Top Hat Amps

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:48:30 +0000

Top Hat amplifiers are 100% tube sound and performance. These hand built amps feature point to point circuitry and serve up incredible tone. Top Hat Amps are built in Anaheim, California, and the company is run by Brian Gerhard. All of the amplifier work is done personally by Brian. These amps are inspired by old fender tweed and blackface amps and model the classic circuit designs. Brian's goal for Top Hat was to deliver an amp that sounds vintage, but at a lesser cost. All of the parts used in the Top Hat amplifiers are of superior quality, including caps that are dipped in silver mica and Fender style eyelets used in the fiberglass circuit board. All of the soldering in these amplifiers is precise and a wire runs along the chassis’ front for the common ground. Also, the chassis has the tube sockets bolted to it. Top Hat amplifiers may be custom built with select transformers, but this is something that should be discussed with Brian to determine whether it is worthy of being used or not.

Product Line
The Custom Shop Series is the newest amp from Top Hat and it focuses on enhancing their best selling amp design. The Top Hat King Royale is available in a head type piggy back version or a 2x12 combo version. The Top Hat Ambassador amplifier also comes in a piggy back head type style or a deluxe combo version. The Top Hat Emplexador is another amplifier great for Marshall lovers. This is the perfect option and is available with a couple extension cabinets. The Club Series is also popular, especially with players who need the amp for small clubs or even recording. This amp is great for players on a budget who want outstanding tone at an affordable price.

Players
Some of the more well known artists that use these amps include Clayton Mitchell with the Kenny Chesney Band, Walter Becker with Steely Dan, Brian Bell with Weezer, Art Alexakis with Everclear, Dan Huff with Faith Hill, Oliver Leiber with Rod Stewart, Dean Parks with Steely Dan, Bonnie Raitt with Everybody, Noel Roy with Laurie Morgan, John Shanks with Melissa Etheridge, Michael Britt with Lonestar, and Mike Waldron with Lee Ann Womack, just to name a few.

Dealers
International dealers may be found in the United Kingdom, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, and the Netherlands. Stateside there are dealers in North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, California, Oklahoma, Illinois, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maine, and Washington as well as some others.