Vintage Orange Matamp 100W Head - UK c.1970

Here is a circa 1970 Orange Matamp 100W head, a rare and historically significant example from the early collaboration between Matamp founder Mat Mathias and Orange founder Cliff Cooper. Hand-built in Huddersfield, UK, during the formative years of British high-powered amplification, this model represents one of the defining designs that helped shape the sound of early 1970s rock music. It was famously used by players such as Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, further cementing its legendary status.

Powered by EL34 tubes, this 100-watt head delivers huge headroom with a wide dynamic range, moving effortlessly from clean authority through to rich, harmonically dense overdrive when pushed. Its response is immediate and highly interactive, with strong low-end weight, pronounced mids, and a bold, expressive top end typical of early Orange-Matamp designs.

The control layout is straightforward yet highly effective, featuring depth, drive, bass, treble, boost, and volume controls, allowing for broad tonal shaping while maintaining the amp’s raw, organic character. Built using hand-wired, point-to-point construction, it offers excellent dynamics, clarity, and touch sensitivity consistent with boutique-level craftsmanship of the era.

This particular example has a unique visual history, with the original orange tolex removed to reveal a striking brown/green velvet finish, giving it a distinctive one-off appearance while retaining full sonic integrity. The original tubes have been replaced with Svetlana valves, which are included in the sale, and the output transformer was re-wired in 2014 for continued reliability.

Tonally, it delivers everything expected from an early Orange-Matamp design, huge projection, rich harmonic content, and a powerful, authoritative voice that excels in classic rock settings.

Specifications: 

Year: UK
Country: United Kingdom
Finish: Brown/green velvet
Power: 100 watts
Power Tubes: 4 × EL34
Preamp Tubes: 3 × ECC83 / 12AX7
Channels: Dual input channels
Controls: Depth, drive, bass, treble, boost, volume
Inputs: High and low sensitivity inputs
Impedance: 4Ω / 8Ω / 16Ω selectable
Construction: Hand-wired, point-to-point wiring
Transformers: High-quality hand-wound transformers
Accessories: Power lead, original tubes included