Should I Buy A ‘Boutique’ Guitar Amp?

In the wonderful world of music gear, the word ‘boutique’ is one of the best examples of pretentiousness. We’re often told that ‘boutique’ is synonymous with ‘high-quality,’ which is one of the reasons that so many eager guitarists spend thousands of dollars on amps, pedals, and guitars that the next guy has never heard of.

The idea of ‘boutique,’ however, should go beyond how expensive an amp is, right?

For starters, we know that there are hundreds of guitar amp manufacturers on the market. With the massive scope of amp brands ranging from cutting-edge digital modeling amps to old-school valve amps, choosing can be quite overwhelming.

I’ve found that it is easiest to associate specific amp brands with particular genres. For example, Fender amps are best for cleaner genres, such as Blues, Jazz, and Country, and Marshall amps are great for crunchier genres such as Rock. EVH amps are great for Metal, and so on.

Beyond our trusted amp brands, the ‘boutique’ category often gets thrown into the mix. For guitarists who enjoy meticulously fine-tuning their rig’s tonal characteristics, boutique amps are a great choice, which begs the question:

“What makes boutique amps so alluring?”

Tonal Characteristics of Boutique Amplifiers

Boutique amp builders get into the game for one reason; they are very passionate about what they do. Components in boutique amps are typically hand-selected with performance in mind. Of course, this isn’t the most cost-effective way to build an amplifier, which is why these amps tend to be quite expensive.

The majority of amps labeled ‘boutique’ are designed with valves. Valves saw the height of their popularity in the 1950s before the solid-state amplifier invaded in the late 60s and 70s. In an effort to capture the nostalgic sounds of a time before mass production, many boutique amp manufacturers use vintage valves. Any amp purist will tell you that valve amps create the most authentic tones available.

A Few Ways In Which Boutique Amps Are Superior

Beyond the high-quality components found in boutique amps, there are plenty of reasons why I recommend boutique amps

Reliability

One of the most significant arguments for boutique amps is the reliability factor. While many consider mass-produced amps more reliable, as many use precise and consistent printed circuit boards, I’d like to provide a different opinion.

Of course, all amplifiers come with an expiration date, as circuitry eventually malfunctions, and tubes eventually burn out. However, it is essential to note that most boutique amps use point-to-point construction. Essentially, these amps are hard-wired and soldered using much larger resistors and caps.

Any amp technician will tell you that this type of construction is far easier to service than mass-produced circuit boards in PCB amplifiers. Handwired amps have more accessible components, in case you or your tech ever need to service the amp by hand.

Custom Options

Most boutique amp companies feature small builder teams that typically build amps on an individual basis. You won’t see massive product catalogs as you do with companies such as Fender or Marshall. Instead, guitarists often seek out these builders for custom jobs. A fair amount of the boutique experience is finding an amplifier that fits your needs and tastes.

You might want a Tolex amp that looks like a piece of 50s-era furniture and comes with coveted varistor vibrato circuits or a futuristic hybrid, complete with NOS tubes and matched Celestion speakers. With boutique amps, you have somewhat of an ability to craft your ideal tone.

Resale Value

While you probably wouldn’t drop thousands of dollars on a new amp just to put it on the secondhand market, the demand for boutique gear is at an all-time high. Boutique guitar amps tend to retain their value or increase in value over time. Mass-produced amps typically depreciate as they get older, unless you have a unique, rare, or highly sought-after model.

Of course, you’ll have to consider the model of your particular boutique amp and the condition it’s in, though if taken care of, a boutique piece of equipment can be an excellent investment.

Some Of My Favorite Boutique Guitar Amps

Bad Cat Cub III 15 R 1×12

Bad Cat amplifiers have an incredibly unique sound and response, thanks to their high-standard hand-wired construction. Their preamps utilize a gorgeous-sounding EF86 valve and come complete with a one-of-a-kind master volume control, which separates the power-amp drive from the preamp gain.

Plus, Bad Cat amps have a legendary build quality and are known to last a lifetime. Compared to most boutique amps of this size, they come at a relatively affordable price too.

Matchless King Cobra

The Matchless King Cobra pretty much defines Rootsy Rock Blues tones. This amp is loud as hell and has a tone that many would kill for. Yes, they’re costly, but you must consider the fact that this amp is essentially a remaster of the iconic DC-30, though it centers around the EF86 channel (the one that most people go crazy over). Plus, it comes with reverb and tremolo.

Magnatone Twilighter Stereo

I’m a huge fan of clean, vintage tones, which is why Magnatone amps speak to me like no other. The first time I played through a Twilighter, I was absolutely blown away. The tone is warm yet dynamic and comes with a ‘blackface’-style rounded bottom and sparkly treble. Of course, you get Magnatone’s legendary frequency-modulating vibrato effect and 12 valves. While I might be cheating a bit with this one, as it is a combination of PCB and point-to-point, I still believe it’s an exceptional piece of work with serious attention to detail.

Bottom Line – Are Boutique Amps Worth It?

As with many gear-related purchases, it all comes down to preference.

When you purchase a boutique amp, you’re also purchasing reliability, customer service, and customization. Of course, if you feel that the sound, reliability, and features of a Twin suit you best, there may not be any reason to toss away extra dough on a boutique amp.

As with almost any piece of music gear, the best way to determine whether a boutique amp is right for you is to figure out what it is you need, what expectations you have, and what your budget looks like. If you can, try out as many different amps as possible that fit within your boundaries.

When all is said and done, what works for your music is what’s best, boutique or not.