Hiwatt
Encyclopedia
Hiwatt was a British
company that manufactured amplifiers
for electric guitar
s and electric bass
es. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall
and Vox
, the company 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. 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).
When Dave Reeves died in 1981, the control of the company was taken away from the Reeves family. The rights to the Hiwatt name have been used by a number of companies since, most recently Fernandes (in Asia and the US) and Music Ground (in Europe). The current companies have no relationship to the original Hylight company other than legal ownership of the Hiwatt name, but they are manufacturing guitar and bass amplifiers with similar cosmetics and circuit designs as the originals.
David Gilmour
still used "a pair of Seventies 50-watt Hiwatt combos" in the studio and "the power stage of six 100-watt Hiwatt heads" during the 1994 Pink Floyd The Division Bell Tour
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
company that manufactured amplifiers
Instrument amplifier
An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...
for electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
s and electric bass
Electric Bass
Electric bass can mean:*Electric upright bass, the electric version of a double bass*Electric bass guitar*Bass synthesizer*Big Mouth Billy Bass, a battery-powered singing fish...
es. Starting in the late 1960s, together with Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
and Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
, the company 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
Sound City
Sound City is a British amplification company. Previously available in the 1960s the MARK 6 range was relaunched in 2007. Sound City amplifiers were British designed in the 1960s. The Sound City series was relaunched with the MARK 6 range, introduced by Arbiter in July 2007.Arbiter, owned by...
.
By mid-1968 and the contract with Sound City fulfilled, Reeves focused on his own brand, HIWATT.
By 1969, The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
were the most well known users of HIWATTs. Later that year, Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
(Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
) had HIWATTs custom made for him. Jethro Tull
Jethro Tull (band)
Jethro Tull are a British rock group formed in 1967. Their music is characterised by the vocals, acoustic guitar, and flute playing of Ian Anderson, who has led the band since its founding, and the guitar work of Martin Barre, who has been with the band since 1969.Initially playing blues rock with...
and Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann
Manfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
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. 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).
When Dave Reeves died in 1981, the control of the company was taken away from the Reeves family. The rights to the Hiwatt name have been used by a number of companies since, most recently Fernandes (in Asia and the US) and Music Ground (in Europe). The current companies have no relationship to the original Hylight company other than legal ownership of the Hiwatt name, but they are manufacturing guitar and bass amplifiers with similar cosmetics and circuit designs as the originals.
David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
still used "a pair of Seventies 50-watt Hiwatt combos" in the studio and "the power stage of six 100-watt Hiwatt heads" during the 1994 Pink Floyd The Division Bell Tour
The Division Bell tour
The Division Bell Tour was a concert tour by British rock band Pink Floyd in 1994 to support their album The Division Bell. In 1995 the band released the live album Pulse to commemorate the tour, which would turn out to be the final Pink Floyd tour, although members of the band have continued to...
.
External links
- Hiwatt Amplification Official U.S. site
- Hiwatt U.K. Amplification Official U.K. site
- TheWho.net page documenting Pete Townshend's transition from Sound City amps to Hiwatt
- Mark's Hiwatt Pages Webpage on Hiwatt historic technical information and history