Hiwatt Custom 20 (with audio)

[Colin Johnston]

Hi all

I'm happily gigging my SF Champ with a 2x10 cab but I'm shopping for a big amp to replace my Boogie F50 for those times when the Champ just isn't loud enough.

I've borrowed a Hiwatt Custom 20 from the Irish distributor for a couple of weeks to check it out.



Its a handwired, Class A combo with 3 x ECC83 & 2 x EL84.  The combo comes with 2 x Fane 10" speakers.  I'm really impressed with the tone from this wee amp.  Great sensitivity and really bold punchy sound.  I'm not so sure about the Fane speakers so I hooked it up to the 2x10 Celestion cab I use with the Champ and it sounds GREAT!

I made a few samples with my old '52 RI through a Boss Super Overdrive & Line 6 delay modeller recorded digitally with a Sennheiser e606.  No compression, fx or "mastering".  Apologies for the playing!  :oops:

http://www.colinjohnston.org.uk/hiwatt/01%20Celestions%20dry.mp3

http://www.colinjohnston.org.uk/hiwatt/02%20Celestions%20fx.mp3

For comparison heres the Fanes with exactly the same settings...

http://www.colinjohnston.org.uk/Hiwatt/03%20Fanes%20same%20settings.mp3

... with the Fanes it sounds a lot "boxier" when you're in the room with it.  Finally, heres the Fanes with the eq tweaked to suit them better - treble turned WAY down and mid & bass boosted.

http://www.colinjohnston.org.uk//Hiwatt/04%20Fanes%20fx.mp3

This is a cool amp and I can't wait to try it on a gig next weekend.

I'm keeping it in the shop.  If anyone want to check it out you're more than welcome.

[Crazy_Joe]

That amp sounds pure awesome, i think you have a winner there!
Though the Fanes could do with replacing for some of those Celestions that you were using.
But all in all it rules!

[Colin Johnston]

yeah - those are the Celestion G10 Vintage - GREAT speaker.

Seeing as I already have the cab I'll probably just get the Hiwatt head.  Can't wait to try it with my old Marshall cab with Greenbacks!!  :)

[Crazy_Joe]

Can't wait to try it with my old Marshall cab with Greenbacks!!  :)

Sounds like a plan :D

[HTH AMPS]

I used to have one of those amps about ten years ago when they first came out - sounds exactly as I remembered with the Fane (boxy), I never got on with that amp.

The Celestions sound MUCH nicer, really balances the amp out since the EL84s already give it alot of boxy midrange.  Wish I'd thought of trying different speakers but I wasn't that clued up back then - it was easier just to sell it and buy an AC30  :lol:

 :twisted:

[viking]

I'm not so sure about the Fane speakers so I hooked it up to the 2x10 Celestion cab

Whow !What a difference !I really love the 1°sample,very nice playing  8) and good sound.How can i learn that style of guitar playing (a good DVD ?).Does it require a Telecaster?(I don't have any  :( but i do have a strat  :lol: )

[Colin Johnston]

I'm not so sure about the Fane speakers so I hooked it up to the 2x10 Celestion cab

Whow !What a difference !I really love the 1°sample,very nice playing  8) and good sound.How can i learn that style of guitar playing (a good DVD ?).Does it require a Telecaster?(I don't have any  :( but i do have a strat  :lol: )

Thanks!  The playing is a bit ropey - I was more focused on the tones & a few bends are way off pitch!   :lol:

I don't know how you'd learn to play like that!  What style would you call it??!  I'm pretty much a 'major pentatonic' player after years in cover / country bands and I get bored very quickly with pointless widdling on the guitar.

I know I learned A LOT when I switched to Teles and started checking out the great Tele players.  Get yourself Roy Buchanans first 2 albums & "Livestock".  Also check out Jim Campilongo.  Add some R&B / Hendrix ballads / Duane Allman and maybe you'll start to get there.

[Ratrod]

That's a great sounding amp. Very cool vintage tone.

[viking]

What style would you call it??!

I was refering to the "chicken picking" but couldn't remember the name :oops: I'm a big fan of Danny Gatton,R.Buchanan etc..I really want a tele now...