Widespread misconceptions about great classic amps.

[Any Name You Wish]

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I haven't read about them. 40/20 is prolly 4 EL84. NOT right.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/hiwatt-T4020-MKIII-combo-Spring-reverb-2x12/

Yup, EL84, that just ain't right.

I was just thinking that I drove my '69 Plymouth Roadrunner 383 mostly at sane speeds, and once in a while I really let her rip on a 1/4 mile stretch. Kinda the same thing with amps. Nice to have that power there.

 

[GStone]

I have a DR103 and a DR504, both 100 watters.

Having owned two DR103's and a DR504, all of them 100 watt models, nothing could be farther from the truth. Even at low volumes with Dynasonic type pickups I find it near impossible to get any tone I would consider harsh and brittle at any volume...

Are the DR504 Hiwatts 50 watt heads or a 100 watt head? I saw a used Hiwatt DR504 in a vintage guitar and amp shop not long ago and it was advertised as a 50 watt head. I asked the shop owner and he said 50 watts. I never owned one but played through that one in the shop and it sounded really good. Would like to know the correct wattage for DR504s though. The Hiwatt link below, says the power section of a 504 is 50 watts which further confuses things .
https://hiwatt.org/tech2.html

 

[Wilko]

Are the DR504 Hiwatts 50 watt heads or a 100 watt head? I saw a used one in a vintage shop not long ago and it was advertised as a 50 watt head. I asked the shop owner and he said 50 watts. I never owned one but played through that one in the shop and it sounded really good. Would like to know the correct wattage for DR504s though. The Hiwatt link below, says the power section of a 504 is 50 watts which further confuses things .
https://hiwatt.org/tech2.html

504 is 50 watts. They say it right on tne faceplate “HIWATT CUSTOM 50” and has two big power tubes.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

Are the DR504 Hiwatts 50 watt heads or a 100 watt head? I saw a used Hiwatt DR504 in a vintage guitar and amp shop not long ago and it was advertised as a 50 watt head. I asked the shop owner and he said 50 watts. I never owned one but played through that one in the shop and it sounded really good. Would like to know the correct wattage for DR504s though. The Hiwatt link below, says the power section of a 504 is 50 watts which further confuses things .
https://hiwatt.org/tech2.html

My DR504 is a Reeves Custom 100. The DR103's are a Hiwatt, and a Hi-Tone.

 

[GStone]

My DR504 is a Reeves Custom 100. The DR103's are a Hiwatt, and a Hi-Tone.

What kind of power tubes does your 504 have and how many?

 

[Wilko]

My DR504 is a Reeves Custom 100. The DR103's are a Hiwatt, and a Hi-Tone.

That doesn't make any sense.

The "5" means 50 watts.

 

[Wilko]

My DR504 is a Reeves Custom 100. The DR103's are a Hiwatt, and a Hi-Tone.

That doesn't make any sense.

The "5" means 50 watts.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

What kind of power tubes does your 504 have and how many?

Custom 50 and Custom 100 - Reeves Amplification

Overview Built to the exact specifications of a 1970s British design, the Custom 50 features Partridge replica transformers and a dual-channel preamp with four inputs (two Normal, two Bright). It offers Normal and Bright volume controls, along with bass, middle, treble, presence, and master...

reevesamps.com

My Custom 100 shipped from Reeves with 4xJJ E34L's.

 

[Hiwatts-n-Gibsons]

That doesn't make any sense.

The "5" means 50 watts.

It apparently makes sense to Bill since he told me in emails that his Custom 50 and Custom 100 are both based on the DR504 circuit which has a slightly different preamp than the DR103.

Fwiw the Reeves Custom 100 does start to compress and break up a little earlier on the dials. With both at the same settings the Hiwatt has a little more thump and clarity, while the Reeves a little more snarl and grind. Both are huge sounding, and decidedly Hiwatts in tone.