Top Hat
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I first met Brian, owner of Top Hat Amplifiers, in 1997 at a NAMM show in L.A. At a time when more and more small, boutique builders were just beginning to pop up, I instantly recognized something special about Brian's amplifiers.
Guitarist Audley Freed and I were walking around the show looking to check out anything new and exciting and were, for the most part, pretty bored and just killing time before a cocktails session with Chris Robinson.....essentially an unofficial interview for Audley to firm up his Black Crowes gig.....when suddenly we heard this amazingly full, complex, modified Marshall-esque tone coming from this small booth. The volume was very low yet the amp had the qualities of a cranked 50 watt head.
Upon closer investigation Audley and I discovered an amplifier called a Top Hat Emplexador 50; an amp which today remains one of the most incredible amps you can buy if you are looking for a veritable encyclopedia of Classic and Modern Marshall tones with an extremely effective Master Volume.
Later that evening, over dinner, Audley and I discussed how much like a full-blown, cranked 60's era Marshall the Emplexador had both felt *and* sounded at low volumes.
We were both using Bogner XTC heads at that time and we agreed that the higher gain mode of the Emplexador also captured much of what we liked about the Bogner's second, or "Blue" channel.
We were both very impressed and I quickly decided to add Top Hat to Fat Sound's growing list of boutique amplifiers.
A 12 year friendship with Brian was begun and Fat Sound has been a Top Hat dealer ever since.
I consider these to be among the very best of The Best in terms of construction, tone and feel and strongly encourage you to check 'em out!
Fat Sound Guitars™ offers a couple of versions of Top Hat Amplifiers only available through our shop and that we feel are the best Top Hat amps available.
Super "Fat" Club Deluxe 112 with EL34's |
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| MSRP: $1979.00 | FAT PRICE: $1979.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
| ADDITIONAL INFO: Hands down one of the best amps we have ever experienced. | ||
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 Video of the Super "Fat" Club Deluxe 112 with EL34's |
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This is the "Super Fat" version of Top Hat's Super Deluxe! We have Top Hat modify the standard 6L6 model to be optimized, via minor circuit tweaks, for EL34's to create a revised version of one of our all time favorite Top Hat models. You *can* simply plug EL34's in to the standard version of this amp, but we have Brian tweak the amp's circuit specifically to run these tubes for optimal performance and safety. We also have Brian subsitute the standard 12AU7, usually used in the V1 position, for a Tung-Sol 12AX7 for a bit more input gain and overall rock-n-roll ability. Finally we request a Celestion G12H30 versus the stock Celestion Vintage 30. Do these tweaks, done at our request, necessarily make the amp better? No, but they may it more idealized for the sounds we like and tend to find to best suit our clientele. Both 6L6 and 6V6 tubes can still be utilized in a simple plug-and-play manner due to the amps cathode biasing. Hopefully the clips posted above as well as the Greg V produced video presented by Fat Sound Guitars and Top Hat Amplifiers will give you a small glimpse in to the versatility of this amazing amplifier. The EL34's bring a girth and versatility to this amp that makes it World Class and a Fat Sound Fave. It works with every guitar we plug in to it, is extremely easy to dial up great tones and a blast to play. Features
Highly Recommended!!™
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Club Royale |
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| MSRP: $1829.00 | FAT PRICE: $1829.00 | AVAILABILITY: In Stock |
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This is the "Super Fat" version of Top Hat's Club Royale! A Fat Sound Guitars™ exclusive.
Hopefully the clips posted above will give you a small glimpse in to the versatility of this amazing amplifier.
The current version of the Club Royale achieved Top Hat designer and owner Brian Gerhard's goal of making the model as Vox like as possible and it is a wonderful amp.
However, I felt the previous version of this model had the most perfect blend of AC15 and Low Watt Marshall that I have ever heard in a 112 combo and I admit to being disappointed to see this version of the Club Royale discontinued.
Brian and I had many talks about this and he agreed to build a hybrid of the newest version and the previous version for my shop as an exclusive model.
Our Club Royale "Special" uses the new choke from the current circuit, but has the specially designed transformer from the previous version that allows the amp to hit its sweet spot a bit earlier with a touch more compression while retaining excellent articulation.
I first started carrying Top Hat amps in 1997 and I have seen the Club Royale evolve a few times. This version is, in my opinion, the ultimate version of this model.
It creates 20 watts from a pair of EL84's, comes standard with a Celestion G12H30 and has an incredibly effective master volume control.
If you prefer a more Vox leaning to the overall tone a Celestion Blue option is available.
One of the best 112 combo amps on the market and this version is available exclusively through Fat Sound Guitars.
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