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Hi everyone, newbie to the forum here. I just bought a hiwatt cab the other day and there are no tags or markings on the cab of any kind as the tolex, etc had been removed. The speakers appear original though as there are zero tool marks on the mounting bolts for the speakers. They have no labels. I was told they were Fanes but I'm not sure. I also have no idea where to set my ohms on my 71 or 79 DR-103 ohm selector(as well as my 2007 Hi gain 100). Should it be 8 or 16 ohms?
Thank you all very much!!
Steve

Welcome to the Vintage Hiwatt Forum!

Your cab appears to be one of the last rear loaded models. It has the oblong inset handles and the sheer black grill cloth. I can't quite make out the numbers stamped on the speaker frames. Can you post them? They are definitely Fanes. The labels would have been stuck to black plastic magnet covers which are now missing.

Someone has rewired the cab, though, entirely in Parallel . That would mean a 4 ohm load to your amp.

You might want to rewire to the original Series-Parallel configuration and set your amp for 16 ohms.

Dave

Actually, you can't tell for sure from the pictures, it could be wired 32 || 32 = 16, depending on how the top speakers are connected, although it does look all parallel as you suggested..

-- mark

That is mine! Give it back!



Dave is on the money. Mid 1978. The speakers have codes stamped on the frame. I can't quite read them in the pics.
can you tell us the numbers?

I think these speakers are 125155 Hiwatt Fanes, but it's difficult to read the model #.

smsayre65 wrote: I also have no idea where to set my ohms on my 71 or 79 DR-103 ohm selector(as well as my 2007 Hi gain 100). Should it be 8 or 16 ohms?

If the speakers are wired all parallel, then you want the 4Ω tap selected. Post a pic showing all solder joints so we can verify.

You have my condolences for owning a 2007 "Hiwatt"

mhuss wrote:Actually, you can't tell for sure from the pictures,...

I don't know of any way, with two discrete conductors run to each speaker and the "cross connection" between left and right sides clearly being Parallel, they could be configured in any way other than Parallel .

They could be wired out of phase, but I'm ready to bet a nickel they're not Series-Parallel .

Dave

Okay Mr. smarty pants, good point.

--mark

First of all you guys are great! Thanks for all the info!! Here are some more pics of the cab. My friend thought it was wired up how Mark suggested: 32//32=16. But I really am clueless. Electrician I am not. Thinking in ohms is jacked up too, lol! Are there any diagrams available to illustrate how this cab is wired? Does anyone know the actual Hiwatt model # of this type of cab? I would like to find more pics.
Also, believe it or not that 2007 HG 100 sounds pretty decent really. MUCH better than the new Marshall Crappola!!! It doesnt have the "chimey, angels singing" tone of the DR's, but It is a great work horse!!! I thrash on it at bars etc, keep my DR's clean and the clock hours down on the partridges and original mullards: Studio + High profile PR gigs ONLY!!!
i have a Line 6 and a Pro Tools Plug-in that have great DR-103 models. Sounds exactly like it. No difference.......HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! How many of you wanted to throw off the forum just now??? Just playin'!!

Again, thank you all. I'd be in the dark right now if it werent for your help....
HIWATTS FOREVER....EVERYTHING ELSE JUST SUCKS!!!!!!!

Zells wins the prize ! Your last pic shows the model is, indeed Fane's 125155, produced the 10th week of 1979. Can't quite tell from the pics, do they all bear the same code stamps? If I'm not mistaken, the 125155 was the replacement for the 122142, so I guess your cab would be an SE4122 model.

They're wired in Parallel (4 ohm total load) and should be returned to Series-Parallel, IMHO. Here's how the "correct" wiring was done: http://hiwatt.org/Layouts/CabWiring.jpg .

You could rework the wire you currently have to accomplish the same 16 ohm total load, with less orthodox routing. The idea is to get the current running through a pair of speakers in Series (positive terminal on one to negative terminal on the other) and connect those pairs in Parallel. Might be best to desolder all conductors and start from scratch.

Dave

Thanks Much Dave!!!!!! Yes, all the speakers bear the exact same codes. I'm going to take your advice and start all over again. It's a mess anyway. The link you sent is perfect! Dummy proof, I hope......Even wired up crazy, it still sounds incredible!!!!
Did these cabs use cloth wire? If so, I will use that.
Believe it or not this cab sat on Pittsburgh, PA Craigslist for 2 and a half months. I gave $500 for it. The guy had a Line 6 I bought it off of and he was going off about how great it was. I was thinking, "okay, you really are delusional with regard to tone sir!" The guy really didnt know what it was. So, the moral of the story is always check your local craigslist DAILY! I bought a real '63-'65 Fender tube reverb (w/ original GE Mullards??) off craigslist as well around the same time as I bought the cab. Got the reverb for $400!!! I have G.A.S. I guess, Gear Acquisition Syndrome!!! I dont want cured.....
Thanks!!
Steve

I have re-wired a couple old Hiwatt 4x12 cabs using 16 gauge stranded copper speaker wire.

Check this thread topic for the wiring scheme in post #2:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=752&p=6124#p6124

The 125255 Fanes are great speakers. You will be very happy with the sound.

smsayre65 wrote:Did these cabs use cloth wire?

Nope. Plastic jacketed wire in blue and black, with some black sleeving - exactly as shown in that picture.

You got a heckuva deal on that cab !

Dave

Thanks for the wire/wiring info! This forum is the best!! BTW Mark's Hiwatt pages are absolutely incredible!! Invaluable beyond belief. One more electrical question: Will it hurt my DR's playing through this cab as is with the head set at 4ohms? I want to play it 1 more time today before i get in to this re-wire project. The sound IS SO addictive. My HG 100 even sounds great through it. That speaks volumes....
I am going to start cleaning up the terminals soon. Hopefully today. I want to re-cover the cab but, I must admit, I'm kinda enjoying the Gnarly-Mad-Max-Cab right now. Someone painted it flat black. I am the type to restore things but for some reason this thing looks mean like this!!!! Guess I'm going to need to find a pretty one now I guess, shucks......

Thanks!
Steve

smsayre65 wrote: Will it hurt my DR's playing through this cab as is with the head set at 4ohms?

Not at all. There's nothing wrong with running a 4 ohm cab, per se. The reasons I recommended rewiring it are:

1) to put it back to original, just for the sake of originality .

-and-

2) a 16 ohm load allows for running multiple cabinets.

Others may subscribe to the "16 ohm tap uses more of the output transformer" theory, but I don't necessarily buy into it. Set your amp to 4 ohms for now and push some air .

Dave

Once again cant thank you enough Dave! I am gonna rock the 'Watt for a bit now