HiWatt/MaxWatt Designed by Mike Fortin.

[CrazyNutz]

Any decent tech can repair that amp in the event that the company disappears.

 

[technomancer]

Not sure I get the point of buying a "Hi-Watt" styled (named/styled) amp to have it sound like a Fortin fire-breather?

If I want a Fortin I'd rather just buy one... instead of just buying an amp designed by him from a company that couldn't create their own designs? Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in their products. What happens when or if it needs service/warranty work... and they are gone tomorrow. Looks like Randall amps all over again.

Fortin = Drive By Amp Designer. Have soldering gun, will travel.

So you think for some reason a company that is delivering high-end tube amps won't be able to service a high-gain circuit just because Fortin designed it? I guess Marshall can't service all those amps Santiago designed since he no longer works there and Peavey can't do anything for their 5150 variants since Brown isn't there anymore

A. Not what I said.

B. Flawed comparison. Very flawed.

Marshall and Peavey are big companies that have been around awhile. Established is a good word to use. They are not brand-new start-up companies trying to sell amps some other guy designed, with a website hosted on a Wordpress Blog site.

MaxWatt? Never heard of them. New company trying sell amps. But they are using the name, cosmetics, and throw-back history to older established brand... and using the designs from another person to sell their line of amps. If their amps are good, they should be able to stand/fail on their own merits.

James Brown and Santiago were not contract employees... they worked for each company for several years and designed a lot more than a single amp... and were not paid as a consultant or contractor. Also when the amps they each designed were released, you didn't hear a peep about who designed it... did you? If anything ghost-builders are usually just that... ghosts. Unseen/unheard for a reason.

Not on the designs, cosmetics, nostalgia, history of others. If you want a Fortin, just get the real deal.

I've seen many other "new amp companies" following this business plan... and it never ends well.

Maxxwatt is the US distributor for Hiwatt UK which has been around for a bit and the amps will be built in their UK factory. I assume you have heard of Hiwatt. They've also got multiple amp models, they hired Fortin to add a high gain amp to the line.

Randall is a well established company that has been around for a while as well... so your analogy falls apart there as well.

Calling Peavey well established in this context is a bit hilarious as well since they are having the same issues with the Invective that Randall had with the Fortin line, ie they can't get them out door.

Also especially with the Hiwatts / Maxwatts any competent tech should be able to work on them. They're not even PCB ffs

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Maxxwatt is the US distributor for Hiwatt UK which has been around for a bit and the amps will be built in their UK factory. I assume you have heard of Hiwatt. They've also got multiple amp models, they hired Fortin to add a high gain amp to the line.

It's hard to say who is or currently owns the HiWatt UK name/rights. It's been bought and sold so many times and has had many different issues. If they are the "true" HiWatt USA distributor... why the name change... and why are they not mentioned anywhere on the "official" HiWatt website www.hiwatt.co.uk hmmmm???

...and if I wanted a HiWatt... I'd buy a Reeves or HiTone. And yes, I've owned several real-deal '60s-'70s HiWatt amp made in the UK.

 

[technomancer]

Maxxwatt is the US distributor for Hiwatt UK which has been around for a bit and the amps will be built in their UK factory. I assume you have heard of Hiwatt. They've also got multiple amp models, they hired Fortin to add a high gain amp to the line.

It's hard to say who is or currently owns the HiWatt UK name/rights. It's been bought and sold so many times and has had many different issues. If they are the "true" HiWatt USA distributor... why the name change... and why are they not mentioned anywhere on the "official" HiWatt website http://www.hiwatt.co.uk hmmmm???

...and if I wanted a HiWatt... I'd buy a Reeves or HiTone. And yes, I've owned several real-deal '60s-'70s HiWatt amp made in the UK.

You're right... they both have the same UK address and phone number on the website Contact Us section of the front pages, I'm sure they are completely unrelated.

That's ignoring Fortin mentioning it and meeting with Hiwatt UK and flying to the UK in about a month to complete the amp design and meet with them again.

The Hiwatt name in the US (and probably North America) is currently owned by some Canadian company that I don't believe is even making amps at this point, thus using Maxwatt.

 

[psychodave]

Dang. Who cares about any of the details. What I see is Fortin bringing more designs to market. The amps might not be for everyone, but he is still bringing more choices to us guitar players.

 

[technomancer]

Dang. Who cares about any of the details. What I see is Fortin bringing more designs to market. The amps might not be for everyone, but he is still bringing more choices to us guitar players.

My sentiments exactly, and if the clips are to be believed this amp is going to sound amazing

 

[hopkinWFG]

Just thought so that it started out everything with soundcity ? Then it became hiwatt then now "Maxwatt" ?

 

[JTyson]

Dang. Who cares about any of the details. What I see is Fortin bringing more designs to market. The amps might not be for everyone, but he is still bringing more choices to us guitar players.

This^^
If your gonna have a brutal high gainer, he is the guy who has done more R&D than anyone in that realm

 

[JConstantineLV]

Im just worried Mikes gonna get the same raw deal that happened with Randall. Take his name, promote a bunch of shit, then leave him hanging. I really think if people really want that Fortin tone just support Mike and buy directly from him. Killer sounding amp, but it worries me.

 

[CrazyNutz]

Im just worried Mikes gonna get the same raw deal that happened with Randall. Take his name, promote a bunch of shit, then leave him hanging. I really think if people really want that Fortin tone just support Mike and buy directly from him. Killer sounding amp, but it worries me.

He's a big boy and I'm sure he is fully capable of understanding, and making deals. If you're buying something with his name on it then you are supporting him either way. If everyone just decided to go straight to him, companies would not want to do these deals with him.

 

[technomancer]

Im just worried Mikes gonna get the same raw deal that happened with Randall. Take his name, promote a bunch of shit, then leave him hanging. I really think if people really want that Fortin tone just support Mike and buy directly from him. Killer sounding amp, but it worries me.

He's a big boy and I'm sure he is fully capable of understanding, and making deals. If you're buying something with his name on it then you are supporting him either way. If everyone just decided to go straight to him, companies would not want to do these deals with him.

Exactly. These deals are helping build Mike's brand and get his name better known in different circles as well as helping pay the bills. I think if Mike was upset with Randall he wouldn't have just done more work with them to get the Satan 50 out the door.

 

[JConstantineLV]

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.

 

[indespise]

Not sure I get the point of buying a "Hi-Watt" styled (named/styled) amp to have it sound like a Fortin fire-breather?

If I want a Fortin I'd rather just buy one... instead of just buying an amp designed by him from a company that couldn't create their own designs? Doesn't give me a lot of confidence in their products. What happens when or if it needs service/warranty work... and they are gone tomorrow. Looks like Randall amps all over again.

Fortin = Drive By Amp Designer. Have soldering gun, will travel.

Buying an actual Fortin amp is ultra goddamn expensive- $5000 for a Natas. I'd wager that's quite far into the "cost prohibitive" territory for most interested people. Him doing contract designs ultimately puts "his amps" in way more customer's hands, as said companies can operate more on an economy of scale than a one man operation.

 

[engage757]

Mike is good. We have a small team now, and the new amp releasing Monday will be the cheapest yet.

Don't worry about him and Randall, he is fine. Randall is just being run into the ground by USM at this point. Just actively killing it off.

 

[cyphervox]

Mike is good. We have a small team now, and the new amp releasing Monday will be the cheapest yet.

Don't worry about him and Randall, he is fine. Randall is just being run into the ground by USM at this point. Just actively killing it off.

Will sales of the "new amp" [cough Meshuggah cough] be through the website only or are orders available by phone?

 

[engage757]

Mike is good. We have a small team now, and the new amp releasing Monday will be the cheapest yet.

Don't worry about him and Randall, he is fine. Randall is just being run into the ground by USM at this point. Just actively killing it off.

Will sales of the "new amp" [cough Meshuggah cough] be through the website only or are orders available by phone?

I have NO idea what you are talking about.
COUGH SMEBSHMITE COUGH

 

[cyphervox]

Oh darn. I will just have to drive to Canada right now... [sneeze I want #7 hackhacklung]

Semi-kidding... but really, I want #7...

 

[engage757]

Oh darn. I will just have to drive to Canada right now... [sneeze I want #7 hackhacklung]

Semi-kidding... but really, I want #7...

haha I think Mike is doing a different serial number system now? Not sure, will have to ask. 7 is one of my lucky numbers. .

 

[cyphervox]

We'll see what happens on Monday...

Meanwhile, I just picked up a '74 Gainmonster that Steve apparently owned previously, and my week began with a Gower Killer Kali being delivered.

Still, really looking forward to the release of the Maxwatt Super-Hi and the Meshuggah!!! If I end up with all of them I'm gonna lose my mind... not that I have much of one left now...

 

[psychodave]

We'll see what happens on Monday...

Meanwhile, I just picked up a '74 Gainmonster that Steve apparently owned previously, and my week began with a Gower Killer Kali being delivered.

Still, really looking forward to the release of the Maxwatt Super-Hi and the Meshuggah!!! If I end up with all of them I'm gonna lose my mind... not that I have much of one left now...

I sold that stock 74 SL to steve. That was a great sounding amp stock. It was 100% original too and pretty clean.