Members drasp Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 See this thread for back-story. Well, I've had my HIWATT almost a week now & though I haven't gotten nearly as many hours with it as I'd like, I'm ready to give my half-@$$'d mini-review and show some more pix. I'd never played through a HIWATT until I got this one, so I was in the same place a lot of folks are. I'd heard a ton of recordings using 'em, but wasn't really sure how it would translate to my own style which is really nothing at all like Townshend's and even less like Gilmour's. As soon as I started to play for the first time I was blown away at the amp's clarity. I'm a Fender dude & I feel like my Vibroverb has pretty wicked cleans up to a decent volume level (it does!) but the HIWATT is totally different. It's more like a Hi-Fi amp. Feels like full spectrum sound in a really good way. Also encourages over-cranking like nothing I've ever played through. It never farts out (or at least not at any level I've achieved yet) and the bass, mids & highs all feel present no matter what you throw at it. Stuff that used to make my other amps fart out or choke like the Blue Box or half-speed loops on the DL4 just rock you're guts with the HIWATT. Highs don't get peaky and hurt your ears, they get sweet & complex. Every fuzz box I own sounds different. Know how when you feed a fuzz into a dirty amp you loose some of the texture? Well, feed the same fuzz into a HIWATT & you hear even more of the texture. Really a fantastic pedal amp. Delay is also just rockin' - especially out of control oscillation with the DMM. I really need to play with the WGS Vet30 in my Lopo 1x12" and see how it is but I imagine it would just be over the top in the mids and too flabby to handle the low end. Will update on that once I've had more time. As far as maintenance (which I don't think the amp has required yet in it's life) the power tubes were discolored around the base and sustain didn't seem like I'd hoped for. Picked up a pair of GT EL34Ms (5s) 'cuz they were local and the difference was big. Probably due mostly to the fresh tubes - we'll see how long they last as I'm leaving the bias fixed unless I have problems. I've got an old GE in v1, a Mullard CV4024 in the PI and Tung-Sol RIs in the other two preamp spots. May experiment more with that down the road, but for now there is no need. Beyond the obvious joy in having found exactly the amp (Audio Bros SA112) I'd paid for 8 years ago, I'm really happy to have an Audio Bros. amp. It will keep me from feeling like I need to baby it or treat it like some relic. Also, there is no need to think about re-caps, etc. for a good long time - it's like having a time machine! The Audio Bros. amps were SO accurate (closer to an actual Hylite amp than the Biacrowns & MUCH closer than the current Music Ground amps). As you can see from the pictures, build quality is just stupid. I've been drooling over HIWATT gut-shots online for 10+ years but I was flabbergasted when I saw the inside of the chassis for the first time. The typical top-shot just doesn't show how intricate everything really is. Little jumpers and short wires between pots & jacks and stuff are all just as neat as the longer runs of wire. Also, I'd assumed that the little black 'loops' around the main runs of wire were just some kind of wire tie - not the case. They are like a woven/braided string that runs the full length of each run. I really hope I never have to tackle any of that stuff - I'm pretty good with running neat wire, but it just wouldn't be the same. . . I'll stop rambling now, here are pix: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thorology Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 Awesome! Hiwatts are the end of the road for me. By far the best amps I've ever tried. Congrats on the amp mate!Btw, wasn't there a Hiwatt club in the making here at HCFX? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 20, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 Btw, wasn't there a Hiwatt club in the making here at HCFX? Yes, I think there was! BTW, your '200 is just insane. I can't imagine what it sounds like vs. mine @ only 50W. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 20, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 Any lunchtime love for my hot new amp? :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboPimp Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 looks nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hiwatt Bob Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 i completely concur with your review, well put. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboPimp Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 P.S. how much did that run you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 20, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 P.S. how much did that run you? I paid $1250 shipped which I think is a helluva' great deal, esp. when you consider what the same type/quality of amp would cost from anyone else. Heck the Music Ground amps are ~$2500 and look like this: Now, don't get me wrong - that's a great looking gut shot, but it doesn't even compare to an A.B. or Hylight era HIWATT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sgt mukuzi Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 i lived in northamptoshire as a kid, nice amp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TheAtomicJeff Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 Bad ass amp! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Loobster Posted May 20, 2008 Members Share Posted May 20, 2008 Fantastic. Really is. I'm happy you got it and love it. What you said about it sounding 'hi-fi' like is so true. I like mine more and more every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TomCTC Posted May 21, 2008 Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 I wish these things weren't so much cash new. I'd love to have one someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Loobster Posted May 21, 2008 Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 New ones aren't anywhere near as nice sounding as originals, or indeed Audio Bros-era ones like this. Drasp, that has Partridge trannys in it? I thought they were only in Hylight era? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 21, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 Drasp, that has Partridge trannys in it? I thought they were only in Hylight era? Yup, real Partridge trannys. That's a big part of what the Audio Bros. reputation was built on - they provided spares for HIWATT folks all over the world. They had special relationships with Fane & with Partridge to source parts to the original Hylight specs & Steve was obsessive about making the amps as true to the originals as possible. From what I know, it's really on a totally different level from something like the Fender or Vox re-issues. More like what JMI is doing right now. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members thorology Posted May 21, 2008 Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 Yes, I think there was! BTW, your '200 is just insane. I can't imagine what it sounds like vs. mine @ only 50W. . . The 200 watts are truly insane. Even though I run both the Normal and Master volume at half I don't feel it's that overpowering the band at rehearsals. I found that quite amazing. Now I just need to find myself a proper cab for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 21, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 It's really nice that the first half of the Master knob on a HIWATT is very useable. Even with my Normal & Brilliant all the way up (bridged/jumped) I don't have to worry TOO much until I go past noon. MUCH better than having to breath on the knob and having all the usable volume in the first 1/64th of a turn. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hiwatt Bob Posted May 21, 2008 Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 there have been a lot of quality control issues with the musicground hiwatts. the Reeves seems like a much better way to go if you're going 'new school'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hiwatt Bob Posted May 21, 2008 Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 The 200 watts are truly insane. Even though I run both the Normal and Master volume at half I don't feel it's that overpowering the band at rehearsals. I found that quite amazing. Now I just need to find myself a proper cab for it. playing through the 201's at the hiwatt convention, they weren't even that much louder than the 103's or 504's for that matter. but it was just pristine cleans almost the whole way up (we did our pedal shootout using a 201 because of this). i know bass players are getting like 3-400 watts from their ampegs, but it seemed like a 201 for bass was pretty much all that was needed. It's really nice that the first half of the Master knob on a HIWATT is very useable. Even with my Normal & Brilliant all the way up (bridged/jumped) I don't have to worry TOO much until I go past noon. MUCH better than having to breath on the knob and having all the usable volume in the first 1/64th of a turn. . . this seems to vary. on my 4-holer 504, all the volume is in the input vol's--after about 9-10:00 on the master it doesn't get much louder, just more overdriven. my fav settings are norm vol. dimed, bright vol at 9:00, master around 9-10:00. my 2-holer FL112 (the same amp as a DR103) is different. it get's most of it's volume from the master. a dimed master with the input vol's at 10:00 is loud as hell. the same settings on my 4-holer aren't that loud. the 2-holer also has alot more preamp gain on tap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 21, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 21, 2008 this seems to vary. on my 4-holer 504, all the volume is in the input vol's my 2-holer FL112 (the same amp as a DR103) is different. it get's most of it's volume from the master. Interesting. I wonder what causes this - pot values, circuit design, etc. *shrug* My SA112 has a lot less preamp gain on tap than I expected. As you mentioned, most of my volume is on the Normal & Brilliant controls, but if they're up and you crank the master is stays clean way past 9-10:00. Even when it breaks up, it's still very controlled & tight. That's why 'cuz I love my Tiny Terror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members southtexslinger Posted May 22, 2008 Members Share Posted May 22, 2008 Sweet amp. Any chance of posting some clips soon? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members timeforheroes Posted May 22, 2008 Members Share Posted May 22, 2008 just realized i dont even know the "HIWATT" sound!!!! pete townsend used em....who else? ( sorry , dont bite my head off!) someone educate me. BTW.....are all HIWATT's that clean insides? that is an amazing looking interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hiwatt Bob Posted May 22, 2008 Members Share Posted May 22, 2008 Even when it breaks up, it's still very controlled & tight. this really is what sets it apart from other amps. it retains clarity and note definition even when cranked--others seem to sag, compress alot more. just realized i dont even know the "HIWATT" sound!!!! pete townsend used em....who else? ( sorry , dont bite my head off!)someone educate me. BTW.....are all HIWATT's that clean insides? that is an amazing looking interior. unless they've been hacked up for some unforgivable reason--yes, they're all that cleanly wired. gilmour is the other one most known for hiwatts. he obviously went a different route, he used his as a clean palatte for pedals. townshend basically just used a cranked hiwatt (and a fuzz for a boost). listen to 'live at leeds' for a good demonstration of what a cranked hiwatt sounds like. listen just about any floyd disc for the hiwatt cleans--although he occaisionally used fender twins in the studio. there's some new stuff i've heard that says jimmy page--who's almost always associated with marshall--used his hiwatt a lot in the late '60's. the dude from Rush used them. i believe Fripp used them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted May 22, 2008 Author Members Share Posted May 22, 2008 Yup, Fripp used them with King Crimson early on (+ a Muff). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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