HiWatt/MaxWatt Designed by Mike Fortin.

[V2a]

There are plenty of photos of current Hiwatt UK amps online... they are being built at the same facility using the same construction. This is their 400w bass amp but the guitar amps use the same style of construction.

Is non easy to make an hi-gain PTP very quiet, that why i'm curious if they keep the same method, or switch to something else. Fortin amps are all PCB, for example.

Are you referring to true PTP with no turrets or eyelets; or do you mean anything that isn't PCB?

I mean anything not PCB.

Ah, ok, then I'll have to disagree (respectfully, of course). I just built a pretty high-gain amp (with four gain stages) that is also pretty darn quiet.

 

[JTyson]

Mike has his own regulated DC power supply that is super quiet. My JCM800 Hyper mod has it and its whisper quiet at ridiculous gain levels. Its self contained and will mount anywhere there is room in the chassis. Really well thought out piece that he can use on anything he chooses

 

[hopkinWFG]

So guys tell me if anybody of you guys here have already booked a piece of this brootalzzz yet?

I am interested but got hold back on the price cause really thinking back i already gotta VHT UL, CLX and a 33 pedal... no idea if my collection now will cover ground of this maxwatt hi gain 50?

 

[technomancer]

I would really like to know what the plans are for this. From what Mike had said the amp at NAMM was a prototype and the actual release was going to be 2 channel with a footswitchable gain boost (bringing in and out a tube gain stage) and there was maybe going to be a single channel version as well. Now it looks like the release amp is single channel and $3500? What happened to the more full-featured version?

 

[cyphervox]

I would really like to know what the plans are for this. From what Mike had said the amp at NAMM was a prototype and the actual release was going to be 2 channel with a footswitchable gain boost (bringing in and out a tube gain stage) and there was maybe going to be a single channel version as well. Now it looks like the release amp is single channel and $3500? What happened to the more full-featured version?

Per the US Operations Manager:
"It’s a prototype as of today. I’m not positive about the bells and whistles of the production units. I saw and heard it at NAMM, didn’t get to play it as the line was always long and our sound-proof room was always packed like a can of sardines. I’ve asked the Home Office in Toronto about FX Loop, as I’ve been asked about it previously. They tell me that it’s a prototype at this stage, it’s in production in the UK, they don’t know the final fine details of what it’s going to be like as of right now. I guess, we just have to wait and see. It’s scheduled for release at Frankfurt MusikMesse April 11-14. I’m getting the first 10, purportedly by early May. It sounds FANTASTIC. That’s all I know. If you’re going to MusikMesse, stop by our booth in Hall 9.0 Booth C20 and say “Hi-“. The booth will have the company’s proper name above it, not MAXwatt, if you get my drift."

I would suggest that everyone contact Maxwatt/Hiwatt and request that it includes 2 channels and an effects loop.

 

[technomancer]

Given Fortin said he is flying over this month to finish the design it's not surprising nobody knows what is going on yet... I think I'll wait for actual specs before dropping a $1700 deposit

 

[FourT6and2]

I was gonna grab the Meshuggah amp during the next run. But this is pretty cool too. I just hope the amp doesn't really rely/depend on the matching cab with Fane speakers because I really don't have the room for another cab. Would have to dump one of my Bogners. And not sure how this thing will sound with Greenbacks, since most Hiwatts really do rely on the Fane special sauce...

Personally, I would prefer single channel. Keep things simple. I don't need a do-it-all amp. All my amps are now single channel 50-watters. Something about them I like. More aggressive mid-range than 100s and no overwhelming features/buttons/knobs to mess with. Simple. Plug in and rock out. Too many options and features and I spend more time tweaking and fucking with the amp than playing guitar.

 

[Luca79]

There are plenty of photos of current Hiwatt UK amps online... they are being built at the same facility using the same construction. This is their 400w bass amp but the guitar amps use the same style of construction.

Is non easy to make an hi-gain PTP very quiet, that why i'm curious if they keep the same method, or switch to something else. Fortin amps are all PCB, for example.

Are you referring to true PTP with no turrets or eyelets; or do you mean anything that isn't PCB?

I mean anything not PCB.

Ah, ok, then I'll have to disagree (respectfully, of course). I just built a pretty high-gain amp (with four gain stages) that is also pretty darn quiet.

I'm sure is possible. Just wonder what philosophy they gonna embrace; old Hiwatt or Fortin.

 

[Luca79]

Personally, I would prefer single channel. Keep things simple. I don't need a do-it-all amp

But IMO the most of people need at least a 2 channel, for play in a band.

 

[FourT6and2]

Personally, I would prefer single channel. Keep things simple. I don't need a do-it-all amp

But IMO the most of people need at least a 2 channel, for play in a band.

I just roll volume back for cleans. It's nice to have a clean channel sometimes I guess. Depends on the music you play.

 

[cyphervox]

Update: The amp now has two channels and an effects loop.

https://www.facebook.com/maxwattamps/vi ... ?q=maxwatt

 

[riffermadness]

Oh Mikes not mad about Randall. I just think its bullshit that they used the fuck out of him to design amazing amps then shit the bed and sold off to some Chinese conglomerate who doesn't give a fuck about its artists or customers. As a former Randall artist I can tell you that Randall shit the bed on this one, not Mike.

Are you talking about the RD/ Diavlo line of amps ? I bought the RD 20 and RD 45 Heads and neither had that much gain and thats what I bought them for..I did think maybe they were defective so I sent each back for replacements and the new ones that came sounded the same,so sent them back and that was it..I tried to make the amps get the higher gain sound but never could get it right..I did like them and figured I would buy another RD45 head and have someone mod it because I liked the size of it,just right..sorry to blab!

 

[crankyrayhanky]

My diablo had high gain but it was not very saturated. It was the first batch of rd50s that were released. Cool amps, but dry. Needed that boost or an external OD was even better IME

 

[Zachalou]

Oh Mikes not mad about Randall. I just think its bullshit that they used the fuck out of him to design amazing amps then shit the bed and sold off to some Chinese conglomerate who doesn't give a fuck about its artists or customers. As a former Randall artist I can tell you that Randall shit the bed on this one, not Mike.

Are you talking about the RD/ Diavlo line of amps ? I bought the RD 20 and RD 45 Heads and neither had that much gain and thats what I bought them for..I did think maybe they were defective so I sent each back for replacements and the new ones that came sounded the same,so sent them back and that was it..I tried to make the amps get the higher gain sound but never could get it right..I did like them and figured I would buy another RD45 head and have someone mod it because I liked the size of it,just right..sorry to blab!

Not just the Diavlo, but the 667, thrasher, and satan amps too

 

[napalmdeath]

Oh Mikes not mad about Randall. I just think its bullshit that they used the fuck out of him to design amazing amps then shit the bed and sold off to some Chinese conglomerate who doesn't give a fuck about its artists or customers. As a former Randall artist I can tell you that Randall shit the bed on this one, not Mike.

Are you talking about the RD/ Diavlo line of amps ? I bought the RD 20 and RD 45 Heads and neither had that much gain and thats what I bought them for..I did think maybe they were defective so I sent each back for replacements and the new ones that came sounded the same,so sent them back and that was it..I tried to make the amps get the higher gain sound but never could get it right..I did like them and figured I would buy another RD45 head and have someone mod it because I liked the size of it,just right..sorry to blab!

That's nuts. I owned an RD45H 3 times. Boosted, it shat on the EVH 50, tonally, and had plenty of gain! Never had to go past noon to play as heavy as you wanted.