bigc wrote: Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:38 am

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Mon Oct 17, 2022 11:30 am I dont understand a few things here. 1) If you dont need that much power, why is a 100W combo amp gonna be an improvement. Its still 100 watts, though it'll sound a bit quieter due to less speakers. I dont personally get the need for 100W guitar amps....30 is fantastic. 2) a 2x12 combo is only going to save you a little vertical space, but would be just as wide.

I guess I should have said 'an amp that's loud enough to play live with, but is smaller than a head and 4X12 cabinet'. Just looking to downsize a little while maintaining rock-ability.

Edit to add: and was hoping that I could sell the head and cabinet for a lot more than I'd pay for a replacement combo.

Owen wrote: Mon Oct 17, 2022 4:58 pm Do you still want it to have a Hiwatt character or are you looking for a different sound?

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:15 am There's probably a few options. Downsize the cab? Get a 1x12 or 2x12 cab and run the Hiwatt with that. Pull two tubes if you like and run it at 50 watts and it will still be plenty loud for a band.

For replacing it....there are probably tons of good options on the used or new market that would suit you. There arent really good Hiwatt circuit combos that I know of (maybe Hi-Tone?), though, but you could get close enough.

bigc wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:45 am

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:15 am There's probably a few options. Downsize the cab? Get a 1x12 or 2x12 cab and run the Hiwatt with that. Pull two tubes if you like and run it at 50 watts and it will still be plenty loud for a band.

For replacing it....there are probably tons of good options on the used or new market that would suit you. There arent really good Hiwatt circuit combos that I know of (maybe Hi-Tone?), though, but you could get close enough.

Slimming down t a 2x12 is a great idea. As for pulling power tubes, do I just yank a couple? Does it matter which two?

bigc wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 9:45 am As for pulling power tubes, do I just yank a couple? Does it matter which two?

mdc wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:55 am Don't DR103s have master volumes? That's a much better way of turning down a loud amp in my experience.

The difference in overall volume between a 50W and a 100W amp is what... 3dB? Something like that... in my certainly non-exhaustive experience, pulling tubes can make a difference in headroom if you're trying to push a non-master volume amp into overdrive earlier, but it doesn't really have a huge effect on volume. I'd just use the master volume.

Trying a speaker like a cannabis rex 12" might also help tame the mids - though in the end, if you're not stoked on the amp then you're not stoked on the amp.

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:12 am

mdc wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:55 am Don't DR103s have master volumes? That's a much better way of turning down a loud amp in my experience.

Masters - YEAH they do, but they're the 2204/2203 pre-PI type and they dont work as effectively and transparent as some other ones.

Dr Tony Balls wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 11:12 am

mdc wrote: Tue Oct 18, 2022 10:55 am Don't DR103s have master volumes? That's a much better way of turning down a loud amp in my experience.

The difference in overall volume between a 50W and a 100W amp is what... 3dB? Something like that... in my certainly non-exhaustive experience, pulling tubes can make a difference in headroom if you're trying to push a non-master volume amp into overdrive earlier, but it doesn't really have a huge effect on volume. I'd just use the master volume.

Trying a speaker like a cannabis rex 12" might also help tame the mids - though in the end, if you're not stoked on the amp then you're not stoked on the amp.

Masters - YEAH they do, but they're the 2204/2203 pre-PI type and they dont work as effectively and transparent as some other ones.

Tubes - you're very right, BUT pulling tubes in conjunction with less, maybe less efficient speakers will help a bit more.