Hiwatt

[The 0x]

I think you're right on this being SS, but I'm not too familiar with this era of Sunn amps. Is this a solid state Sunn setup? BTW the video is really off-sync, but you can really see his amp. (I'm not 100% sure if it's the same video I'd found before, but):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJPwjsSlX0M

I found some early videos where he's using a Marshall stack, and then some with Vox amps. The late 70's videos I've found he's definitely using Sunn solid state amps. It's the same setup he used when I saw the Who live in '79 or '80.

I managed to battle my way to the front row during the warmup act (Blackfoot) and I watched him from the front row. IMO his sound was still very bad**s

Yup, Sunn Coliseum Bass, Lead, 880, and slave heads.

 

[oddio]

The Killers bassist Mark is using Hiwatt on their current tour. They will be on Saturday Night Live this weekend if you want to tune in and hear the Hiwatt. I believe he is using the 400 watt bass head, sometimes 2 of them for bigger venues.

They've got an endorsement deal. This is the HiWatt Custom 400 that got torn down and repaired in LV. The "review" was enough to convince me to wait for an original DR405.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

...
I managed to battle my way to the front row during the warmup act (Blackfoot) and I watched him from the front row. IMO his sound was still very bad**s

That would have been quite a show... Blackfoot's first two albums "Strikes" and "Tomcattin'" are awesome...

I was visiting Al Nalli Music in Ann Arbor, MI at the time they were recording "Tomcattin'" in the studio downstairs...I was stunned at how tiny those guys were.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Yup, Sunn Coliseum Bass, Lead, 880, and slave heads.

I have a copy of an article from a mid '70s ish Guitar Player showing (probably) the next generation of this rig since the power amp rack was filled with four red-knobbed Coliseum Slave amps and a pair of Stramp preamps.

His speaker compliment was a pair of 4x12s, a pair of 3x12s, a pair of 1x15s (the horns) and a pair of 1x18s. The rig was triamped with a total power of 1200 watts (which was considered huge back then).

The final comment was that "Entwistle's system was so powerful that there was no need to mic it or run through the PA" YOWZER!!!

 

[Energy]

The "review" was enough to convince me to wait for an original DR405.

Custom 400s are extremely rare. Less than 100 units were manufactured. You'll probably wait all your life and never find one, and even if you find one the price is gonna be ridiculous. I think you should go for a re-issue.

 

[The 0x]

I have a copy of an article from a mid '70s ish Guitar Player showing (probably) the next generation of this rig since the power amp rack was filled with four red-knobbed Coliseum Slave amps and a pair of Stramp preamps.

His speaker compliment was a pair of 4x12s, a pair of 3x12s, a pair of 1x15s (the horns) and a pair of 1x18s. The rig was triamped with a total power of 1200 watts (which was considered huge back then).

The final comment was that "Entwistle's system was so powerful that there was no need to mic it or run through the PA" YOWZER!!!

I'm pretty sure the horns were 18s.

By the way, I haven't been able to find much info on STRAMP preamps... Know of any resources on them?

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

I'm pretty sure the horns were 18s.
...

I always thought that they were 15s because my catalog didn't show any midrange 1x18 horns (which wouldn't make any sense anyway) at the time (midrange 18s, that is).

From my '75 Sunn catalog (all dimensions in inches):

412S (infinite baffle) dimensions 30 by 30 by 15
312S (indented front loading horn) dimensions 42.5 by 24 by 15
115SR (advanced front-loaded horn for upper bass and mids) dimensions 33 by 24 by 24
118M (rear loading bass reflex horn) 30 by 30 by 15.

...and for comparison the similar looking 115S (bass reflex rear loading horn) is 24 by 24 by 15.

Ox' rig at the time had a pair of each of the first four cabinets. On the bottom were two big square ones (the same outside dimensions as the 4x12s on the upper corners) so they had to be the 118M (not 115S). These were taller than the two horns in the middle which had plywood spacers on top to carry part of the 4x12s on top. Since they're less than 30 inches tall and Sunn didn't show a 1x18 of that design, they have to be the 115SR. The 3x12s are in the top center.

But, comparing the width of the horns to the height of the 3x12s, they look too wide to be 115SRs...so I don't really know.

The only info provided about the preamps is that they were Stramp 4120 stereo preamps. One for each output of John's Alembic explorer shaped bass.

The catalog does show a rig that would be perfect for you...a Model T head (150 watts 4x6550) sitting on top of a 4x15 cabinet.

 

[Kink Rimson]

i used hiwatts back when
blew up each and every one of them
that would be three of them over about four years and playing at larger venues
loved the tone and while they lasted longer and were more reliable the guitarists marshalls
i ultimately went with svt
they were just more reliable at every level
at least at that time

Sir, you are a natural poet.

 

[The 0x]

I always thought that they were 15s because my catalog didn't show any midrange 1x18 horns (which wouldn't make any sense anyway) at the time (midrange 18s, that is).

From my '75 Sunn catalog (all dimensions in inches):

412S (infinite baffle) dimensions 30 by 30 by 15
312S (indented front loading horn) dimensions 42.5 by 24 by 15
115SR (advanced front-loaded horn for upper bass and mids) dimensions 33 by 24 by 24
118M (rear loading bass reflex horn) 30 by 30 by 15.

...and for comparison the similar looking 115S (bass reflex rear loading horn) is 24 by 24 by 15.

Ox' rig at the time had a pair of each of the first four cabinets. On the bottom were two big square ones (the same outside dimensions as the 4x12s on the upper corners) so they had to be the 118M (not 115S). These were taller than the two horns in the middle which had plywood spacers on top to carry part of the 4x12s on top. Since they're less than 30 inches tall and Sunn didn't show a 1x18 of that design, they have to be the 115SR. The 3x12s are in the top center.

But, comparing the width of the horns to the height of the 3x12s, they look too wide to be 115SRs...so I don't really know.

The only info provided about the preamps is that they were Stramp 4120 stereo preamps. One for each output of John's Alembic explorer shaped bass.

The catalog does show a rig that would be perfect for you...a Model T head (150 watts 4x6550) sitting on top of a 4x15 cabinet.

Everywhere i've read said that the horns were 18s. Maybe they were custom made cabs?

Also, how exactly were the speakers mounted in the 312s? I've always wondered about that.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Everywhere i've read said that the horns were 18s. Maybe they were custom made cabs?

Also, how exactly were the speakers mounted in the 312s? I've always wondered about that.

I saw a post of yours on another thread about it... I dunno...those mid frequency horns aren't "W" horns (as was described for John's rig). A "W" horn is like the Acoutic 361 and 301 cabinets.

I believe that the speakers in the 312 were mounted with screws They're oriented vertically with the baffle being set back and straight horn flares essentially going from the edge of the speaker's frames to the front edge of the cabinet. See attached photo (no scanner available). And a picture of the 415M just because...

 

[ABH_bassist]

my last recording experience i played a '78 p bass split through an svtcl and a hiwatt custom 100. ran it through the big ampeg 8x10 and also an orange cab. sounded amazing.

 

[rarrr8]

Ye Olde '73 DR201 & '75 1960B (rear slot ported) + Eminence Deltalite 2512's. Crank it up!

 

[The 0x]

I saw a post of yours on another thread about it... I dunno...those mid frequency horns aren't "W" horns (as was described for John's rig). A "W" horn is like the Acoutic 361 and 301 cabinets.

I believe that the speakers in the 312 were mounted with screws They're oriented vertically with the baffle being set back and straight horn flares essentially going from the edge of the speaker's frames to the front edge of the cabinet. See attached photo (no scanner available). And a picture of the 415M just because...

Interesting... I've always wanted a couple of those 4x15s. Two of them, and two of the 412S (sceptre cabs), and i'd have the Sunn equivalent of Lemmy's rig.

 

[BillyB_from_LZ]

Ye Olde '73 DR201 & '75 1960B (rear slot ported) + Eminence Deltalite 2512's. Crank it up!

Hiwatt heads are just so georgous!!!!

 

[tombowlus]

This combination pretty much rocks:

 

[The 0x]

This combination pretty much rocks:

 

[Phyrexian]

Nice stack!

 

[tombowlus]

Nice stack!

Thanks! One of the really compelling aspects of tube amps is that they all seem to have their own personality. This makes it very difficult to say that "A is better than B", or that "C is better in all environments relative to D", and to be honest, it does lead to some gear accumulation.

The Sound City Bass 150 has a very unique sound, and I presume that at least some of the Hiwatt models cop a similar vibe to the Sound City. When I first fired it up, I had been playing through my V8, and I was like, "eh, it's okay." But, after my ears adjusted a bit, and I tweaked the knobs a bit, I found it to be very compelling. I can't really describe what it offers that is so unique (unless it's a particular blend of midrange magic that is both round and articulate, combined with a fairly unique high end voicing), but I do look forward to trying it in a live mix (haven't gigged with it yet - I may have to build a case for it before I let it out of the house! ).

Tom.

 

[chadds]

I know this is Talkbass but would you guys just go buy some! They are so great.
Go here and whet that appetite.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[The 0x]

Thanks! One of the really compelling aspects of tube amps is that they all seem to have their own personality. This makes it very difficult to say that "A is better than B", or that "C is better in all environments relative to D", and to be honest, it does lead to some gear accumulation.

The Sound City Bass 150 has a very unique sound, and I presume that at least some of the Hiwatt models cop a similar vibe to the Sound City. When I first fired it up, I had been playing through my V8, and I was like, "eh, it's okay." But, after my ears adjusted a bit, and I tweaked the knobs a bit, I found it to be very compelling. I can't really describe what it offers that is so unique (unless it's a particular blend of midrange magic that is both round and articulate, combined with a fairly unique high end voicing), but I do look forward to trying it in a live mix (haven't gigged with it yet - I may have to build a case for it before I let it out of the house! ).

Tom.

Could it be that you're working the valves harder in the Sound City as opposed to the V8?