Product: Hiwatt Lead 20
Price Paid: US $150(!) used
Submitted
08/15/1998
at
01:49pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
7
This amp is straightforward and simple. One channel, no reverb, great sounds. 4 band EQ, Master Voulume, Gain. No standby switch. Made in California, in the 1980's(?). Effects loop and Slave out. One 10" Celestion was inside when I bought it. It's not really loud enough to practice in a garage or living room with, it's better suited to recording or PA'd giggging. Nice chicken-head knobs; no need for numbers, baby.
Sound Quality
:
9
I was forced to sell this in 1997 (to a friend, thankfully). Used it with 70s Strat, 90s USA Strat, pawnshop 80s Ibanez Roadstar (humbuckers). Killer distortion with humbuckers, and super tight. This amp has muscle tone. The strats get either a scratchy, clipped cluck; or a rich but gritty drive, depending on the gain setting. Used this amp to record some straight Strat lead guitar in a cowpunk band at age 17. Badass. This amped walked all over my JCM 900, tonewise. The disortion could cut a laser swath through all soggy shit tones in the world, no lie. The guy I sold it to started using in instead of a Mesa/Boogie to record rhythm guitar with. If I ever get some bucks again, I'm buying another Hiwatt. Love or hate the sound. I love it.
Reliability
:
10
Never broke on me, hasn't on my friend.
Overall Rating
:
10
Hiwatt is my favorite brand of amplifier. They sound wicked, and look super tight as well. They're a strange breed. David Gilmour, Pete Townshend had the idea, not to mention Six Finger Satellite. I had this amp for 3 years, I miss it a whole lot. I've parted with tons of gear, some at ridiculous prices. This is the only piece I truly regret passing along.
