchless, period.

:beer

[Laroosco!]

Nothing else sounds like a Matchless. There it is.
Done and Done

I'm a huge Matchless fanboy though and have never tried a Goodsell. I guess my opinion here is pretty worthless :D

[TravisE]

Comparing the quality of cabs is stupid. Look at the price tags. Obviously matchless puts more money into this and charges a lot more as a result. Doesn't mean goodsell's cabs are crap, they just arent covered in leather. Richard builds a very quality amp that will not fail and if it does he makes it right quickly and usually for free. Both amps have great tone I just find the goodsell better fits me, allows me to support a local builder, and allows me to have great access to customer support. I'm sure one day he will put one in a fancier cab and charge more for it but I think he's trying to get his tone out there at an affordable price. The goodsell is bright sometimes but it depends what guitar I use. I like a bright amp though and if you want different he'd probably tweak it. Try using the left side of the tone dial though... hard to call that side bright. Sorry but for me the goodsell wins out in everything but appearance but I could always have it rehoused if I want to show off. The build on the inside is anything but cheap. Just my opinion.

Actually, price was never mentioned by this thread's originator, so comparing ALL aspects of these amps what was asked for. You sound to me like a happy Goodsell owner who wants to defend his favorite product. That's all well and good, but I don't give a crap either way, so my assesment of these amps is based on nothing but honest experience. I own a Matchless, yes. However, I NEVER use it as 99% of the time, I play my vintage amps. I do, however, think it's a superior product to Goodsell amps which I have spent plenty of time with. It seems as though you're treating Matchless as one of the "big boys" in assuming that, just because they're more well known, their customer service will suffer. That is simply not the case. Remember, Matchless started out much in the same way that Mr. Goodsell did. They've gotten bigger because people liked what they heard. Nothing more. This is what resulted from people like you supporting a local builder. If Goodsell becomes the next household name in guitar amplification, will you no longer support that product? While I know that a huge percentage of opinions of gear around here is based solely on what the person hitting the "reply" button owns, however, I was going honestly from tone. We all hear it differently.

On a personal note, I have a hard time respecting a company that attempts to sell their wares with T&A. I tire of the tacky, tastless Goodsell ads.

[macmax77]

love is in the air....

[amigo30]

It would make more sense to compare individual models... when you say "Matchless" are you talking about a Clubman, Chieftain, DC30, or what? Compared to a Goodsell 5, 7, 5/17, 17/33, Black Dog 20 or 50?

Appropriate comparisons would be between a Goodsell Custom 33 and a DC30, or a Super 17 vs. a Spitfire or Lightning, for a couple of examples.

There is no question that Matchless is a benchmark for boutique quality, and for that matter the DC30 is an industry icon, and I would like to think that some day some of my products would be held in such high esteem.

But for now, I'll offer inspired electronics in uninspired packaging; with features that a lot of players seem to enjoy, such as simplicity, reverb, tremolo, and $800-1200 in change.

Extra respect points earned. This is a perfect answer from a builder in this position (sharing a forum with somebody inquiring about his products).

He gave great respect to the opposing product, didn't try to sell anything, pointed the inquirer towards the right questions, and highlighted what makes his amps good, without contrasting them to another builders.

You're a class-act, Richard.

[Madison]

I recently owned a Super 17 Mark III, real nice amp, great tone, sweet reverb and light weight...I can see why so many love them. But, like others have already said, Matchless is Matchless, and they are just in another league. They are solid and real heavy for a valid reason. The Lightning is simply one of the best low wattage amps ever made IMHO.

[RichardGoodsell]

Actually, price was never mentioned by this thread's originator, so comparing ALL aspects of these amps what was asked for. You sound to me like a happy Goodsell owner who wants to defend his favorite product. That's all well and good, but I don't give a crap either way, so my assesment of these amps is based on nothing but honest experience. I own a Matchless, yes. However, I NEVER use it as 99% of the time, I play my vintage amps. I do, however, think it's a superior product to Goodsell amps which I have spent plenty of time with. It seems as though you're treating Matchless as one of the "big boys" in assuming that, just because they're more well known, their customer service will suffer. That is simply not the case. Remember, Matchless started out much in the same way that Mr. Goodsell did. They've gotten bigger because people liked what they heard. Nothing more. This is what resulted from people like you supporting a local builder. If Goodsell becomes the next household name in guitar amplification, will you no longer support that product? While I know that a huge percentage of opinions of gear around here is based solely on what the person hitting the "reply" button owns, however, I was going honestly from tone. We all hear it differently.

On a personal note, I have a hard time respecting a company that attempts to sell their wares with T&A. I tire of the tacky, tastless Goodsell ads.

While 97 out of a 100 surveyed (literally) responded positively (enthusiastically, even) to the appearance of attractive models in the Goodsell ads, not even the most prudish observer would be able to find anything remotely qualifying as "T&A" in my ads for well over a year now - and with all due respect, TravisE, you have proven the validity of the tactic, as more than a year has gone by and you're still talking about the ads. A little guy like me has to depend on that kind of bang for the buck to compete - two years ago one of the major guitar mags hired a research firm to obtain all sorts of data relating to circulation, demographics, and efficacy in advertising, and of the top 200 advertisers, the Goodsell ads in use back then ranked #8 in brand recognition and ad recall. So while you may find it personally objectionable, it was a well-informed decision at the time, and, as it turns out, overwhelmingly effective.

With regard to cabinet construction and design, and the perceived lack of imagination therein - I'll own that. It was also a deliberate decision; most of my amps are enclosed in a 5E3 cab or based on a Marshall 18 combo design. The 5E3 uses the best construction methods - the finger-joined pine was chosen for it weight and tonal qualities, as was the case with the birch-ply used on the larger combos, and the JTM-style heads.

Sure, I could've spent more on light-up logos and fancy metal extrusions, or leather, or whatever, but the cabs I use offer many advantages that the end-user will only experience as lower-cost. My construction lead time is much shorter, meaning I don't have to stock as many on the shelf; flight cases and slip covers are available anywhere; size, weight, and cost all factor in - but to me the cabinetry is secondary to what's inside.

As I said earlier in this thread, Matchless is a benchmark for boutique quality and design - they were pioneers in the category. I'm not saying I'm better than anybody, and if I wanted to copy another brand, that's easy - I'm just looking for buyers who experience, for instance, my 4x EL84 2x12 with reverb and trem for $2499 as a comparitively good value. Research suggests that the typical Goodsell buyer already has, on average, 8 amps; many, many, of which are Matchless, Z, etc., and it's all good. The Goodsells have been validated time and time again by marquis artists (I'm not a name-dropper but you can Google) both live and on record. They aren't for everybody, but since my two little hands can only build about 180 amps/year, they will all most certainly find good homes eventually.

Something tells me that TravisE wouldn't own one even if a nun was selling it for $75...

[shark_bite]

Something tells me that TravisE wouldn't own one even if a nun was selling it for $75...

When you find a nun selling one of your amps for $75, you be sure to give her my contact info.

I've been hoping to get my mitts on a Goodsell to call my own for a while now but it just hasn't been in the cards thanks to changing needs and a stupid lawsuit that has sucked all the fun (and fun money) out of my summer. BUT... everything ends eventually... and as I said earlier in this thread, if there's one amp on earth that I do not already own and would buy, it's the Custom 33.

Actually, after hearing all that market research data I feel even more obliged to support Richard's business... after all, that data comes from somewhere... and that is precisely what puts a roof over MY head.

[55 Jr]

I prefer Matchless (Lightning and Spitfire).
I like the Goodsell ads!
Best regards,
Brian

[Hangfire]

As I said earlier in this thread, Matchless is a benchmark for boutique quality and design - they were pioneers in the category. I'm not saying I'm better than anybody, and if I wanted to copy another brand, that's easy - I'm just looking for buyers who experience, for instance, my 4x EL84 2x12 with reverb and trem for $2499 as a comparitively good value. Research suggests that the typical Goodsell buyer already has, on average, 8 amps; many, many, of which are Matchless, Z, etc., and it's all good. The Goodsells have been validated time and time again by marquis artists (I'm not a name-dropper but you can Google) both live and on record. They aren't for everybody, but since my two little hands can only build about 180 amps/year, they will all most certainly find good homes eventually.


Perhaps I need to give them another listen, I certainly like what Richard has to say. Class act indeed! :beer

[guitarcrazy2004]

I for one own a goodsell amp that is going nowhere!!!!:p

[Dave Bacon]

As a fellow Sydney local... I can say that dealing with Richard was awsome. He is a great guy and does great amps.... Serious quality and value. I normally wouldn't bag a store but the matchless prices at jacksons are some kind of stupid joke :(

[Ken Ho]

Shameless plug, I have a Bad Cat for sale here in Oz at a price that won't curl your hair. Same build quality as Matchless, just as freaking heavy too !!
PM sent.

[Bigtone]

Actually, price was never mentioned by this thread's originator, so comparing ALL aspects of these amps what was asked for. You sound to me like a happy Goodsell owner who wants to defend his favorite product. That's all well and good, but I don't give a crap either way, so my assesment of these amps is based on nothing but honest experience. I own a Matchless, yes. However, I NEVER use it as 99% of the time, I play my vintage amps. I do, however, think it's a superior product to Goodsell amps which I have spent plenty of time with. It seems as though you're treating Matchless as one of the "big boys" in assuming that, just because they're more well known, their customer service will suffer. That is simply not the case. Remember, Matchless started out much in the same way that Mr. Goodsell did. They've gotten bigger because people liked what they heard. Nothing more. This is what resulted from people like you supporting a local builder. If Goodsell becomes the next household name in guitar amplification, will you no longer support that product? While I know that a huge percentage of opinions of gear around here is based solely on what the person hitting the "reply" button owns, however, I was going honestly from tone. We all hear it differently.

On a personal note, I have a hard time respecting a company that attempts to sell their wares with T&A. I tire of the tacky, tastless Goodsell ads.

I gotta agree with this last statement, its the lowest , but very effective
way of getting attention, IMHO, me no support... But, I'll bet his amps are
good sounding amps,

Bigtone

[SlideGuy123]

I learned about Goodsell amps from TGP (never saw or noticed the ads). I found a good deal on a (barely) used MkIII and bought it after only hearing/seeing YouTube clips. I have never taken such a leap of faith before, but it paid off.

I couldn't be happier -- the Goodsell helps me sound the way I want. It's lightweight, not too big to carry around, gets loud AND soft, and gives me the tones I want. Yes, it's a little bright when I'm playing at home by myself (hint: turn the tone knob to the left). But at an outdoor gig last month, I had all the clarity I needed without getting harsh.

It likes my Timmy pedal, but I find I'm using it less -- I like the sound of the amp, and I can get all kinds of sounds with a little turn of the guitar volume or playing harder or softer.

Can a Matchless do all this and more? I don't know -- I've never played one, but I respect anyone who likes them as they must have earned this great rep. I've tried Allen, Carr and 5E3 clones, among others -- none of them did it for me as much as the MkIII (although the 5E3 sounded great, but I wanted reverb and a master volume; the trem is a nice bonus).

Bottom line, as others have said: it's your money, and there are a lot of great amps out there. If you like how you sound on a Blues Jr (I did for 7 years) and it fits your budget, then that's the right choice. For me, I found the one. Thanks for a great amp, Richard.

Peter J.

[Madison]

I gotta agree with this last statement, its the lowest , but very effective
way of getting attention, IMHO, me no support... But, I'll bet his amps are
good sounding amps,

Bigtone

Guys, there is no more of that going on...check the website. There's a black dog sitting beside one amp. Very clean appearance, good info, a professional looking site anyone would be proud of.

[bobbymack]

I've got amps from both makers...have a Clubman Reverb, just a stellar sounding big loud amp that can cover just about any territory you want. I had (and sold) a Matchless 4xEL84 Cobra...also great, the overtones and coaxable feedback were amazing, but the amp was very bright even with tube switches etc, and the 5 way tone selector didn't work for me. I sold that amp.

I currently own 3 Goodsells...a Super 17 head that has been my main gigging amp for the past several months -- an incredibly toneful and responsive amp in a small package for a small price, just an amazing amp for the money imho. I also have a 17 MkIII which stays in the studio, despite my bandmate's constant pleas for long term loan / purchase -- he says its the best little 112 he's ever played and gets pretty great tones from his CE22 with Darkbursts straight in. And, I recently took delivery of a custom amp Richard built for me which I'll refrain from commenting on as it is not a production model but I like it...

My conclusions? For me, the Goodsell gets the majority of the gigs because its nearly impossible to get a bad tone out of it, its lightweight, and simple to dial in. That said, I have no plans to sell my Clubman 30...it sounds huge and has a certain "pro" quality to it that is hard to describe. It is heavy as hell though.

I believe the Goodsells cleans are a bit richer, and perhaps more "fendery", as opposed to Matchless' tendency toward the glassier Vox cleans...neither bad, just a bit different and as the owner of a couple of vintage Fenders ('67 Vibrolux, '69 SFDR) you can imagine what I prefer there, but both are excellent pedal platforms.

You can't go wrong with either, it's a matter of tastes and subtle difference. I'd also put Kingsley's Deluxe 30 in the running if I were you,the other greatest amp I've ever owned and should not have sold in a weak moment. Never have played a TwoRock but have tried most of the others...

[TravisE]

Something tells me that TravisE wouldn't own one even if a nun was selling it for $75...

Please re-read my statements and know that, while I do prefer Matchless amps, I know that you build a very high quality product. I may not have made that point loudly enough. I'm also someone who enjoys supporting small business. If your amps were more in the camp of what I hear in my head, I would own one. I have nothing against you personally and the comment about the ads was merely an afterthought. I don't find you morally reprehensible or anything like that. I knew as I was typing that that someone would take that small statement and run with it. I DON'T think that is necessary to sell a quality product, but if you do, that's cool with me. I don't care. I'm not a prude, I just find it kinda lame...like bowling shirts with flames on them for instance. :D

I know you get a lot of respect around here and I, too, have a lot of respect for your work. You're making amps that help people to make the music that they want to hear and I think that's great. However, the OP asked a question and, like others, I posted my opinion. As I said before, price was never mentioned in the original post. The question was comparing the two amp brands which I have an opinion on. This turned big when an owner of one of your amps thought it necessary to speak in opposition of my opinion and call part of that opinion "stupid".

[Bravo]

I owned a Matchless DC30 briefly a few years back and thought it was a great amp but I ultimately never bonded with it. I currently gig one or two Custom 33s at a time, and I'm really satisfied. Richard is a stand up guy who makes a great sounding, easy to use product and I was able to buy two Goodsells (a head, and a 212 combo with verb and trem) for about the price of one Matchless. They're both great amps, but different strokes...

[BadAssBill]

Like most on here, I've owned a great number of amps over the years. Orange, Budda, etc...but pound for pound, I put my Goodsell up with nearly anything I've heard live. I have had very different results from Travis in that the whole reason I bought this amp was to play at the smaller to medium sized clubs. As I've said in the past, I also find that speaker choice (as with any amp) makes a difference in tone with the Goodsells I've heard. I bought my S17 about 2 years ago and it instantly took over my #1 spot as my gigging amp. Even after all this time, there are nights I play through this thing and it just rumbles.
There are Audley Freed clips on you tube when he was at the Gibson factory using Matchless. I was about 20 feet away when he did these, and have been a Matchless fan ever since. I've never bought one because a. They are very expensive b. Very heavy and c. I've alway heard they have to be loud to give up the goods. Robert Cray is another person I've heard, again about 20 feet away, who had wonderful tone from his amps. Unlike some folks in this thread, I place a lot of weight on how an amp sounds live....in the mix. I rarely trust video clips, and realize that even live they are not my fingers...but the "tone" will be close in my hands.

Maybe if I had bought the Matchless first I'd be writing this another way as I've never personally gigged with one live (although I have played through several). I think they are apples/oranges for sure, but given my personal experience gigging a few times a month with the Goodsell I always recomend it. If you do a search on the threads they are consistantly one of the products that people really enjoy.

[Wayne]

I certainly dig my Goodsell S17 with reverb and 2 x 10s. I've got a bevy of great amps and this one gets its fare share of use.

[tweed135]

With respect to Goodsell, I don't think they're comparable. Every Matchless amp that I've played and/or owned has been a serious piece of gear. They're designed in such a way that you can tell that functionality, reliability and tone is key from day one. They're ultra user-friendly so that you can get your tone no matter what the gig/volume situation. They're hand-built in an old-world perfection, "built to last until the end-of-days" kinda way that you rarely see anymore.

The only Goodsells I ever played (all Super 17s, I believe) immediately seemed EXTREMELY bright and the controls had to be set in such a manner that it left any further tweaking very limited. The amp had to be nearly cranked to sound it's best and it would have been too loud for many small club situations at that point. The tone was very good but I wasn't blown away and the fact that the tone setting was largely affected by the volume would not make it good for those situations where you have to toss your rig on stage and start playing ASAP with no time for tweaking. The styling of the amp (which personally means very little to me but, for the sake of comparison...) was mediocre and unoriginal. You can easily find more than a dozen other "boutique" amps that look nearly identicle. I know there are more than a few people who have and enjoy their Goodsell amps. I think it's a good product and I'm glad people enjoy them and make music with them. However, I do think that, when comparing the Goodsell to a Matchless, the Matchless wins out easily in every catagory. IMO, YMMV, etc, etc. ;)

Well I see/hear the total opposite from goodsells. The fact that I can set up the tone the way I like it and turn the volume knob up and down. And set the volume for any room without screwing up the tone is flat killer.

Far as I know they are true PTP, I'm not sure how you can improve on that. They look like guitar amps, so that works.

Tone control works like a tweed amp control by adding gain; how cool is that? Huge bottom end but has a nice vintage loose feel, not tight and sterile. Very touch sensitive and killer dynamic pick response. Everyone from Grant Green Jr to Billy Gibbons to Vince Gill uses them. Hard to not take Goodsell amps seriously.

Matchless amps are cool and did it first but you gotta go with what sounds good to you. Richard Goodsell is a stand up guy too. I'm lucky to be local to him..

[RichardGoodsell]

Please re-read my statements and know that, while I do prefer Matchless amps, I know that you build a very high quality product. I may not have made that point loudly enough. I'm also someone who enjoys supporting small business. If your amps were more in the camp of what I hear in my head, I would own one. I have nothing against you personally and the comment about the ads was merely an afterthought. I don't find you morally reprehensible or anything like that. I knew as I was typing that that someone would take that small statement and run with it. I DON'T think that is necessary to sell a quality product, but if you do, that's cool with me. I don't care. I'm not a prude, I just find it kinda lame...like bowling shirts with flames on them for instance. :D

I know you get a lot of respect around here and I, too, have a lot of respect for your work. You're making amps that help people to make the music that they want to hear and I think that's great. However, the OP asked a question and, like others, I posted my opinion. As I said before, price was never mentioned in the original post. The question was comparing the two amp brands which I have an opinion on. This turned big when an owner of one of your amps thought it necessary to speak in opposition of my opinion and call part of that opinion "stupid".

Sometimes I come across as defensive when the subject of females in the ads come up - I was a marketing VP the last time I had a "real" job, some 16 years ago - and back then it was mostly TV, but I sold a lot of Toyotas, beer, air travel, deodorant, weight loss products, etc., often employing images not unlike the ones found in some of my earlier ads, and while I would agree that it is not the most sophisticated method, male guitar players age 18-49 overwhelmingly identify with the iconic image of an attractive blonde woman in a musical context - indeed, the basic shape of the guitar as we know it today can be traced to origins in Spain where original master luthiers wanted their instruments to emulate the shape of the female form -

Nevertheless, starting about eighteen months ago, I dramatically tapered the sexuality to the point that my last round of ads feature my black Lab (second rule of marketing: in the absence of girls, you go to dogs and/or babies) and since then I have fielded dozens of questions along the lines of "what happened to the amp chick?"

There are several things I'm sure we can agree on - for one, I think bowling shirts with flames are heinous. More importantly though, I want to go on the record as stating there is no such thing as a "stupid" opinion; an opinion belongs to the individual who holds it, and you can agree or disagree with it, but at least in the TGP context, it shouldn't be judged - everybody has different experiences, hears different things in their heads - there's no right or wrong, just different.

Finally, I know the OP didn't ask about pricing, but it has to be mentioned on a level playing field - I mean, if my 33w 2x12 4xEL84 amp cost the same as a DC30, I don't think I'd sell very many...

[Jatmosphere]

I for one own a goodsell amp that is going nowhere!!!!:p

:agree +1 on that emotion!

[tweed135]

Hot chicks and guitars is what rock n roll is all about. Even the Beatles and Elvis knew that.

You gotta be on some knd of freak juice to not get that one. Its okay to have half dressed NFL cheerleaders working the field but forget about hot chicks and guitar amps. Oh the horror!

Good grief, can't use a picture of a hot chick with your amp, gotta clean things up and go with house pets or maybe even sheep. But only white sheep, a black one would be too edgy.

Robert Cray and Jimmie Vaughan are the only two Matchless using guitar players I can relate to. Cray doesn't use them exclusively either though.

[Madison]

Good grief, can't use a picture of a hot chick with your amp, gotta clean things up and go with house pets or maybe even sheep. But only white sheep, a black one would be too edgy.


:facepalm

[SoulToStrings]

I own a DC-30 and a Black Dog 20 watt from goodsell. Both are great amps capable of very different tones. Both are keepers as well, but for playing out Goodsell's are hard to beat due to the weight, size, & tone. The volume works really well too, it does not lose tone at low levels, and the gain knob can make it sing or scream.

The ef86 in the dc-30 is the magic for me.

Comparing these companies...well they both have great customer service & they both make nice amps with a lot of praise from well known players.

[SWSNick]

I'm trying to decide between a new, amazing sounding super 17 mkII 2x10 or a matchless (used dc30 or chieftain) and I'm getting the idea that both are of the highest quality, fantastic builders who stand behind their product, and killer tone. I was sold on a matchless then I heard the goodsell, both are very rich and complex.

I want a gob of tone, tone by the truckload, and
matchless seemed like a good place to start as the next level from my 95' ac30 that I love.

We'll see if I keep my back in tact...

[shark_bite]

I'm trying to decide between a new, amazing sounding super 17 mkII 2x10 or a matchless (used dc30 or chieftain) and I'm getting the idea that both are of the highest quality, fantastic builders who stand behind their product, and killer tone. I was sold on a matchless then I heard the goodsell, both are very rich and complex.

I want a gob of tone, tone by the truckload, and
matchless seemed like a good place to start as the next level from my 95' ac30 that I love.

We'll see if I keep my back in tact...

Take a look at the S17 Mk III. It's not even 40 pounds. Comparing it to either of those two Matchless amps would be apples to oranges, but if the extra wattage wasn't necessary, I'd go with the Goodsell all the way.

Now, to be fair, the Matchless is built like a TANK. The Goodsell, more like a really solid Jeep. I'm totally okay with that, but the Goodsell probably won't survive a trip down three flights of stairs end over end the way the Matchless would. On the other hand, your back will thank you every time you pick it up.

I essentially dumped a Bad Cat Cub IIR for my Goodsell and while that was a great amp and I really miss it, I don't find myself thinking about it too often once I plug into the Goodsell. Still apples to oranges, but all of them (the Bad Cat, the Matchlesses, and the Super 17) are friggin' amazing amps.

If you've already got the AC30, you'll cover more tonal ground with the Goodsell. If you go with the Matchless, you'll get better build quality and probably a better version of the Vox thing you've already got going with a little more Marshall mixed in.

[Wayne]

I'm trying to decide between a new, amazing sounding super 17 mkII 2x10 or a matchless (used dc30 or chieftain) and I'm getting the idea that both are of the highest quality, fantastic builders who stand behind their product, and killer tone. I was sold on a matchless then I heard the goodsell, both are very rich and complex.

I want a gob of tone, tone by the truckload, and
matchless seemed like a good place to start as the next level from my 95' ac30 that I love.

We'll see if I keep my back in tact...

Both are great sounding amps but I own a Goodsell Super 17 Mark II 2x10, just like you are considering. I've played the Mark III and it is also a very fine sounding amp and I love the weight, but there's something about the dimensionality of the 2 10s that makes this a bit better sounding amp, to my ears, than the single 12. I've had, and now own, some brilliant boutique amps and this one remains in the stable for its great sound and portability.

[macmax77]

male guitar players age 18-49 overwhelmingly identify with the iconic image of an attractive blonde woman

i do, i do

[friend33]

Yeah, I have the S17 Mk II, and I have to admit the early ads caught my eye. However, the amp looked cool as well, and I saw the ads in VG around the same time they posted a review, and so that's when I ultimately visited the site. I think Richard's right - the black dog (model? highly paid?) in the ads is probably just as effective. Catch the eye first, associate the brand. This won't sell amps by itself, but puts you in the conversation.

About 6 mos. later I was in Atlanta for a conference, and spent a couple of days at Atlanta Discount Music playing them. I ended up buying a cocoa (tan) amp that sounded like the best of the bunch. Someone mentioned the speakers making a big difference, and I'd have to agree. I played a couple of 2x12s, a couple of 1x12s with redcoats and other speakers, one with an old Rola speaker, and the one I bought with a 70th anniv. Celestion. (If I could have afforded two, I'd have picked up the one with the Rola. This thing totally gave up the goods for raunchy, ragged cleans and dirt - just wasn't has versatile and the Celestion, as I play a lot of jazz and funk, too. But matched with a P90 - would probably be rock bliss!)

I mostly play a tele, currently, and don't find the Goodsell too bright, so...(Yes, it's on the brighter side, but I prefer that, and the tone control is highly effective.)

By the way, Richard - you talked about your research, stating that the average Goodsell owner has about 8 amps. I'm seriously behind the curve. Can you email my wife and explain this to her? (If so, another Goodsell could certainly be one of the next six.) :D

[bluessyndicate]

My buddy has a Sampson era Matchless Chieftain 2x12...I hate it. I think it has some nice cleans for chording..but not for soloing and the gain is harsh and unusable....the thing weighs 95 lbs so even if it did sound good I still would never gig with it.

I had the pleasure of playing the ostrich skin covered Goodsell Custom 33 at the 2009 LA amp show and felt that for me it was the amp of the show....over so many killer amps.

Meeting Richard was likewise a pleasure, real nice guy. Phil Jameson is too for that matter.

So I guess...to each his own.

My personal recommendation is that for anyone who likes a plexish sound, reverb, tremolo and light amps...the Customer 33 or Super 17 is one of the few amps that I'd feel comfortable recommending buying sight unseen. I would not make that recommendation for many amps.

[SWSNick]

I stumbled across this thread a while back and it's been really helpful, so thanks.

Last month I picked up a 2x10 s17, unbelievable tone, everything I'd ever dreamed of, except headroom, not quite enough to get over the super rock rig my bass player has, so I brought her back and got a custom 33 trem/verb with a ceramic/blue combo, the first and only I've seen so far.

About a week after my hermit mode was through I brought her over to my buddies shop to show him, whos amp is an early 92 I think sc30, NASTY NASTY tone for days, he mainly place an esquire, super raunchy beautiful rock tone. So he figured this green box coming the door would be decent, but nothing like his holy grail search had found him. After probably less then 3 minutes he went and got his amp and then we had a tone off, oh baby did we get our tone on, I started at 17, which would hang with just about any amp on the club scene volume wise, but the sc30 is loud, grinding, harmonic, juicy super tone. So I bumped her to 33 and we got it on.

We both had a blast kicking eachother's tone around, though his playing is far beyond my years, the amps really came to a standstill. This is a guy who is planning on going to his grave with this amp, paid a premium a few years back and has been trying to convince me to get one for years.

The sc30 I sorta explained, but the Goodsell is sweet, extremely punchy and not able to produce a bad tone, the sc30 had SWEET spots, delicious spots that enflicted a slight tone bone, but if you weren't careful went a little too harsh. The bass on both were tight though my 33 was a little more connected to the rest of the chord, if that makes any sense. The sc30 cut like a machete but the 33 punch would kick through anything he was playing, and any band situation since, gorgeous, lush chords.

And then you dig into the 33, mercy, this is when you go into space. This amp brings you onto your own stage, with your favorite band. I've never experienced anything like it, but this amp sounds like a great record, and people notice too, I'm not as crazy as a look, or sound

Lots of words to say, I hope this helps, I'm a one amp and girl kind of guy I've had the same ac30 go to for 5 years now, and this 33 is it for me, stay tuned for a legendary record

Cheers Gentlemen, to great tone

:drink

[magnus02]

Nice comparison there, id love to jump up to a 33 but I don't know if my ears could take it for the next 50 years....

Glad to hear you like the alnico/ ceramic combo though. I've got 2 alnico blues in a cab and I'm thinking of trading one out for a g12h30... just might have to give it a shot

[shark_bite]

Nice comparison there, id love to jump up to a 33 but I don't know if my ears could take it for the next 50 years....


That's why they have a 33W/17W switch! :D

[Bikedude]

Love my MKII.17, and miss Tamra, and the HOTT Christmas Cards. Thanks RG, for great tone going on 3 years for me.

[tcaron]

I own Super 17 MK II, older model w/front face plate and MK III, which I bought for the weight and of course tone directly from Richard. Changed speaker in the MK III to a Wharehouse speaker to darken the amp up a bit and changed out the two spring reverb to a three spring. I love the tone and the lighter weight.

My only issue with the MK III is that when I need more headroom and low end I have no choice but to increase the gain. Its the nature of the amp. Most of my gigs require a clean sound. When I need a lot of clean volume I grab my Carr Rambler then grab my back when I get home! Ouch!

Thanks Richard!

Tom C