Hiwatt Bass 100 info?

claybone · #1 04-12-2010, 01:10 AM

Hi.
After googling a bit about these model, I am now more confised than enlightened. Are these good amps in the Hiwatt tradition? I've read that they have pcb boards, and generally problematic. Any more infos that you can share?

bgmww · #2 04-12-2010, 09:53 AM

i thjink these were built in the 90's.

you better ask this on Hiwatt´s forum.

http://www.vintageamps.com/plexiboar...d5ab1cc1eea79d

xsubs · #3 04-12-2010, 10:03 AM

That particular head is a Hiwatt in name only. It was actually built by Fane (~86-89), and bears no resemblance to the original design.

johnk_10 · #4 04-12-2010, 11:28 AM

IMO, that only bears a resemblance to the originals in appearance only.

love the 'mobbie dick' logo addition. (supposed to be spelled 'moby'). apparently the previous owner thinks it had a 'whale' of a sound, but IME, its 'guppy' when compared to the real thing.

claybone · #5 04-12-2010, 01:03 PM

Thanks for the infos, guys. Gonna tick that off to the list then.

and yeah, that 'mobbie' sticker makes me think of those crazy anime titles. (got that pic from ishibashi)

Triad · #6 11-24-2011, 06:52 AM

I have one. Never plugged it in as it needed new tubes but my tech (who's replacing tubes, setting the bias etc.) said that the amp is pretty well made, has "stabilized bias setting", pretty good transformers (even if they're not Partridge they're good) and its only "bad" side is that the PCBs aren't of the same quality of the big names (USA made SVT or UK VBA) but the price was much lower so no way to compare them.
There are more than 400v in that thing, running the tubes hot could easily make it spit 130-140w according to the tech (but of course the tubes would last less). I'm only reporting the tech's unbiased point of view, I can't comment as I never used the amp but should get it tomorrow. I'll let you know how it sounds if you're interested.

PaulonBEADG · #7 04-07-2012, 04:37 PM

Blah blah blah! pcb! kgb! kfc!

I have one and I think it sounds pretty awesome. Btw, more than loud enough to keep up with a drummer (steel snare) and 2 guitarists.

Many amps in the stable. This one is up there.

Claybone did you have this amp?

Mr. Foxen · #8 04-07-2012, 04:44 PM

Nothing inherently wrong with PCB if it is done right, and the PCB 80s Hiwatts were done right, the sockets and such weren't mounted on the boards, which is the key thing. Checking the quality of the handwiring will tell you of its Hiwatt pedigree. If its all super neat, laced, everything right angled, then its a proper Hiwatt.

PaulonBEADG · #9 04-07-2012, 05:05 PM

My curiosity might get the best of me so I just might open mine up to take a peek.

Mine even has Hiwatt labeled tubes.

Mr. Foxen · #10 04-07-2012, 05:15 PM

Hiwatt handwired PCB:

PaulonBEADG · #11 04-07-2012, 06:12 PM

Just opened her up!

I'll post some photos later on. Not as clean as yours but pretty good. It's an 88 btw.

Mr. Foxen · #12 04-07-2012, 06:20 PM

That isn't my one, its one another dude is selling and sent me the pics.

**f64** · #13 04-07-2012, 07:47 PM

I’ve been using this head for about 7 years now and I can’t say it hasn’t been a journey. Bruce Kager of Central Jersey has done a lot of work to get the bugs out and keep this thing running.
The late 80’s and 90’s weren’t kind to Hiwatt as they went through an identity crisis between ownership changes and law suits over ownership changes stalling production more than a few times. This head’s a later version from when Fane or Fernandes or the Reeves family sold the name and remaining stock and it was moved to Modesto, CA. Again, who actually had the rights to the name was a matter of contention. These seem to have been kept in production in CA as long as they still had boards available from the original purchase.
At that time they were known for doing things somewhat inconsistently but they started with a solid PC board that had already been assembled in the UK. On this head some items needed to be upgraded and replaced to get it up to an acceptable spec level. On this head all original power tube sockets were replaced with ceramic, the ohm selector was replaced with Marshall type, fuse holders replaced with high quality units and bias adjustment added. The chassis and board have lots of British pots and caps and it’s driven by (6) EL-34’s. The 200 watt rating is actually modest. This thing can scream. The last trip to CJ to cure an errant hum had them disassembling all the pots and re-soldering them to the front of the board. That’s a design issue not unique to Hywatt or to heads built during that era.
Has it been a good experience? I’m not certain. Would I do it again? Probably – as long as I didn’t need to rely on the head until the bugs were all out. Am I happy with it – yes.
Is this the most problems I’ve ever had with a head – no. I won’t mention the other manufacturers, but they are all from across the pond.