HIWATT price increase!

I haven’t been able to get into the Hi-Watt tones but since there’s a price increase that’s more than likely to happen now.

When I saw Elder open for Tool they were playing Hi-Watts. Man what a percussive sound. I could hear every string like it was punching me in the face. Sounded epic, especially for their stoner doom vibe.
 
I haven’t been able to get into the Hi-Watt tones but since there’s a price increase that’s more than likely to happen now.

When I saw Elder open for Tool they were playing Hi-Watts. Man what a percussive sound. I could hear every string like it was punching me in the face. Sounded epic, especially for their stoner doom vibe.

Here's Cattle Decapitation from Aftershock last weekend. Their guitarist, Josh, runs a Super-Hi.

 
Here's Cattle Decapitation from Aftershock last weekend. Their guitarist, Josh, runs a Super-Hi.


My strap popped off mid-way through the song (despite strap locks) so I just kept my foot on my volume pedal to prop up the guitar and try not to look too conspicuous. 😅. Also forgot about that WOOOOOOO 2/3 of the way through the song.
 
Of course. My one amp I probably won't ever sell (custom shop DR103) is my one amp that actually is worth more than when I bought it.🤣
 
My strap popped off mid-way through the song (despite strap locks) so I just kept my foot on my volume pedal to prop up the guitar and try not to look too conspicuous. 😅. Also forgot about that WOOOOOOO 2/3 of the way through the song.
Lmao pro recovery move achieved
 
My strap popped off mid-way through the song (despite strap locks) so I just kept my foot on my volume pedal to prop up the guitar and try not to look too conspicuous. 😅. Also forgot about that WOOOOOOO 2/3 of the way through the song.

Is that what you were doing? I saw that and thought you had an EQ or something up there you were fiddling with haha. I was actually paying more attention to your singer clearing his sinuses during the interlude lol. Y'all sounded great!
 

Is that what you were doing? I saw that and thought you had an EQ or something up there you were fiddling with haha. I was actually paying more attention to your singer clearing his sinuses during the interlude lol. Y'all sounded great!
Yeah, for whatever reason my strap lock decided to fail that day so for the first half of the set I was able to do my exciting pacing back and forth stage moves but mid-set had to play it safe and tone it down in case my guitar suddenly popped off again. 😂
 
I haven’t been able to get into the Hi-Watt tones but since there’s a price increase that’s more than likely to happen now.

When I saw Elder open for Tool they were playing Hi-Watts. Man what a percussive sound. I could hear every string like it was punching me in the face. Sounded epic, especially for their stoner doom vibe.
This is exactly why I love my 4 hole Hiwatt and Reeves Custom 100's. The only amps I ever played through that hit close to as hard at all gain levels have been an early Wizard (an Ard iirc, this is like 28-29 years ago), a Coliseum 2c+, and an early Triple Rec. My Hiwatt and Reeves even outpunch my 4xKT88 Matamp GT150, and my previous 2 amp rig with a Tremoverb and 4x6550 KMD head slaved in stereo. The number of amps whose clean tones come close imo are 1, a NMV Ampeg VT22. I am admittedly not a big Fender clean guy. I like those Brit mids too much.
 
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just buy a HI-Tone and you will have that tone with same exact build quality at a great price
Story checks out. I had a Hi-Tone DR103 and in direct comparison to my Hiwatt DR103 it nailed that tone perfectly. The only reason I sold it and kept the Hiwatt is because I have always wanted a real Hiwatt.
 
This not true...Hi Tone is different quality.

I had the heads, not the cabs. I have a '72 Hiwatt 4x12. The wiring is equally impeccable on both. The feel of the pots, the jacks, switches, and all felt equally smooth and solid. The only amps I've ever seen that could be better are my Reeves Custom 100 and my Matamp GT150. That Matamp is pure art right down to the mirror polished chassis.

As far as the cabs go you're 100% correct. The Hi-Tone is about the best quality cab you can build. After that only Mills could be argued to be better in bulletproof construction. What he doesn't state in that video is the reason why the Hi-Tone doesn't have any finger bracing at the corners. It doesn't need it because the Hi-Tone is cnc finger jointed, whereas the Hiwatt is butt jointed like most cabs. Even with the Hiwatt's extra bracing the Hi-Tone is still far more ruggedly constructed at the joints.

Personally I would have went for the 75 watters with the paper dust caps. I'm not a fan of Crescendos, or really any aluminum capped speakers. It would sound a lot closer to the real Fane Purples.
 
I had the heads, not the cabs. I have a '72 Hiwatt 4x12. The wiring is equally impeccable on both. The feel of the pots, the jacks, switches, and all felt equally smooth and solid. The only amps I've ever seen that could be better are my Reeves Custom 100 and my Matamp GT150. That Matamp is pure art right down to the mirror polished chassis.

As far as the cabs go you're 100% correct. The Hi-Tone is about the best quality cab you can build. After that only Mills could be argued to be better in bulletproof construction. What he doesn't state in that video is the reason why the Hi-Tone doesn't have any finger bracing at the corners. It doesn't need it because the Hi-Tone is cnc finger jointed, whereas the Hiwatt is butt jointed like most cabs. Even with the Hiwatt's extra bracing the Hi-Tone is still far more ruggedly constructed at the joints.

Personally I would have went for the 75 watters with the paper dust caps. I'm not a fan of Crescendos, or really any aluminum capped speakers. It would sound a lot closer to the real Fane Purples.
FYI, HIWATT cabs ARE finger jointed, shows it on their site.
 
FYI, HIWATT cabs ARE finger jointed, shows it on their site.
Are you sure? I double checked their cab section, and faq prior to posting that just to be sure. All I see are references to "traditional construction". Hiwatt cabs "traditional construction" is butt jointed with corner braces.

I could be wrong, but saw nothing on their site that would make me believe I am.
 
Are you sure? I double checked their cab section, and faq prior to posting that just to be sure. All I see are references to "traditional construction". Hiwatt cabs "traditional construction" is butt jointed with corner braces.

I could be wrong, but saw nothing on their site that would make me believe I am.
Go to their site and click on the CABINETS icon...should show raw cabinets.
 
The HIWATT site has some really bad marketing pictures and verbiage very contradictory in places, although it has been getting better. their customer service is the worst I've dealt with. very hit and miss. I'm always on pins and needles when I order.
 
Go to their site and click on the CABINETS icon...should show raw cabinets.
https://britampco.co.uk/hiwatt/shop/cabinets.html

Not that I see.

Edit: Doh. Now I see it. Strange they don't mention it, and you literally have to zoom in on their shop photo to see that detail. It's cool they upgraded the build quality on the cabs.

Tbt I've been trying to sell my '72 Hiwatt cab for a while on Reverb, but have it local pickup only because I don't want to deal with UPS or FedEx fucking up a glorious vintage cab and speakers then dealing with shipping claim and all that BS. I've had a couple people willing to pay good money to ship it, but I won't. Even if the loss was covered I would be all bent and butt hurt over the destruction of an awesome cab with all that history.
 
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