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Elvis2 · 02-23-2008, 04:57 AM

A friend of mine gave me a Hiwatt 200 custom amp a few days ago, he thought it was broken but the only thing wrong with it was that the previous owner had replaced the preamp tubes with the wrong kind of tubes, this was easily remedied.

This amplifier was made in 1972, it has the original Mullard KT88 output tubes and they are in pristine condition, a friend of mine checked them in some kind of tube checking gizmo (i dont know what these things are called, im Icelandic) and they deliver 110% of the power they are rated for (his words) all the wiring and such are original in neat bundles.

I have some questions, i hope somebody has the answers.

I know this is a bass amp but is it suitable for guitar?

Are these things rare? Valuable?

Its probably delivers at least 150 watts more than i would ever need, is it possible/safe to remove some of the output valves to make it less powerful?

Should i sell it? ebay or whatever..

Any answers would be much appreciated.

Professor SourTone · 02-23-2008, 09:48 AM

Awesome and rare amp. Check out the Hiwatt section on the Plexi Palace site. If you post, do so with pics and don't ask how much its worth or your post will be pulled. They should tell you all about it though.

Its always going to be a very clean amp but with huge balls. I doubt pulling tubes would make that much difference. Effects are your friend (think Gilmour).

The Mullards alone are worth £££. You're a lucky fella. I'm jealous!

Elvis2 · 03-09-2008, 03:43 AM

I sold the Hiwatt today and i will probably regret selling it for the rest of my life.
This has to be the best sounding amplifier i have ever owned, insane dynamics, eye watering clean tone, pants wetting volume, this amp has everything but gain/distortion (but with a clean tone this beautiful who cares?)
I had to sell it though, ill just have to keep telling myself that it was 150 watts too much for me, one day i might actually start believing that myself.

02-23-2008, 04:57 AM	#1
Elvis2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 329	Hiwatt 200 Custom A friend of mine gave me a Hiwatt 200 custom amp a few days ago, he thought it was broken but the only thing wrong with it was that the previous owner had replaced the preamp tubes with the wrong kind of tubes, this was easily remedied. This amplifier was made in 1972, it has the original Mullard KT88 output tubes and they are in pristine condition, a friend of mine checked them in some kind of tube checking gizmo (i dont know what these things are called, im Icelandic) and they deliver 110% of the power they are rated for (his words) all the wiring and such are original in neat bundles. I have some questions, i hope somebody has the answers. I know this is a bass amp but is it suitable for guitar? Are these things rare? Valuable? Its probably delivers at least 150 watts more than i would ever need, is it possible/safe to remove some of the output valves to make it less powerful? Should i sell it? ebay or whatever.. Any answers would be much appreciated.

02-23-2008, 09:48 AM	#2
Professor SourTone Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,181	Awesome and rare amp. Check out the Hiwatt section on the Plexi Palace site. If you post, do so with pics and don't ask how much its worth or your post will be pulled. They should tell you all about it though. Its always going to be a very clean amp but with huge balls. I doubt pulling tubes would make that much difference. Effects are your friend (think Gilmour). The Mullards alone are worth £££. You're a lucky fella. I'm jealous! __________________ "I like the rapid punch of solid-state for the bottom, and the rodent-gnawing distortion of the tubes on top," Cipollina said.

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03-09-2008, 03:43 AM	#3
Elvis2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 329	I sold the Hiwatt today and i will probably regret selling it for the rest of my life. This has to be the best sounding amplifier i have ever owned, insane dynamics, eye watering clean tone, pants wetting volume, this amp has everything but gain/distortion (but with a clean tone this beautiful who cares?) I had to sell it though, ill just have to keep telling myself that it was 150 watts too much for me, one day i might actually start believing that myself.