Hiwatt vs Marshall

Hiwatt vs Marshall

  • Total voters
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Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

I love Gilmours and Pete Townshends sounds and HiWatt always seemed cooler cos they are different. For me I use Marshall like dirty sound (with my pedals) but playing a HiWatt may be different.
For those in the know is there 1) Any current production amps that come close to vintage HiWatts and 2) Is there any lower wattage amps that coax similar tones (like what Tiny Terror is to Marshall and Nighttrain is to VOX sound)
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

The idea of a Hiwatt in small package is an oximoron. The Hiwatt sound is big and spacous, with miles of headroom, and are associated with an unassisted projection that can be heard for miles.

Interesting if you check the schematics that the Marshall Jubilee uses a similar tone stack to the original Hiwatts. And its been said that they can get a Hiwatt like clean tone -within their limitations of headroom, of course.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

To me, the Hiwatt is more refined and it truly belongs in the hands of great players. I'm not a great player. I'm not even a good player for that matter. This is why my choice is for the Marshall. A Marshall helps cover up my terrible playing and for that I'm very grateful.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

Ticked Marshall, that's closest to the sound in my head and what I was inspired by. Although I must add that my Hiwatt experience is only restricted to a couple of test drives back when I bought some of my amps from a collector guy who collects and restores old amps then sells most of them, keeps some of them. He has a good amount of old stuff stockpiled. Whenever I hit his pocket with money, he dug out some other amps and strange things like Ausrovox vertical 2x12" stack in silver (very classic sci-fi, where is my zap-ray gun?), fully restored Gibson Mercury (hello VOX) or '50s Dynacord compact tube PA that functions as a really nice articulate bass amp.

He had some Hiwatts, way too much out of reach ($$$). Nice stuff, I loved the brilliance, clarity of sound and the response. You don't really have to worry about hi-gain, stompboxes love it, at least the BOSS pedals were around there. Apart from sky-high price, considering volume it was an overkill for me.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

I have owned Marshalls. My favorite by far has been a JCM800 ri that I owned for 4 years. I had never tried Hiwatts because of the price tag until a few years ago when I tried a 40w combo. Not only was the tone incredibly good, it was the most natural feeling amp I've ever played. Unfortunately when I went back for it that afternoon it was gone.

I have since played a DG103 and Higain 50 & 100 and DR103, and Reeves Custom 50. Every time I plug into one it's pure magic. I've been thinking about selling my beloved Mark V combo to finance a Hiwatt or Reeves combo (whichever one is cheaper at the time). I think I'm going to do it very soon.

Even though the distortion isn't there Hiwatts respond so well that if you put a pedal there you can get everything you need, even pretty heavy stuff without a lot of distortion because of how dynamically their amps react.

If I had my choice between a Custom 50 or a JCM800, I'd have to go with the Custom 50. My vote goes to Hiwatt by a narrow margin.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

Benjy_26 said:
I vote Marshall simply because I've never played (or conciously heard) a Hiwatt.
Click to expand...

You've heard them. Pete Townsend and David Gilmour most notably.

There's a 1977 Hiwatt DR504 Custom 50 for sale locally that I may get the shakes over as the auction winds down
 
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Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

Bill Nelson from BeBop Deluxe also had a great early Hiwatt tone...
 
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Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

It certainly is not an either or for me, both are very different from each other, they both kick it quite nicely. If I had one gig and an early Plexi or 70s Watt looking at me, I would take the Plexi. Warmer, looser and I like the sustain better... I dig em both and feel very fortunate to have both flavors in the collection.

I have learned that I like TONES much more than I like TONE. Every amp I own, in it's own way sounds as good as either a Hiwatt or early Marshall sound, be it my Laney, Carlsbro, WEST, Supro, SUNN ect... To be honest, my WEST Fillmore combines the very best of both sounds...
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

Vasshu the humanoid typhoon said:
Aha....sounds you have a substantial knowledge of their sound;)
Marshalls die all the time, from Plexi amps to modern times ones...a Hiwatt is the total opposite in every aspect, big huge 3D tones, very loud and clean, awesome build, while most Marshall have that boxed middy bite...and not much else....close to one trick only...
I love Marshalls, allthough the old ones the most...but a Hiwatt is a real great great underrated amp.....
Most do not like them because they are so unforgiving to play, they are wide but still have that focus that never gets lost in the big picture!
It is like comparing a VW Golf to a Porshe...and the Marshall is not a Porshe.

As said I like Marshalls.....but I totally love Hiwatts from back then!
Dave Reeves was a true master!
Click to expand...

Ah.... realise this is an old thread BUT for my 2p's worth....
Having extensivly used both 100w heads i can honestly say HiWatt is superior for chord work .. you get a crunch with them aka Pete Townsend
Marshall chord sound is a distorted grunge.
Having said that Marshalls fly for lead guitar work and HiWatts are scratchy... BUT this can be over come by linking the brilliant and normal channels together.
Also to get a near Marshall lead sound from a HiWatt i used a pre-amp on low'ish boost, so really I vote HiWatt as with a bit of messing you get the clarity of chords and the soaring Marshall lead sound .. I rest my case :0)
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

claytonc said:
Having played and owned both the answer is easy!

HIWATT

Real HIWATTs that is, those made by Dave Reeves and Hylight Electronics.

HIWATTs have much more power, a much more effective and usable tone stack.

here are a few pics of the Vintage HIWATT Convention:

IMG_1014.jpg



IMG_1015.jpg


IMG_1010.jpg
Click to expand...

I imagine heaven looks something like this...... HIWATT over & over again!!!!
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

If we are talking vintage, I'd be quite happy with either...BUT I voted Marshall, because that's what I have owned and am a bit sentimental about them...in fact I'm getting a bit teary eyed thinking about my old Marshall Major right now. I played all the SMALL clubs in NYC with that in the 70's. I was young and dumb and didn't have a clue what overkill was....but it sounded great.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

My buddy was in a very popular Boston hairband in the 80's and played a Hiwatt half stack instead of a 800 like every other player. I will say his tone stood out and was super thick.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

In the years since my first post, I'd now prefer to have a HiWatt. There is something about that crunch. Clarity. And raunchy. The tones Alex Lifeson got in that 77-79 period playing them through Marshall g12m cabs just gives me massive aural wood. :bigthumb:

But volume still the issue.
 
Re: Hiwatt vs Marshall

I don't have that problem w/ volume. I want my 50 watt Hiwatt to be as clean and loud as possible- I live on the edge of breakup. I also live where I can open it up full force. Therefore I am looking to score a Fane, and run it in tandem w/ a Ev12L in a 2x12. Don't you know I'm loco Ese.

Hmm, how about throwing that on top of the Marshall Greenback 4x12 and using both together... clean and crunch?

:)
 
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