[DanR]

I don't know much about the higher gain boutique amplifiers, but I do own (and have owned it for over 13 years) a TopHat Club Royale, which would be considered boutique. It's a take off of a Vox type sound that I am particularly fond of and it has a 3 way boost switch that can make it a bit Marshally. It's hand wired and the wiring job is a thing of beauty.

So, how does it sound? It's hard to describe but I love the tone. There's something about Vox AC15/30 amps that are tonally what I want to hear. The way the tone controls work seem somewhat unique (I've never owned an AC15 or 30) and take some getting used to but they allow, along with the boost switch, all kinds of very pleasing tones. The clean tones are just sublime and, although it's not considered a high gain amp, the overdrive tones are great as well.