Hiwatt tones

[Andy Le Blanc]

How functional is the simple treble/bass tone configuration in 70's Hiwatts?

It looks very easy it to execute, but how well does work? I haven't fiddled
with it yet and wonder if its worth the time. The simplicity is very appealing.

[Blindog]

How functional is the simple treble/bass tone configuration in 70's Hiwatts?

It looks very easy it to execute, but how well does work? I haven't fiddled
with it yet and wonder if its worth the time. The simplicity is very appealing.

I just finished a restoration of an early '80s HIwatt OL103. I've never played through one before. After playing this one for a while, I feel the tone controls work very well with each other.

I can't resist posting some pics. It was going to be sold for parts until I rescued it

[Andy Le Blanc]

Very nice, the inverter and power side on those has a power and quality that
is always impressive. I was looking at some of the 70's models like the "OX"
that had a very rudimentary treble bass tone set up, no mid. I did a bass
amp some years ago with the Hiwatt inverter configuration, wonderful amp.

[Blindog]

Very nice, the inverter and power side on those has a power and quality that
is always impressive. I was looking at some of the 70's models like the "OX"
that had a very rudimentary treble bass tone set up, no mid. I did a bass
amp some years ago with the Hiwatt inverter configuration, wonderful amp.

Ok, I see what you are talking about. Sorry I can't speak to that tone control config. Maybe Mark Huss might chime in?

You are right about the inverter config. It is a unique sound for sure. I like it best with a 12AT7 in the PI.

[Andy Le Blanc]

The Hiwatt PI is really sensitive tone wise to the relative amounts of feedback,
that was fun to play with, sometimes big changes in character with very slight
changes in feed back. I favored the 12at7 as well. Ive made a point of trying
out as many tone configurations as possible, some times the most interactive
controls are the simplest, and high impedance. I try to stay away from any
sort of fender stain on tone. The early Hiwatt and sound city treble/bass
looks so simple, easy to hand build in no time flat, Maybe tomorrow after
a repair or two I'll mod one of mine to check it out, hopefully the insertion
loss won't be too bad, and the control will be effective.

[ER]

Hi Blindog-

Glad you got the old Hiwatt Running! I know it went to a good home...

How are you liking it? It was literally my bedroom amp when it was working because it sounded so nice to sit and play through, unfortunately it didn't work for my band at the time, not flexible enough, and beleive it or not, not loud enough!

-Erik

[M Fowler]

Way to go Blindog saving that Hiwatt, very nice.

Thanks for posting the pictures too.

I am interested in the DR103 for a future build project down the road.

Mark

[mhuss]

Sorry I'm late to the party here...

I hate the treble/bass Hiwatt stack (as used in the CP103 Pete Townshend amp and the "Ox" as well), but a few people seem to like it.

I am (of course ) a big fan of the Hiwatt TMB stack, much more versatile then the traditional Fender/Marshall stack IMO.

--mark

[Wayne]

... unfortunately it didn't work for my band at the time, not flexible enough, and beleive it or not, not loud enough!

-Erik

I missed this before.

Not loud enough? Are you kidding???

W

[Blindog]

Hi Blindog-

Glad you got the old Hiwatt Running! I know it went to a good home...

How are you liking it? It was literally my bedroom amp when it was working because it sounded so nice to sit and play through, unfortunately it didn't work for my band at the time, not flexible enough, and beleive it or not, not loud enough!

-Erik

Hey Erik, good to hear from you man. I am liking the amp a lot I'm still doing some tweaking and trying out different 12AX7's. I also modified it so I can switch out the Overdrive circuit completely with a push-pull switch on the OD pot. (thanks for the help on that Mr. Huss!)

Oh, and definitley no problems in the loudness department!!

Way to go Blindog saving that Hiwatt, very nice.

Thanks for posting the pictures too.

I am interested in the DR103 for a future build project down the road.

Mark

Thanks Mark! (man we got a lotta Mark's in this thread!) It was a lot of fun. Of course Mark Huss's Hiwatt site and the folks at VHR were a huge help. I documented the whole thing over at the Vintage Hiwatt Convention forum: http://www.vintagehiwattconvention.com/ ... ?f=5&t=491

Mark

[M Fowler]

I was at Mark Huss site for the first time last week very good info there Mark and Mark.

I look forward to building the DR103 at some time in the near future.

Mark

[Andy Le Blanc]

Just found mhuss's responce, thank you. Your HIWATT site is very good.
I found that t/b tone set up in a couple other places too, industry trend maybe.
Its simplicity looks so appealing. The Traynor t/b in the guitar mate and custom
amps is usable but a bit time consuming to execute. I'll try out the Hiwatt
next, its a balance of build time and user practicality. I've been collecting
various tones circuits, some really are better built , than playable.

A srpp works very well to drive that inverter too, have you tried that?

[ER]

I had both a Custom 50 and the Lead 100 that blindog rebuilt.

I much prefered the Hiwatts to any of the Marshalls I had. The Marshalls were always barking at me, turning every thing you played into AC/DC.

I tried the Lead 100 a couple of times at band practice because it was easier to haul around than my big rig, but it had trouble keeping up with my drummer. We were a LOUD 3 piece band.

My big rig was a boogie set-up 200 tube watts per channel into 2 4x10 road cabs loaded with EV's. You could peel the paint off the walls with that sucker. I can't imagine retubing that rig nowdays, I can still hear pretty good (thank God) but my back is another story.