Does anyone have any expeience with the Matchless Chieftain 2-10

[davebc]

The Chieftain 2-12 seems to have been the most popular in the Chieftain line,but hows the 2-10? Just curious.

 

[heybulldog]

if you are asking about the matchless 10" speakers i can say they sound great. i have a es 410 that i use with my clubman. if that helps
ps- the tag on the back says it is a 2 10 but i count 4 ten inchers in the thing (it was made just before they closed up shop)

 

[davebc]

I have the Matchless 10's in my Lightning 15,and they do sound amazin;but I was hoping someone could share their experience with the Chieftain 2-10 combo.I know it's a slightly more obscure model.
I did read the reviews on Harmony Central.

 

[gizmo]

This probably won't help much because I played a 2x12 model several years ago...not the 2x10. But it was a glorious amp! One of the most toneful I have ever played. I had it cranked up and it sounded like my Princeton Reverb... if my PR could go to "15". But it also had a much tighter bottom end.

A great amp for sure.

 

[e-z]

I know a guy who has one and initially he preferred it over his DC-30 but I spoke with him last night and he said now he likes the DC-30 better.

 

[tedwoods]

I have a DC30 and use to have a Chieftain 2x10 combo.

I didn't actually want to get a 2x10 but it was right after Matchless had gone bankrupt and the guy who had it freaked out and sold it for the price of a head,so I got it to try the Chieftain out.
Overal,I liked the 10's.They were detailed but creamy as well and they were a pleasure to play with the reverb.They were bettered ofcourse by the 2x12's in the DC30 which seemed to handle overdriven tones better with more body and depth to the note.
Matchless literature at the time described the 2x10 model as ideal for early Stones tones and I think they summed it up pretty nicely.
I did try one amp in another's cab many times and also both of them(via an impedance altering gizmo)and the 2x12 remained my firm choice.
I didn't sell the Chieftain because of the 10's though.It was the reverb I didn't particularly care for but I fondly remember the amp and I think that if one plays mostly clean to medium drive tones with a Barber L.T.D or something in that vein,the amp would be just great.

Ted

 

[davebc]

Thanks for your insight Tedwoods.I have an older DC 30 and a Lightning 2-10.Despite always being partial to 12's,both my Lightning and Vibro-King really do kick some ass.

I'm still intrigued by Chieftain 2-12 combo,even though the reviews regarding its overdriven tones have been mixed at best. I have the chance to pick-up a Chieftain 2-10,but have absolutely no idea what to expect sonically.I was hoping like my other Matchless gear,that it would be a killer plug in and play amp,no pedals required.I'm old school.
I suspected it might have a little better gain than the 2-12 version.

The Chieftain has consistantly been one amp that players either love or hate.

Any insights are welcomed.

 

[Tag]

Originally posted by davebc
Thanks for your insight Tedwoods.I have an older DC 30 and a Lightning 2-10.Despite always being partial to 12's,both my Lightning and Vibro-King really do kick some ass.

I'm still intrigued by Chieftain 2-12 combo,even though the reviews regarding its overdriven tones have been mixed at best. I have the chance to pick-up a Chieftain 2-10,but have absolutely no idea what to expect sonically.I was hoping like my other Matchless gear,that it would be a killer plug in and play amp,no pedals required.I'm old school.
I suspected it might have a little better gain than the 2-12 version.

The Chieftain has consistantly been one amp that players either love or hate.

Any insights are welcomed.

The amp sounds GREAT for low volume clean and low gain, edge of breakup tones. I liked it more than my DC 30 for that. However, the reverb is really bad, and if you try and play it loud or with more than low gain settings, it is about the flubbiest amp I have ever played. Low notes are not even distinguishable anymore. Just noises, not notes. I strongly suggest trying befor you buy. GREAT amp for a very limited amout of tones imo.

 

[gizmo]

Originally posted by Tag
The amp sounds GREAT for low volume clean and low gain, edge of breakup tones. I liked it more than my DC 30 for that. However, the reverb is really bad, and if you try and play it loud or with more than low gain settings, it is about the flubbiest amp I have ever played. Low notes are not even distinguishable anymore. Just noises, not notes. I strongly suggest trying befor you buy. GREAT amp for a very limited amout of tones imo.

Interesting. how we all hear things differently...and I guess that's a good thing. I thought the overdrive was spectacular and had less flubbiness than vintage Fenders.

 

[tedwoods]

Well,Tag is a bit bolder than me but I would have to say I agree with his observations.
The Chieftain is what I tend to categorize as a "monitor"amp,an amp with a good basic clean tone which you will also be able to manipulate through the Chieftain's cool EQ section but you'll HAVE to use pedals and keep the reverb pretty low.
The two 10's didn't seem to alter its overal overdrive character though.

Ted

 

[davebc]

Tag,I did experience some flubby lows with my Lightning,more so with my Les Pauls.The good thing is that I found the sweet spot and was able to dial most of it of it out.I'll tell you what,amps with interactive eq's and no middle knob still throw me.

I've never experienced even a hint of flubbiness with my DC 30,the lows always stay super tight ,AND THAT AMP iS LOUD,and moves a ton of air,as you already know.

How loud is loud when you talk about when you start to deal with the indestiguishable low end flubbiness with the Chieftain 2-10?.It shouln't really surprize me,30 watts of Matchless juice through 2-10's.

Does the Chieftain 2-12 combo experience the same flub in the lows?

Could you give me an example of a tune with a solo tone that is reminicent of the Chieftain 2-10? Is it it any way Marshall or tweedish?
Thanks

Thanks

 

[tedwoods]

The intro to Brown sugar...?

 

[Tag]

Originally posted by gizmo
Interesting. how we all hear things differently...and I guess that's a good thing. I thought the overdrive was spectacular and had less flubbiness than vintage Fenders.

We hear things 100% differently is right. I could not get any of my Fenders to flub even 10% of that if I tried. The bottom E and A string become useless once the gain is up a bit. It flubs WAY worse than vintage Plexis, and thats pretty darn bad in my book.
Starter of this thread, you had better try one first. Dont say I didnt warn you.

 

[Tag]

Originally posted by davebc
Tag,I did experience some flubby lows with my Lightning,more so with my Les Pauls.The good thing is that I found the sweet spot and was able to dial most of it of it out.I'll tell you what,amps with interactive eq's and no middle knob still throw me.

I've never experienced even a hint of flubbiness with my DC 30,the lows always stay super tight ,AND THAT AMP iS LOUD,and moves a ton of air,as you already know.

How loud is loud when you talk about when you start to deal with the indestiguishable low end flubbiness with the Chieftain 2-10?.It shouln't really surprize me,30 watts of Matchless juice through 2-10's.

Does the Chieftain 2-12 combo experience the same flub in the lows?

Could you give me an example of a tune with a solo tone that is reminicent of the Chieftain 2-10? Is it it any way Marshall or tweedish?
Thanks

Thanks

Yes, both the 10s and 12s flub like all get out. I think the DC 30 is a flub master too, so take that into consideration. If you guys think a Matchless has a tight low end, I have no explanation for it. I can say that after you have played my Brunos, TwoRock, Pro reverb, old Super Reverb, Mesa Mark III, HR Deville, Vibrolux, or Fuchs, you WILL think it flubs BADLY. The low end on all of those amps are FAR tighter than a DC 30, or worse yet, Chieftain. You CAN keep the flub down, as long as you keep the gain WAY down, and do not add to much bottom, but even with a Start, flub they will!

They do not have to be that loud to flub. Just add some gain and stand back and listen. UGGHHH!!!!!!

 

[davebc]

Thanks Tag,
You may have just saved me a pile(well maybe not a pile)but probably close to a couple of grand.

Ahhhhh,,,,I'm starting to feel my gas pains subsiding,unless someone starts persuading me that these amps are amazing in their own right.

 

[davebc]

Thanks tedwoods,I'm thinking this amp may not be what I was hoping for,a crank it up,plug in and play amp,with that unmistakable killer Matchless tone.

Although I never had the pleasure of playing the Chieftain,most of the reviews have been consistent regarding it's overdrive capabilities.This amp just may not be voiced for what I'm hearing in my head.I didn't want to have to rely on a pedal to get it singing.

I wasn't looking for pristine cleans either,I've got the Dual Professional covering that base.