Hiwatt DR103 | Restoration & Demo
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- čas přidán 2. 06. 2022
- Watch me repair and demonstrate this killllller amp :)
NOTE: I misspoke about the fuse ratings. The mains fuse should indeed be 6A, and I installed a 3A fuse. The fuse will still blow if there's an issue in this case, but just wanted to clear it up.
CORRECTION: Dave Reeves was the actual designer of Hiwatt amps. I apologize for my error, Harry Joyce didn’t begin wiring the amps until the early 70’s. - Jak na to + styl
I am the head of Custom shop at Hiwatt - we do still build them the old way :D
That is what I love to hear! I can’t wait to see one someday.
Calvin: Nice to hear! Do the current production amps have an adjustable fixed bias circuit?
@@MichaelSmith-rn1qw we have dual bias controls now on our DR201 and DR103 now, yes! And we increased the voltage on the bias tap off the transformer, so we have a 20v range on the bias pot (-35 to -65v on the 103)
How much is one nowadays.
Are most of these over in that there Olde World?! Pretty cool selector knob for the mains voltages! THANKS FOR SHARING!!
Hello everyone! Thank you for your comments and corrections. I am the first to admit I have a LOT to learn! And it’s so cool to have y’all along for the journey.
With that said, here are a few corrections:
I misspoke about the fuse ratings. The mains fuse should be doubled (not halved) and indeed be 6A. I installed a 3A fuse. The fuse will of course still blow if there's an issue in this case, but just wanted to clear it up.
Dave Reeves was the actual designer of Hiwatt amps. I apologize for my error, Harry Joyce didn’t begin wiring the amps until the early 70’s. Thank you Dave!!
Thanks for what you do and how you do it. Rock on!
Hiwatt was Pete Ham from Badfinger go to Amp. An excellent amp to say the least.
People know one's a class act when they admit their errors, and "rectify" (pun intended, I build Marshall Clones) said mistakes.
Cool vid, those old Reeves Hi-Watts are classics. Resplendent with Mustard tone caps, and impeccable wiring. Would love to get one or simply build a clone, which is the financially only option!
i'd love for you to do a video about speaker wiring harness making, parallel vs series, ohms etc that would be great
Audio engineer Dave Reeves founded Hiwatt in the mid-1960s (the exact date varies from source to source). To raise enough money to get his company up and running, he contracted with Arbiter’s Sound City music store to build a line of amps bearing the store’s name. By the late 1960s, however, Reeves had fulfilled his contract with Sound City and began focusing on building his Hiwatt-branded amps. Harry Joyce stopped building HIWATTs in 1976 because Dave Reeves (original designer of HIWATTs and Sound City) wanted to find a cheaper way of doing things to make more profits. He (Reeves) later decided to build the amps with PCB and upon hearing that suggestion from Reeves, Harry refused to work with him because he felt it was an inferior design which would only cheapen the sound/quality. LOVE your show..PS I have a DR103 and still use it. All caps and res. and power sw have been replaced.
Long Live The Who!
Those Hiwatt stacks always looked so perfect behind Pete and John!
Glad to see you back making a video. Great amp, so neatly wired. Excellent repair of this vintage amp!!
It's great seeing you again!! Great work on this rebuild and video!! I've always appreciated mil-spec wiring and it's functionality. Please keep the great videos coming!! (Also, Thank you for the T-Shirts you said might be in the works!! I'm definitely enjoying mine.)
Thanks for checking in with us! I always learn from your content but I feel you are super-informative right now, so knowledgeable and could it be that you love what you do… even more now? It shows.
So much respect and admiration for you, keep rising!
glad to see you back posting videos! that hiwatt is so clean on the inside
great work - nice to see detail on an old hiwatt really well made - thanks!
Good to have you back! Thanks for the video!
Great to see you back, and what a classic amp! Always wanted to play one of these,,,
This is so cool. Love seeing how clean and organized it is inside of that thing. Best amp ever built. Well done!
So glad to see you back, and working on such a fantastic amp. I fixed one many years ago a real joy to work on. keep up the wonderful work.
55.4k subscribers are thrilled you are back!
Great to have you back I’ve missed watching your videos!
I grew up working with stuff like this, radios, amps, TVs. It makes me nostalgic and now I want to get back into it.
Great video welcome back! Gotta love that Hiwatt sparkle.
Welcome back, Colleen. Thanks for sharing you knowledge and expertise.
Wow. A real treat to see this! Lust factor indeed. Always loved the HIWATT sounds over the years. Thanks for this.
Great to see a new clip from you. Happy Friday!!
Fine work, glad to see you back
That sounds amazing and such a detailed and quality repair!
Welcome back! Hiwatts are the best pedal platform amp I’ve ever played they take any pedal with ease and eat them right up! Beautiful work!
Aye been a while! Glad to see you're back!
Good to see you back - glad it was "just work" keeping you away. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to have you back.....and with a HIWATT no less.
Thanks Colleen
Your videos are well made and it's obvious you have a thorough understanding of what you're doing.
Your smile talking about your profession and skill is just amazing. Thanks for showing off the Hiwatt. I hope to get to play through one someday.
So glad to have another vid from you. And a Hiwatt to boot, nice! I'm a lifelong Gilmour fan. Great vid. Stay safe. Cheers!
So glad to see my favorite amp tech back in action! This is great stuff. And LOVE the Betty Boop tattoo!
You are the most beautiful tech I have seen in a while and I've been a tech for many years. I am a Hiwatt fan and love to see them restored and maintained!
Good to have you back Colleen! Always learn something new from your vids ..
It's good to see you back! I've been looking forward to another video for some time. That amp. construction is clean and neat. Good job on the repair! A tip I leaned from another YT presenter who used to work at Cessna and had to drill out thousands of rivets is to just remove the head of the rivet with a drill, instead of drilling out the barrel. It is easier, and ensures that the mounting hole doesn't get enlarged by drilling it out.
Yesssss.. glad you're back on the videos! Thanks a lot these videos are great!
Excellent work my lady. You certainly know your stuff. I enjoy the troubleshooting and repair process. ⚡️ 🔊 👍
A most welcome return! Thanks for sharing.
That was an enjoyable and eye opener video. I've built a Fender and a Marshall but had no idea what these amps looked like inside. Like another world. Interesting and well brought video. Thanks Colleen.
New video from you made my day. Good to see you back, Colleen, and best wishes from sunny southern BC. I was just about to order a t shirt from your website. Hope you do another run.
Oh man. I dream of owning a DR103. So cool that you got to work on one!
This is the first of your videos that I've watched. Thank you for going into so much detail! I know enough to do simple things like replace speakers or pickups, or mod and repair pedals, etc. This has bridged a couple gaps in my understanding of amp circuitry.
exactly what i needed today. thank you so much for the upload! Keep em comin!
One step closer to getting rid of my fixed bias circuit! This was a big help.Thanks.
We missed ya!!! Welcome back.
Money, Shine On, and the Seeker, good test songs! I liked your "How Soon Is now" riff to check the tremolo on a previous amp too! Absolutely love the cleanliness of the Hiwatt wiring layout, outside of Hiwatt's and old Tektronix test gear you rarely see anything like it.
I love your laid-back style, Colleen. Very relaxing. Which is the bottom line for me. I watch yours and other's channels like Uncle Doug and David Tipton's (AU) for the same reason. Informative without being overly technical but above all, easy and relaxed is what I personally look for in vintage electronics CZcams channels, not because I wish to learn any applicable skills, I just find the subject interesting. Thanks for uploading, hope to see more!
Nice work, gorgeous amp and all topped off with "The Seeker"; love it!
HI THERE !!! YOU're BACK !!!
Nice seeing a brand new VIDEO from YOU here !!!
I've been searching for a new amp for sometime now. You have settled it after seeing what's under the hood of these amps. Time to search for a Hiwatt DR103. Thanks for the walkthrough of the circuitry!
Ah, great to see a new video! My early career was as a test engineer in the defense industry, doing lots of troubleshooting and repair on weapon control panels.
Hello Colleen! Glad to see you're back!! I missed you a lot on CZcams, and even with your absence, I understand that thank God you have a lot of service!! This is very important, it's part of being able to pay the bills!! I love you so much, keep it up!!
Thanks for those great gut shots of a classic. Studying when I can and hope to learn the necessary tech skills to service my amps.
I would LOVE to crank that amp up! Glad you're back!!!
Hello from England, just subbed. A very straightforward and informative amp repair channel. Thank you.
Aaaahhhhh.😌 You're back! God I love your videos.
I've played a couple of Hiwatts - they are fantastic and built like a tank. It's so refreshing to see an amp that is this unique - thanks for posting this!
Thanks for sharing what you have learned and keeping a disappearing art alive for future generations 👌
Good to see you back 👍🏻🇬🇧
That is an awesome design job on that amp. Cleanest wiring I have ever seen outside of military equipment. Easy access to all the components. nice bias mod too. Have you ever thought about having a PCB made as an add on ready to go into any amp using similar circuitry? Might be able to sell as a separate item also. Nice clean repair. After over 55 years of seeing buggered up repairs, it is so nice to see what you & D lab do.
Great to see you back! Love those amps! Some corrected the fuse rating, one other thing according to the US electric code you shall not switch the neutral leg (white) only the hot (black). Sweet job & great sound!
good job and glad to see someone not afraid to work 👍
Yay, thanks for coming back!
Fantastic video on one of the unsung great tones of the classic rock era. Very happy to hear you are busy - if anything good came out of Covid it’s that it got people back into music and picking up a guitar and plugging in.
Nice work and enhancement for the adjustable bias. As you stated, the physical component layout and wiring in the unit is a work of art. Would be a good idea to save this video as a reference if I ever try building an amp by hand... just for funsies.
These videos are so chill
Keep the videos up, your videos are great, incredibly informative and you clearly really know your stuff, think not so long your gonna be mimisounds level followers very soon
Intelligibly and clearly explains, continue in this spirit, clever and beautiful.
Great video, thanks. Really pleased your business is doing well. I look forward to the next video.
Had a few Sound City amps back in the day custom 120,200+ and an SMF tour series that was a monster at 265 watts RMS. Always loved the mil-spec wiring of those and the Hiwatts
Well done! It should be noted that the reason techs worldwide do not see many Hiwatt amps is because of their build quality. It is great to see you back. You were sorely missed. I saw where you sent Uncle Doug a shirt for his birthday. i coincidentally was watching that episode while wearing my Fazio t-shirt! I look forward to your next installment with great eagerness.
We've missed you Colleen 😍 Nice job and what neat looking wiring in that amp ... Thx ...
Good to see ya back, Fazio!
Good to see you on here again.
I am so pleased that you are back and then with an interesting video. The Hiwatt 100 amplifier and then a lot of Philips Miniwatt EL34 tubes in the power amp. Too bad, but no Philips Miniwatt EL34. A very nice amp, it has a nice sound, good job.
Relaxed, simple amp repair and/or modification without shitting on every amp designer in the business! I love watching You Tube amp techs telling you how "they would've done it" as if there is only one perfect way of doing it...their way!
Glad to hear you are busy. I was worried the opposite was true.
By the way was ALSO very good knowing that YOU weren't able to post constantly / more often, because YOU had loads of work, Thumbs up for that too... thanks FOR THIS VIDEO I was curious, I'been never saw a HIWATT inside parts / components... CHEERS / THANKS
This has become my new favorite channel, despite the fact that I know almost nothing about electronics or amp repair. I haven't even learned to solder yet, something I do plan on, as I'd like to be able to at least switch out pots/switches and pickups on my guitars. The calm and methodical manner you work with, explaining things and giving a little history along the way in your friendly and humble way, is fun to watch. The hope is, like Ted Woodford's (twoodfrd) guitar repair channel, that things will seep into my brain through osmosis. You need to make more videos though! My wish for you is that you get lots of super interesting vintage amps that you feel obligated to document, like that 1941 Gibson. That thing was amazing! I'm especially curious right now about Rickenbacker amps from the late 50's/early 60's - the guy that played guitar on the new Elvis movie used one of those to nail the 50's Scotty Moore tone (see the Ask Zac channel...).
Awesome! Great to see another repair video. I love these amps, too.
My new job has be doing more soldering again.which I do enjoy..it got me thinking when your next video would drop and Bam! here we are!
Being in the radio biz and having built my share if good(and bad) kits and various repairs over the years I really appreciate the concept of military spec design and construction. At least they don't dip the whole chasis in lacquer to protect from jungle humidity! Great video!
As someone who knows next to nothing I really enjoy your channel, you explain things extremely clearly and at a nice steady pace. As a boomer I always love hearing young business owners say "…it’s been crazy busy around here."
Merci Colleen pour cette chouette vidéo, it's been a long time.
Wow - thanks that was a sweet video , Colleen ! Wearing the golden Fazio Tee in your honour , enjoyed every minute of this - totally worth the wait since your last post especially to see your solo guitar licks ! Mr Gilmour & Mr Waters would be proud 😎
One QA suggestion for you, unless you already do it (?) , is to test the replacement caps you are sourcing for both value and ESR , prior to soldering. I’ve had the odd bad one and it could save a rare tube from instant destruction !
Keep up the great work ! 👋🤩✌️
Glad you’re back.
Hi Colleen, nice to see you back again, look forward to seeing your videos.
The amp is really clean and nicely built, I’ve been a massive fan of the Who and I remember them using these amps.
That’s the sound I’m hearing from these amps. The Who.
@@panzerlieb was that from “ Long live Rock “ ?
Neat service and repair job. Those mustard caps must cost a fortune. Thanks for sharing your work and these amps.
Great video, you are very knowledgeable and explain things really well. Rock on!
Welcome back Miss Colleen! This is my first time seeing inside a HiWatt amp. Makes your job a LOT easier doesn't it?
Hey girl, it is so good to see you back! !!! I wondered what happened. I missed you!!!
One of the best made vintage tube amp ever
Nice simple solution for the power cord. That amp sounds great!!! 😁👍
Greetings from fabulous Las Vegas! Nice to see that you're still working, and doing nice work from what I can see.
Hiwatts are clean machines aren't they? Jimmie Vaughan used them for a while in the 80s, and he said they're like a big tweed bassman, only 5 times as loud. The layout and lead dress are nothing short of being works of art. The only other amps I've seen that equal them are Sound City. If you haven't worked on one yet, you probably will eventually. They have the same kind of quality and attention to detail as the hiwatts. They sound pretty awesome too.
Our mutual friend picked up his crash and burn Twin a couple of months ago, and that was the last I saw of him. I hope you are well.
This amp is a good choice for an extreme metal guitarist who wants a vintage tube pathway, but also super clean power, who also uses a pedal for their distortion. Best of all worlds in a situation like that. Clean, loud power, nice tube sound, takes the pedal distortion well and helps smooth it out a little, and when you turn your stomp box off, the clean tone is so buttery smooth. Its a win-win-win and something like this is an essential part of your tone when you favor the really gainy pedals like the old metalzones and the like.
Long time since I saw one of your vids. If you think about it, that type of super tight wiring scheme was the builder's way of getting closer to a PCB. "A place for everything and everything in it's place" Proven techniques give proven results. Thanks for the builder background info also. Always important to give credit and record history for the future tube geeks
I have an old Sano that has pt to pt wiring, where we see wiring measured and cleanly run at 90degree angles, bent to destination. So clean, craftsmanship. It's functional art, becoming a rare discipline in today's market driven, mass production models... nice to see examples occasionally in your vids...
Everyone loves a Hiwatt! I have five and wish I had more! Best amps ever made :)
Nice to see you again!
As much as I loved the loud concert music when I was young, now that I'm in my 60's, I'm paying for it with hearing loss and tinnitus.
what?
Yes!!! Good to see you again!
Awesome!! You're back! 🙂
HiWatt, that brings alot of memories for me. At the time, beginning of 1970s, I was working as a service tech at a music store in Gothenburg, Sweden, called MUG. They where the Swedish distributor and I was responsible to adapt them for the market. More fuses and replace the power connector. I had a punch tool to fit the new connector. I actually had pleasure to meet Dave at his shop. We had tea......
I asked Stuart the British repair guy, youtuber, if he had repaired any Hiwatts, zero was his answer. That says alot of the quality! If I remember correct, I only had a few returns, all bad tubes.
Thanks again for this wonderful memory.
PeterS
Those weren't "bad tubes."
This lil lady just pointed out....
No Bias adjustment, grid runs Hot, DESIGNED INTO THE CIRCUIT.
Your uTuber Hero didn't repair Hiwatt Amps because the artists using them got tired of feeding them Vacuum Tubes.
On top of that, I doubt Hiwatt had any considerable market share.
Those Capacitors in any Amplifier die from AGE. If noone Loved their HiWatt long enough for those caps to die, they never had it Serviced.
I could say that since I have never performed any service or repairs on a DeTomaso Pantera, that makes it a better road car than a 911 and a better race car than a GT40.
The absence of evidence does not make a verdict.
Go unravel your logic. It doesn't work for me.
Edited to Correct Autocorrect