NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Moderator: bclaire
NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
I finally got it
The guy dropped it over, I plugged in the LP and promptly fell in love.
In my apartment I could only put it on Volume 2 but man, what a tone. The cleans are clear and articulate with layers of warmth and chime. It is also completely whisper quiet when running. No buzz or pops.
The tubes in it appear to be Groove Tubes however the guy said that he hasn't retubed it since he bought it in 1990, so they are fairly old ones. I will be hunting down a NOS Quad of Mullards when I can (more like when I can afford it, those things ain't cheap).
I will be giving it a good go tomorrow, as it was 9pm when I got it so couldn't play too loudly.
The cab is a 1977 Hiwatt cab loaded with Fanes. Apparently the guy got it and had never played it himself. It seems to have a blacked over logo that says THE GAME on the back, so it may have been a touring rig before it came to him. He used to own a guitar shop which is where he got the head and cab from.
So... for the part you've been waiting for... PHOTOS!
I think my girlfriend is jealous of the looks I am giving it
The guy dropped it over, I plugged in the LP and promptly fell in love.
In my apartment I could only put it on Volume 2 but man, what a tone. The cleans are clear and articulate with layers of warmth and chime. It is also completely whisper quiet when running. No buzz or pops.
The tubes in it appear to be Groove Tubes however the guy said that he hasn't retubed it since he bought it in 1990, so they are fairly old ones. I will be hunting down a NOS Quad of Mullards when I can (more like when I can afford it, those things ain't cheap).
I will be giving it a good go tomorrow, as it was 9pm when I got it so couldn't play too loudly.
The cab is a 1977 Hiwatt cab loaded with Fanes. Apparently the guy got it and had never played it himself. It seems to have a blacked over logo that says THE GAME on the back, so it may have been a touring rig before it came to him. He used to own a guitar shop which is where he got the head and cab from.
So... for the part you've been waiting for... PHOTOS!
I think my girlfriend is jealous of the looks I am giving it
Last edited by OU818 on Tue May 22, 2012 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Orange Gear:
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Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Excellent score man! Glad to hear everything worked out so well for ya!
DOWNLOAD THE DIABLO STRANGE EP FOR FREE HERE -> http://diablostrange.bandcamp.com
Currently own:
Dual Terror
Micro Terror
PPC212OB
Used to own:
Thunderverb 50
Rocker 30
Tiny Terror
Currently own:
Dual Terror
Micro Terror
PPC212OB
Used to own:
Thunderverb 50
Rocker 30
Tiny Terror
Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
It's... Beautiful... SCORE!
How much did this beast run you? (if you don't mind me asking)
I've been looking at custom 50's myself, but never had a chance to play one.
How much did this beast run you? (if you don't mind me asking)
I've been looking at custom 50's myself, but never had a chance to play one.
Love, Seth.
Orange PPC-212
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Rockerverb50H
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Ibanez Jet King
Lots of Pedals (Gonkulator Ring Modulator is my favorite)
http://www.myspace.com/sethsoloproject
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27795172@N05/
Orange PPC-212
Mesa Boogie Tremoverb dual rectifier
Rockerverb50H
PRS Custom 22 ten-top
Ibanez "law suit" Les Paul
Ibanez Jet King
Lots of Pedals (Gonkulator Ring Modulator is my favorite)
http://www.myspace.com/sethsoloproject
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27795172@N05/
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- Duke of Orange
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Ah, thats great for you. Yeah, that's the real deal. Just wait 'till you get some air moving with it. You won't believe what is happening, because there is NOTHING out there to touch these amps. But even quiet they still sound 'bigger' (at an equivalvent volume I mean) than about anything else out there. Sweet.
I see at 3 Mullard preamp valves, almost certianly all original. If so you'd be unlucky to need to replace any for a very long time. My '74 DR103 has all of its originals. Yeah, whisper quiet is right, no noise with these amps and good valves. Always worth grabbing a couple of spares of course, working OS if fine as they are pretty rare now NOS.
The GT power valves may actually be Teslas. (Brown bases?) Show me good pics and I'll try to tell you as I still use them in my OR120. These are damn near as good as old Mullards and again if that is what they are you might get plenty years out of them yet. If looking for Mullards once again don't discount tested working OS valves. These are basically the way to go in terms of cost effectiveness. Unless you strike the motherlode and find unused NOS ones at a good price. (If you do bell me first please! )
Remember to try channel linking. A 'Y' cable should do it, or a decent 'A/B/Y' switcher. That way the two volumes also become tone controls. Though frankly you can do damn near anything on the normal channel alone. The Bright channel should have a bit more gain though.
You are going to have some fun with that amp - guaranteed!
Oh and yeah, my wife has a serious jealousy thing going on with my Hiwatt too. That's just par for the course I guess...
Andy.
I see at 3 Mullard preamp valves, almost certianly all original. If so you'd be unlucky to need to replace any for a very long time. My '74 DR103 has all of its originals. Yeah, whisper quiet is right, no noise with these amps and good valves. Always worth grabbing a couple of spares of course, working OS if fine as they are pretty rare now NOS.
The GT power valves may actually be Teslas. (Brown bases?) Show me good pics and I'll try to tell you as I still use them in my OR120. These are damn near as good as old Mullards and again if that is what they are you might get plenty years out of them yet. If looking for Mullards once again don't discount tested working OS valves. These are basically the way to go in terms of cost effectiveness. Unless you strike the motherlode and find unused NOS ones at a good price. (If you do bell me first please! )
Remember to try channel linking. A 'Y' cable should do it, or a decent 'A/B/Y' switcher. That way the two volumes also become tone controls. Though frankly you can do damn near anything on the normal channel alone. The Bright channel should have a bit more gain though.
You are going to have some fun with that amp - guaranteed!
Oh and yeah, my wife has a serious jealousy thing going on with my Hiwatt too. That's just par for the course I guess...
Andy.
aNDyH.
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
ahhh that looks so good. congrats man!
Jason
Rocker 30
too many pedals
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
I want that! I was born in 78' too! Nice score! Tell us more after you play it.
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- Orange Master
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Congrats Man the waiting is over
This all makes me wonder how Rick at MG managed to buy the rights to make these awesome amps and how much he paid? I know it was the 80's (synth pop decade) and solid state guitar amps were all the rage at the time but even so
This all makes me wonder how Rick at MG managed to buy the rights to make these awesome amps and how much he paid? I know it was the 80's (synth pop decade) and solid state guitar amps were all the rage at the time but even so
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Tasty...
Joe
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G(sus) saves
Orange AD15, Matamp 1224, Fender 'JD' Tele, G&L ASAT, Duesenberg Starplayer TV, Eggle Kanuga, Avalon D25, Warwick FNA Jazzman, Eden Nemesis / Bergantino EX112S, Eastman MD305 & other stuff...
Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
The head and quad box set me back $3,500AUD. Considering there are only 2 other vintage Hiwatts (just the head, no cab) for sale around here that are asking $3,000 and $3,600 respectively, the former being really beaten up, I reckon I scored well.Sethery wrote: How much did this beast run you?
They are black based. Only one says Groove Tube, another is labelled National, one only has EL34 Made In GBR, and the 4th is unmarked. I'll take some photos later.a.hun wrote:…
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Incredible
Congrats!!!!!!!!
Congrats!!!!!!!!
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
My God!
I just cranked the Normal channel volume and put Master on 1.5
Played some Ramble On using the neck pickup vol on half for cleans. Even with the amp channel volume cranked the guitar cleaned up amazingly, retaining very articulate cleans.
I then hit the switch down to the Bridge and pretty much melted my face off.
This has to be the greatest sounding amp I have heard. Changed quickly into the solo from Whole Lotta Love then started noodling a bit.
Hit the switch back to neck and pushed the pup volume to 3/4...
I now have to explain to my girlfriend how I managed to break 3 plates that vibrated off of the kitchen bench that is about 7 meters away from the amp...
I'm scared to turn it up past 2
I just cranked the Normal channel volume and put Master on 1.5
Played some Ramble On using the neck pickup vol on half for cleans. Even with the amp channel volume cranked the guitar cleaned up amazingly, retaining very articulate cleans.
I then hit the switch down to the Bridge and pretty much melted my face off.
This has to be the greatest sounding amp I have heard. Changed quickly into the solo from Whole Lotta Love then started noodling a bit.
Hit the switch back to neck and pushed the pup volume to 3/4...
I now have to explain to my girlfriend how I managed to break 3 plates that vibrated off of the kitchen bench that is about 7 meters away from the amp...
I'm scared to turn it up past 2
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
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- Orange Master
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
you owe it to us all to take it out back and dime it
Mesa Road King-Carvin Legacy 212-Silvertone 1484-Parker Fly DLX-Les Paul Trad Pro-USA ASAT-LP Junior-60's Tribute LP GTop-HWY1 Strat-Esquire Build-Peavey Predator-VHT Valvulator-Bud Wah-CMAT Signa Drive-Keeley Mod DS1-Monte Allum Dyna Comp-TU2-CE5-GE7-DD7
Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
The guys at my local guitar store want me to bring it in. I might get them to close shop for 5 minutes and we'll crank the hell out of it!
That or I hire a generator and head out to some middle of nowhere spot in the desert
That or I hire a generator and head out to some middle of nowhere spot in the desert
Orange Gear:
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
AD200B MkIII
OBC810
Non-Orange:
Bergantino NXT212
Bergantino Forte D
Woogie Lessie
Laney DBV-410
Basses:
Ernie Ball Stingray 4H
Rickenbacker 4003
Gibson Midtown Signature
Gibson Thunderbird
Gibson Nikki Sixx Thunderbird
Gibson Les Paul Bass
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- Duke of Orange
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- Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 1:05 am
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Re: NAD: 1978 Hiwatt Custom DR103!!
Oh sorry, did nobody mention these are a bit loud?OU818 wrote:My God!
I'm scared to turn it up past 2
Now you know why they give old Marshalls (and their owners) heart attacks...
I've never had a chance to crank mine for guitar since getting it. (Except with an attenuator of course.)
I'm getting on a little now you see. It is a bit like climbing Everest - no longer a realistic ambition!
Andy.
aNDyH.
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
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