Justaguyin_nc
August 19th, 2007, 11:09 AM
Hiwatt Custom 20HD Mini Stack
The big companies all seem to have these Mini Stacks...
this one is for me... I waited a few weeks before spouting off about it..
Can be had between 150.00-300.00 used and worth it!
Features:
It's all Korean to me!
Hiwatt Custom 20HD Mini Stack is well, a mini (about 43 inches high)version of the Hiwatt Stacks [head and 2 cabs]
Two Channels, clean and Distorted works off footswitch or button on front.
20 watt Solid State. Loud enough for home or in the studio.
Effects loop, Aux.In, headphone jack, and speakers out (2-8ohm)
My cabs contain 10" Hiwatt speakers. (there is a version with little 4x4 1/2 in the cabs that suppose to sound tiny?? tinny?? they changed to these 10 inchers..they say Hiwatt all I know about them)
The "look" overall is 100% Hiwatt! makes me grin!
Sound Quality:
It's not suppose to be a Stadium Amp! I don't get the bad reviews on these things over the net. This amp is everything it states to be! 20 watts of Solid State , looking like the originals and trying to sound like it's big brothers but without the tubes!
It does it pretty darn well imho! Mine does have a slight hiss past noon on the Master.. But hiss is gone once playing and for home use thats already pretty darn loud!
Turn all your knobs OFF.. crank your Master to what you wish top volume to be for in-home or studio!
Now start bringing all the other knobs up a little at a time.. (they all act like volume knobs, adding in their sound) My goodness..that worked!
The amp sounds great! Has presence and all.. even from two little 10 inch speakers!
The cleans are just that, Clean! Add some pedals into the clean.. use your distorion pedals up front , than your flangers/phasers/chorus/delays/reverb..
Now tell me this does not sound like an awesome little Home/Studio amp!
It actually sounds full and responds like my little Epi tube amps but with a better sound to me! I decided to get rid of my little 5 watt (about the same volume) tube amps with this replacing them, I just can't have so many amps in one room. Ofcourse I still need the big tube amp coming also..:) I don't care much for the distortion channel, although it to can be used. its just another tone..added bonus imho.
I don't know about over the top heavy metal..
But for Blues to Classic rock and Alternative it's all there to be had!
Want a home version of Pink Floyd? This is it for me right now..just add backing tracks and pedals! ofcoursemy playing sucks..but I know the sound is in there..;)
Want some WHO? Hit the Distortion and again just add backing tracks and pedals!
Use the Aux in and put some Backing tracks into it..
it's not going to keep above a LIVE drummer guys.. it was not designed for that!
Use what you have available.. Backing tracks at a descent volume!
Gain, fine, treble, mids, bass and master all work together.. use them properly and this amp rocks!
Headphones can be used as private listening or lineout to Computer for direct recording..
what more can you ask for? This is one sweet sounding unit for what "it is"!
Reliability:
I got mine used... it works.. it's solid state? it should continue to work! The Tolex is not thick Like the BIG Hiwatts..but it's useable if handled with care. Same with the handles and cabs.. just don't knock it around and it should last!
Customer Support:
Hiwatt/Fernandes answered e-mails right away, but I was looking for a manual just to have. Either written or PDF. They have neither to offer. Short to the point return e-mails. Don't have Sorry.
Overall:
I have been playing for awhile now and have gone thru some interesting amps trying to find "my sound".
This Hiwatt Custom Mini Stack was purchased for looks alone! I was actually going to gut it and put one of those little 5 watt tube amps inside. Once I started playing it, that Idea ended! I went by reviews that this amp sucks! The reviews imho are mainly wrong! This is a great USED deal on the market! For what it is , A HOME/STUDIO amp! Great looks and sound! Would buy it again in a heartbeat! Great Cleans and takes to pedals
like a tube amp.. Actually, I have a pedal that cost more then this whole mini stack.. together they are awesome imho! think of what you really want.. 20 watts is not for gigging or playing "live" but with Backing tracks and at descent volumes this amp delivers!! Compared to the $3000 version , whats not to like?
The big companies all seem to have these Mini Stacks...
this one is for me... I waited a few weeks before spouting off about it..
Can be had between 150.00-300.00 used and worth it!
Features:
It's all Korean to me!
Hiwatt Custom 20HD Mini Stack is well, a mini (about 43 inches high)version of the Hiwatt Stacks [head and 2 cabs]
Two Channels, clean and Distorted works off footswitch or button on front.
20 watt Solid State. Loud enough for home or in the studio.
Effects loop, Aux.In, headphone jack, and speakers out (2-8ohm)
My cabs contain 10" Hiwatt speakers. (there is a version with little 4x4 1/2 in the cabs that suppose to sound tiny?? tinny?? they changed to these 10 inchers..they say Hiwatt all I know about them)
The "look" overall is 100% Hiwatt! makes me grin!
Sound Quality:
It's not suppose to be a Stadium Amp! I don't get the bad reviews on these things over the net. This amp is everything it states to be! 20 watts of Solid State , looking like the originals and trying to sound like it's big brothers but without the tubes!
It does it pretty darn well imho! Mine does have a slight hiss past noon on the Master.. But hiss is gone once playing and for home use thats already pretty darn loud!
Turn all your knobs OFF.. crank your Master to what you wish top volume to be for in-home or studio!
Now start bringing all the other knobs up a little at a time.. (they all act like volume knobs, adding in their sound) My goodness..that worked!
The amp sounds great! Has presence and all.. even from two little 10 inch speakers!
The cleans are just that, Clean! Add some pedals into the clean.. use your distorion pedals up front , than your flangers/phasers/chorus/delays/reverb..
Now tell me this does not sound like an awesome little Home/Studio amp!
It actually sounds full and responds like my little Epi tube amps but with a better sound to me! I decided to get rid of my little 5 watt (about the same volume) tube amps with this replacing them, I just can't have so many amps in one room. Ofcourse I still need the big tube amp coming also..:) I don't care much for the distortion channel, although it to can be used. its just another tone..added bonus imho.
I don't know about over the top heavy metal..
But for Blues to Classic rock and Alternative it's all there to be had!
Want a home version of Pink Floyd? This is it for me right now..just add backing tracks and pedals! ofcoursemy playing sucks..but I know the sound is in there..;)
Want some WHO? Hit the Distortion and again just add backing tracks and pedals!
Use the Aux in and put some Backing tracks into it..
it's not going to keep above a LIVE drummer guys.. it was not designed for that!
Use what you have available.. Backing tracks at a descent volume!
Gain, fine, treble, mids, bass and master all work together.. use them properly and this amp rocks!
Headphones can be used as private listening or lineout to Computer for direct recording..
what more can you ask for? This is one sweet sounding unit for what "it is"!
Reliability:
I got mine used... it works.. it's solid state? it should continue to work! The Tolex is not thick Like the BIG Hiwatts..but it's useable if handled with care. Same with the handles and cabs.. just don't knock it around and it should last!
Customer Support:
Hiwatt/Fernandes answered e-mails right away, but I was looking for a manual just to have. Either written or PDF. They have neither to offer. Short to the point return e-mails. Don't have Sorry.
Overall:
I have been playing for awhile now and have gone thru some interesting amps trying to find "my sound".
This Hiwatt Custom Mini Stack was purchased for looks alone! I was actually going to gut it and put one of those little 5 watt tube amps inside. Once I started playing it, that Idea ended! I went by reviews that this amp sucks! The reviews imho are mainly wrong! This is a great USED deal on the market! For what it is , A HOME/STUDIO amp! Great looks and sound! Would buy it again in a heartbeat! Great Cleans and takes to pedals
like a tube amp.. Actually, I have a pedal that cost more then this whole mini stack.. together they are awesome imho! think of what you really want.. 20 watts is not for gigging or playing "live" but with Backing tracks and at descent volumes this amp delivers!! Compared to the $3000 version , whats not to like?