I bought a T35-TB (I think he eventually started calling this the King Royale) direct in the mid 90s out of an ad in Vintage Guitar magazine. I threw that thing in and out of vans, my car, smokey bars and rehearsal spaces for a solid decade without a single problem until one day it wasn’t making any sound. Opened it up (been repairing my own gear forever) and found one single solder joint on a heater for one of the tubes was missed. I’d complain but it was built so well it actually survived all that with a joint not soldered. Great amps. Built beautifully. Easily serviced. Sound good.
These amps sound f’in great! I didn’t realize until recently, they were made in here in the Triangle in NC… I had one years ago and now I need to get another!
I remember first seeing the Top Hats in some music stores years ago. But I was sort of a young, closed-minded Judas-Priest-or-nothing type back then, so I did not appreciate their sound or their build quality. I like to think I have matured since then. That amp is magnificent!
These are killer amps indeed. Really nice build, and how point to point should be done - none of that silicone vomit you see in other rather famous point to point designs...
Looks nicely built (except for the bad tech work done by somebody else), but I noticed that 1 of the transformer bolts has been used as a ground point. The other 3 transformer bolts however are well secured with big wide Fender washers.
Hello sir, I’m a new fan of yours. Love your videos on TH-cam. Your insight and knowledge is very helpful. I thank you. I know this is a long shot and I’m not sure if you will reply but I need help with deciding which amp. I have the option of buying one of 2 TopHat Royale Amps but I’m not sure which one to purchase. One of them has an effects loop and one doesn’t which leads me to believe the one that has the effects loop had it installed afterwords. The one with said effects loop is being sold out of a store and the one that doesn’t is being sold by a studio. The one with effects loop has a green Celestion g12-m and a Weber blue dog. The one without it has 2 g12c-30 speakers. I’m putting the link to the one selling out of the store and I attached photos of the one being sold out of the studio. Do you think it would be wise to the one that’s been at a studio since most likely it hasn’t been tinkered with? Any guidance would be very helpful.
This amp had many resisters replaced with carbon film. I use those in the power supply bot not in circuit, but don’t mind them near as much as metal film. The filter caps are 18mF except at first tube where it’s a 10mF.
Then I suspect two different techs were in previously. Because whoever messed up those caps would not have been able to replace those resistors so neatly.
I just acquired a Super Deluxe in a trade and love the construction. I’m a hobbyist amp tinkerer-builder and am really impressed by the build! I played a Club Royale in 1999 at Alpha Music in Virginia Beach and really wanted it but I was young and broke. Now I have a 2x12 SD and it will remain in my possession til I die.
Great video! I don’t know if this is the place to ask, but I’ve had my eye on Milkman’s the amp. It has a 12ax7 preamp and I believe a class d power amp. I love their tone, but I have concerns about repair ability and longevity. Have you (or anybody else here) had any experience with one or pedal sized amps in general? Thanks
It takes a brave man to use polystyrene caps these days. The first tech to get in there without heat sinks will screw up the treble frequency portion of the tone stack and the bright cap high pass. I know all about screwing up polystyrene caps with heat! I wonder if Top Hat still uses them 15 years later.
There’s nothing Wrong with them…they’re just not what was used in vintage amps and don’t sound as good to Me. They are modern METALLIZED polyester caps, Not film/foil which sound…less metallized!! Film/foil are warmer and sweeter, less harsh. The film foil type are bigger physically and cost significantly more. People use 150’s because they cost less, maybe occasionally to fit in a tight spot, but not because they sound best. Generally they’re fine and good for non critical functions like coupling and bypass!! My best example to hear the difference…on a Marshall type big bright cap on bright volume pot…try each type at .0047mF That Really lets you hear the tone of that cap. 150 is hideously bright and harsh. FF type dramatically smoother and sweeter!!!
I watched your guest appearance on Chairmen, I wanted to confirm the opinion I heard you say that the '65 Fender Deluxe RI amps you would recommend over the '64 handwired DR RI amps? I just wanted to verifv vour preference as I'm in the market for one of them. Thank you!
Yes, absolutely. Better circuit, more transparent about what you’re getting, same quality, much lower price. ‘65 all day long. If you can’t get a ‘60s-‘70s.
They’re great and they last. I don’t think they’re that pricey given the first two factors. You can often find them used for quite good prices. But “expensive” is subjective. I’ve seen lots of guitarists content with spending $1500-3000 on their guitars but want amps to cost $800 or less…
Thanks. No, and that’s a conversation I try to avoid in general. People have preferences and in this case it’s easy enough to accommodate his. It’s the poor installation that bugs me, not the cap itself. Waste of a 150M.
@@PsionicAudio totally agree😉 I was just curious, since I have used these a lot myself in repairs, upgrades and even a few amps I built myself. And I have always found them to sound good, not least be reliable and reasonably cheap. But I wholeheartedly agree that this a subject of personal preference.😉
I like the sound of 150Ms. I don’t like the relatively flimsy leads (compared to other options - they aren’t weak or prone to breaking) and they aren’t very pretty. But there’s nothing “bad” about them.
They are metallized polyester instead of old style film/foil polyester!! They are a bit harsher to me, though I strategically use one on negative side of PI. going to ground. It adds a tiny bit of desired clarity there. I wanted this one replaced because it doesn’t match the other side on main couplers from pi to mouth of power tubes
??? Who said I’m an LSU fan? I don’t have much of a dog in that hunt…grew up a fan of Ohio State University football as my mom went there! I’m from SoCal growing up, now live in NC. No Louisiana connection.
I bought a T35-TB (I think he eventually started calling this the King Royale) direct in the mid 90s out of an ad in Vintage Guitar magazine. I threw that thing in and out of vans, my car, smokey bars and rehearsal spaces for a solid decade without a single problem until one day it wasn’t making any sound. Opened it up (been repairing my own gear forever) and found one single solder joint on a heater for one of the tubes was missed. I’d complain but it was built so well it actually survived all that with a joint not soldered. Great amps. Built beautifully. Easily serviced. Sound good.
Used Top Hat amps might be the best deal going in used amps.
The Top Hat Club Royale, the choice of Abe Froman, the sausage king of Chicago.
Top Hat amps, sans bad tech work, always look so fantastic and interesting to see how well they hold up through the years, thanks for sharing!
These amps sound f’in great! I didn’t realize until recently, they were made in here in the Triangle in NC… I had one years ago and now I need to get another!
Lyle, great video, thanks. You did fabulous on Mason’s video; it was cool seeing your face!
I catch flak all the time when I get an older amp on the bench and I suggest…. Really tell them…all the electro’s are coming out.
At least this isn't Shrek boogered!! Always interesting to see what you have to work with and fix.
“ knows when to stop “
words of wisdom sensei
danke
I remember David Hildago had his own non-official model. I think it was a 100 Watt. They sure look really sweet.
Very clean and nice-looking amplifier
I had a Club Royale MkIV. One of the amps I miss since moving on to amp modellers. Had a Matchless 3015 as well. Don’t miss it at all.
Pretty amp, those polystyrene caps sure sound nice if you can put up with their tiny delicate leads!
Top Hat are great sounding amps!
What in the world would someone go in there and booger up a perfectly beautiful piece of work?!
There are a lot of ignorant people who cannot resist fiddling with guitars and amps . I stopped buying used gear many years ago
I also am wise in the ways of hvac 😆
Not trying to sound to sycophantic, but I know this amp is in the best possible hands. Looking forward the next video on it.
Budgetarily acceptable…He’s a HVAC tech, he can probably afford a couple of extra replacement caps and the bench time 😂
I remember first seeing the Top Hats in some music stores years ago. But I was sort of a young, closed-minded Judas-Priest-or-nothing type back then, so I did not appreciate their sound or their build quality. I like to think I have matured since then. That amp is magnificent!
These are killer amps indeed. Really nice build, and how point to point should be done - none of that silicone vomit you see in other rather famous point to point designs...
I know you know what you are doing - but please be careful. Murder in the title scared me!
Looks nicely built (except for the bad tech work done by somebody else), but I noticed that 1 of the transformer bolts has been used as a ground point. The other 3 transformer bolts however are well secured with big wide Fender washers.
Hello sir,
I’m a new fan of yours. Love your videos on TH-cam. Your insight and knowledge is very helpful. I thank you.
I know this is a long shot and I’m not sure if you will reply but I need help with deciding which amp.
I have the option of buying one of 2 TopHat Royale Amps but I’m not sure which one to purchase. One of them has an effects loop and one doesn’t which leads me to believe the one that has the effects loop had it installed afterwords. The one with said effects loop is being sold out of a store and the one that doesn’t is being sold by a studio. The one with effects loop has a green Celestion g12-m and a Weber blue dog. The one without it has 2 g12c-30 speakers. I’m putting the link to the one selling out of the store and I attached photos of the one being sold out of the studio. Do you think it would be wise to the one that’s been at a studio since most likely it hasn’t been tinkered with? Any guidance would be very helpful.
This amp had many resisters replaced with carbon film.
I use those in the power supply bot not in circuit, but don’t mind them near as much as metal film.
The filter caps are 18mF except at first tube where it’s a 10mF.
Then I suspect two different techs were in previously. Because whoever messed up those caps would not have been able to replace those resistors so neatly.
The amp as it came to me has 33, 18, 18, 18, 18. You prefer the last one to be 10uF?
I just acquired a Super Deluxe in a trade and love the construction. I’m a hobbyist amp tinkerer-builder and am really impressed by the build! I played a Club Royale in 1999 at Alpha Music in Virginia Beach and really wanted it but I was young and broke. Now I have a 2x12 SD and it will remain in my possession til I die.
Great video! I don’t know if this is the place to ask, but I’ve had my eye on Milkman’s the amp. It has a 12ax7 preamp and I believe a class d power amp. I love their tone, but I have concerns about repair ability and longevity. Have you (or anybody else here) had any experience with one or pedal sized amps in general? Thanks
It takes a brave man to use polystyrene caps these days. The first tech to get in there without heat sinks will screw up the treble frequency portion of the tone stack and the bright cap high pass.
I know all about screwing up polystyrene caps with heat! I wonder if Top Hat still uses them 15 years later.
Yes I do. I have Rey rarely had issues overheating them.
They are most transparent for hi freq caps and least harsh imho.
what's wrong with the Mallory 150? That is an awesome cap! :)
There’s nothing Wrong with them…they’re just not what was used in vintage amps and don’t sound as good to Me.
They are modern METALLIZED polyester caps, Not film/foil which sound…less metallized!!
Film/foil are warmer and sweeter, less harsh.
The film foil type are bigger physically and cost significantly more. People use 150’s because they cost less, maybe occasionally to fit in a tight spot, but not because they sound best.
Generally they’re fine and good for non critical functions like coupling and bypass!!
My best example to hear the difference…on a Marshall type big bright cap on bright volume pot…try each type at .0047mF
That Really lets you hear the tone of that cap. 150 is hideously bright and harsh. FF type dramatically smoother and sweeter!!!
I watched your guest appearance on Chairmen, I wanted to confirm the opinion I heard you say that the
'65 Fender Deluxe RI amps you would recommend over the '64 handwired DR RI amps? I just wanted to verifv vour preference as I'm in the market for one of them. Thank you!
Yes, absolutely. Better circuit, more transparent about what you’re getting, same quality, much lower price. ‘65 all day long. If you can’t get a ‘60s-‘70s.
Thank you so much!
New model for me. I never heard of this company. Are they any good, pricey, and do they last? I can’t believe someone would do this to an Amp.
They’re great and they last. I don’t think they’re that pricey given the first two factors. You can often find them used for quite good prices. But “expensive” is subjective.
I’ve seen lots of guitarists content with spending $1500-3000 on their guitars but want amps to cost $800 or less…
@@PsionicAudioGiven the choice... I would prefer to spend $1500-3000 on an amp and get an $800 guitar
Hi Lyle. Good work as always👍🏽👏🏽
Just curious: Do you happen to know what Brian at Tophat dislikes about the Mallory 150 caps?
Thanks. No, and that’s a conversation I try to avoid in general. People have preferences and in this case it’s easy enough to accommodate his. It’s the poor installation that bugs me, not the cap itself. Waste of a 150M.
@@PsionicAudio totally agree😉
I was just curious, since I have used these a lot myself in repairs, upgrades and even a few amps I built myself. And I have always found them to sound good, not least be reliable and reasonably cheap. But I wholeheartedly agree that this a subject of personal preference.😉
I like the sound of 150Ms. I don’t like the relatively flimsy leads (compared to other options - they aren’t weak or prone to breaking) and they aren’t very pretty. But there’s nothing “bad” about them.
They are metallized polyester instead of old style film/foil polyester!!
They are a bit harsher to me, though I strategically use one on negative side of PI. going to ground.
It adds a tiny bit of desired clarity there.
I wanted this one replaced because it doesn’t match the other side on main couplers from pi to mouth of power tubes
@@TopHatAmps-Guitars Thank you so much for your explaination🙏🏽👍🏽😀
😄😎
LSU fan, that Gerhard.
???
Who said I’m an LSU fan?
I don’t have much of a dog in that hunt…grew up a fan of Ohio State University football as my mom went there!
I’m from SoCal growing up, now live in NC.
No Louisiana connection.
@@TopHatAmps-Guitars 😂 I was making a crude joke about the yellow/purple filament wiring. I had an ambassador back in the day. Great amp!