Rics & Hiwatts?

[IHeartRics]

I've been using my Rics through Hiwatts for many years and all I can say is it's awesome. Its like you put your Ric on steriods. I've used one the less-than-desirable versions, the L50R head, which is a Turntune PC board version, and for 20 years and it has yet to fail me, so I can care less what the purists say. I run it through an orignal '72 4x12. All I ever get is compliments on the tone. But as I get older so does my back, so I typically now use a SA112OL 1x12 combo but made a 1x12 closed back extention cab to create a mini-stack. But I gotta tell you, even the combo is heavy!!

I use 50 watts as I think for standard clubs that's all you need. I pair it up with a RAT distortion and I'm in heaven. This pedal allows me to get the drive I want without talking off any heads. It sounds Townshend-esque, but also has a Cheap Trick flavor to it too. Here's a live video with my 480, a RAT and the L50R halfstack. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti3y12M5 ... re=related

[whojamfan]

Cool vid Chip, love the rig. I had a D100L back in the early 90s that sounded good when it worked. I had it blow up twice in 6mos, so I got rid of it. Later, I ended up getting the one that I have had since the mid 90s. I have since found out that those models were prone to failing often, and generally have a bad rep by the "purist" community. It's great to hear you have had many trouble free years with yours

All I can say is my Chinese AC30 in all it's PCB political incorrectness sounds great, and with a few mods, really kicks some butt! Non Celestion speakers, Weber Copper Cap solid state transformer, and a couple other little goodies have turned it into a reliable tone monster.

[Low End Lover]

I would be very interested to known how you go with the VHR Hitone amp looks like a great alternative, please keep us updated.

I have built many amps but no longer had the time to consider another build, although seriously considered the Trinity Triwatt which is just packed with features and the guys over on that forum are just the best.
Ended up going with the Hiwatt Studio/Stage, at the time I did not known anything about MG etc. But my experience with the amp has been all good, I believe Reeves rebadged them in the States for a number of years. I am using a set of NOS Russian 6P14P-EV output tubes instead of EL84's, gives it more punch and presence, a step closer to EL34 sound.

Just for interest our friends in Moscow have some demos of the Hiwatt Studio/Stage against other amps, no Ricks unfortunately @
http://www.rig-talk.com/forum/viewtopic ... 34&start=0

I certianly will. The VHR/HiTone guys have been so quick and helpful to answer my questions that I really want to go with them. Having said that, I had heard of the Trinity Triwatt, but didn't know much about it. I would be interested to hear what you know about it.
I think Reeves stuff is probably great, too, but I can save a few hundred with VHR/HiTone and not give anything up quality-wise.
FWIW, the VHR/HiTone guys said they are authorized by the David Reeves estate to build their amps. Also, they will do the build for you for an extra $400, which is what I will do as I don't have enough technical knowledge to build an amp.

LEL (Jason)

[IHeartRics]

Cool vid Chip, love the rig. I had a D100L back in the early 90s that sounded good when it worked. I had it blow up twice in 6mos, so I got rid of it. Later, I ended up getting the one that I have had since the mid 90s. I have since found out that those models were prone to failing often, and generally have a bad rep by the "purist" community. It's great to hear you have had many trouble free years with yours

All I can say is my Chinese AC30 in all it's PCB political incorrectness sounds great, and with a few mods, really kicks some butt! Non Celestion speakers, Weber Copper Cap solid state transformer, and a couple other little goodies have turned it into a reliable tone monster.

Thanks Mike. And I can say I've never babied mine either. Gigged it all the time and still do at bigger venues. I have no issues with PC board construction as long as it's done right. If its a cheap board or was poorly soldered in the wave pond then yes, you'll have some troubles. The ones from the Turntone era that are usually problematic are the combos because the tubes are mounted to the chassis, which is upside down. Heat rises and ruins the board around the socket connection, which is why my head has probably survived. And if PC boards are so bad, why are they in life-saving medical equipment and other important equipment and machinery? If it was so bad, it would all be point-to-point! Don't get me wrong, the inside of a hand-wired Hiwatt is a a thing of beauty and I can understand why the purists love them, but don't kick everything else to the curb.

I'd love to hear that AC-30. Do you ave anything posted? I'd also love to land an AC30 or AC15 someday, but my "fun" money usually gets eaten up by RAS!

[rowbo777]

Zaphod is your man for knowledge on the Triwatt. Schematics available if you become a member of the Trinity forum.

Information about the Trinity Triwatt available at (there is also the DIY kit)
http://www.trinityamps.com/Product_Triwatt.htm

Trinity Forum at
http://www.trinityamps.com/phpbb/viewforum.php?f=14

Also lots of great amps use PCB's, no cringe factor here, ie. the Musicman range, Marshall JCM800 (tubes still chassis mounted) are just a few examples from the early days. Alot of the modern amps are manufactured using extra thick PCB boards and deep copper substrate and can actually produce better more consistent quality results if designed well.

[whojamfan]

I got no beef with pcb

[Low End Lover]

I got no beef with pcb

In the end, it is about the tone, pcb or not, and what gets you there is what gets you there. I have one of those little Vox Pathfinder amps and it is one of the cooler amps I've played. My 620/12 through it is pure jangle and chime. Its cleans are excellent and the distortion is decent, espeically when you consider these are $120 new. There is no reason why every Ric player can't have a Vox in their arsenal at that price. Also, when it comes to bass, I think the new breed of Class D amps is a quantum leap ahead and the fact that you can get a 1200W head that weighs 7 lbs is an amazing thing! And they sound wonderful, too!
Having said, I still want a Hiwatt!

LEL (Jason)

[whojamfan]

Well, make me an offer I can't refuse Jason and you might just own one! 1975 DR504 4 input Hylight in beautiful condition with an anvil flight case!

[whojamfan]

Will take a 330FG as partial trade

[Low End Lover]

Well, make me an offer I can't refuse Jason and you might just own one! 1975 DR504 4 input Hylight in beautiful condition with an anvil flight case!

Ah, it's all happening too fast! I just (and I mean just) closed a deal with libratune to buy his '95 610 in Fireglo. I have really fallen in love with the 600's for their lightness and tone. The only 330 I have access to is my wife's 330 Jetglo and I think I wouldn't be alive to play the Hiwatt if I got rid of that!
I will keep that in mind, but it is going to be a few months before I have the scratch to get a Hiwatt.

Thanks,

LEL (Jason)

[jps]

Will take a 330FG as partial trade

Yeah, what would you include as the other part of the trade for this 330 FG, in addition to the Hiwatt?

[IHeartRics]

Will take a 330FG as partial trade

Yeah, what would you include as the other part of the trade for this 330 FG, in addition to the Hiwatt?

"the left one"!

[whojamfan]

Will take a 330FG as partial trade

Yeah, what would you include as the other part of the trade for this 330 FG, in addition to the Hiwatt?

That old thing?

[Low End Lover]

As far as thread derails go, this is certainly one of the more amusing ones!

[IHeartRics]

Mike, I'd hold on to that amp. IMO, that's one of those pieces of equipment that you'll later regret you parted with. It is too classic. In fact, I bet it would sound cool run in pair with that AC30.

Jason, if you want to dip your toe into the Hiwatt pond, there is an L50R head on ebay right now at a fair price. Even though I'm OK with PC boards, I do realize the point to point is beautiful so at some point you need to say, "How much more do I have to save for the point to point?" and pass on the PC version if the price gets too high. Note that this model has the clipping diodes on the lead channel, which I had snipped. Makes the channel way more usable. Also that channel has more of a Marshall tone stack, but there is a post on one of the Hiwatt forums where someone stated the mod to make this channel a true Hiwatt tone stack was fairly simple.

Note that I was told that the first Romantics album was recorded using Hiwatt combos cranked to the max with Ric guitars. I recall seeing them live way back when with the Rics and a backline of Hiwatts. Here you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvHKjDKY_O8