At somewhat more affordable prices than earlier (custom) models, we once again find British elegance, which this time also includes gritty overdrive and the flexibility of two channels. The company takes pride in having stood by guitarists for 30 years now. Those years have helped build up powerful experience in making amplifiers suited to rock 'n' roll.
Hiwatt presents its Hi-Gain series as a flexible, versatile family that, thanks to its two channels, push-pull controls, reverb, effects loop design and more, becomes a high-quality, all-terrain tool. In the manufacturer's words, the Hi-Gain series is a family of amplifiers that keeps the sound quality of the Custom series but is even more versatile.
On the Test Bench: Unboxing
With great enthusiasm I set about unpacking and organizing the gear for the tests. I think any self-respecting guitarist feels a pleasant restlessness at the idea of facing a “big beast” made up of a 4 x 12" cabinet and a head (the kind that impresses). So I set about taking everything out of its boxes and setting it up calmly. I was also drawn to the chance to try one of the series' combos: a compact format with the same concept, but more manageable and with less wattage. The gear unpacked was exactly the following:
1. HIWATT HI-GAIN HEAD, 100 W.
2. HIWATT 4 x 12" CABINET, also from the HI-GAIN series.
3. HIWATT HI-GAIN COMBO, 50 W.
With the cabinet on hand, I also had the chance to hook up the combo through the extension speaker output. That way, I could hear head + cabinet, the combo alone, and combo + cabinet. So I ran all the tests.
HIWATT HI-GAIN 100 W + CABINET
I was curious to try this emblematic amplifier. Impressive in size (just how we like it) and loaded with tubes. You can see the exact firepower in the spec sheet. Needless to say, an amp of this size is no small thing for one person to move. Especially the cabinet, although it comes with sturdy, comfortable handles. Even so, I managed fine setting it up. It's a powerful “beast,” designed for rehearsal rooms, live shows and places where we need to work with serious grit.
It offers good versatility thanks to its two channels. As you can see in the photo (looking at the front panel), we have two channels with shared EQ, PRESENCE and REVERB, but with separate volume and gain levels. With the footswitch we can go from one channel to the other while playing. The variety is clear: you can set one up clean, fat, with a tube-amp feel (or thin, as suits you) and the second wild. By stepping on the footswitch, we switch from one to the other, turn the reverb on or off and engage the extra gain to taste.
As for the sound, I loved the warmth and punch of the tubes in the clean and/or half-driven sounds. You know what I'm talking about: that tube warmth expressed through four 12-inch speakers. Powerful and spine-tingling. As for the overdrive, its variety is generous. We cover almost any state we need and, although I prefer the “Custom” amps' overdrive (which I also know), these are versatile. Tweaking the sound to our liking with an additional pedal, we get exactly the results we want and powerful ones. I should add, regarding my comment about the Customs, that the price of the last model I tested (a 20 W combo) was €2,638. The HI-GAIN series is therefore much more accessible (judging by the approximately €1,940 MSRP for head + cabinet). The results are certainly up to the mark.
HIWATT HI-GAIN COMBO 50 W
This big little guy (compared with its big brother) especially appealed to me. I'd almost dare say more than the first. Let me explain why. Naturally, every guitarist has their own needs and preferences. In my case, the Hi-GAIN 50 proved portable, easier to move and with features perfectly suited to studio, rehearsal and live use. Basically, because I'm tired of constantly playing at full blast as far as volume goes. That means I appreciate that the drummer doesn't go crazy during rehearsal hours and that we can work at reasonable volumes. With that in mind, this combo is perfectly valid for home (taking care not to overdo it), for the rehearsal room, or for live and studio use (with the appropriate mic).
Its two speakers are big enough to generate a thick, round, warm sound. Just like the big one, I found it more magical in clean and mid-gain sounds. Doing the same thing (adding my personal touch with pedals), the 50 combo struck me as a very tempting option for approximately €1,200.
Needless to say, it's based on the same two-channel idea, shared EQ and general parameters, and individual gain and levels (per channel). It has a jack (on the rear panel) for connecting the footswitch, just like the 100.
Staying with the rear panel, note its output for connecting external cabinets and, especially, its 4, 8 and 16 ohm impedance selector. This flexibility lets us use almost any type of additional cabinet. And while I was at it, I set out to run the combo through its own speakers and add the HI-GAIN 4x12 cabinet. A perfect combination. We gain punch and body (even more, though I didn't miss those qualities in the combo alone). Having these two pieces allows two configurations: a manageable one (the combo alone, under your arm) and a bulky one in wild stack style. A very impressive, powerful setup for €1,246 + €700.
Conclusions
Hiwatt has worked hard to offer a warm tube range at attractive prices. It has analyzed the needs of the most versatile guitarists, adding these two channels to the series. With elegant finishes and the backing of a serious company that has long been at the service of artists, these amplifiers become a tempting solution. The perfect tool for those of you looking for the authentic tube sound at a price a little less alarming than other alternatives. We're talking about spending a few euros, it's true, but it could be a pretty definitive purchase. From my point of view, they're very well suited to blues, rock and vintage sounds. They also come close to that good grit that, topped with an effect, can become the heaviest metal sound you can imagine.
I encourage you to try them and, if you fall in love, to save up with enthusiasm and crank them up the right way.