| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 359 Registered: 12-2003 |
Ever since I first saw PT playing one, I've wanted a Hiwatt amp. Unfortunately, I didn't want to buy used - most of the vintages are fairly beat up and I've never seen one in Chicago. And with the reported quality of the new Hiwatts over the last several years, I refused to spend the cash. Now, apparently, the latest models are hand built to the original specs (though I believe the company is still owned by Fernandes). According to Guitar Player, the quality definitely is there. The question is that a Reeves 50 or 100 head, which is also hand built to original specs, will cost me close to $1000 less (1600 vs $2600). Anyone have experience with either? Is a Hiwatt face plate worth the extra grand? Regards, Jonathan | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1100 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jonathan: I wouldn't put too much stock in the GP review. They never met a piece of equipment they didn't like (or didn't appreciate getting for free or receiving ad $). I'd certainly check out reviews at harmony-central.com or other sources. Bill, tgo | ||
| adriaan
Senior Member Username: adriaan Post Number: 793 Registered: 6-2002 |
Sounds like GP has the same ethics as BP - surprise, surprise. | ||
| olieoliver
Member Username: olieoliver Post Number: 73 Registered: 2-2006 |
Good advice Bill. I also feel that the best review is my own. I would never buy an amp or cabinet with out playing MY axe through it. And I always try out the piece I am interested in, at least 2 -3 times with one of my axes that I am familiar with. Same goes for a speaker cab. I pump my head through it. I also buy the one I try. | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 360 Registered: 12-2003 |
I'll check out the harmony central.com reviews. I've never bought an amp without running my axe through it either, except that there is no one I've found in the Chicagoland area who has Hiwatt and Reeves half stacks in stock. Make n' Music which is Chicago's high-end, boutique store occasionally has a couple small Reeves combos on the floor. They RAVE about them and say there's no comparison to the Hiwatts. I bought my first Alembic unheard, unplayed and haven't regretted it for a moment. History may have to repeat itself. Just need to get senior management to agree that my 24 x 15 ft den needs a Marshall half-stack, a Reeves/Hiwatt half-stack and a Fender 4x10 combo. What to do...what to do...what to do? | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1101 Registered: 7-2004 |
Get a bigger den! LOL Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 362 Registered: 12-2003 |
Bill...if only it were that easy!!! By the way, I checked the reviews at HC.com. They're all for vintage heads...nothing fresh off the line. Regards, Jonathan | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1780 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jon: While I haven't played either, I'll give you my $0.02: For the price, I don't think you can go wrong with the Reeves stuff. They sell direct and have a nice warrantee. Hand-built with hi-quality components just like the originals. They've gotten rave reviews on Harmony-Central. As long as you like the "Hiwatt" sound...I call it the anti-Marshall sound, LOL!...you're in good shape. I believe the TOL 100W head they sell is the PT Signature version. Just remember, they're clean amps (unless you REALLY crank 'em up) that you have to ADD distortion to. That's why Gilmour likes 'em...loud and clean with tone, just add effects. Just keep in mind you'll need the matching marine-grade plywood cabs with 12" Fane speakers for that "magic sound" (i.e., just like a "Plexi" needs Greenbacks for the "other" magic sound, LOL!). Personally, I'm with Bill TGO here: GP is the "Stereo Review" of the guitar set...never met a product they didn't like, LOL! I'd be willing to bet that Fernandes's "Hiwatts" are probably as close to a vintage Dave Reeves Sound City/Hiwatt as those Marshall re-issues are to a real vintage "Plexi"...which is to say not very. Good Luck in your quest. Cheers, Kevin (Message edited by kmh364 on March 13, 2006) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1781 Registered: 9-2003 |
BTW, I bought my Straub Amp sight-unseen. As it's one of only 13 in existence (at the time of delivery), it was difficult to be able to play one beforehand. There was a local guy who had one, but since I had already ordered and each amp is custom-spec'd, an apples-to-apples comparison may not have been possible regardless. Having said that, since it was a "plexi" clone, I knew what to expect. Since it is a modded 'hi-gain" plexi, I also expected that EvH tone. I wasn't disappointed. It was all I expected and then some! Harry was very upfront with me when I ordered, and he "interviewed" me for over an hour to find out exactly what I wanted before he would take the order. He was very knowledgeable and was right on the money with his design. Long story short: Be sure you know exactly what you want. If what you want is what they offer, you should be fine with the Reeves, IMHO. FWIW, for those that are interested, here's the linx to Fernandes/Hiwatt and Reeves Amplification, respectively: http://www.hiwatt.com/ http://www.reevesamps.com/default.htm | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 370 Registered: 12-2003 |
Okay, Got senior managemnet's approval. Here's what I've decided to do. Forget about the new Hiwatts. It's between a new Reeves or a vintage Hiwatt. If anyone sees or knows of a vintage 50 or 100 watt head for sale, please let me know. Only catch is, it needs to be minty fresh. I know this is unlikely to happen, but I've come across them before...just wasn't in the market at the time. Regards, Jonathan | ||
| gare
Advanced Member Username: gare Post Number: 362 Registered: 11-2003 |
Jonathan Since you're in Chicago, may try calling Minstrel Music in Niles..they're at Milwaukee and Oakton. I've seen Hi Watt stuff in his store a couple times. They may at least be able to point you in the right direction. Gary | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 688 Registered: 10-2003 |
Jonathan, You might also try John Beeson at The Music Shoppe in Terre Haute. His thing is old stuff, and he moves quite a bit of it. 812-232-4095 is the number. He goes to a lot of guitar shows, is well-connected, very knowledgeable and will gladly find one for you if he can. If you call him, make sure to also tell him that the hot setup these days is to use TWO Leslie cabinets onstage... ;) John | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 231 Registered: 12-2004 |
Are we talking Leslies with the vibrato (i.e. rotating) speakers? I hear people talking about using Leslies, and I've always wondered that. | ||
| gbarchus
Intermediate Member Username: gbarchus Post Number: 165 Registered: 6-2002 |
If anyone knows of a vintage 200 watt Hiwatt (for bass) PLEASE let me know. I passed on one a few years ago and still living to regret it. | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 690 Registered: 10-2003 |
Bradley, Yep, Leslies with rotating horns. The speakers are actually static-mounted I believe. I play music with Beeson, and we always give each other grief about the stuff we lug around to $60-per-man hole-in-the-wall gigs. He talked me into getting a second 410 cabinet (he really had to twist my arm, I tell ya!), so now he needs a second Leslie cabinet. ;) Interestingly, his Leslie has casters and handles mounted exactly where they ought to be, and is extremely easy to lug around even for us old folks... And Gale, you might want to give John a call as well. He sees a lot of neato stuff and would probably know where to send you if he can't locate anything himself. John | ||
| byoung
Advanced Member Username: byoung Post Number: 236 Registered: 12-2004 |
John, I knew that the larger drivers are static mounted (I play in a Pentecostal church, so Hammond + Leslie is de rigueur), but I wondered what the rotating horn would sound like with a guitar. Does he actually use the vibrato? This is giving me really bad ideas. Showing up at church with my own Leslie might provoke an arms race. (cue maniacal laughter)  Brad | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1153 Registered: 7-2004 |
Brad: You might want to check out Motion Sound. They make a series of modern smaller Leslie like rotating speaker amps. The Sidewinder AR112 is specifically made for guitar. It has the rotating drum around the speaker - foot controllable with a choice of two setable speeds and you can also set the rise time - how quickly it accelerates. Comes with an internal mike so you can run it through the P.A. no problem. All of their amps and cabs are smaller and more convenient than original Leslies. I recently picked up a used AR112. Pretty cool. Here's a link to their web site: http://www.motion-sound.com/ Bill, tgo | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3526 Registered: 5-2002 |
Actually, I believe it is the case that the most popular Leslie cabs for rock use had rotating horns and rotating bass speakers. Source. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3527 Registered: 5-2002 |
I just finished reading the Leslie article that I cited in the above post. It's pretty interesting reading. The article dates from 1981; so there's probably better information elsewhere on the web. But it's still a nice read. One highlight - how to get the sound on "Born To Be Wild". | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 1154 Registered: 7-2004 |
If you read the article carefully, neither the horn or bass speaker actually rotates. The horn feeds a sound tube on one side while there is a dummy sound tube on the other side for balance as the unit spins. The actual horn is in the middle in the bottom facing up into the sound tube. Similarly, the bass speaker itself doesn't rotate, it fires into a rotating chamber - the same system used on the Motion Sound. By the way, a check of the Motion Sound site shows they recently came out with a 2x12 cab with rotating chamber that attaches as an extension speaker to your amp. I'll be checking this one out. They also used to make a 1x12 extension rotating cab, the SR-112. samash.com still has these for $449. Bill, tgo | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 694 Registered: 10-2003 |
The Leslie thread-hijack has moved to here: http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/26621.html?1143394117, and I asked Beeson about Hiwatts amps last night, to which he replied he hasn't seen a decent used Hiwatt anything in years. Sorry to bear the bad news.  John | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1817 Registered: 9-2003 |
Jon: Did you get one yet? Inquiring minds wanna know! Cheers, Kevin | ||
| ox_junior
Advanced Member Username: ox_junior Post Number: 334 Registered: 3-2004 |
I wish I'd seen this thread when it was first started. Johnathan - it really depends on how close you absolutely want/need/have to get to, say, Pete Townshend's tone (I assume that's what you're going after - either him or Gilmour). And, of course, how much you're willing to spend. I can tell you that my guitarist has the new Pete Townshend signature series Hiwatt. Using the right guitar at the right settings, yes - it absolutely sounds exactly like Pete's old tone (assuming you have a similar attack, etc.). This might muck things up a bit but if you're a true PT aficionado and are in a situation like us (tribute band striving to get everything right), then yeah - the extra grand is worth it if you have it. If not....your friends have given you some other options. Watch e-bay for SOUND CITY gear too - the same makers as Hiwatt, just a different nameplate. Cheers and good luck! Mike | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 375 Registered: 12-2003 |
Mike, I've been waiting for you to chime in. Thought about e-mailing you off site, but life gets busy. I'm not looking for EXACT PT or DG tone...just a basic platform to get me in the right direction with them as well as others. I use quite a few effects. So, for me, that extra $1000 might not be worth it. Kevin, Haven't taken the plunge. I'm still debating. If I can't find a vintage Hiwatt in the condition I want, I'll probably go with the Reeves. Regards, Jonathan |
