Define "boutique".

[Hwoltage]

I find the line between "boutique" and "inferior" tough to define. Your opinions?

 

[timme_v]

lame definition of "slightly exclusive"

 

[kimock]

I find the line between "boutique" and "inferior" tough to define. Your opinions?

Got a sister?

 

[Toe]

Everything that's not from Boss.

 

[lux_interior]

I find the line between "boutique" and "inferior" tough to define. Your opinions?

So what people call "boutique" items are usually inferior? To what? I don't understand what you mean at all...


(I don't really care how they call them, and I don't think they are inferior. Or superior. They are just a niche market)

 

[lux_interior]

You could say that "boutique" products are the ones made in smaller numbers than the well known massively produced ones, something that allows a greater attention to the details of design, testing and manufacturing. In many cases - not all, though - this results in higher quality, which might be perceivable by some people that are after it because they need it or because they want to indulge in buying a luxury item.

However, this claimed attention to detail and the "handmade" magic word are sometimes being used to inflate the prices to an extent that they can only be justified if we look at them as luxury / fashionable items, which often don't offer any tangible advantages over simpler ones that get the job done quite as well, and maybe better. In any case, in this market it's not about getting the job done, but more about enjoying the process due to the psychological influence of the brand name, and to the mojo that it carries. Again, some people need that, some have convinced themselves that they "need" that, and some don't.

 

[Stratobuc]

Everything that's not from Boss.

Yet funny to see how many "famous" boards they are seen on....

 

[wck]

Yet funny to see how many "famous" boards they are seen on....

True man.. so boutique doesnt always = best/ practical

Boss pedals are so much more practical to use for a constantly gigging musician.. imagine using a goatkeeper/ skreddy echo etc and trying to replace them when they go dead 2hrs before a gig

(Not trying to diss skreddy or lightfootlabs, i used them cos the TR-2 and DD series are the better stuff from boss plus they were the 1st to come to mind)

 

[cj_wattage]

if we look at them as luxury / fashionable items,

Great word choice. A lot of what is in the boutique category is fashionable and sold at luxury prices. And then there are practical, functional, relatively inexepnesive pedals that are also boutique. Barber is a fine example.

Price is not a good indicator of build quality. There's well-built inexpensive stuff and half-assed expensive pedals...and of course the exact opposite is true as well in many cases.

So to actually answer the OP's question, I'd say the boutique label is reserved for low-volume, small-scale manufacturing (relative to Boss, Digitech, et al). Sound and build quality are not really factors because they are very inconsistent in the boutique niche market.

 

[coldfingaz]

Great word choice. A lot of what is in the boutique category is fashionable and sold at luxury prices. And then there are practical, functional, relatively inexepnesive pedals that are also boutique. Barber is a fine example.

Price is not a good indicator of build quality. There's well-built inexpensive stuff and half-assed expensive pedals...and of course the exact opposite is true as well in many cases.

So to actually answer the OP's question, I'd say the boutique label is reserved for low-volume, small-scale manufacturing (relative to Boss, Digitech, et al). Sound and build quality are not really factors because they are very inconsistent in the boutique niche market.

Please allow this reasonable response to end this thread. The OP was obviously just trolling.

 

[AngryGoldfish]

I'd say it varies from product to product. A boutique clothes shop will have a different ethos than a boutique pedal company.

For instance, I recommended a boutique shop to my sister the other day as she was looking for a new scarf. And each place we found on the web all had terrible customer service and prices. That does not correspond with people like Josh at Malekko and their companies.

In the pedal world, boutique is often a way in which to simply describe 'uncommon'. In the guitar world, it often describes extreme quality and even extremer prices. In the amp world, it often signifies very reasonable prices - particuarly for the USA - and 'better' versions of an already awesome amp. Titan Custom Amps fit that bill for instance. They are incredibly cheap, incredibly well made and are based on an already very famous and popular amplifier.

 

[EthanB]

"If it can be bought at GC then it's clearly not boutique. and it also sucks."

 

[CharAznable]

What about the intersection of "Boutique" and "Inferior"?

 

[Ben C.]

bou·tique [boo-teek]

–adjective

4: of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business: "one of California's best boutique wineries".

 

[lux_interior]

In the amp world, it often signifies very reasonable prices - particuarly for the USA - and 'better' versions of an already awesome amp.

I am not so sure about that... in my experience, prices are far from reasonable in the boutique amp world... the thought that goes through the buyer's head is the same: "I'm going to spend a small (or not so small) fortune but damn it, I am going to enjoy it".

I also agree that it means the customer service is more friendly, on a person-to-person basis, and usually quicker too. But not always... that's why one should do a good bit of research beforehand. Not having a huge dealer network and service centers around the world brings extra stress to a small company, and not all of them can handle that.

 

[Mancunion]

Let me see.

1) Any pedal that will cost you more second hand than new is boutique.

2) A builder with a year long waiting list produces boutique stuff. When the same builder hires someone to solder the switches, the same stuff loses its mojo thus ceases to be rightfully boutique.

3) A tipically boutique piece of kit has the guts covered in goop. So you can't fix it or spot the TS9 circuit.

4) Pedals built by Boss, Ibanez, DOD etc. are not boutique until they are in production.

5) Second series are always worse than firsts.

6) A boutique pedal can do what a TS9 or a Bad Monkey does but with a dodgy wiring.

7) You saw batterd TS9s but only shiny Klons.

8) Anything that's weekly endorsed by the TGP Boutique Police Dept.

 

[Hwoltage]

Please allow this reasonable response to end this thread. The OP was obviously just trolling.

No!! I really am curious about people's individual considerations!