Hiwatt 50 Build

[dcribbs1412]

Starting a Hiwatt style build...seems to be going slow
50 watter...Mojo Hiwatt style iron
chassis,face plate,empty boards from Nik
Using a mess of components on hand...
not sure about the blue MKP1845 caps not sure if they are Hiwattish or not?....gonna give them a try.


Darin

[gldtp99]

Looks good so far---- I've built Hiwatt clones with many different types of coupling caps and they all sounded good---- one early SC 120/Hiwatt conversion I built with a mix of M150 and OD 715 caps sounded fine---- I heard the owner play with a loud band using a SG straight in, no pedals---- that amp sounded super cranked up to "6", MV on "10"------ best sounding amp tone of all bands that night and it was easily heard over his loud band with two guitar players---- he rode the guitar vol pot and turned it up for leads.
You've got all those Mustards, early in the preamp, so if you find some 47n Mustards later on you can swap them in, if it makes you feel better-----But I don't think it will have a drastic effect on the overall tone.
Keep us updated on the build progress ................gldtp99

[dcribbs1412]

Thanks gldtp99
I have no experience with Hiwatts
Only heard clips from internet...(some of yours)
Hoping to try and stay close to original wiring and lead dress.

On most amps I find myself "riding the guitar vol pot" more and more lately.
Do you know what speaker/cab combo the guitarist was using?
Or a recommended speaker?
I have a EV12 in a closed box I was going to use for startup and testing.
appreciate your time

Darin

[marooned.echo]

Hi dcribbs1412

Seems like we have started building the same amp at the same time
You have a nice looking turret board over there. Which schematic are you following for this build ?

At the moment I have all the parts at hand beside the transformers and trying to design a layout from scratch in order to get accustomed with the process.
Did you design the layout or did you used something already made ?

Once I have something more tangible I will post it and we can exchange experiences/thoughts on this amp.

Aris

[dcribbs1412]

Hi dcribbs1412

Seems like we have started building the same amp at the same time
You have a nice looking turret board over there. Which schematic are you following for this build ?

At the moment I have all the parts at hand beside the transformers and trying to design a layout from scratch in order to get accustomed with the process.
Did you design the layout or did you used something already made ?

Once I have something more tangible I will post it and we can exchange experiences/thoughts on this amp.

Aris

Thanks Aris
Great to hear you are building a Hiwatt style amp.
Looking forward to more of your build posts.
The boards along with the chassis I got from Nik at Ceriatone
It just seemed easier than drilling my own chassis.
He has some layouts posted there also.
I might be doing a classic 70's style with the possibility of changing over to a OL type.

Darin

[marooned.echo]

Hi Darin

Thanks for the layout , it will be useful in order to cross check mine. I am using also the OL schematic from M.Huss but I am going to mod it a little bit.

I am going to add a DPDT switch to add/remove the third gain stage. Also I will add a parallel tube buffered FX loop , although I am not sure if it should go just before the PI or just before the master volume as in the attached picture.

Aris

[gldtp99]

My friend was playing through a Marshall 1960A (slant) 4x12 loaded with Celestion G12T75 speakers.
Any good quality guitar speaker will sound good with a Hiwatt-type amp---- don't buy into online posts that say only certain speakers will sound good with a Hiwatt.
I've played Hiwatt and Hiwatt clone amps through different models of Celestion, Eminence, WGS, and vintage cast frame Fane speakers---- the amps always sounded very good---- like Hiwatts !!
Your EVM12 will sound great.........................gldtp99

PS--- a friend of mine who has played every real Hiwatt I've owned and every Hiwatt clone I've built said that playing a Hiwatt is like playing a high quality acoustic guitar---- the detail and richness of tone produce a similar playing experience.
This only applies to 50 watt and higher clones I've built----- yrs ago I built 20 watt and 35 watt low budget Hiwatt clones using iron pulled from old tube PA amps----- these two attempts didn't have the Hiwatt detail, chime, headroom---- they aren't bad sounding amps but were disappointing when one already knows what Hiwatts sound like------- I now suspect that I didn't have the PI biasing voltage correct (I didn't understand the Hiwatt PI at the time) and one day I'll pull these two amps out of storage and see if I can get them sounding like Hiwatts.
My experiences with these two amps is a big reason why I now suggest that people wanting to build Hiwatt clones start with Heyboer Partridge clone transformers---- for 50 and 100 waters, "It's in There"--

[dcribbs1412]

Hi Darin

Thanks for the layout , it will be useful in order to cross check mine. I am using also the OL schematic from M.Huss but I am going to mod it a little bit.

I am going to add a DPDT switch to add/remove the third gain stage. Also I will add a parallel tube buffered FX loop , although I am not sure if it should go just before the PI or just before the master volume as in the attached picture.

Aris

Cool ideas Aris
love to see how you implement these into your build

My friend was playing through a Marshall 1960A (slant) 4x12 loaded with Celestion G12T75 speakers.
Any good quality guitar speaker will sound good with a Hiwatt-type amp---- don't buy into online posts that say only certain speakers will sound good with a Hiwatt.
I've played Hiwatt and Hiwatt clone amps through different models of Celestion, Eminence, WGS, and vintage cast frame Fane speakers---- the amps always sounded very good---- like Hiwatts !!
Your EVM12 will sound great.........................gldtp99

PS--- a friend of mine who has played every real Hiwatt I've owned and every Hiwatt clone I've built said that playing a Hiwatt is like playing a high quality acoustic guitar---- the detail and richness of tone produce a similar playing experience.
This only applies to 50 watt and higher clones I've built----- yrs ago I built 20 watt and 35 watt low budget Hiwatt clones using iron pulled from old tube PA amps----- these two attempts didn't have the Hiwatt detail, chime, headroom---- they aren't bad sounding amps but were disappointing when one already knows what Hiwatts sound like------- I now suspect that I didn't have the PI biasing voltage correct (I didn't understand the Hiwatt PI at the time) and one day I'll pull these two amps out of storage and see if I can get them sounding like Hiwatts.
My experiences with these two amps is a big reason why I now suggest that people wanting to build Hiwatt clones start with Heyboer Partridge clone transformers---- for 50 and 100 waters, "It's in There"--

Thanks gldtp99
I appreciate you sharing your knowledge of Hiwatts

Darin

[dcribbs1412]

Got the iron today...really heavy PT
also screwed up and ordered the JJ caps
which are smaller than the clamps so I wrapped them in some plumbing tape.
Hoping it doesn't cause a problem.

[gldtp99]

Do you mean these caps ? : http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/C-EC220-385----- I ordered those once for a Sound City 120 re-cap job---- I wrapped them with black e-tape to make them fit the standard 1-3/8 inch clamps----- they worked ok but besides not fitting the clamps they also have snap mount connectors---- which meant I had to coil the wires around the blade connector and then solder--- instead of the thru hole type I was expecting.
For the past few yrs I've been using these CDE 381LX cans for 220uF/450V applications---- good specs, 1-3/8" diameter (35mm) so they fit standard clamps, and the amps I've built with them have all sounded great----- Yes, they still have the snap mount connectors but it hasn't been a big problem.
These F&T cans could be used by connecting the two 100uF sides in parallel (@200uF) ---- F&T's have a great reputation: http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/C-EC100X2-500FT.
These JJ 250uF/500V cans would also work well: http://www.tubesandmore.com/products/C-EC250-500

[dcribbs1412]

gldtp99
yes those are the exact ones
wish I would've know they were smaller...oh well
will keep the CDE's and JJ 250's in mind for the future, thanks.
Got a little more accomplished today...
BTW any comments on the switch for the gain stage that Aris posted

Darin

[gldtp99]

The extra gain stage switched in/out isn't something I'd be interested in having in one of my builds----- I like the Early and Mid 70's 4 Input circuits just as they are------ I use pedals for added OD/distortion when I want it.
If you feel that it is something you'd like to try be sure to use a switch that's rated for the high voltage that will be present on one side of the switch........................gldtp99

[dcribbs1412]

The extra gain stage switched in/out isn't something I'd be interested in having in one of my builds----- I like the Early and Mid 70's 4 Input circuits just as they are------ I use pedals for added OD/distortion when I want it.
If you feel that it is something you'd like to try be sure to use a switch that's rated for the high voltage that will be present on one side of the switch........................gldtp99

Will do gldtp99
not sure I'll use the switch. (Looks like 250V DC ) I might try the extra gain stage out and test drive it, but my original plan is to go with the 70's style 4 inputs.

Thanks for the tip

Darin

[Reeltarded]

Beautiful work!!

[dcribbs1412]

Beautiful work!!

Not sure if your talking to me Reel...but thanks
This build seems to be going slow....
a little more wiring done...

Darin