OT: Wow, what a day!

[OU818]

I've been scoping out possibly selling some gear and finally buying my dream amp, a Reeves Custom 100 with 2x12 loaded with Eminence Vintage Purples.

So today I hear that because of the crisis in Greece, the AUD has dropped below parity with the US. Suddenly my expensive enough purchase of the Reeves is going to cost even more, approximately $400 more

Realising that I probably can't afford it and faced with gear that isn't selling, I resign myself to not owning a Hiwatt.

THEN! Tonight I get a phone call from a dude who wants to check out my Hellcat. He comes over, plays it for a bit, and leaves me with a few hundred deposit with a promise to drop the rest off in a day or so.

Feeling chuffed I sit down at the computer to resume studying when an email stating that my 2x12 just sold on eBay appears before me.

All of a sudden I am 2/3 of the way towards the Reeves...

Then the best part... I mention on a local gear forum that I am after a Hiwatt and I get a PM in a matter of minutes.
A guy down the road from me is offering me a 1976 Hylight Hiwatt DR103 with matching 4x12 with the original Fanes...

...FOR EXACTLY WHAT I JUST SOLD MY COMBO AND 2x12 FOR!!!

Apparently the Hiwatt is mint as this guy really takes care of is gear. I am going to check it out on the weekend!

I am so freakin' excited at the moment. I am not only about to buy a dream amp, but I am buying a vintage one from the same era that Dave Gilmour played them on DSOTM and The Wall...

I am meant to be studying for my Biology and Maths exam at the moment but my brain no longer can think of anything other than ripping into the Comfortably Numb solo

Anyway, just thought I'd share!



EDIT: Apparently he just found that the Presence knob doesn't do much until 7 but then it comes on strong. If all this amp has is a single pot issue then I count myself pretty lucky

[DiabloS]

Nice! Hope it all works out for you... but so far it sounds like it was meant to be. I've never even played a Hiwatt myself, I have a general idea of what they sound like but don't have much experience with them.

[OU818]

Nice! Hope it all works out for you... but so far it sounds like it was meant to be. I've never even played a Hiwatt myself, I have a general idea of what they sound like but don't have much experience with them.

I played one once but never owned one. The one time I played it left an impression on me that hasn't faded after 6 years.
However they have been the amps behind some of my favourite music which is where the attraction started.

[ScottyDanger]

When it's meant to be, it's meant to be!

I listed on Orange on craigslist, and replied to a few ads selling Princeton Reverbs...sold the Orange on a Friday night, and hopped on a train to Long Island to buy a Princeton Saturday morning for $100 less than I got for the Orange. When things line up like that, you know they're meant to be!

[a.hun]

Hey thats great. Hope it doesn't fall through for any reason - that would be a real heartbreaker.

Thats totally normal with the presence control, not an issue at all!
It is very subtle until somewhere about 14:00 or 15:00, then it all happens. Very powerful and very useful control.

I see that is a 'two holer' (= 2 not 4 inputs). They had a shade more gain than the earlier 4 holers I believe, but not as much as the later 'Biacrown' era ones. Don't expect massive distortion at low volumes - won't happen. Do expect fantastic tones at ALL volumes though, and some simply breathtaking (and ear breaking) sounds at high volumes. Take care (REALLY!!!) because they sound so sweet that you may not realise just how loud you are getting. But remeber, they can easily do serious permanent hearing damage - these are about the loudest hundred watters ever made. Only ever crank one up with guitar through a big cab if you are in a BIG hall - or outdoors. Otherwise get a good attenuator. It is worth experiencing these amps flat out, but not worth serious hearing damage as you'd never be able to enjoy it again. (But thats enough on that...)

You can link the channels by using a Y cord. Worth doing as you can then use the two volume controls as an extra form of EQ to regulate the overall brightness. I always channel link with my 4 holer.

You know this site I take it?
http://hiwatt.org/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
You should be able to check the date from the page here:
http://hiwatt.org/dates.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A '76 should be in the 9XXX range.

Certainly looks mint from the photos (though they are small). A lot of Hiwatts are in pretty good nick though - they were very expensive amps new and most owners took a lot of pride in them and kept them nice. If it doesn't come with one get yourself a good soft cover for it and keep it that way. I'm lucky that despite regular use mine is a good 9.5/10 outside and aproximately 9.8/10 inside.

A good checkover from a tech is a must. Make sure the filter capacitors are in good nick or you may have problems. Also good valves are a must. Give those things these amps almost never go wrong. Probably the best valve instrument amps ever made IMO - bar none!

Weekend must seem a long way off. But once I'd secured mine I had to wait months because it was in Scotland, I was in Holland, and NO WAY was I goin to trust this baby to any couriers. So a few days wait ain't so bad...

Fingers crossed for you this weekend!


Andy.

[baytamusic]

I think you'll love it. The guitarist in my bandmate's other band plays a vintage Hiwatt and his tone is amazing. I believe his amp was formerly owned by Duane Denison of Jesus Lizard or something like that. It sounds really good anyways.

[OU818]

I've spoken with the current owner a little more and he has told me that he bought this amp 25 years ago on a whim when he was taking a break from Marshalls. Since then he has only played it sparingly and only in his home studio. The 4x12 is in storage in a pro road case so it should also be in the same condition.

Looks like I may have stumbled on to a great deal if all the electronics check out O.K.

[brianr0131]

Go ASAP!

[Randy Bass]

Kickass! Hope it all goes smoothly. I wanna see some gut shots.

[jason41224]

man, that's a great ending to your day! congrats!

[bclaire]

Wow... gotta love it when planets align! or something like that...

[a.hun]

I've spoken with the current owner a little more and he has told me that he bought this amp 25 years ago on a whim when he was taking a break from Marshalls. Since then he has only played it sparingly and only in his home studio. The 4x12 is in storage in a pro road case so it should also be in the same condition.

Looks like I may have stumbled on to a great deal if all the electronics check out O.K.

Definitely. There really isn't much to go wrong with these amps. Though if only occasionally used for many years the filter caps probably will need swapped out - ASAP. At least have them checked by a good tech. In any amps over about 15-20 years they really do need checked.

Electrolytic capacitors do degrade faster if unused for long periods, so they may be heading for a terminal 'pop' which is nasty if it happens as they can explode spraying corrosive gunk around the guts of your amp. Trust me, been there, you don't want that!
Ironically if regularly used throughout their life they may well be okay, but it sounds like this isn't the case here!


Andy.

[Gtr_Pkr]

Hiwatts are great! I love mine, but I do not get a much of chance to crank it up at home. Hope it works out. Keep us updated.

[a.hun]

Yeah, far as I know the weekend is over...

So, did it happen? Just a tiny bit on the edge of my seat here!


Andy.

[ScottyDanger]

Yeah, far as I know the weekend is over...

So, did it happen? Just a tiny bit on the edge of my seat here!


Andy.

+1

Get on with it already!