Any input on HiWatt Bass Amps?? Or the all-tube MarkBass 300?

I'd love to try a Hi Watt but if you're after the SVT tone its probably not going to be it.

 

+1. If I were you, I'd get another '70s SVT. You can find one used in excellent condition for a lot less money than the Hiwatt or Markbass heads, BTW.

 

I had a HIWATT years ago, it ain't gonna sound like and Ampeg. Unless they have done something about it, they have a tube socket problem. Mine was even hand wired, but they used cheap tube sockets. They started to arc between the pins on the tubes and I had to have them all replaced and a tube job.

 

I would PM Tom Bowlus on this one. He has a love of all tube amps and has a bunch of them, and could probably tell you if any of the more updated models cop a more vintage SVT type vibe.

I'm pretty clueless on these amps, but did read the review of the new Markbass head in some detail. It sounds like that head has a design goal closer to the Sadowsky tube head... fat, warm, round, and the ability to get very wonderfully 'tube clean' versus being designed for the all out grind.

 

If you liked the SVT your probally not gonna like the Hiwatt. I've heard they don't really break up and have a somewhat bright sound to them. I would look into the new Reeves head if your thinking about a Hiwatt. The Orange head is great. can break up nicely if you push it. It's kind of a one trick pony but it does it really well, What I mean is it doesn't have a very powerful EQ but it is voiced very well. If you like your Aggie you could also check out the DB359 not SVT'ish more of a "Hi-Fi" warm sounding tube tone. Also you could look into the Trace V series tube heads if you can find one. There is also the Mesa Bass 400/ 400+ well I've never been to fond of them (but alot of people on here love them) Also the new Traynor head is cool and not to much money. So here is a list of some of the heads

Fender Bassman 300
Orange ad200b
Hiwatt 200/400
Reeves 225
Mesa Bass 400/400+
Vintage SVT
SVT-VR
SVT-CL
Traynor YBA200
Trace V4/V6/V8
Trace Hexavalve
Aggie DB359
Peavy tour VB-2
Eden E300T
Eden VT300B
Sadowsky SA200

So You've got alot of choices. I could help you out more if you let me know what sound your looking for and your budget.

 

Well, as it turns out, we will be reviewing the Markbass Classic 300 and the Reeves 225 very soon, as well as the SVT-VR (and a vintage '72 SVT, just for kicks!). And, if you check my profile, I have a few other nice tube heads.

I definitely have a 'solid state' side to my personality, but I really do enjoy the different flavors that tube amplification can bring to the table. Some of these more modern takes are really great, but some of the classic tube heads also stand tall and proud. That said, if you ask me, if you really want to sound like an SVT, then get an SVT. I'm a big fan of the vintage SVT's, and I am anxious to put a VR through its paces.

Tom.

 

I had the newer Hiwatt 200 last year. I liked the Hiwatt in medium sized clubs, and it brought out the best sound of my Jack Casady Epi. That bass has never sounded as good as it did via the Hiwatt. Hiwatt does have its own sound, very clear, but with all the rich harmonics we love from a good tube head. It doesn't break up like an SVT, and I found myself using pedals to get an SVT sound. So I sold it and bought an SVT. Ha ha. Though some of the pedals sounded awesome: Duncan Twin Tube, Fulltone Bass Drive, Boss Blues Driver (try it on bass!!!).

I do think the Hiwatts are pricey, so I would def get a Reeves. Also check out a new company in San Diego called Satellite. They make a 225 watt all tube. I played their 50 watt and it was stellar.

 

If you like the Hiwatt, check out the Mywatt: www.weber-amps.de
They are boutique clones of the Hiwatts at reasonable prices.

 

Sounds like your after a marshall vba400, but like the orange ad200b it's a one trick pony.

 

I would really recommend that you don't go by what some guy in a chat board thinks he heard from his cousin's postman about Hiwatts or any other amp. I know it can be tricky, but you have to try things out yourself. My personal experience has been that they are simply some of the best amps ever made. On the guitar front, a good Hiwatt makes a Marshall sound like a toaster oven. I have had great luck getting huge, growly tones from them.

 

One amp may have tube socket problems but I've known many Hiwatt and Marshall heads from 1968 to the present and that's not a known weakness. The mil spec design and implementation of vintage Hiwatts is indeed beyond all others. They really blur the debate about tubes being unclear and SS being hifi. A Hiwatt really does as was said above all those great harmonics yet it so clear. I could see why a guitarist wouldn't want one at all. WAY more clear than most any tube amp out there. I haven't heard the Sadowski or the Markbass.

 

Had an Orange AD200B that gave me my best tone ever, but was too heavy for me to lug. There's one in the TB classifieds now with a silly ask price of 1899.....but it says obo.....
Just be aware it's a bare bones head with no DI or FX loop. Greeaaaaat tone, however. Not really SVT style IMO.

 

The Reeves is the nicest new/old school tube head I've played through recently. Not cheap, but none of them are.

 

I would love to try a Hiwatt. I am an SS guy but the Hiwatt does intrigue me. Part of that is the fan boy side of me because last I am a big Steve Harris fan. Yes I know the player makes the sound, there is more to it than just the amp but I love Steve's clean, clanky sound. If Hiwatt doesn't break up like a typical tube amp then I now partly understand how Steve arrives at his sound.

 

look into weber mywatt amps mate
i'm thinking of getting one

 

i just found out that i have a hiwatt dealer here i memphis...i might have to check one out

 

I started as a qualified amp tech in 1971 less than twenty miles from southend and the old Hiwatt sockets suffered no worse from the ingress of beer than any other, its often the cause of arcing, it blows its fuses someone dries it out with a hair drier, doesn't clean the valve bases, the sugar in the liquid turns into carbon over a number of years and etches into the baker-light valve base finally shorting out.
Other than that they can carbon track through dust and in one instance quite a lot of cat hair.

 

im ordering a cable that will enable me to hook up two 4 ohm cabs to a vintage Custom Hi Watt 100.

Ill let you know how it sounds, and im VERY excited!