Inside the Hi-Proof Collection: Friedman, Eggle, and Xotic

Every instrument in the Hi-Proof Guitars inventory is there for a reason. We don't carry everything. We carry the right things. That means a short list of makers whose work we believe in — and a longer list of instruments we've passed on because they didn't meet the standard.

Friedman: The Standard for Boutique Tone

Dave Friedman built his reputation modifying amplifiers for some of the most demanding players in the world. His shop in Los Angeles became a destination for guitarists who wanted more from their gear — more gain, more clarity, more of whatever it was that made their favorite vintage amps sound the way they did.

The amplifiers he eventually began building under his own name — the BE-100, the Runt, the Jose — became benchmarks in the boutique amp world. The guitars followed, and they carry the same philosophy. The Friedman Vintage T is a Telecaster-style instrument built to the tolerances of a custom shop. The Jose 20 amplifier is one of the most sought-after small-format heads in the boutique market.

Patrick James Eggle: British Craftsmanship at Its Best

Patrick James Eggle has been building guitars in the UK for over thirty years. His instruments are not widely known outside of serious guitar circles — which is part of what makes them special. Players who discover Eggle guitars tend to become devoted advocates.

The Macon Special is the instrument that best represents what Eggle does. It's a semi-hollow design with a flame maple top, built with the kind of attention to detail that you can feel the moment you pick it up. The neck profile is exceptional. The fretwork is among the best in the industry.

Xotic: California Tone, Boutique Standards

Xotic began as an effects pedal company — their RC Booster and BB Preamp are staples on professional pedalboards around the world. When they moved into guitar building, they brought the same obsessive attention to detail.

The XTC-3 California Classic is their flagship instrument. It's a T-style guitar built with aged tonewoods, hand-wound pickups, and hardware chosen for feel and reliability. It plays with a looseness and responsiveness that vintage T-style guitars are known for — but with the consistency and build quality that only comes from a modern boutique operation.

Wizard and Rivera: The Amplifier Side

Wizard Amplification is a Canadian boutique operation that has been building amplifiers since the early 1990s. Their amps are rare, powerful, and uncompromising. The VC40W is a 40-watt head that delivers the kind of touch-sensitive, harmonically rich tone that players spend years chasing.

Rivera Amplification has been building American-made amplifiers since the 1980s. The Stage IV is a versatile, high-quality head that covers clean, crunch, and lead tones with equal authority. It's the kind of amp that works in any context — studio, stage, rehearsal — without compromise.

The Hi-Proof Standard

Every instrument and amplifier in the Hi-Proof inventory has been personally evaluated. We know what these makers are capable of, and we know what a great example of each instrument looks, sounds, and feels like. If something doesn't meet that standard, it doesn't make the floor. That's not a marketing line. It's the only way we know how to operate.