What is the biggest determiner of good amp sound in a boutique? I mean, we talk about

[axuality.com]

boutique amps "sounding better", which is why some of us will pay $2500 for a 1-12" combo amp, but this "better"...what is the greatest part of it-that it has quality, expensive components- resistors, transformers?

Or is it that it is wired by hand? Shorter signal path? What is the one greatest factor, anybody know?

And are today's components better than the ones in the 50's and 60's?

Give me some ideas, will you please? I owned a new '66 Dual Showman, a new '66 or '65 Super Reverb, then pretty much went SS for many years. I don't remember those original amps sounding all that great. Is it just in comparison to today's mass-produced amps?

I have questions. Want input. I own Blackstar HT series now. And they seem to sound very good. But I do want to think about more boutiquish amps, I wonder...

[wrathfuldeity]

my list of ranking priority
circuit design and including layout
component quality
build quality

These days circuit design are more tailored options and recipes that target a sound....verses...Back in the day was also the case...but the circuit recipes were more basic, component selection more limited and build quality depends of the person putting it together.

So the first place to start is what sound do you want, then determine what circuit is most likely to get you there and then order it up or burn your fingers doing a diy.

Then sounding better is pretty much up to the player's skills of twisting knobs and hitting the strings.

However good sound includes matching pu's, guitar and speaker/cab for your sound...so not a single thing but the sum of the parts

[riffmeister]

boutique is a state of mind

[hachikid]

I never really got it, either. I have a used Carvin X100B reissue that I bought for $325 + tax that sounds as good as most other amps I've played through.

[JP~)]

boutique amps "sounding better", which is why some of us will pay $2500 for a 1-12" combo amp, but this "better"...what is the greatest part of it-that it has quality, expensive components- resistors, transformers?

Or is it that it is wired by hand? Shorter signal path? What is the one greatest factor, anybody know?

And are today's components better than the ones in the 50's and 60's?

Give me some ideas, will you please? I owned a new '66 Dual Showman, a new '66 or '65 Super Reverb, then pretty much went SS for many years. I don't remember those original amps sounding all that great. Is it just in comparison to today's mass-produced amps?

I have questions. Want input. I own Blackstar HT series now. And they seem to sound very good. But I do want to think about more boutiquish amps, I wonder...

well....i listened to some of your sound samples and I can offer this...I don't know about better...but...you could start by turning off all those effects and then ask yourself....do I still like the way I sound? If the answer is no...then you could ask...how do I want to sound....it makes it easier to choose an amp or an amp builder if you know what you want at the end of the process

....for me...it really doesn't matter, if I like the amp...I like the amp. I have a blackface fender Vibrolux which i like ok...but I much prefer playing a fender prosonic which most people wouldn't even shake a stick at...but for me, I like it and that's all that matters.....however, I really wanted to get back into a Marshall. I love the tones of the late 60's plexi's but i don't want the cost of a vintage head...and I also want the reliability of a modern head that hasn't been played into the ground. I also really don't care for modern marshals...so for me it came down to choosing a builder who can get the Marshall thing...at the end of the day, I want an amp that I can plug straight into and be happy with the way I sound and to that end...I own all types of amps...vintage...production line and booteek....don't really care which is better cuz to me...i like them all

[gillman royce]

..it makes it easier to choose an amp or an amp builder if you know what you want at the end of the process...I really wanted to get back into a Marshall. I love the tones of the late 60's plexi's but i don't want the cost of a vintage head...and I also want the reliability of a modern head that hasn't been played into the ground.
You pay an arm & a leg for a vintage piece, like an AC30, and it starts dating your amp tech. A good builder, using modern upgraded parts and technology can get you what you want for le$$.

[dangeroso]

I don't think it's the components themselves as much as it is the net sum of the build.

Want an amp that sounds like a 68 Plexi? Well there were only so many made by Marshall, but there are a lot of boutiques that make amps that replicate that sound. If there is something specific that you want tone-wise, boutiques are the way to go.

If you just need a workhorse, there are plenty of good production run options.

[LSchefman]

The parts that determine great amp sound are the brain, talent and ears of the builder, and how these parts correspond with your brain, talent and ear parts.

There is no "sine qua non" magic bullet part or technique that means doodly-squat compared to the above.

There's always some thread that says, "Yeah, but there's only 100 bucks worth of parts in that boutique amp." Well, that person doesn't get it. Those aren't the parts that make or break the deal. ;)

[rick13]

The parts that determine great amp sound are the brain, talent and ears of the builder, and how these parts correspond with your brain, talent and ear parts.

There is no "sine qua non" magic bullet part or technique that means doodly-squat compared to the above.

There's always some thread that says, "Yeah, but there's only 100 bucks worth of parts in that boutique amp." Well, that person doesn't get it. Those aren't the parts that make or break the deal. ;)

DITTO ....as well as how easy the amp is to dial in...layout of the controls.
Rick

[James Freeman]

50's-60's amps (Fender, Marshall) were made cheaply to make MONEY for Jim and Leo.
Small underwound transformers (when you but 1000's of trannies as a new company you save on quality for quantity),
besides we lover their farting ready to blow up non linear sound,
Smaller value caps (bigger ones coasted allot more money in the 50-60).
Point to Point was ALLOT cheaper than PCBs.

It all contributed to the beloved tube sound.
Yes, we grew to love "shit" and we like it.

But the most crucial component is: The Speaker.

We guitarists are used to hearing a 12 inch speaker of some sort preferably a Celestion.
If you ever heard an amp into a non standard guitar speaker (full-range speakers or smaller speakers)
You'd throw your boutique buzzer in the can.


Anyway, "BOUTIQUE" in todays musicians terminology is something that is
build from few specific components:

1. Most durable electronics and parts that money can buy.
2. Sounds as close (in our head) to the sound that we grew to love in the past 60 years that electric guitar amplification exists.
3. PRICE. That higher it is the more people fall into believing its the best there is.
(Value is ONLY in the eye of the beholder. I would NEVER buy a plank of wood for 500,000 USD :messedup
or a 5000$ "Handwired by virgins in the USA" single channel "boutique" amp)


Well there you go.
You do the math.

[JP~)]

" I would NEVER buy a plank of wood for 500,000 USD
or a 5000$ "Handwired by virgins in the USA" single channel "boutique" amp)"


isn't there some kind of law prohibiting the use of virgins for hand wiring within the continental US? I think you have to outsource outside the USA if you want hand wired by vigins

[Cream]

If I were to buy boutique it would need to be original and creative.

Not, "Provides luscious Fender clean tones"...

[diagrammatiks]

amps today can and should be better then they ever were.

[James Freeman]

Right.

"Handwired by professionally trained craftsman in the most secret and advanced labs in Area 51 guarded by virgins in the USA"

[JP~)]

Right.

"Handwired by professionally trained craftsman in the most secret and advanced labs in Area 51 guarded by virgins in the USA":clips:clips:clips

[James Freeman]

I can't. I've signed on some very secret documents.

They'll snipe me on the spot.

[RussB]

boutique is a state of mind

Best answer eva!

(and correct, too!)