1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

HIWATT amps from the Hylight Electronics era

Moderator: Mods

Post Reply
User avatar
clusterstudios
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: toronto
Contact:

1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by clusterstudios »

Howdy All,

I'm looking at the possibility of buying a 1975 all original 50 watt 4 holer and would like to know what I should pay for it. The asking price is $1500. Aside from the price, one thing that is confusing me is that the normal channel is loud but the bright channel is very bright with much less volume than the normal channel. The amp tech at the store told me that the preamp component values didn't match the standard hiwatt schematic :roll: . There was an AT7 preamp tube in there as well :roll: . He suggested that it could of been have been a custom order. I'm a little nervous about it, but I am tempted at the possibility as well. I going to borrow this amp to take a closer look at it and take some high res pictures. All the components are original with original solder joints with the red marks on top.

The question is: did hiwatt make custom orders?? and why on earth would anyone want a bright channel super bright with less volume?? Would it be to patch them together?? I will try to get pictures by the weekend I hope.
User avatar
Dr.HI-TONE
Site Admin
Posts: 2675
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:51 pm
Location: HIWATT Valley

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by Dr.HI-TONE »

$1500 is a steal is the amp is in decent condition!
there should be an AT7 in the PI spot
I would check the 12AX7 in V1 to see is half of it is failing. This could explain the weakness of the Brill channel

If you don't buy it, give me the info and I will!

there was always the option for custom work with Hylight Electronics. take some good gut shots and post them here! We will figure out what is going on with that amp!
http://www.HI-TONE-Amps.com

HI-TONE, when only the best will do.

DR-F
User avatar
OldSchoolDave
Posts: 2060
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:24 pm
Location: HP, NC USA
Contact:

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by OldSchoolDave »

Dr.HIWATT wrote: I would check the 12AX7 in V1 to see is half of it is failing. This could explain the weakness of the Brill channel
As would having the 12AT7 in the wrong socket (I once received an amp that way).

To clusterstudios: The 12AT7 / ECC81 should be in the middle of the group of 3 preamp tubes. Beyond that, check the condition of the others. The condition you're describing is not normal, nor would I imagine anyone would order an amp that way.

Dave
...Hey! I played that song when it was new...

http://www.OldSchoolDave.com
User avatar
Dr.HI-TONE
Site Admin
Posts: 2675
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:51 pm
Location: HIWATT Valley

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by Dr.HI-TONE »

OldSchoolDave wrote:
Dr.HIWATT wrote: I would check the 12AX7 in V1 to see is half of it is failing. This could explain the weakness of the Brill channel
As would having the 12AT7 in the wrong socket (I once received an amp that way).

To clusterstudios: The 12AT7 / ECC81 should be in the middle of the group of 3 preamp tubes. Beyond that, check the condition of the others. The condition you're describing is not normal, nor would I imagine anyone would order an amp that way.

Dave
Right! this is a possibility. Pics will tell all!
http://www.HI-TONE-Amps.com

HI-TONE, when only the best will do.

DR-F
User avatar
clusterstudios
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: toronto
Contact:

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by clusterstudios »

The amp is with the tech and he will in on Wednesday. I'll try to get it then and post the some pictures. Thanks for the encouragement Dr. Hiwatt. :D
User avatar
clusterstudios
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: toronto
Contact:

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by clusterstudios »

Howdy,

Got the amp (serial # 8461) today and took some pictures of the guts. Condition is clean but she is not a virgin. Someone has mucked about (nothing serious). Filter caps replaced. 10 uF bypass cap added in parallel (for gain I guess??) in the 1st stage. Here is the link to the pictures on my site. http://www.clusterstudios.com/amps/hiwa ... att50.html Let me know what you think of it. I can have it for $1500 and after playing it tonight (sounds amazing), I can't help but want to add it to my collection. I guess I'll keep it. Please feel free to use/share the pictures for reference.

Joseph
User avatar
mhuss
Site Admin
Posts: 1440
Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:40 am

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by mhuss »

Great Hiwatt porn! :D :D :D

It looks like someone tried a gain mod, didn't like it and took it out again (odd bits around V2).

The boxy ends on the PT are odd.

Nice piece!

--mark
User avatar
Dr.HI-TONE
Site Admin
Posts: 2675
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:51 pm
Location: HIWATT Valley

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by Dr.HI-TONE »

Nice amp!

there is nothing there that can't be undone and put back to stock.

$1500 is a bargain! Congrats!
http://www.HI-TONE-Amps.com

HI-TONE, when only the best will do.

DR-F
User avatar
HIWATTuser1
Posts: 34
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:51 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by HIWATTuser1 »

The Doctor speaks the truth. Nice amplifier with "extra added shielding"...It's surely worth the money.

Good luck with it.
User avatar
clusterstudios
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: toronto
Contact:

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by clusterstudios »

Hiwatts Rule!! :twisted: I've had a lot of amps in my collection and nothing, I repeat, nothing is as loud or as sweet as my Custom 100. Two JP100s being built as I write, for which I will need cabs. Once I have some decent recording gear I will post clips.
Attachments
hiwatt50_ (1).jpg
hiwatt50_ (1).jpg (230.96 KiB) Viewed 3103 times
louis
Posts: 289
Joined: Thu Sep 24, 2009 12:02 am

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by louis »

clusterstudios wrote:Hiwatts Rule!! :twisted: I've had a lot of amps in my collection and nothing, I repeat, nothing is as loud or as sweet as my Custom 100. Two JP100s being built as I write, for which I will need cabs. Once I have some decent recording gear I will post clips.

Clusterstudios ! Are you saying that your 100 watt is sweeter then your 50 watt ?

Thank's!.....................Louis :roll:
User avatar
clusterstudios
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: toronto
Contact:

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by clusterstudios »

50 watter is not as loud as the 100watt and it breaks up a little sooner. that's the difference in a nutshell. if you want it loud, go for 100watts. otherwise a 50watter is more than enough. 8)
User avatar
GigawattCustom121
Posts: 171
Joined: Fri Jan 16, 2009 1:21 am

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by GigawattCustom121 »

.
Last edited by GigawattCustom121 on Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"The faster you play, the fewer woman will be at your shows" ~Scott Henderson
User avatar
clusterstudios
Posts: 77
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:58 pm
Location: toronto
Contact:

Re: 1975 Hiwatt 50 watt 4 holer. What's it worth??

Post by clusterstudios »

GigawattCustom121 wrote:Nice hoard of British amps!

What's up with that random hardwired fuse :?: :!: :?: It's soldered to the outside of a fuse holder, and in-line nonetheless :? . Unless I'm missing something, that mod is redundant. I'd take that one out. You don't want to have to remove the chassis and break out the soldering iron just to replace a fuse. Not a biggie though.

Congrats on your new score. :D
I had a look at it and it seems like it's an extra fuse in parallel with the power fuse (just in case :? ). I don't think it hurts but next time I might just yank it.
Post Reply