REDLAWMAN Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 (edited) Is anyone out there playing a US-made, Reeves Custom 225, please? Cheers. Edited March 25, 2012 by REDLAWMAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 I have never played a Reeves Custom 225 but recently bought a Mywatt 200 and it's wonderful. It's just like, well a Hiwatt. I would imagine that there would be little to separate the two as they are both Hiwatt clones except that the Mywatt would be cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 One of the Mywatt's is on my long term wish list :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 HiWatt clone? looks like the internals are totally different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 [quote name='4 Strings' timestamp='1332838012' post='1593636'] HiWatt clone? looks like the internals are totally different. [/quote] Must be a modern clone using solid state replacements Sorry couldn't help myself there. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Think it pretty much refers to styling only. Most of the things that made Hiwatt great aren't available any more, including Dave Reeves (and WW2 MOD standard wirers in general). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 I believe that there are exceptions... [url="http://www.hi-tone-amps.com/product1.html"]http://www.hi-tone-amps.com/product1.html[/url] ...not the cheapest, but pretty darned close to the 'real thing', imho... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1332858621' post='1594043'] I believe that there are exceptions... [url="http://www.hi-tone-amps.com/product1.html"]http://www.hi-tone-a...m/product1.html[/url] ...not the cheapest, but pretty darned close to the 'real thing', imho... [/quote] [quote][list] [*]Heyboer Transformers (the best Partridge clones made today) [/list] [/quote] No. Wiring still isn't up there. The floating radial electrolytics put it somewhere at late Sound city territory, and fully not to military standard since vibration will snap the legs off. Edited March 27, 2012 by Mr. Foxen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertbass Posted March 27, 2012 Share Posted March 27, 2012 Them there transistors must be getting pretty hot 'cause they glow a nice cherry red. That must be why the amp doesn't work as soon as you switch it on, the transistors have to heat up first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDLAWMAN Posted March 31, 2012 Author Share Posted March 31, 2012 I shall bear that in mind, Mr Foxen, the next time I find myself dropped HALO into enemy territory, with nothing but my 'P' bass and half a dozen KT88 grenades in my vest..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One Drop Posted April 1, 2012 Share Posted April 1, 2012 I've heard great things about the Reeves amps (they make a 400 watter as well). I'd love to audition one for myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDLAWMAN Posted April 2, 2012 Author Share Posted April 2, 2012 I've just got off the 'phone to HMRC: that'll be £2,100 + 'Courier Handling Charges', please, sir.....!! Reeves haven't sent one to the UK yet..... The MYWATT delivered is £1,200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 2, 2012 Share Posted April 2, 2012 What about the 400 Hiwatt in the FS section? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDLAWMAN Posted April 5, 2012 Author Share Posted April 5, 2012 I'd no sooner buy a second-hand valve amp' than a second-hand pair of underpants..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4 Strings Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 [quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1333617765' post='1604209'] I'd no sooner buy a second-hand valve amp' than a second-hand pair of underpants..... [/quote] Wow. I would. Have. Why not, is it like a gold nibbed fountain pen which wears to the writing angle of the original owner maing it scratchy for subsequent users? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 Major components of valve amps currently available are inferior across the board to those available in the heyday of valve amps, so its a pretty silly idea. Especially considering what is better now can cheerfully be added to a vintage amp, an likely more easily that such a modification could be done to a modern one. In fact, certain superior construction techniques used in old amps are illegal to utilise in modern amps. But less money for a superior product might make you look a bit poor I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDLAWMAN Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 I think perhaps you misunderstand me and my rationale, Mr Foxen. I would like nothing better, in fact, than a fully-functional and wholly operationally sound 'vintage' amp' (a Bassman or Showman or an early SVT, for example). My fear of doing so is related solely to the fact that I have neither personal experience nor technical knowledge in this area: I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one and in the event that something should go wrong (or, indeed already be wrong), then I wouldn't have a clue where to begin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Not too much off-topic, I hope, but here goes... I don't think that it's reasonable to compare a Honda Goldwing with a Sunbeam S7, a Testarossa with a Bugatti Royale, or a vintage Hiwatt with a Reeves or Mywatt. The vintage have become classics, but in their turn were once new, with their own weaknesses and strengths. Yes, I have vintage amps and basses, because I'm old, but I also have, and enjoy, many modern ones too. The clock will not go back; some (a few, but which ones..?) of the modern stuff will, in their turn, become 'vintage' in time. I would think that, as an investment, one could do worse than a Reeves (not sure how much my Hartke will fetch in 40 years time...). Are they to be compared to a Hiwatt..? Yes, and they stand up damned well. Are they the same as a vintage Hiwatt..? No, they are not. Is there much out there which is even close to a vintage Hiwatt..? Not that I'm aware of... I could use Bassman, SVT or other examples, of course; the principle is much the same. I remember quite clearly turning down those rotten Sound City amps at the time, considered as being tonally inferiour and less reliable than many other offerings available. They have since become 'cult'. Similarly Orange. Wouldn't have considered 'em back then when they were cheap enough, but worth a small fortune now. Are they good..? They weren't then, so I don't feel the need for one now. Is the modern version the same..? I would hope not..! To answer the OP question; no, I haven't experience first hand with Reeves, or Mywatt, my DR203 dates from back then. Would I be pleased to have a Reeves or Mywatt..? You bet I would; those that I've seen and heard were damned good. Vintage is fine, but there is a lot of snobbism, imho, and finding a good one is not easy/cheap/fast. The modern repro versions are as close as one is likely to get, and will, I think, become classics too. Just my tuppence worth, hope this helps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDLAWMAN Posted April 6, 2012 Author Share Posted April 6, 2012 Thanks very much, Douglas; very nice of you to come in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 You're welcome; my pleasure. I understand your reticence over the 400w for sale here, but it's a hum-dinger, imho (no relation, of course...). I'm surprised it's still up for grabs. Darned heavy, though (as are all these types of beast...). Good luck with the search... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 [quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1333695677' post='1605308'] I think perhaps you misunderstand me and my rationale, Mr Foxen. I would like nothing better, in fact, than a fully-functional and wholly operationally sound 'vintage' amp' (a Bassman or Showman or an early SVT, for example). My fear of doing so is related solely to the fact that I have neither personal experience nor technical knowledge in this area: I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one and in the event that something should go wrong (or, indeed already be wrong), then I wouldn't have a clue where to begin. [/quote] Chose pretty bad example for teh bassman and SVT, neither were well made amps in their day, those are Fords, whilst Hiwatts are Rolls Royce. "I wouldn't know a good one from a bad one and in the event that something should go wrong (or, indeed already be wrong), then I wouldn't have a clue where to begin" applies equally or more so to new amps, and a vintage amp will have a personal history from previous owners, a wealth of review from decades of experience of their use, and will, possibly most importantly, be familiar and understandable to competent technicians. The only inherent unreliability in old amps is if you expect them to continue working for decades without a service or maintenance. A proper full service will get them working as per new, and will come with warranty from the tech, won't be cheap, but nor is a new amp. The recommended amp tech thread is basically all you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Just in case you're interested, these are available... [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/172902-dr201-and-dr405-replica-for-sale-from-croatia/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/172902-dr201-and-dr405-replica-for-sale-from-croatia/page__fromsearch__1[/url] ...worth a look, at least..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REDLAWMAN Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Thanks, Dad: they both look really nice, the first one in particular. Croatia, though...?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 [quote name='REDLAWMAN' timestamp='1333804599' post='1606730'] Thanks, Dad: they both look really nice, the first one in particular. Croatia, though...?? [/quote] Closer than the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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