Balthazar Amps Cabaret 13 Amp

Balthazar de Ley is a Chicago-based studio technician for the Smashing Pumpkins who grew fascinated with the 50’s and 60’s era Selmer amps from the UK. These long-forgotten and often quirky amp designs were Balthazar’s inspiration for his first commercial release, the Film Noir 50 head and cab, which earned him a Premier Guitar Premier Gear award.  

The Cabaret 13 is his latest release, a hand-wired, turret board, 1x10”, EL84, 13 watt combo loosely based on the Vox Cambridge. The British bell-like chime and raw energy is there in spades, though the Cabaret 13 features more headroom and a punchier low-end than an AC15. The tremolo has the choppier Vox-vibe and the Reverb is smokey and thick with a nice high-end roll off that keeps the attack of the guitar present. The tone controls offer a beautiful and broad range, but we LOVE setting everything at 10 and letting it rip.  The Celestion Gold is an inspired pairing for this fireball of an amp!

Balthazar Cabaret 13 Amp video