Our story begins in 2017, when Balthazar de Ley, by then a veteran studio technican for the Smashing Pumpkins, began designing amplifiers based on unique early 60’s British amplifiers. The result was the acclaimed Film Noir 50 amplifier head and cabinet, which harken back to the early Syd Barret days of Selmer amps (Premier Guitar review here). It didn’t take long for the amp building operation to go full-time, with the edition of the Film Noir 18 combo (2019), and the Cabaret 13 in 2020.

In all our designs, we strive to deliver vintage-inspired amplifiers that give you versatility and an elegant simplicity which allows you to go from glittering clean to raw crunch with the turn of you guitar’s volume knob, the hardness of your pick attack, or the addition of your favorite pedal. And yet we’re never afraid to throw out the playbook, updating older designs with modern features, unique styling, and most of all, distinctive tones that will set you apart in a world of clones.

We know that you work hard to make every piece in your gear arsenal an effortless extension of your playing and artistry, and we strive to make every Balthazar amplifier a trusted tool that you can rely on and enjoy for years to come.

Cheers and best to you

Balthazar de Ley