Custom Shop Supreme 16
TopHat's flagship Custom Shop head, an EZ81-rectified 2xEL84 amp built on an AC15-inspired platform with a welded, powder-coated aluminum chassis.
About this amp
The Supreme 16 is TopHat’s attempt to top its own best-selling Club Royale, built around the same EZ81/2-EL84 recipe as an early-60s Vox AC15 but housed in an aluminum-chassis head for added clarity and portability. It pairs an EF86 channel (with an optional 12AX7 swap for stock AC30 voicing) with a second full-EQ, master-volume channel borrowed from the Club Royale, plus a rear-panel Cut control shared across both channels. A large choke shapes its compression and feel.
Specs
| Wattage | 16W |
|---|---|
| Class | Class A |
| Rectifier | Tube (EZ81) |
| Power Tubes | 2x EL84 |
| Speaker | Celestion Blue Alnico (recommended) |
| Controls | Treble/Mid/Bass, Master Volume, Gain II, Fat-Off-Bright switch (rear), Volume I, optional Fat/Bright tone knob, common Cut knob (rear) |
| Chassis | Aluminum, powder coated |
| Format | Head only |
| Styling | Standard V-Front $2149; Empire Old Style $2199 |
Quick answers
- How much does the Custom Shop Supreme 16 cost?
- Top Hat Amplifiers lists it at $2,149 to $2,199 (USD), depending on options. Dealer and used prices vary.
- Is the Custom Shop Supreme 16 still available?
- Yes. Top Hat Amplifiers lists it as a current model that's available to order.
- Who makes the Custom Shop Supreme 16?
- Top Hat Amplifiers, building gear since 1994. Where it's built: Hand built to order in the USA with point-to-point circuits on terminal strips and American-made Heyboer transformers. It's listed here as a tube head amp.