strat_master
New member
hi guys, i have kind of a dumb question but what is a boutique amp? I assumed it was an old vintage amp but now im just confused.
Boutique Amps?
- Thread starter strat_master
- Start date
danglybanger
ReelItInologist
Re: Boutique Amps?
boutique just means a smaller manufacturer from what I make out, normally handbuilt and of fairly high quality.
dan
boutique just means a smaller manufacturer from what I make out, normally handbuilt and of fairly high quality.
dan
strat_master
New member
Re: Boutique Amps?
oh ok, what brands would be clssed as boutique?
oh ok, what brands would be clssed as boutique?
S
seafoamer
Guest
Re: Boutique Amps?
Dr. Z
Dr. Z
Hot _Grits
Buttery Toneologist
Re: Boutique Amps?
...add:
Carr
Top Hat
Kendrick
Dumble
Maven Peal
Diezel
...and plenty more. Pick up a copy of Vintage Guitar magazine, and you'll probably find about 50 manufacturers.
...add:
Carr
Top Hat
Kendrick
Dumble
Maven Peal
Diezel
...and plenty more. Pick up a copy of Vintage Guitar magazine, and you'll probably find about 50 manufacturers.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Boutique Amps?
...and the Fargen that has been custom tweaked for me that's arriving tomorrow... schweeeeettttt
I love Boutique stuff. Many are based off of classic designs. Boutique amps are often used with the best components around: the best transformers, capacitors, resistors and many offer quality PTP wiring. Most boutique amps I've played are very durable as well. All of this amounts to what I like to call: TONE!
...and the Fargen that has been custom tweaked for me that's arriving tomorrow... schweeeeettttt
I love Boutique stuff. Many are based off of classic designs. Boutique amps are often used with the best components around: the best transformers, capacitors, resistors and many offer quality PTP wiring. Most boutique amps I've played are very durable as well. All of this amounts to what I like to call: TONE!
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Boutique Amps?
IMO, a true Boutique amp would be individually tuned and tweaked by the builder to sound its very best. The builder might put it all together in a standard fashion, and then play it and decide to change the value of a cap here and a resistor there to really make it all work together perfectly.
That's the way the really great amp builders like Ken Fischer or Dumble (or Dr. Z?) might do it.
I know that's the way my brother Bruce does it when he builds an amp...every one ends up being just a little diferant from the next.
Which is how it should be done, IMO! That's how hand made violins and acoustic guitars are made too.
That to me would be a true Boutique amp.
IMO, a true Boutique amp would be individually tuned and tweaked by the builder to sound its very best. The builder might put it all together in a standard fashion, and then play it and decide to change the value of a cap here and a resistor there to really make it all work together perfectly.
That's the way the really great amp builders like Ken Fischer or Dumble (or Dr. Z?) might do it.
I know that's the way my brother Bruce does it when he builds an amp...every one ends up being just a little diferant from the next.
Which is how it should be done, IMO! That's how hand made violins and acoustic guitars are made too.
That to me would be a true Boutique amp.
That90'sGuy
DyzaBoyzologist
Re: Boutique Amps?
Amen to that Lew! Cool to hear your brother does it
.
Ben Fargen has been an absolute dream to talk to about the specs and tones. He actually tweaked it according to my guitar setup as well, which is very cool. He put in a 30 -> 15w switch for no additional charge because it is on the newer ones and I am purchasing an older version from him. So all in all I'm getting a freshly updated amp for $2000. Even if this amp doesn't fit everything I want it to, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying from him again just based off of his attitude and professionalism.
The Bad Cat, as good as it was, wasn't customized to my specs even though I purchased it new. I'll have to see tomorrow if there's some magic that an amp designer adds by changing the voicing of an amp subtley. I'm pretty sure the guys at Bogner will tweak their amps for a decent price.
Lewguitar said:
Amen to that Lew! Cool to hear your brother does it
. Ben Fargen has been an absolute dream to talk to about the specs and tones. He actually tweaked it according to my guitar setup as well, which is very cool. He put in a 30 -> 15w switch for no additional charge because it is on the newer ones and I am purchasing an older version from him. So all in all I'm getting a freshly updated amp for $2000. Even if this amp doesn't fit everything I want it to, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying from him again just based off of his attitude and professionalism.
The Bad Cat, as good as it was, wasn't customized to my specs even though I purchased it new. I'll have to see tomorrow if there's some magic that an amp designer adds by changing the voicing of an amp subtley. I'm pretty sure the guys at Bogner will tweak their amps for a decent price.
Last edited:
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Boutique Amps?
I own 3 boutique amps, the first is a Koch Multitone 2X12....an older 50 watt model. I also own a Matchless Lightning 15 2X12 combo, its currently my fav amp.
My pride and joy is a Harry Joyce Custom 30....all handmade by the guy that used to make all the great old Hiwatt amps. The thing is a beauty.
I own 3 boutique amps, the first is a Koch Multitone 2X12....an older 50 watt model. I also own a Matchless Lightning 15 2X12 combo, its currently my fav amp.
My pride and joy is a Harry Joyce Custom 30....all handmade by the guy that used to make all the great old Hiwatt amps. The thing is a beauty.
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Boutique Amps?
Framus has a huge factory, they arent a boutique maker.....they are straight up production pieces. Still damn fine amps.
Koch is now run out from a pretty large factory also...not really boutique. Older ones sound quite different from new ones.
Neeradj said:
Framus has a huge factory, they arent a boutique maker.....they are straight up production pieces. Still damn fine amps.
Koch is now run out from a pretty large factory also...not really boutique. Older ones sound quite different from new ones.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Boutique Amps?
+1,000,000
Dr. Z's are often overlooked due to their simple designs but are fantastic amps. Mine covers a wide tonal territory but doesn't sound EXACTLY like anything (clones) like a lot of boutique amps (no disrespect intended). I think it's great there are small amp companies still thinking outside the box.
In a perfectly tuned amp...anything is possible.
Luke
seafoamer said:
+1,000,000
Dr. Z's are often overlooked due to their simple designs but are fantastic amps. Mine covers a wide tonal territory but doesn't sound EXACTLY like anything (clones) like a lot of boutique amps (no disrespect intended). I think it's great there are small amp companies still thinking outside the box.
In a perfectly tuned amp...anything is possible.
Luke
Mkf411
New member
Re: Boutique Amps?
Dr. Z just came out with a Mini Z.
It's a little 5 watt combo, but that thing cranks. I couldn't go above 3 o'clock on the volume in the guitar shop. It's only got a volume knob and nothing else. It's like $699, which is cheap for a Z.
I wound up buying the Bad Cat Mini Cat for my bedroom amp. It's 5 watts but has a master volume. It's sweet and bluesy. I think it only want to play the blues, but I'll trick it into playing some Rock soon.
I also considered the Victoria, champ but it just wasn't doing it for me. Even cranked it was drowned out by one other guy in the store playing at moderate volume.
Dr. Z just came out with a Mini Z.
It's a little 5 watt combo, but that thing cranks. I couldn't go above 3 o'clock on the volume in the guitar shop. It's only got a volume knob and nothing else. It's like $699, which is cheap for a Z.
I wound up buying the Bad Cat Mini Cat for my bedroom amp. It's 5 watts but has a master volume. It's sweet and bluesy. I think it only want to play the blues, but I'll trick it into playing some Rock soon.
I also considered the Victoria, champ but it just wasn't doing it for me. Even cranked it was drowned out by one other guy in the store playing at moderate volume.
Neeradj
New member
Re: Boutique Amps?
I have to disagree, they're about as huge as Bogner, maybe even smaller, thus Framus, they're also handwired with quality pieces so I consider them boutique. I've heard both old and new Multitones, great amps, but they're not very common on the international market. Here in Holland we can get the Powertone II (the best Koch amp ever made IMO) for like a 100 bucks less than the Framus Cobra and way less than you guys. But a popular magazine here rated them almost as high as the Bogner Uberschall in quality :saeek:
Archer_of_Fish said:
I have to disagree, they're about as huge as Bogner, maybe even smaller, thus Framus, they're also handwired with quality pieces so I consider them boutique. I've heard both old and new Multitones, great amps, but they're not very common on the international market. Here in Holland we can get the Powertone II (the best Koch amp ever made IMO) for like a 100 bucks less than the Framus Cobra and way less than you guys. But a popular magazine here rated them almost as high as the Bogner Uberschall in quality :saeek:
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Boutique Amps?
I agree. The DR. Z MAZ .38 I had for a short time was a killer. I almost bought it!
Lew
mrfjones said:
I agree. The DR. Z MAZ .38 I had for a short time was a killer. I almost bought it!
Lew
Similar threads
