We've had the pleasure and the opportunity to put two models of the prestigious Hiwatt amplifiers through their paces. Truly powerful, one of them especially so. Artists such as Joe Walsh of THE EAGLES, Robert Trujillo of METALLICA, Jamie Cook of ARCTIC MONKEYS, Guy Berryman of COLDPLAY and Dave Gilmour of PINK FLOYD, among others, have included this British brand in their arsenals. Let's find out why.
We took the chance to test two models from the same family (Hiwatt's Custom Combo series) in two different formats and price points. Both share excellent finishes, a vintage look, rugged components, a truly detailed and careful manufacturing process and a look that, to my eyes, says serious, professional and elegant amplifier. Taking a quick look at the brand, and before we focus on the results from each unit separately, I invite you to browse the manufacturer's website www.hiwatt.com. You'll find a powerful selection of amplifiers in classic, custom, head/cabinet and combo formats, and more.
Before wrapping up this little introduction, I'd stress that besides the excellent sonic results of Hiwatt's tube amps (high-end range), I find the finishes in red, white or black especially appealing. I imagine the white amps must be torture if you're hauling one from gig to gig. It'll be impossible to keep them white for long, but they sure are cool. As for the red ones, they start out looking great. I've seen it before on George amps and other "hot" tube amps.
Tested: Hiwatt Custom 7W Combo
I figured beforehand that I'd like the 20W more. Still, I was very curious to try both models. I decided to start with this one, since it was smaller and "cheaper." Hiwatt's idea in designing it is clear. It's a "hot," carefully built and precise amp that's clearly aimed at small settings: a home, a studio, and so on.
Without a doubt it's an extremely high-quality amplifier. As I mentioned above, it has many of the elements for a good "final recipe." Warm sounds with an interesting attack. The guitar gets "sharpened" when we connect it with a cable to this little devil.
Sound and Power
Within the possibilities of this small 7W, we have a lot of control over the frequencies and color of our signal. Thanks to the EQ controls, gain and High/Low inputs, we round out the expression of our instrument. The machine is versatile and adapts to different needs. We want to point out the power and standby control. It may seem obvious that this switch is on the control panel, but when we've received other units without it, we've missed it, so I mention it as a plus.
All in all, it struck me as an indulgence of an amp. It's like a mini-format version of the big ones. Plenty of guitarists are asking for this kind of amplifier. A glowing, passionate gem that doesn't necessarily put out huge volumes.
Personally, I find the sound somewhat imprisoned by its single speaker and by the size of that speaker. It came across as a bit thin to me, and I missed more options in the mids and lows. It's a source with more than enough power for the settings we've described, but from my point of view it puts out a sound that's a bit "small, narrow." Especially for certain kinds of applications.
The Powerful, Acclaimed Hiwatt Sound in a Reduced Format
I can't finish this analysis without stressing that this is an excellent amplifier that would be an absolute treat for almost any guitarist. But let's move on to its big brother, since this one gives a lot more still.
Tested: Hiwatt Custom 20W Combo
After seeing the first one, I was dying to fire up the 20W. As soon as I hit the power and standby switches, I detected more muscle in the low end. You know, the typical power-on or power-off thump. It was already giving hints.
The difference between one model and the other surprised me enormously. It's true that they're considerably apart in price, but in overall appearance and size there isn't that much distance. Although some improvement was to be expected, the sound, power and intensity grow tremendously from one model to the other.
Besides having a slightly wider control panel, more versatility and sound control, the guitar gains 200% in power. Without losing that sharp, piercing treble, we get crushing authority. In fact, I was frankly impressed by the energy and extraordinary sound quality of this amp, which is actually small, being 20W.
Something similar happened with the power, or the sonic feeling (of muscle) it gave me. I turned the volume up to about half and... wow, what a rocker! Is this really only 20W? A round, precise sound, clean but fierce or "dirty" depending on the buyer's taste.
When I saw the price I was pretty floored. Mostly because when you see numbers like 2,636 € and a cabinet that doesn't go past your knees, a thought like this one comes to mind: "This has to sound like a lot to be worth it." Well, after switching it on and spending a while playing, my question or premise was answered: "Ah, yes, it's exquisite, now I get it."
I'd sum it up as a perfect clean sound, a majestic sound at high gain, excellent versatility and a perfect set of qualities that make it, without a doubt, a magnificent guitar amplifier.
Conclusions from Testing Both Models
For lovers of tubes and of British sound in particular, this pair of amplifiers sits at the very top of the pyramid. It's worth digging deeper into the history of this company, although seeing the photos of Pink Floyd's David Gilmour on its website, with long hair and a beard in a young-hippie style, we get a sense of the brand's pedigree. If you want to go deeper into the architecture of Hiwatts and get to know the bigger products better (heads, 50W and 100W models, etc.), I recommend visiting www.hiwatt.com
It's clear we're dealing with a select product. For its quality and for its exquisite price (to put it politely). Who can think of spending 2,640 € on a 20W amplifier? I think those whose ears are very well trained and who can tell the sound of a cheap amp from the magical character of a well-made tube amp like this one. Personally, if I decided to invest that kind of money in an amp of this type, I'd go with the second one without hesitating for an instant. Even if you don't want to or can't buy it yet, I invite you to try the 20W model (or a bigger one) one day just to enjoy the moment. And if you've got the cash to pay for it up front, my sincere congratulations: you'll have an excellent amplifier, elegant taste in choosing your model and a healthy bank account.