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Hiwatt HGS 100H
Warranty from the manufacturer: 12 months.
Description of the Hiwatt HGS 100H
When you look at a valve amp that instantly makes you want to pick up a guitar, that’s when you realise why something like the Hiwatt HGS 100H shows up in your life — and why it’s so highly valued by people who love a real, live sound and the true character of their instrument.
This isn’t a toy and it’s not an impulse “sale” purchase. This is a head that can become the heart of your rock, metal, funk, indie – or anything else you want to play loud, with conviction and personality. There’s more than enough power not only for the rehearsal room, but also for big stages. At the same time, the amp doesn’t turn into an uncontrollable beast that’s impossible to tame at home or in the studio.
The main strength of this head is the sense of headroom it gives you. You switch it on and immediately feel that it isn’t choked dynamically, it takes pedals in its stride and behaves predictably at any volume. The neck in your hands suddenly starts to feel different, because you can sense the amp responding to every movement of the pick.
If you’re just getting into electric guitar, this kind of head can become a reference point. You’ll hear how your chords, bends and mutes really sound. And if you’ve been playing for years, you’ll appreciate how confidently and solidly the sound sits in the mix, without dropouts or nasty frequencies you have to spend hours carving out with an EQ.
Why choose this model?
- High, stage-ready power, yet the amp still keeps clarity and dynamics at low volume
- Rich valve tone with a defined attack and tight low end that pairs beautifully with overdrive, modulation and effects pedals
- Reliable, time‑tested construction in the classic spirit of British amps, built for years of serious use
- Flexible EQ controls that let you dial in both tight rhythm and expressive lead tones without holes in the mids
- An excellent choice for studios and live venues, as the amp behaves predictably under microphones and sits in the mix with ease
Model overview
At its core, the amp is based on a classic valve design aimed at a rich, three‑dimensional sound with expressive dynamics. Inside you’ll find high‑grade preamp and power valves that deliver plenty of volume on tap and let your guitar’s tone open up without any plasticky or synthetic feel. You can easily imagine this head in a club, at a festival, in the studio or simply in the rehearsal room — it will sound confident and full‑bodied wherever you use it.
The Hiwatt HGS 100H is built in the tradition of the British school. That means a punchy, focused low end, articulate mids and a controlled top that doesn’t turn into an unpleasant shriek, even with brighter settings. This character is perfect for rock riffs, open indie chords and tight metal with support from overdrive or distortion pedals. The clean channel sounds wide and clear, leaving plenty of space for chorus, reverb and delay pedals.
The amp’s EQ section offers enough flexibility to shape the sound for different guitars and roles. A Strat, Telecaster and humbuckers all reveal their character differently, but the head lets you compensate for each instrument’s quirks and tailor the tone to the specific part. You can beef up the low end for modern rhythms, push the mids forward for a two‑guitar mix, or slightly dry out the top if you prefer a softer attack.
The amp responds well to playing nuances. When you roll down your guitar’s volume, the sound doesn’t turn into a muddy blur – it stays tight and musical. This is especially important for players who like to control gain levels directly from the instrument. Gentle crunch, almost‑clean tones or saturated drive can be achieved not only with pedals, but also through your own dynamics.
From a practical point of view, the head works brilliantly with both classic British‑style cabs and more modern cabinets geared towards heavier genres. You can build a versatile club rig or a more specialised metal setup without changing the amp. It takes regular transport, studio sessions and frequent rehearsals in its stride.
The well thought‑out layout of the sockets and controls means you can get to grips with the amp quickly, even if you’ve never dealt with a full‑size valve head before. The controls are intuitive, and the interface never feels cluttered. All the important knobs and switches are right in front of you, so in rehearsal you spend your time making music rather than wrestling with the gear.
Who is this model for?
This head meets the needs of very different players, and that’s exactly why the Hiwatt HGS 100H slots so easily into almost any musical routine, from home practice to professional touring. If you’re a beginner guitarist, the amp can become a benchmark that defines what a good sound actually is. It motivates you to work on your technique, because every mistake and every great idea is heard straight away.
Players in bands will appreciate the ample volume and the ability to cut through a dense mix. A heavy‑hitting drummer and a second guitarist with an aggressive rig won’t be a problem. Your sound doesn’t disappear or wash out – it confidently finds its place between the bass and drums. At the same time, you’re fully in control of the character, from light crunch to saturated overdrive, using the settings and your pedalboard.
For professionals, the amp offers consistency. If you’re a session guitarist, you can happily take this head to different venues without worrying about how it will behave under microphones. Producers and composers will appreciate the predictability and repeatability of the tone. You can track parts today and tomorrow and get the same level of quality, without surprises in the top end or a scooped‑out low end.
For studios, the amp is ideal as an everyday workhorse. You can record rhythm parts, leads, textural guitars with pedals and experimental layers on it. It faithfully conveys the character of different instruments instead of flattening them into one generic sound. If you’re recording at home, you can use a powerful cab in professional rooms and keep the head as a core tool for re‑amping as well.
Engineers will appreciate that the amp doesn’t need extreme EQ surgery to sit in a mix. Choose a suitable cab and microphone, make a few small frequency tweaks – and everything just clicks. This saves time at soundcheck and in the mix. For touring musicians, that’s a very real boost to comfort.
And if music is more of a hobby for you, this head simply delivers pleasure. You switch it on, plug in the guitar, hook it up to your favourite cab or a cab simulator – and just enjoy playing. The sound inspires you rather than making you fight with the controls. It’s like owning a really good musical instrument that you genuinely look forward to picking up every day.
Specifications of the Hiwatt HGS 100H
- Type: valve guitar amp head
- Output power: 100 W
- Amplifier class: AB
- Preamp valves: 3 x 12AX7
- Power valves: 4 x EL34
- Channels: clean and overdrive
- Controls: volume, gain, bass, middle, treble, master volume
- Additional features: shared EQ, presence
- Inputs: 6.3 mm instrument input
- Outputs: speaker outputs 4, 8 and 16 Ohm
- Effects loop: series effects loop send/return
- Cabinet construction: wooden enclosure with vinyl covering and metal grille
- Controls layout: front panel with mechanical switches and rotary knobs
- Power: standard mains power, built‑in transformer
- Dimensions: approximately the size of a standard 100‑watt Hiwatt head
- Applications: stage, rehearsal room, studio recording, use with pedalboards and external cabinets
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