Fulltone pedals are still handmade in relatively small quantities here in the Los Angeles area by myself, and around 20 employees. We work Monday through Thursday, allowing us all 3 days off per week for important things like Music & Cars. I pay my employees well and pay 100% of their Health care as well, therefore have some who have been here 5, 10, even 18 years. Just because I may change the look or features of a pedal does not mean the quality is not as good as the old days...in fact, we have less "come-backs" now than ever and our quality gets better and better as I figure out ways to make it better. That is my hobby, designing things better.
I design all the products, have no partners, I do all the books, payroll, ordering, etc. and answer to no one but my customers, IRS, and my wife.
I have turned down numerous multi-million dollar buy-out offers from large corporations and LOVE my job even more so than the day I started Fulltone in 1992.
So you can definitely call Fulltone "boutique," in fact we (arguably) invented that phrase;)