where have all the fancy amps gone

[shed]

seems like there are very few classy amps - boutique, handwired mainstream - amps going for sale in recent times. I've managed to collect a bunch over the years but hardly ever see anything popping up these days. What's with the amp hogging or am I looking in the wrong places?

[robthemac]

seems like there are very few classy amps - boutique, handwired mainstream - amps going for sale in recent times. I've managed to collect a bunch over the years but hardly ever see anything popping up these days. What's with the amp hogging or am I looking in the wrong places?

Check Conway's stable. Coupla Morgan heads. Also a few forum-built amps sold recently. And an Amplified Nation head on TradeMe last week.

[Reg18]

Was it about the same time Molly moved back to the UK by chance?

[GrantB]

seems like there are very few classy amps - boutique, handwired mainstream - amps going for sale in recent times. I've managed to collect a bunch over the years but hardly ever see anything popping up these days. What's with the amp hogging or am I looking in the wrong places?

Welcome.

I am totally hogging. But probably let go of 60% of them. Like the Morgan AC20 Deluxe. Some people love them. Not me. Or a Sampson era Matchless Brave…huge sound, too much for me.

And we’re lucky to have Conway; he does have a great range.

[StrummersOfThunder]

Looks across living room… yeh ..where could they be

[JoeBlow]

I miss The Amp Shop.

[vinylguy]

seems like there are very few classy amps - boutique, handwired mainstream - amps going for sale in recent times. I've managed to collect a bunch over the years but hardly ever see anything popping up these days. What's with the amp hogging or am I looking in the wrong places?

I think that murphys law applies here: they only turn up when you have either just bought something else or you dont have any money. Speaking personally my amp hunt is over and I have divested myself of all electrics and only have one supro amp left to sell. Down to one acoustic now which means I might be tempted to learn to actually play it properly.

[jeremyb]

seems like there are very few classy amps - boutique, handwired mainstream - amps going for sale in recent times. I've managed to collect a bunch over the years but hardly ever see anything popping up these days. What's with the amp hogging or am I looking in the wrong places?

I think theres a combination of things, people are tightening their belts so not buying, prices have gone up a ton so less new stuff is coming in and being purchased, people who have them aren't able to sell cause of others belt tightening so probably hoarding until things improve, and more and more people are moving to digital modelling rigs so they can have all those boutique amps in one box for a fraction of the cost.

[codedog]

seems like there are very few classy amps - boutique, handwired mainstream - amps going for sale in recent times. I've managed to collect a bunch over the years but hardly ever see anything popping up these days. What's with the amp hogging or am I looking in the wrong places?

I think that murphys law applies here: they only turn up when you have either just bought something else or you dont have any money. Speaking personally my amp hunt is over and I have divested myself of all electrics and only have one supro amp left to sell. Down to one acoustic now which means I might be tempted to learn to actually play it properly.

Gotta ask... what's the one acoustic you kept?

[vinylguy]

Well ok thats only slightly true. As we are moving to Melbourne i am only taking one with me. If my Davy Stuart ever gets finished it will be that one, if not it will be my 2017 00-28. My 2 old Guilds (a 1964 M20 and 1969 F30 are both staying here). The M20 will be in storage and my plan is to get Davy to restore/repair/return to decent condition the F30, while we are away. If that was done before either of us died that would be nice...

[shednz]

Oh yes The Amp Shop was a great loss and wasn't there a store in Wellington that stocked Victoria amps?

Amps (and guitars) sure have got expensive so fewer probably coming in and NZ mainstream music shops selections can be pretty bland. Might have to moved to an era of commissioned builds.

This lament probably prompted by moving too slow on the Mike C deluxe reverb that was on here recently when I've been after one for a while.

[sizzlingbadger]

I do wonder if people are also starting to realise that some of these expensive amps really aren't "all that" anyway, you can build (or have built locally) just as good, if not better for way less.

[clubhouse]

I do wonder if people are also starting to realise that some of these expensive amps really aren't "all that" anyway, you can build (or have built locally) just as good, if not better for way less.

There's been much discussion on Uncle Larry's YT channel (Homeskoolin', 501chorusecho) in the past about the Dr Zs, Bad Cats, et al that aren't selling in the stores in Nashville and who the poor bugger is, that is the last in the line, stuck with the price of said amp(s) and can't recoup. Perhaps the golden era of the boutique volume builder is in decline...much like the craft-beer sector experience of late in A/NZ

[sizzlingbadger]

I guess fancy amps and craft beer take a back seat when the general cost of living is horrendous.

[GrantB]

Interesting - 65Amps did well for a while, but ultimately the market is fickle. Often there's a bloom in sales rising from some OTT reviews on YouTube etc, and them a steady decline.

When I purchased my RedPlate, that's what the builder told me. He had some reviews show up on TGP, nek minute he has 45 orders...which caused its own issues.