Hiwatt SAP Balance control Demo DR 201 1969 KT88

[patdug286]

man..that sounds fucking amazing.. wowowow.

[skaboosh]

no worries, it was a good question....all the best.

[coubiakb]

O.O Killer !!

[KX36]

Awesome tone :D:D:D:D:D

[OgreDaddy]

Having lots of experience with big block amps, KT88's deliver a richness and depth of tone like nothing I had ever heard before.

This in my humble opinion, is the finest amp ever built.



[Aniva66]

why is it named '201'? what does '201' mean? same question for DR 103. what does '103' stay for?

[skaboosh]

@Aniva66 well I recommend you google MHUSS HIWATT , there's much info over there on his pages...Hylight Hiwatts beginning with a 2 are 200 watts and those beginning with a 1 are 100 watts....

[Aniva66]

@skaboosh about that riff into the minute 2:55 ..I've already heard that before ,but I don't remember whose famous band is that. maybe Rory Gallagher?

[skaboosh]

@Aniva66 You mean the MR BIG riff from FREE?

[Aniva66]

@skaboosh yes exactly. so it's a Free's, ok! i didn't remember about whose it was from and i thought it was a Rory Gallagher's one, sorry

[youngmanleeds]

i built my own DR504 (highly recommended). after seeing this i have started planning to add the mod to my amp. i don't think i've heard a better tone than with that SAP engaged. damn!

[neonymusic]

Hi! I've got 1970 DR201 and have no balance control? Is it possible?

[skaboosh]

@neonymusic Absolutely possible, if not, likely .... most DR201's do not have this circuit........the SAP is not very standard... they are rare.......Jimmy Page had this circuit around 1969/70

[JimmyPage968]

@skaboosh I believe this version is based off of the Jimmy Page model.

[skaboosh]

@JimmyPage968 Yep, I believe this amp was made in the same year that Jimmy's were made...ie 1969.....I believe Jimmy also used kt88's at one point...but in a Marshall, later on....

[JimmyPage968]

@skaboosh Yeah in around 75 i think his was modded. If you listen to the Madison Square Garden tone and the Earls Court tone, the Earls Court is noticeably cleaner. I do think it's amazing how Hiwatt really came out with the first gain stage option on this model.

[JimmyPage968]

@skaboosh Do you know if you could add a SAP mod to a standard Hiwatt?

[rene495]

Sounds perfect.

[pgahiwatt]

So, was this originally designed for bass???...i have an australian Wasp amp, its 280watts rms, 4 kt88s and sounds similar...but it was a guitar amp as used by radio birdman and the ted mulry gang....see the jump in my car clip...

[skaboosh]

No, I think this was probably intended as a guitar amp....but is labeled Special All Purpose ....

if you do a search you may find a schematic as some guys in the USA have been making clones...look up HIWATT SAP Jimmy Page...all the best

[UngarnSternberg]

The mighty VINTAGE Hiwatts (The Hylight Electronics ones, up until the passing away of its founder in 1981) owe their legendary sound to the use of absolute top notch build components, British military spec wiring and a truly unique tone section. As mr.Skaboosh brilliantly demonstrated in this video, Fane speakers aren't mandatory to make it sing but great playing will definitely enhance the listening pleasure! ;-)

[racingdaphne]

my god, this sounds amazing! Love the crunch!!!!

[ooohoohfenderbender]

wow...unbelievable tone and nice playing...

[busteroo7]

way to know what yer talkin about  noisefieldband, maybe the dumbiest most unfactual quote on the entire tube damn

[poyus77]

Hiwatt rules.

[MYTUBEISAPUSSY]

anyone needing more than 50 W is deaf allready

[JD0x0]

It's not about volume, its about having the power to drive 4 cabs which will fill the room with sound much more than a 50 watt amp with 1 or 2 cabs. It also gives superior clean headroom, and you can half power any amp with 4 power tubes

[clehneis]

if you notice he doesn't have this amp very loud. HIWATTS had great master volumes and you can use them at almost any level with very good results.

[gajaorange]

you are a real player man! best explanation on youtube !!!! and best distortion from an amp ever !!! thanks for the video !!!

[lberretta]

Hi Man!!

I would like to know if you tried the Reeves amps before and if they really do the same work of Hiwatt amp.

Thanks in advance,

[skaboosh]

Thanks...

have not tried a Reeves to be fair...but I remember reading someone's view and have heard that they are good...

all the best

[clehneis]

Hey Skaboosh, Does this amp have a choke or a resistor feeding the screens?

[OgreDaddy]

You have not LIVED until you play a 200 watt+ Hiwatt circuit.

Like you said, with master at maybe 10:00 all you can do is hold on for the ride! :-)

[hagermanmusic]

Agreed. I get to play with a '73 Custom 200 and a '79 Custom 100. Both are awesome but the 200 is fat, melt your face goodness. Also the '79 (year after Dave Reeves died) has crappier potentiometers. They shall be replaced.

[OgreDaddy]

100 watt rigs are for sissies! :-)

[ElectricGuitarZoso]

How did you record this, as far as I see the you have the volumes on max and even with a hotplate or things like this it would be way too much for a recording in a flat. How did you make it? Was is just bloody loud or any other trick?

[skaboosh]

check again,

the master volume is on at about ten o'clock, which is about a third of it's volume...

[skaboosh]

PS, I don't live in a flat and I also do play my amps at concert volume here, which is pretty loud, without too much concern or bother from anyone......,

I also have pretty persistent tinnitus, so be warned people....wear your earplugs

[NoiseFieldBand]

the volume is about 3 or 10 oklk

[schenker69]

Oh Man!! Killer tone

[Hereistone]

OK, I've found my answer. The "Switch" jack that you are putting a plug into is for a footswitch. The "Switch" turns on a boost that is set via the "Balance" control. Plugging in just a jack that has nothing on the other end works to kick in the "Boost". It took a while of searching SAP to find the info. Cool tone!

[skaboosh]

Correct, only just saw your other comment by chance....youtube do not notify me of every single comment posted...weird...

anyway, you have the answer now...all the best..R

[zachkaplan]

great sound

great playing

i enjoyed man !

[peterm3964]

Gret tones Its hard to believe an amp can sound this good . Whats with the plug on the front . Is that a swithch for gain ???

[skaboosh]

Hi, thanks...indeed it is...the SAP has a switch system where you can hit the switch and get more gain...the jack plug is inserted into the switch position and then the extra gain is thus engaged..

thanks again

[Hereistone]

So, are you using a "Y" cable? Is this similar to jumping channels 1 and 2 in an old Marshall?

[NoiseFieldBand]

yeah, hiwatt circuits are the same as marshalls (thats why sounds so similar as an old plexi)

[JD0x0]

no theyre not, at all. Fender's and marshalls have the same circuits but not hiwatts. And it has nothing to do with having the same circuit, they all have different values.

[motokev]

is there a GAIN on this amp ? how did u overdrive it ?

[skaboosh]

Yep, this amp has an extra valve in the front end, this is the circuit Jimmy Page used. The amp is stock, no mods.

[pgahiwatt]

any chance of a wiring diagram?

[leftystrat62]

What kind of speaker cab and speakers are you running?

[skaboosh]

Park 4x12 and early seventies celestion g12H.

[leftystrat62]

Man,if I sounded like that,I'd never search for another guitar or amp-that's killer tone.

[sergehotte]

how can i get this SAP for my hiwatt head..[david gilmour head]100w

[metalcore929]

This sounds phenomenal.

[apossibleworld]

Oh ooops, now I get it! I'd read about his amps -- what does SAP stand for? Anyway, realy cool! I'm about to buy a normal DR201, a different but related beast.

[skaboosh]

Cool man....SAP = Special All Purpose ... I believe.....

[apossibleworld]

Are you using an attenuator? How do you get a DR201 to breakup like that? Or is this recorded really really loudly and then brought back down in the mix to match the level of your voice? Sounds great!

[skaboosh]

Hi, this amp was made in 1969 and is a Hiwatt SAP....it is remarkably similar to the amps made at that time for jimmy page...if you a google search for "jimmy page hiwatt" you will see that the SAP's he had made for him all had some serious input gain on tap.....with an xlr switch input that affected the front end gain as well...my demo attempts to demonstarte the input gain switch as well as the general non switched input gain level of this amp. All the best.

[sniffypigster]

Excellent tone! I have a KT88 hifi amplifier, a brilliant power tube that can go to crazy volumes!

Maybe if you're patient enough you could try and find a quad of original GEC KT88's, although getting very rare & expensive.

[skaboosh]

Thanks man, appreciated....

Those Kt88's in it are old GEC's, it would be good to find a new set one day...but those are the valves that were in the head when I first bought it, the labels are almost completely burnt away now but they seem fairly strong all the same......

[panhead5]

What cab did you use with this clip and do you wanna sell this head ?? Your playing is superb with tone to die for !!!

[skaboosh]

Hi, Thanks for your nice comments....amp is not for sale as it's being used, and appreciated. Cab was a PARK 4x12 with old greenback celestions.

[pstaffier]

Those were Greenbacks??? That's pretty cool. I thought running a Hiwatt with Celestions was blasphemy, but you may have one of the best sounding clips of a Hiwatt on youtube. I guess I like the Hiwatt - Celestion combo afterall. Way to craft your own sound and not just follow.

[skaboosh]

Thanks man, appreciated, I mostly use only two valves in the output stage in order to help not over load the celestions, but all combinations of speaker and amp are gotta be worth a shot. Thanks again.

[panhead5]

What cab did you use withis clip? Sounds great !!!

[panhead5]

Wanna sell that head?? Just wodering what cabinet and speakers you used with that .Also ,how loud did you record that clip?

Great playing and the tone is to die for !!!

[coltom]

my favorite tone - Hiwatt

[LP808]

Love the tones bro!!

[Paladin19652007]

Love the way it breaks up and still sounds warm. Bravo !

[coltom]

they're extremely expensive (the new ones) and the older ones are not easy to find

and they're expensive too

Great amps - my favorites

[Warrantti]

Why so few bands use Hiwatt amps now days?

Btw amp sounds absolutely fantastic.

[coltom]

Live at Leeds -

[skaboosh]

Thanks man, I will attempt to do something soon for you, but at present it am getting rightum busyum .... but I shall try and fit someat in...

cheers my man.....

[leftystrat62]

I cringe when I see this video. The reason being,I can only see the amp that is producing these fabulous sounds. This is some of the tastiest playing on you tube and I can't watch it and learn. Dude,you must play this again for us so we can see you play-or was this really a track of Koss all along?

[jockman]

KT88's are just magic. they have a HUGE tone. I have them in my Carlsbro 50top combo.

Great tone you have there.

[Renhjarta]

Sounds fantastic! Stones used Hiwatt 200's at Hyde Park 1969, and they sounded exactly like that.. Magic circuit, indeed!

[lamschuchart]

You nailed the Kossoff, Free tone there!

[leftystrat62]

I just subscribe after viewing a few videos. My only compaint is-why can't I live next door to you so I could bug the crap out of you every day until you would jam with me.

[skaboosh]

LOL thanks...my next door neighbour own's a record company.......I'm slowly shaving millimetres off the wall.......saves sending a bleedin tape or CD in......

[Nebercracker]

Where do you get all these wonderful toys?? I like all your videos with all the different gear. Your playing is super sweet as well....especially your Young Lust Cover....Keep em comin.....

[MRwenkie]

The lick at 1:43 is fucking killer. Is that original?

[skaboosh]

Thank you. Well it came from the top of my head and I don't know what it is from, but I would bet quite a lot of tunes have a very very similar riff, bit like the the way C - G - Am- F - was in a load of tunes, but probably more so in that latter case....

most of the rest of it is FREE material as you know....

thanks again

all the best....

[csason]

very cool..sounds very sweet.

[plechatam]

that's a sweet sounding amp.

[skaboosh]

Thanks man...appreciated.

All the best, dude.

Disclaimer: no choreographers were hurt during the making of this film.

[backthisway]

Hi, It's Dom - great sound professor !! I bet that is fxxxing LOUD, NO ???

[skaboosh]

ayyyyyyy Dom...

I once had it on full volume through a 2x12 and it was monstrous....even heavier distortion and ridiculously loud.....