Hiwatt

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HIWATT amplifier
with Fender Precision bass

Hiwatt is a British company who manufacture amplifiers for electric guitars and electric basses. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall and Vox, the Hiwatt contributed to the sonic image popularly termed "British sound".

Another lesser-known branch of Hiwatt production involves various effect pedals and units.

Dave Reeves started HIWATT and Hylight Electronics in 1966. In order to raise capital for his young company, Reeves accepted a contract to build a line of amplifiers for Ivor Arbiter's store Sound City. By mid-1968 and the contract with Sound City fulfilled, Reeves focused on his own brand, HIWATT.

By 1969, The Who and Pink Floyd were the most well known users of HIWATTs. Later that year, Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) had HIWATTs custom made for him. Jethro Tull and Manfred Mann were other famous users at that time.

By 1970, Hiwatt produced PA amps as well as 50-watt (DR504), 100-watt (DR103), and 200-watt (DR201) all-purpose amplifiers. Until that time, Reeves had been building all of the amps in his garage with the help of his wife Daphne and Doug Fentiman. In early 1970, Reeves accepted that he could not keep up with demand and began looking for well qualified electrical technicians to be contracted.

Harry Joyce Electronics was selected and by mid-1970 was wiring chassis that were then sent to Reeves for final assembly and testing and Top Gear in Denmark Street were appointed London main dealers. This arrangement lasted until Reeves's death in 1981 and Harry Joyce Electronics continued to wire chassis for the short lived Biacrown Electronics (1981–1984)

Between 1984 and 2013 there have been various owners of the Hiwatt Trademark, namely Richard Harrison who revived the original style of amplifier manufacture and Fernandez who owned the trademark for North American and Japan. In 2013 Hiwatt was brought back under full British control with a new team and new expertise to propel Hiwatt back to the forefront of the worldwide guitar market.

Today Hiwatt continue to produce hand-made point-to-point amplifiers in the UK to the original Dave Reeves specifications while complying with the current safety and compliance laws. Hiwatt continue to use FANE speakers which are custom built to Hiwatts exacting specifications.

Alongside the Custom range of amplifiers Hiwatt have developed the X Series (2014 due), Hi-Gain series, Tube Series, and Maxwatt Series.

Hiwatt has been and continues to be used by some of musics biggest acts including The Killers, Coldplay, David Gilmour, Jimmy Page, Pete Townshend, The Arctic Monkeys, Albert Hammond Jr, Joe Walsh, Noel Gallagher and many more


See also

  • The Who's influence on musical equipment

References

    External links

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