Finally, after 8 years, my HIWATT.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:02 am

Back in '99-'00 I paid Steve Gibbs, of the Audio Bros., in the UK to build me a HIWATT SA112. They'd just lost the rights to make the amps, but Steve was known on all the forums as 'the Guru' for all things HIWATTs and they were still the go-to place for spares, Fanes, etc. Long story short, Steve disappeared w/ my money and I never got my amp. Same happened to a few others from the US & Japan. No idea what happened to him. Total bummer.

Fast forward to a few weeks back: I found an Audio Bros era HIWATT SA112 on eBay, but the seller had zero feedback. Not wanting to pay for a SECOND HIWATT I'd never play I decided the only way I'd pull the trigger was if I could find someone from a forum - a third party - to go see the amp in person & kind of help broker the deal. I found that person, but the eBay auction had ended. By the time they were able to talk to the seller I had already given up and was resigned to not ever getting the amp. Turns out that amp belonged to the guitarist from the Charlie Daniels band & my forum-buddy was able to vouch for him as they had some mutual buddies, etc. YAY! I made an offer the next morning, sent PayPal at lunch & had the amp a few days later. It's been 8 years I've been dreaming about this amp so it's got a lot to live up to. On top of that, it's WAY more $$$ than I've ever spent on gear so I'm going to have to sell my '67 Champ and a ton of pedals to pay for it, but. . .WHO CARES? I'VE GOT MY AMP!

PIX:

So excited I took my Tele & some pedals to work so I could play at lunch.

Guts:

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:08 am

the wiring on Hiwatts is always so neat, it looks like they were wired by Jesus.

boyecho · Post by **boyecho** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:10 am

how did i miss that you're from st. pete florida?

i'm a clearwater/st. pete expat up in gainesville now.

tiny hiwatt but i've never ever judged an amp based on its size.

congrats!!

and yes. the wiring is immaculate. it was an immaculate conception. [

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drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:12 am

I've been looking at HIWATT gut-shots online for years now, since the late 90s, and it took my f_ing breath away to see it in person. The details are just crazy. Stuff you have to see in person to catch. The little black loops around the long runs are NOT zip ties, they're like a weird braided wax cloth that runs the full length of each run - it's like someone tied a freakin' friendship bracelet around 'em! And any time there is detail wiring, like between jacks or on top of a cap can, etc. the bends and stuff are decorative - little flairs and stuff! My amp isn't even wired up by one of the Harry Joyce team - it's a replica. That said, the Audio Bros. amps are MUCH neater than the current Music Ground offerings and truer to the original circuit than the later Biacrown stuff.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:16 am

boyecho wrote:how did i miss that you're from st. pete florida?

i'm a clearwater/st. pete expat up in gainesville now.

Bummer that you're not still local - I'm always up to meet up & make some noise!

boyecho wrote:tiny hiwatt but i've never ever judged an amp based on its size.
[ ]

If you look a the HIWATT DR504 you'll notice that it's the exact same, but flipped upside down & slid into a cabinet instead of a shell. Same chassis as all the HIWATT heads. Add 1x12" Fane and you've got an SA112, later called the "Bulldog". It moves an absolutely INSANE amount of air for a combo & weighs 74lbs - no kidding. The Partridge transformers are HUMONGOUS.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:34 am

That's the most beautiful amp I've ever seen - does it get teh TownSHENDZ? I'm on my way to ebay to look at these right now.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:42 am

DuoSonicBoy wrote:That's the most beautiful amp I've ever seen - does it get teh TownSHENDZ? I'm on my way to ebay to look at these right now.

edit - Thank you.

If you wanna' look at them, this is the best place to start:

MHuss's HIWATT Site

He even has the old HIWATT Story site archived (an older version was where I learned about HIWATTs back in the day). Also, the Plexi Palace BB. Be careful w/ HIWATTs, as with anything else there are the good, the bad & the ugly.

I cranked it last night and played "I Can't Explain" and it was fantastic. I was definitely playing too loud. I'm glad I've only got 1x12" to deal with. . .

BradK · Post by **BradK** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:46 am

Un. fucking. believable.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:57 am

I don't mean to gush or brag, but I don't have anyone in my personal life who really understands.

I have caring family members & friends who went through the disappointment of being robbed by someone across an ocean with me 8 years back - they can appreciate that I've finally got my HIWATT, but they're not guitarists, you know?

I'm listening to 'Who's Next' right now for the first time in years & re-reading all the old e-mails back 'n' forth with Steve Gibbs about the amp. He's a ____ for ripping me off, but in the end, the amp really does deliver - maybe even worth buying TWICE!

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Thu May 15, 2008 7:46 am

oh fuck that gave me such a powergasm. uuugh.

roachello · Post by **roachello** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:02 am

Why antigua? I'm real curious to know why some ppl like it.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 8:11 am

Mostly for it's awesomeness.

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Thu May 15, 2008 3:47 pm

It has healing and restorative properties.

drasp · Post by **drasp** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:18 pm

Sure, sure. Brazilian Power Crystals & Chi Magnets, etc.

Post by **Mike** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:27 pm

That Steve guy sounds like a complete piece of work. Glad your story ends well, even though you had to shell out twice and over the odds.

Post by **Doog** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:30 pm

roachello wrote:Why antigua? I'm real curious to know why some ppl like it.

Morbid curiousity, it's like the guitar finish equalivent of rotten.com.

Post by **Mike** » Thu May 15, 2008 4:32 pm

Antigua is quite simply the stupidest guitar finish ever.

Like Serviceman guitars I will never understand why people tolerate let alone covet it. Wow my guitar is completely unplayable and a piece of shit/Wow this is a really ugly stupid finish.

Do not want.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:35 pm

Do not want Antigua....

unless it's on this:

turtle · Post by **turtle** » Thu May 15, 2008 5:43 pm

congratulations on the getting the amp of you dreams.

izodiak · Post by **izodiak** » Thu May 15, 2008 7:29 pm

jcyphe wrote:the wiring on Hiwatts is always so neat, it looks like they were wired by Jesus.

+1