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HiWatt v. Reeves

#2
No experience with the HiWatt but I've played through a Reeves amp for a few minutes at our Cincinnati GTG a few months ago. I forget who owned it, but I can tell you if I could afford it, there would be one sitting right behind me as we speak. It was one of the loudest and thickest heads I've ever heard. It's hard to find the right words to describe it but it's absolutely amazing.
 
#3
I've played both. Not A/Bed though. The Hiwatt was the creamiest warm tubish yet HiFi sound I've ever heard. The Reeves, not even close. Now they look great and are great contemporary tube amps but they aren't Hiwatts. It is said that, it could be, that they can't duplicate the transformers. Go to Plexipalace for gas inducing forums and pics.
 
#10
Monotremata said:
Listen to The Who's Live at Leeds and Live At The Isle of Wight.

There was never a better advertisement for Hiwatt guitar or bass heads ever.
Click to expand...

for a Hiwatt...$6,000 + for the head.

Yikes.

I've played them in the past; very nice. The cabinets were awful.

I'd get a pair of Berg IP310's and a killer Summit Audio preamp and lay waste to it.

2,000 watts in stereo and as tubey as you could possibly imagine.

Cheers,
Cameron
 
#12
Ampeg SVT said:
They liked it, the 4-ohm transformer tap wasnt working.

They had pictures of the inside, very neat wiring. Its got a turret board or something.
Click to expand...

Yeah the Reeves are supposed to be the closest you can get to Dave's original Hiwatt design, with the exception of the old Partridge transformers which really was where Hiwatts sound came from. All military grade turret board construction hand wired like Reeves and Joyce were known for. Townshend always said he hated Marshalls and Hiwatts were what a Marshall shouldve sounded like.

Wow Ive never seen an old Hiwatt head go for $6000 though.
Ive seen them around $2000 but that was for a pretty damn nice and clean 71 or 72.
 
#13
Bassflute said:
for a Hiwatt...$6,000 + for the head.

Yikes.

I've played them in the past; very nice. The cabinets were awful.

I'd get a pair of Berg IP310's and a killer Summit Audio preamp and lay waste to it.

2,000 watts in stereo and as tubey as you could possibly imagine.

Cheers,
Cameron
Click to expand...

Two IP310s would lay waste to anything. You won't have to tell us when you hook that up. We'll know.:eek::bassist:
Yeah the Hiwatt cabs were substandard to todays stuff. Entwistle didn't keep using them. He went to Sunn.
 
#14
chadds said:
Two IP310s would lay waste to anything. You won't have to tell us when you hook that up. We'll know.:eek::bassist:
Yeah the Hiwatt cabs were substandard to todays stuff. Entwistle didn't keep using them. He went to Sunn.
Click to expand...

He may of not liked the sound but I certainly do... I was more interested in the head rather than the cabinents, because the cabs seem to be less of a problem than finding a good head
 
#15
PRUNEFACE said:
He may of not liked the sound but I certainly do... I was more interested in the head rather than the cabinents, because the cabs seem to be less of a problem than finding a good head
Click to expand...

He may have evolved from that sound. And let it be said I like his sound then too!:bassist:

I wouldn't do all the time because I play in different genres that require other tone. I was tearing that up in the old days with a real actual '57 P-Bass with RotoSounds through 2 2x15" Kustom Cabs with a Marshall Superlead 100 Head. Same bass through a square backed SVT with Marshall Major Head. More good raunch. Marshall and Hiwatt cabs would sound so abused until in the mix. They would hold up doing it too. Check PlexiPalace. Action Music in Va has a 200 watt Hiwatt head. The real deal not the fake Fernandes stuff.
 
#16
You can pick them up for $1400 between $2000 in europe. Its has to be the one of the best sounding amps there is. 3 dimensional sound.
Have to disagree about there cabs too. Maybe their old ones back in the day were a bit iffy, but there present day cabs are quality although cost a fortune.
I've never heard a Reeves.
 
#17
I just did a review of the Reeves Classic 225 in issue #2 of Bass Gear Magazine. In the review, I go over the history and relation between Dave Reeves, Hiwatt, and Reeves Amplification. In short, the USA-distributed Reeves Custom 225 is made in the UK by the successor company to Hiwatt (UK). The Hiwatt naming rights in the USA are owned by Fernandes.

Tom.
 
#19
The Partridge transformers were a joy to use. I used them exclusively in my designs back in the day. I do have a Hiwatt DR201 chassis that came with a Marshall OPT when I got it. I contacted Hiwatt UK and they sent me a replacement. Although Partridge are gone apparently Hiwatt has their transformers made by the same people at the same factory. Only difference I can see is the lack of varnish.

Paul
 
#20
I have had both at the same time, and sold the Reeves mostly because of the similarities.
They are both great amps, and are quite comparable. I prefer the original's tone, but that's primary due to the head having original valves though.

Been playing Hiwatt for over 35 years, and am a real fan. My '71 DR103 is my all-time fave.
As for the Partridge transformers giving a Hiwatt its tone... that's simply not true. Many prefer the Drakes, as did Harry Joyce.
The Hiwatt "magic" is in the tone stack. The combination of the Hiwatt's frequency range [(-3db) 3.6 hz - 112 khz], and the dual input/EQ is what sets them apart from other amps. They're not voiced for any particular instrument, they work well with guitar, bass, keys or whatever. That is why they are labelled "AP", which means All-Purpose.

I believe you would enjoy either the Reeves or an original... whichever suits your budget will do.
Good luck in your search. :bassist:
 

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