Boutique Amps

[jwri9790]

Fairly straight forward. What is your favourite boutique amp company. Sorry if i missed any important ones, but I think I've included the most popular ones.

[deluxeman]

Reinhardt
Goodsell
Talos

[In Absentia]

Definitely prefer Suhr to any other brand that I have played, but Germino and Reinhardt are also on the list.

[mdclark58]

Redplate

[Live Wire]

Carr
Germino
Swart

(pre '99 Matchless)

[troykennedy]

Suhr

[riffmeister]

I think I've included the most popular ones.

How did you determine this?

[bjjp2]

Two Rock
Quinn
Germino
Red Plate
Carr
Fargen
Komet
Top Hat


Pretty much all the ones not listed.

[bdm]

none of the above...carr.

[7StringJazz]

That list is so short its almost criminal. Just sayin. Some killer brands come to mind easily including:

Bruno,
Carr,
Alessandro,
Aiken,
Freyette,
Quinn,
Stephenson,
Two-Rock,
Carol Ann,
Fuchs,
...

Again, just sayin.

[FenderBigot]

Soldano.

But I voted for Z in the OP's list.

Agree with Carr and Goodsell being left off the list too.

[Gas-man]

Victorias are pretty popular.

[Oasis.Guitar]

Red Plate
Fargen
Moody

....but in the list I voted for 65amps

[v-verb]

Komet, Bludo, Mojave - Dirty Boy division

[smolder]

Dr Z. They sound great... Super tough build, and I can afford to own more than one if I buy on the used market.

[jjp]

none of the above. spread yer wings a bit, and get a better response.

[lang.murphy]

In no particular order: (alphabetized here...)

Emery Sound
Morgan
Reeves
Swart

[Onioner]

Phaez
Ceriatone
Barber

The last is kinda a throw in, as you couldn't buy one if ya wanted to, but I wanted to list three, and, well, they did make something pretty special ...

[Jim S]

Fairly straight forward. What is your favourite boutique amp company. Sorry if i missed any important ones, but I think I've included the most popular ones.
You have a lot to learn.


Which will be financially painful.

[cjp54]

Komet!
Xits!

[Rick0]

Two-Rock

[Rod]

Sorry, that list is ridiculous. Carol Ann, Rinehardt, Fuchs, Quinn, Glaswerks, Ceriatone and PWE aren't on there either

[gillman royce]

VAlvetech
Richter
Victoria
Vintage 47

Pull the thread & start over

[jmonk99]

Victoria and Allen for me

[stratus]

Carr, Tungsten.

[samuelson]

On that list: Bad Cat all the way. great build quality, great sound. great customer service.

next time add Morgan and Blankenship to the list.

[In Absentia]

Probably shouldn't have been a poll because of the sheer number of different makers of boutique amps.

Also, people are likely to just say what they have.

[Gear-Junkie]

Well, as the responses show, there are too many great builders out there to narrow it down to one company. But thats a good thing...

[Tuberattler]

Vintage Fender

[rhinocaster]

Of the amps listed - /13.

[Kardula]

Off Topic: I was watching a demo video of a two-rock amp from what I believe was in thailand and the way the guy was saying "boutique amp" it sounded like he was saying "booty camp"....because of this I have resolved to name my amp company "Booty Camp" if I ever start up and amp company.

That said....what makes a boutique amp that it qualified to be on the list? Why include Budda, Matchless and /13 but leave out Bogner and Rivera? My understanding is that they're all high end and carefully made "mostly" by hand.

[sfarnell]

Two Rock
Alessandro
Carol Ann

These are ones that I've owned. There are many that I'd like to try.

[dephazer]

Cornford

I just love my MK50-H with 2x12V30's.

[Crash-VR]

from the list I would choose Divided by 13. I'm digging Komet right now though...

[SuperReverb2]

Glaswerks
Two-Rock
Ceriatone

:)

[Ekluksdahl]

Reason
Jackson Ampworks
Morgan

[dangeroso]

Rivera

[OldSchool]

Out of that Poll I went Dr Z because they sound amazing for such a reasonable Price.$$$ That and the Brad Paisley Factor. http://img.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon12.gif

But My personal favs include Bruno and my last aquistion, a Louis Electric 1x12.

[C-4]

none of the above. spread yer wings a bit, and get a better response.


I agree. I also find it funny that no amps other then american made amps are on that list.
What a bunch of isolationists.

[K-Line]

Fargen
Reason
Goodsell

[goodandswarty]

swart.

[JB6464]

Soldano SLO :dude

[Tonelover]

Baron. Made in USA.

[partsocaster]

I chose Divided By 13, super toneful AND gorgeous builds

[partsocaster]

I agree. I also find it funny that no amps other then american made amps are on that list.
What a bunch of isolationists.

That's surprising how? I am in the states but as a country, we no doubt like our own stuff the best even though everyone's TV was made in China, most cars bought are Japanese and the majority of guitars sold are foreign.

Personally, quality drives my choices, that's why I have a Marshall.

[shortyz]

My vote went for Z's. Although I've been on a 65amps kick as of late.

[JB6464]

That's surprising how? I am in the states but as a country, we no doubt like our own stuff the best even though everyone's TV was made in China, most cars bought are Japanese and the majority of guitars sold are foreign.

Personally, quality drives my choices, that's why I have a Marshall.

If you call a Marshall quality that's scary.
In my opinion the quality stopped around 1980 at end of the JMP series amps.
After that the pots,jacks,switches,tube seats,and everything is mounted cheaply on a thin PCB board. :mad:

[Pantone 333]

- Carr
- Tone King
- Nolatone

I have the first two ... just ordered the Nolatone Johnny Rotten.

[Sirloin]

Fuchs, Carol Ann, Germino, etc.

[_sjm_]

Out of the options given I'd go with Bad Cat, but Valvetech gets my vote overall.

[Ampegasaur]

Landgraff

I use lots of.vintage modded amps that kill 90% of the boutique amps I have played.

[FFTT]

For classic rock tones, I much prefer the legacy vintage amps that get those tones.

For higher gain stuff, I've got my Hot Cat 100R, but my Ampegs still get the most
play time.

My perspective differs a bit because I'm concentrating mostly on great rhythm
tones and cleaner lead notes and lots fewer of them.

Once a year, I try to get one really good item to add to my sonic arsenal,
but each item is chosen for a specific tone.

This year, it's all about speakers to bring out the best in the amps
I already own.

[ronmail65]

Splawn
Fargen

[gstan]

I've owned a Z but the list is a bit ridiculous since most of the amps by these builders are EL84 amps, and mostly Brit (Vox) flavored. DRZ does build some non-EL84 amps but most of his amps are Vox variants in one degree or another. Perhaps a more appropriate name for the list would be "Favorite Brit/Vox EL84 Boutique amps." Budda is quasi-boutique IMHO.

I vote "other".

[stevieboy]

Also, people are likely to just say what they have.

And they're also likely to have what they like, so I don't see a problem with that.

I have and like Allen and Redplate.

[tonegangster]

If its the most popular, is it still considered boutique????????

[small axe]

none of the above-bogner

[Bikedude]

Z for me, out of the ones you've listed. I like Richard Goodsell's offerings, and of course i just love the original "booteek" amp, my Mark V Combo.

[distorted noise]

i voted for 65 amps which i will someday own but i do LOVE my Morgan DAG15

[James BCM]

None of the above.

SLO-100. Period.

LB
BCM

[sixstring531]

Morgan is making quite a push right now.

[MantraSky]

Soldano SLO :)

[shredtrash]

Matchless

[ChopsJackson]

nolatone
morgan
goodsell
carr




what happened to the XITS pandemonium?

[guitarvc]

Fairly straight forward. What is your favourite boutique amp company. Sorry if i missed any important ones, but I think I've included the most popular ones.

What about Bogner, Soldano, Diezel...

[Retired_Colonel]

RedPlate
Tone King

[melvins]

I'd say Matchless for me.

I've only owned a Matchless, Badcat, Morgan and a Bogner as far as "boutique" goes. so there's a lot out there that i haven't tried that I'm sure are great.

[hevechvy]

i really like the sound of a dr z :-)

[kimock]

Fairly straight forward. What is your favourite boutique amp company. Sorry if i missed any important ones, but I think I've included the most popular ones.

Really?

Well good for you, someone will be along shortly to separate you from your wallet, and thanks for participating!

[kelvinator60]

Allen

[msr13]

My favorite is Headstrong.

[Timinator]

Yea, that list is woefully incomplete so I didn't/couldn't vote.

[TRS1]

Swart

[FFTT]

There are so many fantastic offerings now for any possible taste or budget level.

Some custom builds are period correct clones with all the correct legacy circuits
and components.

Then you have a vast selection of "improved" legacy circuits with better components &
road ready / studio quiet build execution, perhaps a few custom tweaks in added tonal
capabilities.

Add to this another vast selection of custom built modified circuits.

High Gainers
Channel Switchers
Multiple Voicings
Low Volume restrictions
Weight Reduction and portability
Connectivity Direct Outs, Loops etc.
On Board FX

Of course these various features may be co-mingled into
any new build, but the selection is certainly there.

Once you find the amp that delivers exactly the tones you want,
then to me it's all about the build execution and road worthiness.

I don't care if you're playing in front of 200 people or 20,000,
it can't break. Or shouldn't.

Buying/building new gives you the freedom to buy a serious workhorse amp.
You're not worried about collectible circuit integrity or having a 40 year
old component finally deciding to go out mid performance.

While the best are not inexpensive, it's about how you feel
about the tools you work with.

[sbosmans]

None of the above.

SAVAGE. Solidly built class A amps. Very full sound with a Master volume knob.

I have a Savage Rohr 15. Love it.

[pickaguitar]

S2.

[Teleplayer]

TopHat

Been playing TopHats since 1998. Brian is a brilliant amp builder. He's been in the business for 15+ years as a builder and before that as a tech.

He is a literal walking encyclopedia of circuits, and has forgotten more than many builders will know about both British and American circuits. His amps are overbuilt, impeccably and meticulously wired and he has sold thousands of units......quietly and without advertising or much fanfare.

TopHat customer service is legendary. Brian and his wife Joanie are both gems, and always stand behind their products - even if you bought your TH rig used.

I've used them to gig, record with and just for fun/jamming. They always sound great - and I have never had a problem being heard in the mix. Nothing like taking a 'Hat for a ride on a nice size stage and hearing her sing through a 5,000 or 7,500 watt FOH sound system in a nice size club.

I can not say enough about the man or his company. Oh yeah - if you give him a call, Brian will talk your ear off about amps, circuits, transformer construction, etc. You'll get an education.

[John Hurtt]

Greer.....

[Nico.]

Bogner

[JosephN0624]

Jackson Ampworks and Morgan are two of my favorites right now

[Bikedude]

Looks like our local legend Dr. Z is winning the "booteek" poll.

[Sunil]

Suhr OD100 Standard . . . an amp that years ago remedied my amp GAS.

That and the Colonial Heritage . . .

[Russell1971]

Soldano SLO

[cg]

Germino
Savage

[mountain blues]

That list is so short its almost criminal. Just sayin.

What he said.

[adjeff2706]

Carr
Goodsell

[t.hendrix]

Germino
splawn
budda?that's peavey made.

[James BCM]

Soldano.

LB
BCM

[Eskimo_Joe]

I bought a 1996 matchless hc-30 a few months ago and it has officially blown my mind!!!

[Rick360]

Howdy,

Dr. Z enthusiast checking in. I won't part with my Carmen Ghia.

[sublimeaudio]

None of my favorites are on the list...

Tone King
Morgan
Swart
XITS