Top Hat amps any thoughts

[tileman]

I saw a used Top Hat Supreme 16 amp at a dealer in upstate N.Y. They are asking $1495 for it. Does anyone know much about these amps? Is this a good deal?

 

 

 

 

 

Supreme 16

 

This is TopHat's latest endeavor to produce the most outstanding, classically based amp that will make records for the ages. This amp really strives to reach tonal Nirvana. It was hard to find room for improvement on our best selling amp -- the Club Royale, which has been rated the best in the 2-EL84 class of amps.

 

 

The field is thick with this type of amp and a field tough to beat. We also wanted to provide this in an Aluminum chassis Head version, especially useful for those working in a studio environment. We found the Aluminum chassis brings a lot to the table, sonically. Much of this is very hard to put into words. Put simply, it is more alive or lively, presenting a more transparent sonic field.

 

 

 

There are two things that have come onto the market in the last year or so that allow higher levels of correct breathing tone to occur. One is the EZ81 rectifier tube. This is the original rectifier used by 18-watt Marshall's and the Vox AC15 (which our Supreme Sixteen is based on) amps. This tube has been out of production for decades, yet very necessary to feed a 2-EL84 amp the right amount of current. The other item is the Celestion Blue Alnico. It is my personal contention, not verified officially by Celestion, that the Blue Alnico has been upgraded with the "glues, parts and pieces" used on the new Heritage Series speakers, also made with the "Blue", in England. This speaker has come along way from where it has been the last 10+ years. It now allows all the great things to happen, like the originals. THIS IS A GREAT BREAK THROUGH! When we went to drawing board to design this masterpiece, we started with what we believe is the best 2-EL84 platform of all time -- the early 60's AC15.

 

This platform is different than an AC30 and can only be reasonably done with 2 power tubes. We also believe this platform to be superior to the 18-watt Marshall design, for a variety of reasons. We then chose to provide the EF-86 channel, with its' original fat/bright switch and single volume knob along with a second channel that has the full EQ, master volume Club Royale preamp design, with its' fat-off-bright switch. To keep the head a portable size, we moved the cut knob to the back panel. This works on both channels, as it is in the power section of the amp.

 

Part of the magic of this design, is the far less common use of a large choke. Simply put, this coil affects the way the amp compresses and breathes. It causes a feel unlike any other. It is very hands and ear friendly. It also matches up with the Aluminum chassis and new found papery clarity of the Blue Alnico. The Aluminum chassis has welded corners and been fully powder coated and silk-screened on the outside, utilizing no faceplates. The head and speaker cabinets are finger-joined 15mm Baltic Birch plywood, covered in two-tone vinyl with an Art Deco inlaid piping design surrounding the new style round, lit up logo.

 

An absolutely beautifully designed housing for our new chassis and Celestion Alnico speakers that are standard in the 1x12" cabinet and comes mixed with an Heritage G12H in the 2x12" version.

 

Available in Black/Creme or Burgundy/Creme

 

Vanderbilt

 

The new Vanderbilt 33 has the same controls and features as the S16 above, but utilizes a 2-6L6 power section and GZ34 rectifier tube. Internally, the EQ section is normalized, rather than the Gibson/Vox type EQ section in the S16. This model offers more headroom and the fatter spectrum associated with the 6L6 power tubes. Due to its' versatility, it can produce Vox, tweed Fender and Marshall tonalities. It is housed in the same size chassis and head shell as the S16, for ease of portability. It is meant to be used with the 2x12" extension cabinet, with either speaker option -- though, best with 2 Alnico Blues. If a 1x12" is to be used, it would require either the G12H or Vintage 30 speaker, as it is too much power for one Blue Alnico.

 

CS-S16 Supreme Head Custom Shop Supreme 16 Head List Price: $1999.00

CS-V33 Vandrbilt 33 33 Watt 2-Channel Head,26L6's,GZ34 List Price: $2349.00

CS1 1x12 Extension Cabinet w/Vox Blue Alnico Speakers List Price: $579.00

CS2HB 2x12 Extension Cabinet w/Vox Blue & Heritage G12H List Price: $849.00

CS2BB 2x12 Extension Cabinet w/2 Vox Blue Alnico List Price: $849.00

[yoslate]

I had a Vibra-Trem (discontinued model) for a good while. It was an EL-34 based, 20W, 1x12" amp. Great "brown" tone! But not enough clean headroom for how my playing has evolved, so it turned into a great bedroom amp, but it was impractical for gigging, so I moved it. Build quality and components are superb! Top Hats seem a little hard to come by used. Used to be more on e-Bay than recently. Very much worth consideration, highly regarded; lots of studios seem to have them around. Mine recorded wonderfully!

[slider313]

As Rob pointed out, great build quality. I haven't owned one but did play through a Club Deluxe and was very impressed. I believe they are made right here in Fuquay Varina,NC.