Category 5 Amplification is a boutique guitar amp builder founded by Don Ritter and Steve Scott, with production based in the Dallas, Texas area. The company started as a way to build amplifiers while raising money and awareness for charity, and its early amp names (Katrina, Andrew, Rita, Ivan) reference the hurricanes and natural disasters whose relief efforts the company supports alongside organizations like Voice of the Wetlands, Feed the Children, and Blue Star Connection.

The amps are hand-built with an emphasis on road-worthy construction, using thick laser-punched aluminum chassis, stainless steel and brass hardware, and baltic birch cabinets. The lineup includes tweed-voiced combos, British-voiced heads, and power-scaled designs aimed at touring players who need stage volume flexibility without losing tone. Models include the Andrew, Broadway, Tempest, 1900, Katrina, TBR-35, and VOW 45, along with a Signature Series featuring Samantha Fish, Brad Paisley, and Ally Venable collaborations.

The brand has a strong association with the blues world and has been played by artists including Joe Bonamassa, Jimmy Thackery, Samantha Fish, and Zac Harmon. Ritter's design philosophy centers on letting working, touring musicians — rather than builders — dictate how an amp should sound and behave.

Category 5 has 6 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Combo Guitar Amplifiers, Power Amplifiers, and Guitar Amplifier Heads. Their gear is featured by 5 artists, with the strongest followings in Blues, Rock, and Folk, World, & Country. Notable users include Samantha Fish, Joe Bonamassa, and Tab Benoit.