Scored a Hiwatt DR504...

[TubeGeek]

Scored a 1979 Hiwatt DR504 with 4x12 cabinet today!  I have a thing for Hiwatt's.  I'm most excited about the cabinet, there is something about them...they sound fantastic when pushed hard. I have built a few hiwatts before and hadn't had the cabinet.  It does make a difference compared to a normal Marshall style cabinet.

It has the "Canadian" mod in it. http://hiwatt.org/ca_mod.html  This amp does not have the 470k resistor mentioned in that mod.

I am going to play with it for a while and see if I'll keep the mod in.  So far it seems like when plugged into the brilliant input, the normal channel volume then acts like a gain control.  I'm surprised to hear this much distortion from this circuit.  I peeked inside and found it was modded and then recalled reading that lots of the Canadian imports were modded by the distributor to be closer to a JCM800.  It does do that side of things quite nicely.  Sounds real nice with a strat, turned up pretty loud.  Had a great time jamming tonight.

When plugged in to the normal input the amp has the recognizable hiwatt clean tone to die for.

Came loaded with a full set of Mullards too.

Speakers are purple Fane's.  

Partridge Iron.

I feel lucky.

[fdesalvo]

Score!  Go get yo' Pink Floyd on, son!   

[kagliostro]

Very Nice Score

Thanks for sharing the link about the restoration from the Canadian Mod
(I know the site but never noticed that page)

Kagliostro

[jjasilli]

 

[plexi50]

Always wanted a Hi Watt. Great find there. I saw one in a pawn shop for $450.00 in 1995. Just before the advent of auction mania

[DummyLoad]

nice! :-)

--DL

[mresistor]

Super nice amp, the lead dress is so clean on Hiwatts.

[Platefire]

Fine Amp, That will keep you busy for a while! 

[bigsbybender]

Scored a 1979 Hiwatt DR504 with 4x12 cabinet today!  I have a thing for Hiwatt's.  I'm most excited about the cabinet, there is something about them...they sound fantastic when pushed hard. I have built a few hiwatts before and hadn't had the cabinet.  It does make a difference compared to a normal Marshall style cabinet.

IIRC the HiWatt cabinet is ported as opposed to the sealed Marshall 1960 Cab.  Plus those Fane speakers HiWatt used were tops!

j.

[TubeGeek]

Fine Amp, That will keep you busy for a while!  

Yeah...woke up this morning with a throbbing arm until 11am.  I played so hard last night that I had to take a few codeine's to reduce the throbbing.  I was a little proud too.

It's one of those amps that makes me play new ways and new things spring out.  

[TubeGeek]

Scored a 1979 Hiwatt DR504 with 4x12 cabinet today!  I have a thing for Hiwatt's.  I'm most excited about the cabinet, there is something about them...they sound fantastic when pushed hard. I have built a few hiwatts before and hadn't had the cabinet.  It does make a difference compared to a normal Marshall style cabinet.

IIRC the HiWatt cabinet is ported as opposed to the sealed Marshall 1960 Cab.  Plus those Fane speakers HiWatt used were tops!

j.

Interesting.  I took a pic for reference.  The back is sealed.

BTW...I think I will try to offload my other two Fane speakers.  Any ideas what these things are worth?

[Colas LeGrippa]

I WANT IT 

[Willabe]

IIRC the HiWatt cabinet is ported as opposed to the sealed Marshall 1960 Cab.

Interesting.  I took a pic for reference.  The back is sealed.

Do I see 4 round holes about 2" in diameter, in the _front_ speaker baffle?      

Looks like the speakers are front loaded too.

Those Partridge trannys are huge. Looks like it's in great shape. Very nice.



                         Brad        

[TubeGeek]

Yes, the 4 holes are the ports and sealed back, with front loading speakers.

[Willabe]

That's interesting. I can't think of any other amp company that went with that combination? Add the Fane speakers to the mix and .....

Please let us know what you think as you play it more. Tighter bottom end, tighter mids???     


                                Brad     
                       

[Ritchie200]

My old drummer had a Laney Supergroup with matching 4x12 loaded with Fanes.  Those things were butter when cranked.  What a great find!
Jim