"The classic circuits are a basic guideline, but I would say our overriding philosophy from the beginning was to try to have amps that do what the greatest top five ever did - with much more versatility."
~ Brian Gerhard
Brian Gerhard has been building Vox and Marshall-inspired amps for decades, amassing a legion of A-List users and industry-wide accolades in the process.
Incredible tones, incredible attention to detail, relentless devotion to quality, and an unwavering excitement for the craft are hallmarks of Brian's work.
Vintage DNA
TopHat amps are deeply rooted in classic British and American circuits, but they’re not just reissues. Brian Gerhard takes the DNA of vintage designs and reimagines them with smarter voicing and tighter tolerances. The result? Amps that nail the vintage feel and response players crave, while offering the reliability and nuance today’s guitarists demand.
Handcrafted Tone, One at a Time
Every TopHat is built by hand in North Carolina, with an obsessive eye for detail that shows up in both sound and construction. From turret board wiring to carefully matched components, these amps deliver a level of craftsmanship that puts them in a class of their own. They’re built to last, and to inspire, whether you’re chasing edge-of-breakup sparkle or saturated, harmonically rich drive.
A Player’s Amp Through and Through
What makes TopHat stand out most is how musical they feel under your fingers. They respond dynamically to touch and guitar volume, shifting seamlessly from clean to crunch without pedals. It’s the kind of amp that feels like it’s in conversation with you - always alive, always inspiring, and ready to follow wherever you take it.
