I used to have a DR103 HIWATT from the early 1970's years ago. It was OK. Had to be played at ear oxidizing volumes to get a good tone.
I have been curious again about these amps. Searches for them only bring up a bunch of extreme different models, "frankenwatts", confusing korean shit-combos with the HIWATT branding, and ridiculously priced DR models
Why all the different flavors? Looks like Fernandes manufactured HIWATT for some time. I'm confused about what is crap and what isn't. Some have FANES speakers, some have CELESTIONS, some have other knockoffs. I remember hearing that some of the 80's models had tube sockets soldered to circuit boards and that this caused all kinds of hell. What is this cheap BULLDOG model about? What does Sound City have to do with Hiwatt??
What do you think?
HIWATT amps, what s the scoop??
2Dave Reeves (DR) used to design amps for Sound City before he started Hiwatt.
He died in 1981 and with him died Hiwatt.
I guess that someone, Fernandes maybe, bought the brand name and started building Hiwatt amps. They have nothing in common with the original DR-models. What made the DR's special were the Partridge transformers. They were used by Sound City as well.
I have a DR201 that I use as bass amp, it's better than just OK.
Because of it's high power wattage, I'm not using it for guitar. I don't have a guitar speaker cab that could handle the volume at which it starts sounding good for guitars.
Recently, Hiwatt started building amps to the original Reeves standards. Apparently they are pretty good but for the price of a new DR103, you could probably buy two old ones.
He died in 1981 and with him died Hiwatt.
I guess that someone, Fernandes maybe, bought the brand name and started building Hiwatt amps. They have nothing in common with the original DR-models. What made the DR's special were the Partridge transformers. They were used by Sound City as well.
I have a DR201 that I use as bass amp, it's better than just OK.
Because of it's high power wattage, I'm not using it for guitar. I don't have a guitar speaker cab that could handle the volume at which it starts sounding good for guitars.
Recently, Hiwatt started building amps to the original Reeves standards. Apparently they are pretty good but for the price of a new DR103, you could probably buy two old ones.
HIWATT amps, what s the scoop??
4I have a FL-112, which is basically a two-input (bright and normal) 100 watter. It's great for clean, and does distortion alright, but not as well as some of my other amps. For distortion, I like my YBA-1A's, YBA-3, and 50W JMP MkII Master Vol better. By quite a bit. And I agree wholeheartedly with the "needs to be loud to sound its best" sentiment, but I find that to be true of tube amps in general. For dirt, they sound best when you're beating on all sections of the amp, not just the preamp.
The thing I like the best about the Hiwatt is that it's laid out to perfection. Mine is turret-style, not circuit board style, and just looking inside it fills me with awe and respect. It's how every amp should be. The Traynors are similar, in that they're all point-to-point wired. But the layout of the Hiwatt is definitely superior. Everything smacks of having been done very, very deliberately, by a true master of amp design. And of course the components are all high-grade.
Hiwatt = good. Not just a name. It's a beautifully designed amp. The old ones anyway. I imagine the circuit board versions are still good amps, but I really prefer the flexibility of the point-to-point style.
The thing I like the best about the Hiwatt is that it's laid out to perfection. Mine is turret-style, not circuit board style, and just looking inside it fills me with awe and respect. It's how every amp should be. The Traynors are similar, in that they're all point-to-point wired. But the layout of the Hiwatt is definitely superior. Everything smacks of having been done very, very deliberately, by a true master of amp design. And of course the components are all high-grade.
Hiwatt = good. Not just a name. It's a beautifully designed amp. The old ones anyway. I imagine the circuit board versions are still good amps, but I really prefer the flexibility of the point-to-point style.
"The bastards have landed"
www.myspace.com/thechromerobes - now has a couple songs from the new album
www.myspace.com/thechromerobes - now has a couple songs from the new album
HIWATT amps, what s the scoop??
7my friend is selling a hiwatt lead 50r w/ mods to make it closer to a 70's hiwatt. new tube sockets and tubes. i think he only wants about 750.
email me if interested
theshipshadholes@yahoo.com
email me if interested
theshipshadholes@yahoo.com
long may you run
HIWATT amps, what s the scoop??
8Anyone ever noticed the Hiwatt amp on the little stage at the cafe in Friends? Thought not...
HIWATT amps, what s the scoop??
9Partridge transformers are not some sort of Magic Tone Machine. You can replace a Partridge in any tube amp that uses one with a compatible generic unit and I challenge you to do a blindfold comparison test. You will not hear a difference.
I have a Sound City SMF Tour Series with a Partridge. It sounds like shit and always has since I purchased it in 1978.
I also have two of the most-unwanted Hiwatts, the L50 models from 1985/86. They use cheap PC-mount tube sockets. While this is relatively OK for the preamp section, it can cause problems in the output section. It's simple to add chassis-mounted tube sockets and wire them up. You can find these models for sale for around $3-400. They sound as good as any Hiwatt as far as I'm concerned, they're just manufactured a little cheesier. They're made in the UK.
Hiwatt afficianados are even creepier than their Marshall counterparts. All sorts of inane online arguments are available for pitiful reading.
Whatever sounds good and doesn't blow up is a good Hiwatt. I even like the hi-gain section in mine, while most "purists" think it's shite.
I have a Sound City SMF Tour Series with a Partridge. It sounds like shit and always has since I purchased it in 1978.
I also have two of the most-unwanted Hiwatts, the L50 models from 1985/86. They use cheap PC-mount tube sockets. While this is relatively OK for the preamp section, it can cause problems in the output section. It's simple to add chassis-mounted tube sockets and wire them up. You can find these models for sale for around $3-400. They sound as good as any Hiwatt as far as I'm concerned, they're just manufactured a little cheesier. They're made in the UK.
Hiwatt afficianados are even creepier than their Marshall counterparts. All sorts of inane online arguments are available for pitiful reading.
Whatever sounds good and doesn't blow up is a good Hiwatt. I even like the hi-gain section in mine, while most "purists" think it's shite.
HIWATT amps, what s the scoop??
10phildodd wrote:Anyone ever noticed the Hiwatt amp on the little stage at the cafe in Friends? Thought not...
My wife saw it and said 'Holy crap, do you think they ever play it? Yours is so loud!'