Hiwatt

Hiwatt is a British brand of guitar amplifiers. Hiwatt was founded around 1966 by the employed at Sound City Engineer Dave Reeves.

The amplifiers were (and are today re) manufactured according to military standards of quality and are extremely durable. Provided, however to mention that today's Hiwatt company has nothing in common with the originals. Dave Reeves died in 1981, and thus his company. In 1984 the naming rights were sold. Today, two parties share the name: Music Ground ( England), which also make the current Hiwatt reissues and Fernandes Guitars (USA).

Hiwatt produced heads, combos and cabinets. The most popular models are: DR103 (100 watt version ), DR504 (50 watt version). In addition, there was also a 200 watt and 400 watt version, which were primarily for bass. The Hiwatts were "AP" ( All Purpose ) amplifier, which could be used both as an electric bass and / or guitar amp. It was also not unheard of that they enhanced keyboards. The Hiwatt boxes were only available in straight versions and were equipped with speakers of the English company FANE. They are also built to last and therefore very heavy. Particularly rare are now the combo versions.

In order to get distortion from a Hiwatt, you have to fall back on floor pedals etc.. In the 60s and 70s were often Fuzz pedal, such as the Dallas - Arbiter Fuzz Face or Tonebender Fuzz VOX, used for this purpose. References for " the Hiwatt sound " can be found on the following recordings: The Who - Live At Leeds / Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii.

Current Hiwatt User (Reissue models ): David Gilmour (Pink Floyd ), Arctic Monkeys, The Hives, Joe Walsh, Coldplay, The Kooks, Neal Schon, We are heroes ....