'67-'68 Hiwatt amp - Entwistle's?

[fenderp63]

I'm asking for some help from the vast knowledge of TB vintage amp freaks. I've owned this Hiwatt for decades, it was my gigging amp for about ten years back in the late 70's/early 80's. Got it from a friend of a friend who claimed it was a genuine Entwistle amp head. Never really put much stock in it, just loved the sound. But lately I've been wondering about it, so I thought I'd bring it here and see what everyone thought.

The bit of research I have done on it seems to indicate that it is actually a Sound City amp in a Hiwatt box. I do know that Dave Reeves did some mixing of parts in the transition from SC to Hiwatt, and that they were all very much into experimentation at the time.

Anyway, I would love to hear opinions about what I might actually have here. At the very least it is a unique late 60's Hiwatt that still works great. I do have more photos if there is a particular view that would be helpful.

 

[SamJ]

scarey as it is to say, that looks quite ligit... and to think it might be here in Oregon...

 

[lowend1]

You need to get ahold of Mark Huss at Hi-Tone amplification. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
If anybody knows, he will.

 

[fenderp63]

Thanks - I'll forward some photos to Mark and let you all know what he has to say.

 

[JimmyM]

Wow, that would be badass if it really is Entwistle's amp! Keep a good thought and remember that they all had to go somewhere, so why not Oregon?

 

[bgmww]

Register and post it on this fórum Invalid Link Removed

 

[D.M.N.]

Holy cow, dude! That a looks like it's Sound City L100! Here's a link to a page on the SC L100s that were rebadged to Hiwatt early on: Sound City as Hiwatt | Pete Townshend’s Guitar Gear | Whotabs

If it's the real deal, I'd give up a kidney for that thing. Hendrix is documented having used L100s as well. Jimmy Page too (as the Arbiter "Power One Hundred").

 

[fenderp63]

Just found Mark Huss' Hiwatt Info page (Mark Huss Hiwatt Amplifier Pages), and according to that, the date of manufacture (for ser #288) would be 66-67, not the 12/12/68 as is marked in (fading) red marker on the back. Whole lot of good info there, including a registry, and there is one other DR 106 (ser #287! Mine's big brother!) registered as being owned by someone in Germany. I do love the web.....

Title of the thread has been updated accordingly.

 

[fenderp63]

Had a great email exchange with Clayton Callaway at Hi-Tone this weekend (great guy!) and he seems to think it's the real deal. I sent a whole bunch of pics of the innards. He mentioned that the output transformer had a '67 date code and that everything else seemed exactly as it should. It is certainly a genuine Reeves '67-'68 Hiwatt, probably a custom built hybrid from when the transition from SC to Hiwatt was happening, and a very good likelihood that it was built for and played by Entwistle.

Pretty cool.

Here's the thing. I am at a bit of a loss with what to do with it, though. It's not something I could gig with anymore. I don't even have a cab that it could run without clipping. I kind of don't feel right about just sitting on it, either.

What would you do if you had it? Curious about everyone's thoughts.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

I just asked Craig in Link Removed, as my go to Entwhistle guy:

Yes it is certainly the real thing. I have two. That one is one that was used at Leeds and the Isle of Wight. Mark Gooday has the other. He was selling his for £12K a while back. There were no takers. Hope all's well with you. Cheers, Craig

 

[JimmyM]

Had a great email exchange with Clayton Callaway at Hi-Tone this weekend (great guy!) and he seems to think it's the real deal. I sent a whole bunch of pics of the innards. He mentioned that the output transformer had a '67 date code and that everything else seemed exactly as it should. It is certainly a genuine Reeves '67-'68 Hiwatt, probably a custom built hybrid from when the transition from SC to Hiwatt was happening, and a very good likelihood that it was built for and played by Entwistle.

Pretty cool.

Here's the thing. I am at a bit of a loss with what to do with it, though. It's not something I could gig with anymore. I don't even have a cab that it could run without clipping. I kind of don't feel right about just sitting on it, either.

What would you do if you had it? Curious about everyone's thoughts.

I would donate it to some unappreciative kid who lets it rot in his garage and then throws it out.



You kidding? I would take it to every gig and display it like a museum piece!

 

[JimiLL]

I bet Rick from pawn stars would love it. You could come into some money for this

 

[JimmyM]

Here's the thing. I am at a bit of a loss with what to do with it, though. It's not something I could gig with anymore. I don't even have a cab that it could run without clipping. I kind of don't feel right about just sitting on it, either.

Gotta back up just a minute...why couldn't you gig with it anymore? I used a V4B all through the 80's in some pretty loud bands and rarely ever ran it into clipping.

 

[fenderp63]

When I was gigging with it, I was able to run a couple of JBL D140's with it. Sounded great, but those speakers were extremely efficient. I've got Acme cabs now that need twice the wattage just to get warmed up. Besides, I never liked having to haul it. And that was 30 yrs ago. I'm on the wrong side of 50 and into LIGHT gear now...

 

[JimmyM]

Ah, Acmes...yeah, that makes sense then. And as much as I hate to admit it, even being on the good side of 50, sometimes I really hate lugging the heavy stuff. Well I have to think some extreme Entwistle collector would give you a few grand for it if it's authenticated as being at the show where they did Live At Leeds.

 

[fenderp63]

I should probably disclose that John Entwistle and Chris Squire are the reasons I am a bassist. JE especially has been a personal bass hero of mine for most of my life. To me, Leeds was the absolute pinnacle of The Who. Strangely enough, I was playing a Rick 4001 back then (there's the Squire influence), and often thought the sound I got was eerily Leeds-like...

If this is the amp from that show, I honestly don't know that I could ever part with it. That would pretty much make it the Holy Grail. Maybe I could build a temple around it for bassists to come and worship...

 

[bottomed!]

wow. bass tone perfection if this is in fact the Leeds amp.

 

[One Drop]

Pretty serious history, I imagine there might be some collector interest in the UK.

 

[Korladis]

Had a great email exchange with Clayton Callaway at Hi-Tone this weekend (great guy!) and he seems to think it's the real deal. I sent a whole bunch of pics of the innards. He mentioned that the output transformer had a '67 date code and that everything else seemed exactly as it should. It is certainly a genuine Reeves '67-'68 Hiwatt, probably a custom built hybrid from when the transition from SC to Hiwatt was happening, and a very good likelihood that it was built for and played by Entwistle.

Pretty cool.

Here's the thing. I am at a bit of a loss with what to do with it, though. It's not something I could gig with anymore. I don't even have a cab that it could run without clipping. I kind of don't feel right about just sitting on it, either.

What would you do if you had it? Curious about everyone's thoughts.

Why would you want to run it without clipping? That overdrive tone on Live at Leeds is to die for.

 

[Smoove-Groove]

KEEP IT!!!!!
Entwistle amp!!! Maybe from the Leeds show!!!! Thats a no brainer.
I'd be using that thing as the urn for my ashes when I die.