Are THD amps even boutique?

greenblob · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 9:57 pm Post subject: Are THD amps even boutique?

I'm guessing THD's count as boutique? Small build number, hand point to point wiring, each amp personally signed by the THD owner. I always though of "boutique amp" tying in with rarity and desirability for some reason.. maybe im wrong.. anyway...
Anyone else got a THD Flexi50? I bought mine about 6 months ago and ive got to say the DIY tube biasing really kicks butt. Is this feature a THD exclusive at the moment? Ive been tube swapping like a maniac since i got it. Currently really loving a 12AT7 in the pre and an Electroharmonix EL34 and a Tungsol 6550 in the poweramp (yep.. any combination of tubes works!).. What other cool setups have people found?

p90junior · Not So Newbie Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 6

yes, they're "boutique." That term refers to the size of the operation that builds them.

I think it's funny/stupid that it's now a buzzword that some people who don't know anything really about much are all ga ga over. Last year it was "modded." "Are all your pedals 'modded?'" Now it's "are those 'boutique' pedals?" None of it means anything the hands of a bad or unimaginative player.

Yeah, I've played some THD's that I thought were pretty damned good amps. I've also played some imported-from-Asia AC 15's that were pretty awesome, and of course those old assembly-line Fenders and Marshalls from the '60s eat most stuff alive.

p90junior · Not So Newbie Joined: 07 Feb 2008 Posts: 6

I've been trying to remember more about the THD I played through. I know it was a Univalve. It sounded great... I'm afraid I didn't pay much more attention beyond that, but I loved it.

greenblob · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:31 am Post subject:

yeah.. i played the THD "univalve" and "bivalve" before settleing on the flexi50.. a bonus of the bivalve is the built in hotplate (dummyload) to lower volume and not tone.. well.. not much tone anyway..
besides the classic amps (say 30 years older or more) what other popular boutiqe amps/amp companies are around? would be cool to hear what other people have messed around on.. i kinda feel "vintage gear" has gotten too much of stigma.. i know it has its sound.. but i like to think i have a good ear, and cant pick a "better" sound out of pure vintage gear vs much newer (still all analogue - obviously no digital moddeling etc) products.. is the vintage look really worth it for the serious PLAYER?
maybe not a "boutique" forum post.. but its kinda slow in here...