polara Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 Mods, please move this if it should be in For Sale, but I'm just looking for advice. GC has a Hiwatt (English, not Fernandes PCB) Studio Stage combo for sale, used. It's the EL84 thing switchable between 20 and 40 watts, power scaling, single channel, two 12-inch Fanes and red Tolex, cosmetically great condition.Plugged into it last week and it sounded great. Really tight lows when overdriven, not flabby at all, very arrticulate, very ballsy. Not hi-gain, but had that sort of loud, angry roar and a bit of the Hiwatt "blizzard of nails" feel.Went back two days later and asked for a cable for a second listen. The kid there raves about how they had it "cranked" yesterday and it was so cool. Plug in and it goes "pop, pop, phuuuuuuuutttz" and then whimpers along at low volume. And there's a burning smell.I'm no tech. Power tube I'd guess, hope it didn't take any capacitors or a transformer with it. The kid says they'll check it out, and I'm guessing from CG standards that means they'll leave it untouched or at the most replace one tube.It looks like I'll have a firm offer in hand for a new job next week, and as I made a bit selling my old stuff, I do want to buy an amp. GC has this marked at $1499. I'm thinking of approaching them with a $1300 offer but it MUST be checked out by my tech and they must take it back if it's fried. I'd put it diplomatically, of course. What would you guys do? Or is that too high a price anyway? Thanks!
Ethan Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 uh you didnt hear this from me but there is a good chance you could get it with that offer, unless it has a price tag that says "vintage" on it-those prices are set in stone. As to policy, they have to take it back within 30 days if you are not happy with it.
polara Posted October 15, 2006 Author Posted October 15, 2006 So no Hiwatt fans in da house to tell me if this deal is a good 'un or to take a pass? I figure it's less'n the AC30CC price (well the AC30 with Alnicos) but being rarer and hand wired and such it's not an outrageous price. But I don't see many Hiwatts except for the trés chere Harry Joyce-era ones.
Navigator Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 Polara,If you don't get more responses here, you might want to try the gearpage: http://www.thegearpage.net/I had some questions about Hiwatt a little while ago and a number of folks filled me in very nicely.So no Hiwatt fans in da house to tell me if this deal is a good 'un or to take a pass? I figure it's less'n the AC30CC price (well the AC30 with Alnicos) but being rarer and hand wired and such it's not an outrageous price. But I don't see many Hiwatts except for the trés chere Harry Joyce-era ones.
sirDaniel Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 ?you're comparing a hiwatt to an AC30?I had an AC30CC1 for a while and was VERY impressed with it for the $$. The neodog speaker.
polara Posted October 15, 2006 Author Posted October 15, 2006 Well...English combo amps, one channel with boost, 30-ish watts, 12ax7s in the pre and EL84s in the power section, open back, two 12" speakers. Seems like there is some basis for comparison!
riffpowers Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 Well...English combo amps, one channel with boost, 30-ish watts, 12ax7s in the pre and EL84s in the power section, open back, two 12" speakers. Seems like there is some basis for comparison!These aren't really hiwatts other than the naem.They'r eok , but nowhere near approaching the quality of the real ones.They're actually made for Music Ground in the UK.If you're into the origanal hiwatt feel, see if you can try out a harry joyce.They are being made under licence from harry's widow by Matamp.
Scottcrud Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 I think it's too high, I've seen Briacrown era 50 watt combos going for less this year. You just gotta check around. A good place to start would be the Plexi Palace on the Hiwatt forum.
Scottcrud Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 you could buy this and add your own speaker...Harry Joyce baby.http://cgi.ebay.com/Hiwatt-Amp-Bulldog-1x1...1QQcmdZViewItemeBay: Hiwatt Amp Bulldog 1x12 Combo (1983) Harry Joyce Era (item 220035923036 end time Oct-15-06 16:36:35 PDT)
seeker Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 you could buy this and add your own speaker...Harry Joyce baby.http://cgi.ebay.com/Hiwatt-Amp-Bulldog-1x1...1QQcmdZViewItemeBay: Hiwatt Amp Bulldog 1x12 Combo (1983) Harry Joyce Era (item 220035923036 end time Oct-15-06 16:36:35 PDT)Grat link, but don't think that's a Harry Joyce era piece. He was out of the Hiwatt production business by then. Would still go after it before the other one!!
burningyen Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 I have not heard good things about the Bulldogs. You should also consider Reeves amps if you want a Hiwatt-type amp. If you want a Vox-type amp, the Valvetech Hayseed and the AC30CC get good reviews.
GusS Posted October 15, 2006 Posted October 15, 2006 that kinda money can easily buy you a Biacrown/Hylight PCB based combo. i agree with the above that the amp you're looking at has nothing to do with the classic Hiwatts other than the logo. 1300 for an AC-30 type amp doesn't seem cheap to me.
polara Posted October 16, 2006 Author Posted October 16, 2006 Yeah, from what I can understand from the convoluted Hiwatt history, the amp I'm looking at would have been called a Reeves if it had been brought to the US under the licensing agreement with Fernandes, as the first Reeves were made in England by Music Ground.Why I like it is that: I dig EL84s, I want two 12s to move a lot of air, I want low-ish (15 to 30 watts) so it can be pushed hard, and I only use one channel. Compared to an AC30, this Hiwatt is wired point-to-point, which I like not for amp snob reasons but because if something breaks a tech can fix it easily compared to something where the tube sockets, pots, etc. are mounted straight to a board.I don't really care about the "Hiwatt sound" which is more assocated with their EL34 amps and that kinda ballsy blast of barely-distorted mayhem. I DID like the sound of this amp: a compressed, midrangey EL84 breakup. I just didn't know if the price was a ripoff, but sounds like the consensus is that it's too high.My short list is AC30, Laney VC30, and the Hiwatt/Reeves Studio Stage. I'd be into an Aiken Invader if I could cough up enough coin. Budda is a possibility, too.Anyone else have ideas for an EL84-based amp that is reliable? I'll prob'ly end up with an AC30...Thanks and keep the ideas coming!
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