Product: Hiwatt Custom 20 (Music Ground) 210 Combo
Price Paid: 750 (GBP)
Submitted
01/18/2006
at
03:46pm
by
Gaz
Email: info at bombingrun<dot>co<dot>uk
Features
:
8
Made in 2005, point to point wired, built like a tank!
Hi/Lo inputs
1 channel
Bass
Treble
Mid
Gain
Master
2x10 Fanes
Extension cab out
4 in number 12AX7 preamp valves
2 in number EL-84 power amp valves
Ther is no need for channel switching on this! If you really must control it with your feet use a vol boost or a tube preamp.
Perhaps reverb would have been nice but the thick chasis creates all the projecion and natural reverberation I need.
I will give it an 9/10 due to the lack of reverb... if reverb was included it would be a 10.
Sound Quality
:
10
I love this amp...
It is so responsive - don't let only having one channel fool you, using your guitar's volume and tone controls is the key. The preamp gain can be set to deliver crunching chords and solos then roll your guitars volume back and it cleans up beautifully.
This amp is very versatile, great for blues, jazz, indie, hard rock etc. The eq is also extremely effective and it's easy to dial in amazing sounds.
Yes, it is 20w but it is a loud 20w! You won't need much more than that. I can work this amp to get a nice tone at club levels without setting off the limiter. If you need more vol just hook up an extension cab but usually the sound tech will want to mic up your amp and put it through the PA anyway.
This amp really brings my USA Standard Strat with Hotrails to life. I have my Boogie V-twin and Line 6 DL4 in front of it and it sounds great with the pedals but I hardly ever touch the Boogie now that I have a Hiwatt. Maybe a Zvex 2 in 1 would be a better addition to my rig as this shouldn't colour the tone.
This amp is very dynamic and true to what you play, it can be unforgiving but in the long run that just makes you a better guitarist. Also, it really brings out the individual characteristics of your guitars - what's the point in having different guitars if your amp makes them all sound the same??
Reliability
:
10
No probs, built like a b.s.h!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've never had to deal with them.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is my first valve amp, up until now I borrowed the best amps I could find for gigs. At gigs I trialled a Boogie MkII, JCM900, Marshall Mode 4, AC30, Orange.
At second hand music shops I tried a Fender Blues Deluxe, Hotrod Deville, JCM 800, Lane LC30 and also A/B'd the various new Hiwatts with new Orange amps. The Orange and the Custom 20 were only amps that I truly liked... The Hiwatt sounded better than the Orange and us less common even though it's a bit more expensive.
If it was stolen I would track the bugger down and.... then if a replacement was needed I would get the same amp or, if funds permitted consider a Hiwatt Studio Stage.
Check out my bands website www.bombingrun.co.uk ;)
