Old Hiwatt 4x12 cabs...Great or Hype?

[67mike]

Have a chance to buy a 197x Hiwatt 4x12 with fanes.

Just wondering if these are worth the $$$$ or are they hype?

Also...what would you say a good price would be on a unit in good shape?

 

[shakti]

Not hype. They are built like tanks and sound superb. Very different from your typical Marshall/Celestion cab though. What type is it?

 

[Dashface]

The thing about the Hiwatt stuff is... None of it is hype. They really are that great. The cabs are killer; best sounding cabs I've ever played.

I got mine for $800, which was a steal. I'd pay anything up to about twice that for one, if I could ever find another.

 

[67mike]

So if I get it under $500 that should be good.

 

[ROKY]

Ohhhh yeah ..

 

[shakti]

For under $500 you will be banned from TGP if you don't buy it.

 

[67mike]

Well......I will see what I can do....I am hoping $400 will get it.

 

[ROKY]

Crazy good deal ..

 

[MontyW]

Seriously amazing cabs - buy it!

 

[FFTT]

If it's the real deal vintage, grab it !

 

[pstar]

maybe 25 years ago, not by today's standards

 

[shakti]

Sorry, I have to bite...what's "today's standard"?

IME, today's standard is far below the best of the late 60s and 70s. Sure, if you're playing certain forms of metal there may be cabs made now that sound better, but if you believe that electric guitar should be played and should sound like a leaving, breathing thing, nothing made today can touch a good 60s/70s amp or cab. Just my two cents...

 

[pstar]

not for modern high gainer tones, have had hiwatt amps and cabs. over the years, there ok for clean tones and slight breakup sounds. Depends on the music you want to play. Am a hard rocker, see my band's mtv videos or concert clips on google "sven gali "

 

[Miles]

Hiwatt stuff is legit. Tough and beautiful sounding. Especially the old stuff.

They didn't know how to cut corners on QC in the old days.

 

[willyboy]

A friend of mine has Keith Scott's (from Bryan Adams band) old hiwatt amp and the 4x12 with 25watt Fanes sounds amazing.

 

[Abe]

I have little experience with Hiwatt. How about an '86 LA412 cab? The tag says its made in England but I've heard that era was American made. The place selling it claims it has Fanes but I haven't had the opportunity to check it out in person. Cosmetically, it's somewhat rough. They're asking $600obo
How do these cabs sound? Is the asking price resonable? Thanks a bunch for all you help.

 

[sacakl]

For under $500 you will be banned from TGP if you don't buy it.

Agree with this. Depends on the condition of course. I paid a fortune for my '72 but it had a couple of the original 50 watt Fane speakers, plus two other '73 Fanes thrown in. I got it to pair with a '72 DR504. I brought it all to my tech to make sure I unsoldered the two nonoriginal speakers and soldered the 2 '73 Fanes correctly. I plugged in an wailed away for a bit, he was standing behind the cab and his pant legs were moving from the air even though it's closed back. He said it had been years since he heard anything like it and equated it to a semi-religious experience. I didn't even have it cranked to noon and I was getting awesome breakup and great cleans by turning the guitar volume to 6.

$500 would be a steal for one with all original Fanes -- the speakers might be worth that amount alone. Not sure I would screw around with a lowball offer 20% below if that's what he's asking, unless the cab is totally trashed. Otherwise, it'll be snatched up fast before you know it.

 

[michael.e]

GREAT GREAT cabs. I have had old Marshalls and this one special old Hiwatt. I hope that someday, I can buy it back. The best sounding cab that I had.

 

[michael.e]

If you are talking about later '70's and '80's cabs, well, they are different from the early '70's cabs that I am talking about.

 

[pstar]

U can't go wrong for $500, if u don't like it. U can sell it and recoup your money.
Had the 80's production cabs.
My gigs required alot of dbs that could handle tight low end, and sound great, the ones i had from that era did not do it for my situation. different gigs/projects call for different approcaches.