Hiwatts and Gibsons
New member
I finally decided I am selling my EVM12L's, and keeping my the Celestion G12H-100's and G12-65's. So I pulled the two EVM12's from my Electric Amps 4x12, and replaced them with two of my alnico EV SRO12's.
Man am I happy I did. Now don't get me wrong, I love the 12L's for clean and metal tones, but the cab had a slightly scooped mid range with huge bass, and clear treble. It was missing the wicked midrange grind I love from my alnico SRO12 and Fane Medusa 30 loaded 4x12. As a result it got way less playtime.
Well that is no longer the case. I plugged my Hiwatt Custom 100 into it with the channels jumpered, Normal and Brilliant Volumes maxed, TMB controls all maxed, and the Master Volume right at 3:00, and OMG with my P90/T-Armond loaded SG I was getting the most incredible classic rock/early punk rock grind. The speaker swap brought the mids way more forward, reduced the bass a little (believe me it is not missed or lacking in lowend punch), and added chime and kerang to the tone.
Disclaimer: I could only get away with cranking it that high because I had it running into a Mesa Powerhouse attenuator to bring down the level, so all the crunch I was getting came solely from my Hiwatt being fed two vintage output single coils. That tone is the reason I laugh to myself every time someone says Hiwatt Cuatom 100's do loud and clean, but don't really break up much even when cranked. Tonight was straight up Live at Leeds crunch heaven.
Man am I happy I did. Now don't get me wrong, I love the 12L's for clean and metal tones, but the cab had a slightly scooped mid range with huge bass, and clear treble. It was missing the wicked midrange grind I love from my alnico SRO12 and Fane Medusa 30 loaded 4x12. As a result it got way less playtime.
Well that is no longer the case. I plugged my Hiwatt Custom 100 into it with the channels jumpered, Normal and Brilliant Volumes maxed, TMB controls all maxed, and the Master Volume right at 3:00, and OMG with my P90/T-Armond loaded SG I was getting the most incredible classic rock/early punk rock grind. The speaker swap brought the mids way more forward, reduced the bass a little (believe me it is not missed or lacking in lowend punch), and added chime and kerang to the tone.
Disclaimer: I could only get away with cranking it that high because I had it running into a Mesa Powerhouse attenuator to bring down the level, so all the crunch I was getting came solely from my Hiwatt being fed two vintage output single coils. That tone is the reason I laugh to myself every time someone says Hiwatt Cuatom 100's do loud and clean, but don't really break up much even when cranked. Tonight was straight up Live at Leeds crunch heaven.
