Difference in Hiwatts from year-to-year of the golden years?

[STDtheBAND]

Hey everyone, This is my first thread.

I know, unlike Marshall's, Hiwatts have a long "Golden Era." It seems all the Hiwatts from the beginning up until Mr. Reeves death are all considered great and equal. I own a "72 DR-103 and a '78 DR-504. They both sound amazing. Obviously it is hard to compare a 50 watt amp to a 100 watt amp, but that is not my question. My question is, how much did the DR-103's change from the early years up to the early 80's. Are there certain years that are more desirable? I am a huge 'Live At Leeds' fan, so I have my eyes on one day owning a 1970. Were there any changes made? Any special years?

Also, I won two Hiwatt cabs off the bay with Fanes. It is hard to find much about Fanes on the internet, they seem to have no website. That is strange to me for a company that (I think) is still in business. It is hard to find any for sale. Why is that? How do they stay in business with little to no exposure, and the only way I can get the speakers is in new Hiwatt cabinets. that doesn't sound like a profitable operation. So, are they somewhere on the net that I just can't find? Do they still make Hiwatt Speakers to the same specs? Is there anywhere to buy them new?

Thanks!! With Best, Chris

[Dr.HI-TONE]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the Vintage HIWATT forum!

Have you seen Mark Huss's excellent HIWATT Tech site? He has the detailed differences between HIWATT circuitry. mhuss.com

Fane Acoustics has gone through a few incarnations from their golden days of the 1960's and 1970's to today. Fane went bankrupt 2 years ago and was bought by Precision Devices. They have not made a speaker like those from the 1970's since the 1970's. The Fanes used in New Hiwatt cabs do nt sound like those from the 1970's. I have had several of them and sold them all on ebay. They are too dark sounding.

-clayton

[STDtheBAND]

Thanks Clayton! I will read up on Mark's site. From what I've seen so far, it is pretty awesome. Best, Chris