FWIW, what the C15 is missing isn’t any upper chime or complexity, it is just thump and authority from the trannies. The 30 watters have that big iron, and the big iron gives more oomph and tighter, especially in the lower end.
But then you have to heft it. The HC30 is a lot more manageable than the combos, that is for sure. A DC30 would make a great anchor for a cruise ship.
Oh, and speaker wise, recent matchless have had a number of different speakers in them. A popular one has been the newer creambacks. But the tried and true is one V30 and one Greenback variant, both with Matchless’s reduced doping to give them more vintage flex out of the gate.
I’ve never liked the Alnicos with the Matchless. Too strident in the highs and flubby. Works better for that boxier reedy chime Vox thing. But the C30 has more heft and that in turn stains those speakers. Ive seen people try rubies, cream alnicos and golds in em, but I’m not a fan. There’s something to a great broken in v30/green pairing. They compliment each other. Miking only one of them leaves the tone hobbled, IMO.
But yeah, the Matchless C30 has Vox flavor, but also its own thing going.
My C30 is one of the gray tolex clear handles with white piping from the first couple years. But people that talk about “Sampson era” are trying to sell amps. Having heard dozens and dozens, I can say find the right set of NOS tunes, and one made today will rival any other Matchless from any year. The only thing they’ve done different is moved a couple components to make them idle quieter. Otherwise, exact same build (some would argue better now), hammering them out one at a time. Still a small shop. Same level of care. And Phil still answers a great many of their emails himself.
I say this even though my C30 is late 92, and my Chieftain is early 94, and my old Clubman was also 94. So I own nothing new. But I respect the hell out of those folks.
And Mark is of course a lovely fellow to talk to as well. Never bought any of the Badcat amps, but I know he tweaked several of the Matchless circuits, and they are also very well made. I have heard a few, and seem great as well.
And until recent years they were doing the same acetone speaker doping trick as at Matchless.