Matchless LG-15 Lightning

(Originally written by tomasalom1/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Class A

3 x 12AX7, 2 x EL84 and one 5AR4 or GZ34 rectifier tube

15 watts

No FX loop, low, high, gain and volume controls.

The EQ is very effective unlike old Marshalls (I can't say anything about the new ones). A small adjustment produces a huge change!

UTILIZATION

The setting couldn't be easier.

You get a good sound right away (no need to turn the controls in all directions).

Just plug your guitar! No headaches!

A user's manual isn't necessary!

SOUNDS

It perfectly matches guitars with a fat tone (Les Paul or SG-like guitars with humbuckers)

It's not the best amp for a Strat or a Tele which sound too brilliant.

To summarize, it's like a Vox that you could overdrive even at reasonable output volumes but with a more precise response demanding a more accurate playing from the musician (every single detail is faithfully reproduced!).

It's a real pleasure to hear the real crunch of a Vox (I'm not speaking about the Chinese amp heads that have nothing to do with the original... but I'm not saying they are not interesting)!

OVERALL OPINION

I can't rate the value for money but I can describe how the sound is:

I give it an 11... (think of Spinal Tap...).

This amp is made for crunch sounds but not for fat distortions! It's a tribute to fine sound! The clean sound is very good but the amp was conceived for not so clean and crunch sounds!

If I had to choose again I would definitely buy it again!!!