Hilgen

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Hilgen is a defunct American amplifier manufacturer.

1 Company Information
2 Amplifier models
- 2.1 Guitar Amplifiers
- 2.2 Bass Amplifiers
3 External links

[edit] Company Information

Little information is available on the web, but I am hoping that by posting this it will get people to add what information, pictures, schematics they may have to it.
The company was started in 1960's in Hillside, NJ.
The company made both guitar and bass models, with a T indicating a guitar model and a B indicating a bass model.[1]
There is also a story that Hilgen was started by a former Ampeg employee in Hillside, NJ. [2] This is plausible:

Ampeg's factory was in Linden, NJ (6.4 miles away[[3]]) a close drive from Hillside.
Ampeg amps at the time used 7591A power tubes, which were used extensively in Hilgen amps. If wiring schematics can be posted to compare, this would help to confirm this.

[edit] Amplifier models

[edit] Guitar Amplifiers

T1506 Troubador 12" combo amp. Featured 12AX7 and 12AU7 preamp tubes, 2 EL84 power tubes, and a 6Y3 rectifier.
T2511 Meteor 12" combo amp. There is mention on the Univox website that the Hilgen Meteor may have been a different brand name used by Univox to sell their U-45B 10W 12" combo amp [4] with similar circuitry and slightly different cosmetics.
R2523 Champion. Introduced in 1965, featured 7591A tubes, reverb and tremolo. [5]
There was a model called the "Swing Away", which was a semi-combo 2x12. Its unique feature was that the amp was hinged, allowing it to be tucked away in the speaker cabinet when not in use; it could then swing into position when needed.

[edit] Bass Amplifiers

B2501 Basso, a 1x15 combo amp. Came with 2 7591A, 1 5AR4(GZ34) rectifier, and 3 12AX7As for about 20-25 watts. [6]

(I have the amplifier section only from a B2501 Basso - it has 2x 7591A, 5AR4, but only 2x 12AX7. I have traced out the circuit, and could make it available - where to post it?)

B2502 Basso Profundo, a 1x15 combo amp
B2503 Basso Grande, an amp head designed to piggyback on top of a speaker cabinet. Came with 2 12AX7 preamp tubes, 2 7591A power tubes, and a 5AR4(GZ34) rectifier.
B2234 HM-B, a 1x15 combo amp, also with 2 12ax7 preamp tubes, 2 7591 power tubes, and a 5AR4(GZ34) rectifier.