We have to give praise to those who made the boutique amp industry. Share your knowledge and opinions as to who is really responsible.
Totally Custom Boutique Amp by Ace Pepper
After all, the tube amplifier industry has grown into a billion dollar industry since tube amplifiers became popular again. Boutique amp and more lucrative companies together have brought back the tube industry, and yes there are tube factories pumping out tubes right now!!
hand wired boutique amp chassis by Ace Pepper
I can tell you this, that back in the day Gerald Weber of Kendrick was probably the one who started it all. After Gerald was getting some success other boutique amp companies started to pop up everywhere. The idea of mail order amps was a big gamble, but it paid off, and really brought back a whole industry.
Totally Custom Boutique Amp by Ace Pepper
hand wired boutique amp chassis by Ace Pepper
The upsurge in handwired, highly crafted amps was certainly a blessing to those of us who love tone and the pursuit of it. I can’t believe it happened due to any one factor over the many others.
For instance, CBS musical instruments buying Fender and directing it straight to hell in a hand-basket. Then came the departure of all the talent that was Fender and their new engineers, probably straight out of college, wanting to go solid state (or is it soiled state?) all the way. Then came the terrible fiasco of the ultra-linear transformer. OUCH!
As this was going down, Marshall was just trying to keep up and bit the transistor bait as well. Vox was hit so hard they had to shut down for a while.
This sad state of affairs opened a window for people like Randall Smith (of Mesa), Howard Dumble and Ken Fischer (Trainwreck) to show the world what a hot-rod tube amp could (and should) do.
I must say I feel some degree of schadenfreude about these circumstances but also feel bad for Leo and the fate of MusicMan. I am, however, smiling about Gibson. I always heard there stuff went to eleven I just didn’t know they meant Chapter Eleven..
I’ll be doing business with you soon, I’m in the process of moving to another
abode.
V/R,
Robert
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