Cheap alternative to hiwatt
- Thread starter jayylmao
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Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
Depends on what you mean by "cheap". If you are talking a couple hundred bucks, I don't know of anything that's close enough to a hiwatt for that price. You might be able to find a really old Laney from the 70's that's sort of close, certainly not a clone of the hiwatt topology, and it will be a search.
Depends on what you mean by "cheap". If you are talking a couple hundred bucks, I don't know of anything that's close enough to a hiwatt for that price. You might be able to find a really old Laney from the 70's that's sort of close, certainly not a clone of the hiwatt topology, and it will be a search.
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
500-1000 is kind of tough. You can certainly pick up a newer lowaer wattage hiwatt for that, but none of the old power houses. Your closest bet might be a used Orange, one of the cleaner models. Other than that I would look for an old Laney, or ampeg that's on It's last legs.
500-1000 is kind of tough. You can certainly pick up a newer lowaer wattage hiwatt for that, but none of the old power houses. Your closest bet might be a used Orange, one of the cleaner models. Other than that I would look for an old Laney, or ampeg that's on It's last legs.
IM4Tone
New member
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
If Weber is throwing in the head shell for the asking price, I would say that's the closest you will get for that price range, however I would be wary of some of the components Weber stocks, I, along with others had some not so great experience with some of their stuff.
If Weber is throwing in the head shell for the asking price, I would say that's the closest you will get for that price range, however I would be wary of some of the components Weber stocks, I, along with others had some not so great experience with some of their stuff.
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
Their kits have gotten much better in the last few years. I have one kit (jcm800 2203) that's completely stock and it's been awesome and solid enough for me to gig with no problem. I've upgraded 'some' components (pots among others) on the Hiwatt because I had them in stock but it wasn't necessary at all.
Yes, the headshell is included in the price, unless you specify you don't want it.
Their kits have gotten much better in the last few years. I have one kit (jcm800 2203) that's completely stock and it's been awesome and solid enough for me to gig with no problem. I've upgraded 'some' components (pots among others) on the Hiwatt because I had them in stock but it wasn't necessary at all.
Progbusters
New member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
Catalinbread RAH pedal
Catalinbread RAH pedal
Joey Voltage
New member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
That's good to hear, some of the stuff they were peddling a few years ago was complete junk. They used to have a reasonable deal on high value/high voltage electrolytic capacitors that turned out to be hack jobs shoved in an outer casing, which looked close to a Russian matryoshka doll when said and done, and I bought some conductive plastic, rv4 style pots that turned out to be garbage. Now a days, major parts distributors have started to cater more to MI, so you can find a lot more guitar specific items at places like mouser now. I usually stick to mouser for the bulk of things, and sometimes AES or Watts if I need something very MI specific. A lot of my designs are multi-channel switchers so I usually design in a pcb layout program and send the gerber files to a fab house, so I dint really use their board materials or can speak on the quality of them.
Some of the other stuff they have isn't terrible, and who ever fabricates their chassis' does a decent job. I scored a few, a couple years back for $15 each when they had a blemish sale.
That's good to hear, some of the stuff they were peddling a few years ago was complete junk. They used to have a reasonable deal on high value/high voltage electrolytic capacitors that turned out to be hack jobs shoved in an outer casing, which looked close to a Russian matryoshka doll when said and done, and I bought some conductive plastic, rv4 style pots that turned out to be garbage. Now a days, major parts distributors have started to cater more to MI, so you can find a lot more guitar specific items at places like mouser now. I usually stick to mouser for the bulk of things, and sometimes AES or Watts if I need something very MI specific. A lot of my designs are multi-channel switchers so I usually design in a pcb layout program and send the gerber files to a fab house, so I dint really use their board materials or can speak on the quality of them.
Some of the other stuff they have isn't terrible, and who ever fabricates their chassis' does a decent job. I scored a few, a couple years back for $15 each when they had a blemish sale.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
http://guitarampsusa.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=59_63
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
If you can find one (sometimes on Reverb) ...or if you happen to be in Europe & if lower wattage is ok with you, a Cicognani Brutus/Brutus Live can be very Hiwatt-like on it's "lead 1" channel ..it has that same bright/raw/slightly edgy/touch-sensitive/dynanmic vibe + similar grain ..& it's loud too :bigthumb:
Definitely can be dialed in for really convincing Page & Gilmour type tones..if that's what you want it for.
My 30 Watt "Brutus Live" (Class A, SE) is easily as loud as my 100 watt Randall SS head. They can be found fairly cheap used if you look around (500-700 euros ..maybe even less...)
If you can find one (sometimes on Reverb) ...or if you happen to be in Europe & if lower wattage is ok with you, a Cicognani Brutus/Brutus Live can be very Hiwatt-like on it's "lead 1" channel ..it has that same bright/raw/slightly edgy/touch-sensitive/dynanmic vibe + similar grain ..& it's loud too :bigthumb:
Definitely can be dialed in for really convincing Page & Gilmour type tones..if that's what you want it for.
My 30 Watt "Brutus Live" (Class A, SE) is easily as loud as my 100 watt Randall SS head. They can be found fairly cheap used if you look around (500-700 euros ..maybe even less...)
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
For $500-$1000? Modeler. I have a Hiwatt, and Orange, and Marshall, and Traynor and boutique heads and more. No other amp head sounds like the Hiwatt. Get a modeler.
For $500-$1000? Modeler. I have a Hiwatt, and Orange, and Marshall, and Traynor and boutique heads and more. No other amp head sounds like the Hiwatt. Get a modeler.
YeRedHouseOverYonder
New member
Re: Cheap alternative to hiwatt
Oddly enough, I looked into a Hiwatt build because of how good a modeler sounded.
If you go into builds, ceriatone is an option. I've read good things on Trinity Amps too.
http://www.trinityamps.com/product/trinity-triwatt-kit/
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oddly enough, I looked into a Hiwatt build because of how good a modeler sounded.
If you go into builds, ceriatone is an option. I've read good things on Trinity Amps too.
http://www.trinityamps.com/product/trinity-triwatt-kit/
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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