Hiwatt DR201

[Ritchie200]

This beast is for sale on fleabay.  I am always amazed at the super clean layout on the Hiwatt.  I am also amazed at the prices these big amps are bringing.  A pristine Marshall Major with paperwork, original cover, and REAL GEC KT88s, just sold for $2500.  This Hiwatt is road weary and they want $3,000.  They are not home/family friendly and, depending on your location, may not be neighbor friendly either.  A quad of DECENT KT88s is not cheap.  Repairs are costly.  They are too loud for the local bar scene, without major modifications that kill the tone.  They are hard to deal with on bigger stages with everything miced nowadays.  I like the noise, because there is no other like it - and my neighbors are far away.  How many other goofballs can there be that live out in the sticks and are buying these things?

Jim
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1972-HIWATT-DR201-200-WATT-MONSTER-4-KT88-FLIGHT-CASE-INCLUDED-ULTIMATE-/220897750164?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336e882c94#ht_500wt_1413

[HotBluePlates]

And it's not even Harry Joyce-signed. I used to have a Joyce-built Hiwatt DR504. They brought good money at the time, but nothing crazy; I think I sold it for ~$750, and an early-70's Marshall 50w brought roughly the same money at the time.

It is surprising sometimes how much the vintage amp prices have gone up. And of course, there are folks that'll shoot for the moon no matter what the going price is.