From A Business Standpoint, Is It Worth Investing in Boutique Amps?

  • Thread starter Thread starter stevieb
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stevieb

Just another guy, really.
My son's rehearsal/recording business in New Orleans is doing pretty well, and he's branching out. One area of interest is backline/rental gear, and he thinks he can fill a nitch by stocking boutique and out-of-the-ordinary amps. He's already made some money "hittin' em where they ain't," renting out the Ampeg Reverberocket and SF Fender Twin Reverb, and has an Ampeg VT-40 and "red-knob" Fender The Twin in stock. Even the Peavey Stereo Chorus has made him a bit 'o money, as the guy in the band who rented it was very happy with it's sound.

We got all those amps pretty cheap (some VERY cheap,) and of course we will continue to keep a sharp eye out for other such deals- but I wonder, if we had to pay, say, $1000 to $1200, or more, for a Mesa Boogie Mark 1 r.i, would it be worth it? Would there be enough awareness for that amp (or a Dr. Z, or a Matchless, etc.) to be rented a fair amount of the time? If you were traveling to New Orleans, to record in a studio there (ours, or someone else's) but didn't want to haul your amp with you, what amp(s) would you want to be able to rent there? Would, say, a Fender Deluxe Reverb RI make you happy enough, or would you be so much more happy, and presumably inspired to make better music, if you could play through a _________?

Feel free to answer in either a general manner, or a specific one, as you wish. Thanks.
 
I'd say it would be worth it for most of them. It's all in how you'd advertise it. Find some albums that were recorded with some of these boutique or exotic amps and had a unique and sought after sound and display them with a sign to the effect of "For that distinct ______ sound you've been looking for, we give you the _____ for the low rate of only _____ a day".
 
Most low-budget musicians probably don't have HQ boutique amps...so the ability to rent one out for a session would appeal to them...and to the high-budget pros, they probably are use to playing them, so they too would probably be interested in getting what they are use to.

I mean...would you rather rent out a $300 common amp or a $3000 work of art. ;)
 
I came across an outfit in NY that had a couple rental units. I think one of them was for sale for $50k!

:eek:
lou
 
miroslav said:
Most low-budget musicians probably don't have HQ boutique amps...so the ability to rent one out for a session would appeal to them...and to the high-budget pros, they probably are use to playing them, so they too would probably be interested in getting what they are use to.

I mean...would you rather rent out a $300 common amp or a $3000 work of art. ;)
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I disagree...

Whether on the road or in the studio, I think most musicians would want to be able to rent the amps they are used to.

The low-budget guys simply will not have enough money to rent a studio for a day or two so the guitarist can figure out what tone he wants to get from some boutique amp.

And the big-budget guys who are using boutique amps probably also have them modded in some fashion and it's not that expensive to ship just a head.

Were it me, I would look at what type of bands are most likely to use your studio, and maybe keep a few of the amps that are popular with the guys making that type of music. Add a few Fender or Marshall "old standby's", and a couple of top-end cabinets for the guys who want to bring in their own heads.

A few boutique heads might be nice for "prestige value", but I doubt you'd make back your investment.

Just my opinion...YMMV...
 
bdenton said:
I disagree...

Whether on the road or in the studio, I think most musicians would want to be able to rent the amps they are used to.

The low-budget guys simply will not have enough money to rent a studio for a day or two so the guitarist can figure out what tone he wants to get from some boutique amp.
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I don't know about that.
Much of a studio's draw comes from the gear they have or can get.
The OP already has "middlin" gear...he wants to add some high-end gear too.
Of course, if they invest in a dozen $3k amps it's going to take awhile to recoup...but that's what the business part of it is all about...knowing your clients and your profit margin. Obviously...if you get one call a month for a guitar amp, your not going to run out and stock up on a dozen expensive boutique amps. :D

AFA a decent/good/great guitarist needing a day or two to figure out how to get a good tone out of a high-end amp....ahhhh, yeah, OK. :rolleyes:

Plus...for a lot of guys it IS about finding new/interesting tones in a pro studio that they could never get in their home basement studio, and for the guys that have VERY specific notions about the tones they want going in, they can always bring their own, but if the price is right, I doubt many would refuse the chance to rent/play something special.

The OP can figure out how deep $$$ he wants to get into boutique amps...but a few to start would not be a bad investment IMO.
 
Yeah...leave it to Fender to slap on a high "boutique-ish" price tag on an assembly line product. :D

Don't get me wrong, it's one of the best "clean" amps around, though IMO serious overkill volume-wise, and if you want anything but clean tones, you probably need stomp boxes...so then, is it the amp or the stomp box that gets you your tone?
I prefer amps with some built in character and grunt & growl.
 
miroslav said:
... if you want anything but clean tones, you probably need stomp boxes...
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I don't know about that. I had a 70s Musicman 212 that was supposedly a clone of the Twin that had plenty of crunch. To get it it had to be blow yer face off loud though. 4 6L6s and 130 watts - thing was a monster.


lou
 
When I read Boutique I wasn't thinking Mesa Mark. I'm thinking more along the lines of Diezel, Mako, Elmwood, Bray, Matchless...

Like any business plan, the more you invest the longer the payback. Also, insurance.

Go for it.
 
Sky Blue Lou said:
I don't know about that. I had a 70s Musicman 212 that was supposedly a clone of the Twin that had plenty of crunch. To get it it had to be blow yer face off loud though. 4 6L6s and 130 watts - thing was a monster.
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I was talking from a practical point of view.
Not sure how many people stood next to their Twin dimed...and lived to tell about it. ;)
Though...I have heard many say that they use a pedal for their crunch tones.
 
I know a few studios who like to name drop verious vintage gear. the guys with a bigger budget will want to have a good play and get the sound right, knowng that they have a choice between verious legend amps will really appeal to them. The little guys will take a look at the gear list and think wow they have a ____ and it costs ____ thats a great place . . . lets go there. very much like how people are attracted to macs. I think it could help you along the way. but I wouldn't go mad, buy a couple first see what the responce is from th client then go from there
 
moresound said:
Just get a fender twin and be done with it!
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We already have... three Twins- a SF, a '65 BF reissue, and a red knob "Evil Twin," so we got that base well covered. Wish I hadn't sold the Pro Reverb, just a few months before we started this, but it's gone, Daddy, gone!

Just checking in to my thread, too- thanks for the responses, please, keep 'em coming.
 
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