Hiwatt Custom Amps:

Tone

I am interested in getting a Hiwatt Studio/Stage head instead of an SLO100! Does anyone have any first hand experience with the UK built Hiwatts?

The reason I am interested in this amp is you can dial in either preamp tube overdrive by cranking the gain and keeping the master down or you can dial in Power Tube overdrive by cranking the master and bringing down the gain. I am looking for a "boutique" crunch amp, no need for cleans.

Check out this video of Blues Saraceno demoing the amp. I really like his approach to getting great tone.

inflames

I'm in two minds here!
Hi owned a solid state HiWatt stack. Loud as hell, but lacking tone!

Never played a HiWatt tube head.
Best advice, try it before you buy it!

What tone are you looking for?
[edit]
Crap, did not read the last part!
Try out more amps, I vote for Marshall if you are looking for classic tones!

Tone

inflames wrote: I'm in two minds here!
Hi owned a solid state HiWatt stack. Loud as hell, but lacking tone!

Never played a HiWatt tube head.
Best advice, try it before you buy it!

What tone are you looking for?
[edit]
Crap, did not read the last part!
Try out more amps, I vote for Marshall if you are looking for classic tones!

I'm looking for a warm British Crunch tone with smooth highs (can't stand piercing highs) and just enough gain for bluesy lead work.
I have owned a Marshall before the TSL602 combo. It was a decent amp but couldn't compare to my Lonestar special. What Marshall would you suggest?

Vick

....Orange AD30...check it out man ?
Its made to be pushed,smooth brit at its best...
I personal love the sound of a cranked Hiwatt
But I own a AD30 and I love it even more...

AlanRatcliffe

Orange in general give a great warm rock tone - Marshally voice, but with less of the harsh upper mids Marshalls are prone to. HiWatt are warm and smooth (Dave Gilmour!), but any decent master volume amp will give you a choice between driving the pre or the power amp (or both) - that's not exclusive.