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12 beautiful boutique amps

By Guitarist
published 29 August 2013

Our pick of the current crop

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Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature

Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature

Oft-mentioned in the Dumble lineage, this is the Cali brand’s most famous amp. John Mayer and Matt Schofield appreciate their loud, clear, majestic tone.

Page 1 of 12
Page 1 of 12
Mesa/Boogie Lone Star

Mesa/Boogie Lone Star

The original boutique guitar amp brand, Boogie still makes world-leading, no-compromise valve amps. The Lone Star has been a Texas-inspired, do-it-all fave for many years.

Page 2 of 12
Page 2 of 12
Orange Custom Shop 50

Orange Custom Shop 50

Hand-built in England, this is as tonally devastating as it is wonderfully built. All-out rock tones from mild break-up to huge, crunching gains: unique, brilliant and well priced.

Page 3 of 12
Page 3 of 12
Matchless King Cobra

Matchless King Cobra

Matchless’s genre-defining DC-30 is the obvious choice, but we also love this. In short, it’s a DC-30’s EF86 channel with reverb and tremolo. Utterly astonishing.

Page 4 of 12
Page 4 of 12
Carr The Bloke

Carr The Bloke

Steve Carr’s amp punches harder than an irate Klitschko. It’s a crunching delight for strong rock and blues-rock, in a distinctly boutique enclosure. Stunning build, too.

Page 5 of 12
Page 5 of 12
Fender '57 Bandmaster

Fender '57 Bandmaster

Fender makes amps as meticulously as anyone. This 3x10, 26-watt reissue plugs the gap between a ’57 Deluxe and ’59 Bassman. It’s the sound of Townshend on Who’s Next?.

Page 6 of 12
Page 6 of 12
Bogner Goldfinger 45

Bogner Goldfinger 45

Eccentric and enigmatic, you say? The man behind this four- 6V6 chameleon certainly fits the bill! You get two vintage- inspired channels, and a neat approach to effects loops.

Page 7 of 12
Page 7 of 12
Divided By 13 JRT 9/15

Divided By 13 JRT 9/15

Created by Fred Taccone, this offers a mix of EL84s and 6V6s for a superbly capable, mid- power tone machine. Built one at a time in California, seen on pro stages everywhere.

Page 8 of 12
Page 8 of 12
Dr Z Maz 18 JR

Dr Z Maz 18 JR

You’ll scarcely believe the volume and headroom from two EL84s and ‘18’ watts. Hand-made in Ohio, Z artists include Brad Paisley and bluesman Buddy Whittington.

Page 9 of 12
Page 9 of 12
Jackson Amp Works Atlantic

Jackson Amp Works Atlantic

The latest version of this diminutive tone monster gives you varying options of EL84 and EL34 valves for a huge variety of classic-voiced clean and drive sounds.

Page 10 of 12
Page 10 of 12
Cornell Design Your Own

Cornell Design Your Own

What’s more boutique than having your own amp made? Brit Denis Cornell offers a custom-spec option on his amps, hand-built in the UK. Clapton likes ’em, after all.

Page 11 of 12
Page 11 of 12
Hughes & Kettner Puretone

Hughes & Kettner Puretone

You may think the German brand is all about technology. Well, the Puretone is one of the most visceral, stripped-down EL34 rock heads we’ve ever played: true fact.

Page 12 of 12
Page 12 of 12
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