Celestions in Hiwatt?

[hardasmum]

Hello. I just found this forum and this is my first post.

I have a 1972 Hylight era Hiwatt DR504 and matching 4x12 cabinet. I purchased the amp and cab from the original owner in the U.K.

I haven't taken the back off of the cabinet for a couple years but if memory serves me correct it's loaded with Celestion speakers. I do remember being surprised not to find Fanes inside. Did the Celestions ever come stock in Hiwatts or are they replacements? How does this affect the value of the cabinet?

At the moment the cabinet is at a friend's place so I'm not able to confirm the model number of the speakers.

Enjoying this forum today, happy I found it.

[OldSchoolDave]

Welcome!

I believe that Hylight Electronics would custom-load speakers for certain customers. Goodmans and ATC were more common upgrades, but your Celestions may have been original. You'd have to check the date codes to see if they're in the same range as your cab.

In the Biacrown era, Fanes gave way to Celestions as standard equipment.

Dave

[hardasmum]

Thanks for the reply OSD.

I hope to pick up the cabinet over the weekend, I'll open it up and get some more info off the speakers.

What do you think this cabinet is worth? Or would you need to know the details of the speakers to make that call?

[OldSchoolDave]

Or would you need to know the details of the speakers to make that call?

Exactly. Beyond the condition of the cabinet, the speakers have much to do with the value.

Even if your Celestions are original to the cab, they may not be as desireable to Hiwatt afficianados as they would be to Marshall fans. That said, you'd probably find interested parties either way.

Let us know what you find out and we'll take it from there.

Dave

[hardasmum]

I picked up my cabinet yesterday, took off the back and here is what I found.






Do you think these Celestions were by special request or a replacement?

[Dr.HI-TONE]

That isn't the original wiring. The shiny threads on the studs are a give away also. It is safe to say with fairly high certainty that they are not original to that cab.

[OldSchoolDave]

It is safe to say with fairly high certainty that they are not original to that cab.

That said, they are age-appropriate. If my Celestion date code decyphering is correct, those were produced on March 27, 1973.

Reference: http://www.unclespot.com/celestion_date_codes.html

Not original Fanes, but still very desireable speakers. Can you spot a cone code on any of those?

Dave

[hardasmum]

Thanks for the information. I purchased the head and cabinet in 1994, and if memory serves me correct he was the original owner.

If I am correct this serial dates the cabinet as being made in 1972, the same year as my DR504.




I dated the Celestions as being made on the 27th of March 1973 as well. I'll have to see if I can find codes on the cone and get back to you.

So I'm going to assume that the speakers were replaced around that time and that the FANES ended up in the trash.

A very sad story indeed...