What's this Top Hat worth? Pro opinions sought...

[KellyBass]

Greetings,

So, a guy drops off, at my shop, a Top Hat club royale 2x12 combo. Nice amp! He says he wants me to sell it for him and take the proceeds and apply it to an amp like I built for so and so. Cool!

Anyway, I haven't got a clue what this thing is worth. It's in pristine condition. It's a 2x12, BUT, has a weber blue on one side and a celestion g12h heritage on the other. I popped the hood on the amp and wow, what craftsmanship! Build quality is nice! The components are fairly run of the mill. It's a 2 el84 amp. Why?!! 15 watts ?! Why not 30? The main reason the guy doesn't like it is it had no headroom.

Any ideas / thought on what this amp might be worth?

Thanks!

[Leo_Gnardo]

I popped the hood on the amp and wow, what craftsmanship! Build quality is nice! The components are fairly run of the mill. It's a 2 el84 amp. Why?!! 15 watts ?! Why not 30? The main reason the guy doesn't like it is it had no headroom.

It's one of the "good ones" then. After TopHat established their good reputation with hand built amps, they went to a seedy-looking PC board build while retaining the same external look. A typical swindle. Not many TopHat's of either kind, so it's a "thin market." If you're lucky you can find someone who's enthusiastic about them, knows the quality of the hand built ones & willing to part with the cash. Craigs list is free, you just have to put up with the tire kickers, tomato squeezers & all around nuts that will reply. Some earnest collectors do scan Craigs nationwide for good deals on obscure gear. Hope you'll find one who recognizes the value. Maybe start at say $1500, or best offer. No commitment to sell on Craigs' if you can't strike a good deal.

[LeeMo]

Here's one on the bay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOP-HAT-CLUB-DE ... 566221a722

[KellyBass]

Great info, guys! Thanks! Interesting history...another great amp slips quietly into PCB land. Truly a tragedy as the build quality of this amp is unique amd superb. I can't stop looking at it!

[Leo_Gnardo]

Great info, guys! Thanks! Interesting history...another great amp slips quietly into PCB land.

Wasn't so quiet here. One of my customers a top level guitarist and professor in the music dep't of local college picked up his first TopHat and was head over heels in luv luv luv with it. A single 12 combo, very portable. Next thing he wanted to "go stereo" and bought a second one new from the area bow-teeky store. Sounded nothing like the first although it looked identical. He brought both to my workshop with the order, make the second sound like the first. Soon as I opened the newer one the fix was in. Inside it looked like it was MIC, cheap cheezy circuit board and 29 cent pots, all the rest of the dreck. For this he paid more than the first. He was disgusted and kicked 'em both out of his life. On to better things, we hope.

Since then the bow-teeky store shut down, coincident with the 2008 depression, no wonder. Its owner now continues in another racket: car salesman. And his assistant shows up here with one amp after another, tube rolling like a madman, continually confused and dissatisfied with his sounds. Soon as I get an amp to work the way he wants, he sells it, gets another, rinse, lather, repeat. So much for the "experts."

[JoeCon]

KellyBass

Could you post some pictures of the guts??

Thanks...

[KellyBass]

I absolutely will post some gut shots. Happy to. I'm really enjoying this amp! I'd sure like to see a quad of el84's under there, though.

I'll dig out the camera tonight and post very soon.