Is it just me..

[Tostie]

...or when I mention Hiwatt to guitarists, they give a blank look like tool? Anyone else experience this? They are brilliant amps and love mine a lot. But people think there a budget brand.

[Niallmo]

Originally Posted by Tostie

...or when I mention Hiwatt to guitarists, they give a blank look like tool? Anyone else experience this? They are brilliant amps and love mine a lot. But people think there a budget brand.

They've not had much "mainstream" exposure apart from Gilmour and because the pro series stuff is so expensive it rarely occupies much space in shops rather than the budget stuff .

[GuitarZorz]

I think exactly the opposite whenever I hear 'Hiwatt' I just think how expensive they are..

Maybe you should keep quiet about them. They can be your little secret (And Joe Walsh' and all the countless 'indie' bands that use them aswell)

[ZenOvertone]

I think of SG Specials and flailing arms...the Live at Leeds LP and the recent IOW DVD showcase these perfectly.

Borrowed one once from a guy who used to keep it under a tarpaulin in the back of his (open) work truck - it always fired up without a hitch, bomb proof reliability, military spec "laced" internal wiring. Brutally loud and clean, sounded great with a Telecaster (would overdrive when you hit the strings harder). Very popular with Bass players too for the clean volume, lack of significant tonal colouration and reliability.

Just wish I'd bought one when they were reasonably priced (like Orange Amps, not popular late 80's/early 90's and were also cheap)

The designer of the recent reissues sells kit parts via http://www.mrhiwatt.co.uk/

I quite fancy the Studio/Stage 20 but already have an 18 watt clone and will get killed if I buy another amp (after the early SF Super Reverb, which is the talking point indoors much to er indoors annoyance)

[Nick.Botfield]

I went to see a band called Fighting With Wire the other day. The guitarist was using a Tele into a Hiwatt and what sounded like a RAT pedal. It sounded fucking huge in a good way.

[Professor SourTone]

SG > RAT > Twin Reverb is also an awesome combination.

[Bogwhoppit]

FB > RAT > Plexi is so humongus it needs to diet

[theflailingarm]

Originally Posted by ZenOvertone

I think of SG Specials and flailing arms...)

YAY!

P.S. I've always liked the look of Hiwatts, but in the same way i like the look of most things way out of my financial capability

[Tostie]

Ok so it is just me. Duh, how could not think of live at leeds.

[Professor SourTone]

Even when played at low levels, absolutely clean, Hiwatts are really musical amps. I used to have a DR103 which In played an LP Custom through clean, at low level, and it was lovely.