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Hiwatt bass amps

#104
My little one :D



Custom 200.
Fane loaded, of course.
 

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#108
Been Gigging my Custom 200 and Berg NV412 for a year now. Love the Hiwatt tone. Fat and clean with my P Bass. Always get good compliments on it. Just wish it was less that 80lbs!!!!!

Got a boutique Hybrid amp incoming with twin tube pre and CLass D Power stage to save my back. Not sure it will sound as good as the Custom but we shall see
 
#109
Im a little bias on Hi Watt, Ive an original AP 100 from the 70s british made, I dont gig it live anymore just in case, I use it for studio work and its incredible, clean, no problem, dirty, again no problem, to be honest the new Hiwatts dont reach the sound legend of the originals and their are so many amps out there at the moment its mind blowing! Im a messa boggie man now for live work ( walkabout) and my back & knees are ok carrying that round :-))
 
#111
Mark D said:
Im a little bias on Hi Watt, Ive an original AP 100 from the 70s british made, I dont gig it live anymore just in case, I use it for studio work and its incredible, clean, no problem, dirty, again no problem, to be honest the new Hiwatts dont reach the sound legend of the originals and their are so many amps out there at the moment its mind blowing! Im a messa boggie man now for live work ( walkabout) and my back & knees are ok carrying that round :-))
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Why do you say the new Hiwatts don't reach the sound of the old ones ?
i had a 1973 DR 103 (during 10 years) and now i have this brand new DR405, and i can't be happier.
Have you compared them as i did ?
 
#113
Big_Stu said:
Looks like a bit of a redesign of the 405 there? Not much chance of finding a real one so I can't blame you for going to a repro. Is it MG or did Fernandes do them too?
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They say it's the same design. Of course, no Partridge trannies, but the new ones are just the same.

As stated on their FB page "After forty years plus, Hiwatt are once again trading under the original HyLight
Electronics Ltd banner. The rights to the name have been bought back and returned to their spiritual home…"
 
#115
Big_Stu said:
Fair enough, it's maybe the angle your pic is at, it looks smaller than I remember them, as in not as tall from the front; and the handle(s) of course but that's just cosmetic.
MHuss Hiwatt Amplifier Pages - Detail Views

Enjoy your amp!! :hyper:
Click to expand...

Thanks Stu !

you are right. The perspective makes it look funny. Size and weight might be the same the old one is.

The handles are different.. IT has just one classic handle in the middle. THe old one had 2.
But the new one adds two "ATA Flight case" handles on both sides.
And i see the piping on top and bottom are just a bit closer to the center.
I'll get better pics this weekend.

Best

Alex
 
#118
Bigjohn said:
???
The VB2 uses up to date pcb technology and the Hiwatt uses 1950's terminal strips and wiring.
You couldn't build the VB2 with methods used in that old Hiwatt anyways. The VB2 circuit is too complex, too many components. The old Hiwatt is a simple circuit.
And don't knock the VB2 because it uses printed circuit boards, old 1969 Ampeg SVT's use printed circuit boards. Every SVT that's been made uses printed circuit boards. That VB2 design looks great.
I think the guts of old Hiwatts are pretty and retro cool but point to point wiring doesn't sound any different/better than a properly designed an layed out printed circuit board. The whole point to point romanticism is dubious.
I'm a huge Hiwatt fan for many years but I'm just saying, it's big $$ for a nameplate. I mentioned and suggested the VB2 because like the classic 100W Hiwatts that many players used in the late 60's / early 70's, the VB2 is EL34 based.
But the VB2 is more powerful and has modern features.
The VB2 is a great sounding, powerful and unique EL34 bass amp for a fraction of the price.
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, the VB-2 was made in China, versus the US for Reeves and Hi-Tone. I'm not saying the VB-2 is a poorly made amp; in fact, I wish that I had gotten one when they were in production. I don't think that a Hiwatt is big $$ for a nameplate though. Amps that are hand wired and assembled by workers in small shops in the UK or the US are probably going to be more meticulously assembled and with greater QC than gear made in Asian or third-world sweatshops. One would, of course, expect to have to pay a higher price for this attention to detail. Whether it's worth it is a question only a prospective buyer can answer. Hiwatt amps, and their clones, may be excellent quality amps but not a s good a value as some of the cheaper gear that is currently available.

I think the important thing is that there is a range of gear available out there at different prices with different features and qualities that can cover the needs of the majority of bass players.
 
#119
AwkwardLoudness said:
If you can find a vintage (pre-1981) Hiwatt in good shape, then yes, go for it. The 100 watt DR103, 200 watt DR201, and 400 watt DR405 are all great bass amps. The DR103 is by far the easiest to find, but has the least headroom. You would want the 4-input rather than the 2-input version of a DR103 because of the headroom.

I wouldn't recommend a new Hiwatt at retail price. These amps don't have near the build quality as the vintage ones.

Reeves Amplification builds an amp that's inspired by the Hiwatt DR201, and it may be your best option among newer amps: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Ampegs have circuits that are very different from those in Hiwatts, so it's going to be a matter of taste.

I finished restoring an old Hiwatt bass amp a few months ago. It is one killer amp. Images are here: '73 DR405 - a vintage Hiwatt restoration - vintageHIWATTconvention.com
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I plugged my Stingray 5 into a vintage hiwatt at a jam session in Adelaide last year and LOVED IT.
If I wasnt saving for a Wayne Jones Id be looking for one.
 
#120
Plastalmonus said:
I'm having an acid flashback to 7 years ago when this thread was last posted to.
Click to expand...
physics said:
If I'm not mistaken, the VB-2 was made in China, versus the US for Reeves and Hi-Tone. I'm not saying the VB-2 is a poorly made amp; in fact, I wish that I had gotten one when they were in production. I don't think that a Hiwatt is big $$ for a nameplate though. Amps that are hand wired and assembled by workers in small shops in the UK or the US are probably going to be more meticulously assembled and with greater QC than gear made in Asian or third-world sweatshops. One would, of course, expect to have to pay a higher price for this attention to detail. Whether it's worth it is a question only a prospective buyer can answer. Hiwatt amps, and their clones, may be excellent quality amps but not a s good a value as some of the cheaper gear that is currently available.

I think the important thing is that there is a range of gear available out there at different prices with different features and qualities that can cover the needs of the majority of bass players.
Click to expand...
Ben_Sth_Oz said:
I plugged my Stingray 5 into a vintage hiwatt at a jam session in Adelaide last year and LOVED IT.
If I wasnt saving for a Wayne Jones Id be looking for one.
Click to expand...


Hi guys :)

We have a new Hiwatt thread!!! :hyper::hyper::hyper:

Hiwatt

no zombie infos!!!!! :laugh: new amps to get GAS and tubestubestubestubes.....

greetings

Wise(b)ass
 

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