Sampson 35 (Matchless Clubman 35) for Headrush
Sampson 35 (Matchless Clubman 35) for Headrush
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The Sampson 35 is a Headrush clone pack captured from a real Matchless Clubman 35 amplifier — one of the most respected boutique amps ever built. The Clubman 35 is a 35-watt EL84-based hand-wired amp that combines the chime of a British Class A circuit with the headroom and definition of a push-pull design. Players like Peter Frampton, Johnny Marr, and countless session guitarists have relied on Matchless for their most critical work.
Every Headrush clone in this pack was made from the actual Matchless Clubman 35 in a professional studio environment, captured through a Neve 1073 preamp, multiple microphone setups across the pack (Shure SM57, Royer R121, Beyer M160, AKG C414, Shure SM7, and a vintage U47).
What's Included
- 17 clones — 3 DI clones (dry signal) and 14 mic'd cab clones across multiple microphone positions and the amp's full gain range
- PDF manual with tone notes and full signal chain details
Compatible With
Compatible with Headrush Prime, Core, and Flex. Pedalboard, MX5, and Gigboard do not support clones (.ac files).
FAQ
What amp is this?
A Matchless Clubman 35 — a hand-wired boutique amp built in Los Angeles. EL84-based, 35 watts, push-pull design. One of the most sought-after boutique amps ever made, known for its iconic chime, touch sensitivity, and musical overdrive character.
What signal chain was used?
Matchless Clubman 35 captured through a Neve 1073 preamp, multiple microphone setups across the pack (Shure SM57, Royer R121, Beyer M160, AKG C414, Shure SM7, and a vintage U47).
How many clones are included?
17 — 3 DI clones and 14 mic'd cab clones across multiple microphone positions and gain settings.
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I downloaded the free demo and liked it so much I bought the full pack. I built a rig with it using one of the "crunchy" clones to get an edge of breakup sound with my Les Paul. I made a few adjustments, but not as many as I do with most other clones and SuperClones, and wow, this is amazing! I've never played a Matchless Clubman, only a Chieftain briefly, but what an incredibly amp-like clone.
My current iteration has the input gain on the clone block around +2.5 dB, just enough to push it a touch more without audibly getting to boomy. I left the bass at 50, turned the mids to 42, treble at 50, and presence at 50. After playing in a band context last night, I might bring the mids back up a couple of percentage points.
The clone is sensitive to pick attack and pickup selector. I'm getting that glassy top end like I wanted, but without being shrill. I didn't even have to use the clone block EQ to shelve any highs. I still set the low shelf at 80 Hz as I always do, but that's it. This is the first rig I've built where I've made so few tweaks to get a gig ready tone. I recorded my IEM mix last night and listed back to it and it's as good in the mix as I thought it would be after dialing it in at home with my Headrush FRFR Go. I highly recommend this clone pack.