United Kingdom · Est. 1963
Hiwatt
Pete Townshend of The Who's preferred amplifier. Hiwatts are famous for their military construction, devastating volume and clean tone at impossible levels.
About the brand
Hiwatt was founded in 1963 by Dave Reeves in Shepperton, Surrey. Dave Reeves was a perfectionist obsessed with build quality: the first Hiwatt Custom 100s were soldered to military standards, with the highest quality components and meticulous hand wiring. The result was one of the most reliable and powerful amplifiers of the era.
Pete Townshend of The Who adopted Hiwatts as his primary amplifier in the 1970s and would stack four or five head units to get the devastating volume he needed. Roger Waters of Pink Floyd used them for bass. The Hiwatt sound is unique: clarity and definition at extremely high volumes that no other manufacturer has been able to exactly replicate.
Hiwatt went through several owners and periods of inactivity but continues to produce amplifiers to the same construction standards as the 1960s. The Custom 100 and Custom 50 models remain the most valued, both in their original vintage versions and in current reissues.
Key facts
- Founded in 1963 by Dave Reeves in Surrey, with military construction standards
- Primary amplifier of Pete Townshend of The Who in the 1970s
- Roger Waters of Pink Floyd used them for bass
- Clean tone at devastating volumes: a unique characteristic of Hiwatt design
Iconic models
DR103
The 100-watt amplifier built by Dave Reeves, famous for its extreme clean headroom at high volume and its iconic use by Pete Townshend of The Who.
DR504
The 50-watt version of the DR103, equally prized for its military-grade construction and near-unlimited clean headroom.
CP103
A bass variant of the DR103 adopted by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, which helped define the sound of progressive rock in the 1970s.
SA212
A modern Hiwatt combo that maintains the manufacturer's high-quality construction philosophy in a more accessible format for the contemporary guitarist.