The history of VHT guitar amplifiers begins with founder and designer Steven Fryette, who founded VHT (which meant nothing except a cool sounding name to Fryette) after repairing and modifying amplifiers for clients such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Lukather, Larry Carlton, Tommy Tedesco, and other studio greats. For years, VHT (under Fryette’s leadership) made such well-received products as his EL34 powered Two/Fifty/Two & the KT88 powered Two/Ninety/Two power amplifiers and the company’s Pittbull series.
Fryette sold VHT in 2009 to AXL Music Instruments and continues to sell his own line of amplifiers under the Fryette brand. However, VHT amplifiers is still going strong, albeit with a different focus. Most of the company’s production has moved overseas to Asia, though the Standard Series is still made in the USA. Several of the new models have been well-received by critics, however, especially the mod-friendly VHT Special 6 Ultra.