What Happened to Carol-Ann Amps? (Why Did They SHUT Down?)

There are a lot of guitar amps in the market, but regardless of this abundance, guitar players are always faced with issues when it comes to choosing the best amps that fit both their lifestyles and playing styles. 

Sometimes, getting a guitar amp from a boutique builder can be one of the best investments and choices you can make for your guitar. With boutique builders, you have the luxury of getting a personalized and unique amp if you need to. 

You will also benefit from the builder’s direct expertise; you will have more say in the development process (if that is a concern) and you will get an overall solid guitar amp. Over the years, one of the best boutique guitar amp builders has been Carol-Ann Amps. 

Carol-Ann Amplifiers is known to produce point-to-point tube guitar amplifiers by hand, one at a time in Pelham, New Hampshire. 

Ultra-carefully and professionally built by electrical engineer and guitarist Alan Phillips, Carol-Ann Amps are designed to give a lively, organic tone with an unrivalled touch response, even at ultra-high gain settings.

As cool and mouth-watering as they sound, the sad part is that on September 21, 2019, this boutique guitar amp company made a heartbreaking announcement on their website. This announcement got many asking, “What happened to Carol-Ann Amps?”

Carol-Ann (by Alan Phillips) decided to shut down its business due to the “declining guitar amplifier business” and take a full-time job. Alan posted this on his company’s website citing that he needed to take a full-time job in order to support his family and avoid further risks.

A Brief History of Carol-Ann Amps – Who is Alan Phillips?

Carol-Ann Amplifiers, an American company based in Pelham, NH, was founded in 2006 by musician and electronics engineer Alan Phillips. Alan Phillips had been designing and building amplifiers for over 20 years before starting Carol-Ann Amplifiers.

The company gained recognition for producing high-end guitar amplifiers known for their exceptional quality components, meticulous attention to detail, and unique tonal characteristics. 

These amplifiers were hand-built using point-to-point wiring, resulting in a more direct signal path and superior sound quality than circuit board-based amplifiers.

Due to their reliability and consistent performance, Carol-Ann amplifiers garnered a loyal following among professional guitarists, including renowned musician Joe Bonamassa. 

They became a favoured choice for touring musicians seeking high-quality amplifiers capable of withstanding the demands of live performances.

The company also introduced various product lines, such as the HS-2, OD2, OD3, Tucana, Triptik, and TX-50, each offering specific features and tonal options to cater to different playing styles and preferences.

Carol-Ann Custom Amplifiers, LLC operated as a private company with its headquarters in Pelham, New Hampshire, United States.

Overall, Carol-Ann Amplifiers, founded by Alan Phillips, significantly impacted the guitar amplifier industry with their high-end, hand-built amplifiers known for their quality, versatility, and tonal excellence.

What Happened to Carol-Ann Amps?

Carol-Ann Amps decided to shut down the new production of amplifiers due to the declining guitar amplifier business. This decision was driven by the need to secure a stable income to support the owner’s family without taking further risks. 

While the business did not completely close, it can only support valid warranty work. The closure of new production meant no new amplifiers would be built then, except for a small number of outstanding orders scheduled to be delivered shortly.

The decision to scale down operations and discontinue new production was made on September 21, 2019. The owner expressed gratitude for the support and friendships formed during the 15 years of the business’s existence. 

Although Alan stated that they would not run the business full-time again, they expressed hope for the possibility of resuming amplifier builds in the future and enjoying the process they have always enjoyed.

The closure of Carol-Ann Amps has left many enthusiasts disappointed and raised concerns about the state of the boutique amplifier industry. The quality of Carol-Ann’s amps was widely recognized. 

It raises questions about the challenges boutique builders face, including the difficulty of sustaining the business and the reluctance of customers to pay higher prices for boutique gear. 

The competitive nature of the industry and the availability of discounted used amplifiers further exacerbate these challenges. The closure serves as a reminder of the financial struggles that boutique builders often face in offering their exceptional products.

What is Carol-Ann Amps Currently Up to?

After Alan Phillip announced the shutdown of his amp company in 2019, exactly a year later, Dr Z Amplification collaborated with him to develop the CAZ-45, a 45-watt guitar amp head with a modern and high-gain voice. 

The collaboration resulted in a responsive and dynamic amp that promises an enjoyable playing experience. In guitar amplifiers, the CAZ-45 emerges as a remarkable creation from the collaboration between Alan Phillips and Mike Zaite, known as Dr Z. 

This new design incorporates features that cater to contemporary needs, such as an effects loop by Alan Phillips and a Level control that allows for volume scaling, ensuring optimal performance at lower volumes.

That was the last time we heard about the company; since then, it has been out of the public eye. 

Where Can You Get A Carol-Ann Amp? 

Currently, all products of the company are SOLD out. You can find it second-hand on eBay or online bidding marketplaces like shop goodwill. You’ll have to find someone who owns a previous Carol-Ann amp and is ready to resell it to you.

Besides that, you can get similar features and a taste of Phillip’s engineering in the CAZ-45 by De Z.

Conclusion

It seems like Alan built Carol-Ann with a lot of passion. However, the need for a stable income to support one’s family eventually overtook the passion. While the company had many admirers and a lot of respect in the community, it wasn’t enough to create a sustainable business. 

Carol-Ann Amps gained recognition and a loyal following in the guitar amplifier industry for their high-end, hand-built amplifiers known for their exceptional quality components, meticulous attention to detail, and unique tonal characteristics. 

They were favoured by professional guitarists and renowned musicians like Joe Bonamassa for their reliability and consistent performance.

The closure of Carol-Ann Amps raises concerns about the challenges boutique builders face, including the difficulty of sustaining the business and customers’ reluctance to pay higher prices for boutique gear. 

It also highlights the competitive nature of the industry and the availability of discounted used amplifiers, further exacerbating these challenges. The closure serves as a reminder of the financial struggles that boutique builders often encounter while offering their exceptional products.

Currently, Carol-Ann Amps products are sold out, and finding them in online listings is challenging. However, second-hand Carol-Ann amps may be purchased through platforms like eBay or online bidding marketplaces if someone is willing to resell their amp.

In the future, we hope to see new products designed by Alan Phillips and more collaborations like the one with Dr Z on the CAZ-45.