TopHat King Royale Head

The King Royale is the "AC-30" style model.This head was made in 2004 and it sounds incredible.Based out of Nashville, I play ALL styles of music.I've got lots of amps, but no matter what situation or what the gig the TopHat is always the first choice.The amp has two channels:1 is a simple ac-30 with volume and tone controls, 2 is a the more responsive ac-30TB (top boost)with volume,treble,mid,bass,cut and master volume controls with Hi and Lo gain inputs for both sides.Channel 1 is cool, but channel 2 is where it's at. Live, the amp can ALWAYS get loud enough and LOVES a pedal board in front of it. In a studio setting, it is without a doubt, one of the quietest amps I've ever owned with almost no hum or buzz at all.Once again, this amp is always my "number one".

I use the head mostly with a Matchless, open-back 2x12 cabinet and it sounds great. I've used it with Marshall 4x12's and a Closed-back Fender tone master cab as well and they all sound different and great. The Matchless cab is just my favorite with any head.I have all sorts of guitars 335's, Les Pauls, Strats, Teles and they all love this amp. I can not say enough how versatile this amp it is. On the Lo Gain inputs, the amp has a "perfect" break up point in my opinion. With the Master Volume Cranked, it starts to give at about 11 oclock on the dial and like I said, it loves a good overdrive or distortion pedal in front of it. On the High Gain setting, I can run my Les Paul direct into it and get all the nastiness I would ever want and the breakup is always very even, not muddy or high-endy at all..

I always get the compliment of how good looking the head itself is and that's totally true.Every inch of this amp is perfect, inside and out. I love the plexiglass front and when you crack the back open you'll see meticulous wiring and craftmanship.This amp is built like a tank. I always carry spare tubes, but that's it.I've had this amp about 9 months now and never heard it so much as cough.

Brian is the guy at TopHat and he is the real deal.He is running a top notch operation and is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet.He'll sit and talk "tone" with you for hours on end and it's obvious very quickly that he has a passion for building a great amp.

I've been playing for a living for a long time and have been fortunate enough to get my hands on some great gear. I have old fenders, marshalls, "vintage" and new Matchless amps, Dr Z.'s and they all do cool things,but, if it came down to it, I could be without any of them. I will never not own a TopHat. If mine were lost or stolen, I would sell any amp I own to get another one.

2002. This King Royale head has two channels featuring high and low inputs. The first channel, with simple volume and tone controls, is derived from a classic Vox AC-30. The second channel comes from the classic Vox AC-30 "Top Boost" and features: Volume, Treble, Mid, Bass, Master Volume Control. The King Royale's output section features four EL 84 power tubes (running in a Classic Class A circuit) and a cut control (reduces high frequencies in both channels). Two switches on the front panel features: one switch labeled "Boost" has three positions, Fat-Off-Bright. This varies the gain in the pre-amp section with "Off" and "Bright" having a lower gain structure than the "Fat" mode. The second switch is labeled "Clean" with three positions, Channel I-Normal-Channel II. This allows the player to clean up either channel of the amp.
GZ34 Rectifier Tube, Impedance Selector, Adjustable Line Out. With switches -- very flexible tone-wise. I compared to AC30HW, and it it is more versatile tonewise. Just wish it had reverb and tremelo, however, then it would be a 10.

I use Anderson Classic with hum-canceling single coils and humbucker as well as Benavente P-90 equipped 200 series for Americana, alt-country, swamp rock. The Top Hat King ROyale -- running into an Avatar GREAT cabinet at a great price) cab 2x12 with Celestion Blue Alnicos -- delivers on the promise of AC-30 Top Boost tones better than my Matchless DC-30 ever did. Sweeter, more musical. If I could carry an AC-30, I would have gotten one years ago. The AC-30HW head was my first choice, until I had the chance to compare it to the King Royale Head -- head-to-head so to speak. I decided to sacrifice AC-30HW reverb and trem for King Royale tone flexibility. You can get so many more EL-84-type sounds out of it. I have a Soldano Surf Box in front of the Top Hat, which offers better reverb and trem/vibrato anyway, but it ouwl have been nice to carry one less box. The King Royale was quieter than the AC30HW, too. Neither amp is gonna give you creamy distortion, but the "fat" switch on the Top Hat gets you closer.

I've no experience to relate, but the unit is a tank and looks gig-worthy. Vox through the years hasn't exactly earned that reputation.

Everyone at Top Hat seems interested in being helpful even if I have inane questions. They seem to take amp building personally.

I've been playing 40 years now. I've owned and still own many fine amps and guitars. I keep those that offer something unique to help me achieve differnt tones. I wanted an AC-30 sound -- not so much British or Beatles sounds, but for Buddy Miller, country-esque tones. The King Royale gives me that sound and more in one unit. It took awehile to find one to try, and while I wish the price was lower, but the competition: AC-30HW, Matchless, Bad Cat offerings all make the King Royale price seem like a bargain.

Nothing but the best of the best. Go to Tophatamps.com to get the lowdown. In a nut shell it is a Vox ac30-ish amp that is hand made and sounds like god.

I have been playing guitar since I was 11...I am 27 now. I have owned and played through everything and this amp sounds at the very worst as good as the best. There are 1000 shades between clean and dirty. I love the beatles, tom petty, u2, stp, tom waits, radiohead, daniel lanios, led zep, etc...this amp can do all those tones and more. It lets your hand make the tone...total control. What can I say? I guess what sums it up is that I would rather have this amp than any other amp in the world.

Brian at TopHat is the coolest guy. You can call him up and he is allways willing to talk tone and help out. There is no other co. that even comes close to them. It's like calling Jim Marshall and Leo fender circa '65 and talking tone. I have another king royale combo from '96 and I have never had any trouble.

I think I made my point in the last section.

By the way... this new version is even better tham the old one. What was allready an awesome amp has been refined over the years. The new mini-toggle switches works great, the tolex is thicker, it came with an extra long detachable power cable too.

I have the 4x12 to go with the head....VERY nice too.

I just hope that my enthusiasm (spelling) does not take away from my review of these amps. I really mean what I say. In the end it all comes down to how you play and your songs. It is stupid to get hung up on gear. With the tophat I don't have to think about that crap very often. It's taken care of.