New Amp Day!!! (Vintage content)

[jakey1]

I just scored a vintage HIWATT 1975 DR103 and matching Fane loaded 4 x 12 for £1600!!

I am happy.

Very happy.

[AndyFromDenver]

Congrats!!
I hadn't seen inside one before, what a tidy design!!

[drbob1]

I love the wiring on those. Not sure it's actually best for sound (the wiring guys were trained by the RAF and that's the most rugged way to do it, but all those parallel traces could induce parasitic oscillations) but it's the best looking, EVER.

Let's see pics of the speakers, too!

[biggator6]

Holy slutty amp, batman!

Love that Joyce wiring.. amazing.

[Papanate]

I'd marry a HiWatt if it wasn't illegal in North Carolina.

I have 3 x 50 watt head - they will induce cardiac arrest
if you turn them past 3.

[rogerbrain]

don't forget tu use the head for bass as well...
I have had a few of these and the cabs.. personally I like the sound better with a Marshall cab.. the hiwatt was just a bit tooooo accurate for me. ..GREAT heads .. congrats

[dobz]

Originally Posted by drbob1

I love the wiring on those. Not sure it's actually best for sound (the wiring guys were trained by the RAF and that's the most rugged way to do it, but all those parallel traces could induce parasitic oscillations) but it's the best looking, EVER.

Let's see pics of the speakers, too!

Actually those twisted pairs are the heaters and being twisted is the best possible thing you can do with AC heaters.

Beautiful build....don't see much like that anymore

[Brian Krashpad]

Nom. Bosstastic!

Congrats.

[nedorama]

Congrats!

[FFTT]

I consider Hiwatt to be the Rock Reference Amplifier.

The natural tones of each instrument shine through, so your
sweet vintage guitar sounds as it should.

If you can't find a vintage Hiwatt, then Reeves is the way to go.

[Ngr]

consider a cap job (one of the filter caps appears to be ruptured even if it is not clear) and change the low wattage grid resistors to wirewound 5W type if you don't want to ruin your power tubes as I did (one resistor blew and it took with him two adjacent power tubes). and of course a fresh set of tubes (TAD EL34str work pretty good and do not cost much). another weak point is that big green 470 ohm resistor in the middle of the chassis, it tends to break open quite easily. you can substitute it with a 25W rated wirewound one.

[kafka]

Would love a Hiwatt or Reeves. Nice find!

[FFTT]

The DR-103 pictured does show signs of damp location storage.

Rust and corrosion on the chassis indicates the need for a thorough
cleaning and evaluation by your tech.

You may want to be gentle with the speakers until you are sure
this same corrosion has not affected the speaker baskets or the cones.