All Them Witches at Abbey Road Studios

Earlier this year we caught up with Hiwatt Artist, Ben McLeod of All Them Witches at Abbey Road Studios to talk us through the Hiwatt rig he used on their incredible new album "Nothing As The Ideal".
www.hiwatt.co.uk

[@bradswanson8515]

Greatest band on the planet at the moment.

[@Latsson2]

Has been the last 5 years 😄

[@mixermanbear.4002]

Word!!!

[@tcw8287]

Couldn't agree more

[@dorianford6227]

Still doesn’t have the credit they deserve

[@ThePurza]

I Don't quite understand why they aren't as big as qotsa. Similar appeal and quality. Nothing as the Ideal is a fucking dope album

[@SamLibman]

The new album kicks ass! And the tones are MAGNIFICENT!

[@JS-nf1sn]

Ben is the tone master (ha ha, get it...). No really, clean or dirty tones he always has the tone dialed in. Great endorsement for Hiwatt. Awesome band. Love all their albums. Ben is an amazing guitar player.

[@CathodeULT]

I'm just glad to see a major album being recorded with actual amps. Thank God!

[@grilo31]

The guitar sound in this album is amazing. You guys are the greatest band around. Thanx!

[@MikeBaars83]

That new album is highly recommended.

[@grahamman80]

It'd be great if you could now just walk us through those tones one at a time. Thanks Ben.

[@romananthonymusic]

Bless these guys!

[@RocketinExile]

great band

[@BladeDoomer86]

Dunno how i just saw this... Yeah, the latest album is one of the best in 20 yrs...

[@markusfinkler9625]

Early Page Amp would be somthing to absolutely to play. Wonder if I could handle the cleanes.❤❤❤

[@josephfemoyer7218]

What was that all about?

[@sillysausage4549]

Loved the playing at 3 minutes.... which is clearly a rip off of part of a Classical piece (Vaughan-Williams Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis), which was itself based on a late medieval piece.

[@santiagobondoni]

Ben all day long baby

[@sleepingarrow2198]

what kind of fane speakers were in the cab?

[@davidszep3488]

Fane of course..

[@jestle]

0:57 what just happened

[@TheChadPad]

It's a funny prank to just stick your face right next to someone behind their back to mess with them

[@suddenlyawetrat2587]

Homie moment

[@wade7662]

Parks being a madman like usual

[@tomasvanecek8626]

There is no Hiwatt anymore. The REAL deal is early 70s DR103s with genuine Partridges. Luckily I´ve sourced two.. and one more, still a good replica from 2007.. with trannies "designed by Partridge", with lookalike sticker on them, deceiving.. lol.. (I forgot the name of that UK company that faked them..) This guy here could play what he plays on any amp.. maybe even better into a modeller I´m not saying he cant play.. he can.

[@Steven-re3tx]

I wouldn't trade anything,.. original dumble excluded,.. for my 83 Hiwatt Custom 50 DR 504 OL. Sounds perfect before pedals. But with quality pedals,..ie,.. Strymon, Walrus Audio, JHS, Empress,... It will change your life. ENJOY.

[@tomasvanecek8626]

@@Steven-re3tx Ok, ok.. but Hiwatts in 80s were nothing like the old stuff

[@Steven-re3tx]

@@tomasvanecek8626 Only difference I know of is Drake transformers,...like the vintage Marshalls use. A DR is a one of a kind. You should perhaps do a bit more homework.

[@Steven-re3tx]

I play a vintage original Hiwatt every day,.. with recent service. Both channels. Tone is everything.

[@Steven-re3tx]

@@tomasvanecek8626 Fun fact,.. Hiwatt ended in 84 after Mr. Reeves death. That's when the DR 504 OL came out with more gain to compete with Marshall. I own a piece of history,... and history sounds beautiful.

[@richardsteffens6159]

If you aren't listening to this band you're probably making terrible life decisions.

[@siriplaydopethrone8973]

Facts :D

[@cthulhujankinx5652]

Nah I pepper them in with ok life decisions

[@josephfemoyer7218]

“If you aren’t listening to this band your probably doing yourself a favor”.i hav never heard of “All them bitches”.never heard on any radio station,no hot singles,not on any tv,cable show so WHERES the talent? To each his own

[@frakjahor]

This guy is possibly the most influential guitar player of the new decade. I keep seeing the same old lame shredding (not even Zappa kind of shredding) copy cats for almost since the beginning of 2000’s. This guy is no show off. He gets in there when the song needs it. He knows sometimes silence for a second is the best way out of a god damn dead end looking solo. Thank you brother. Keep it real.

[@CarloCalcaterra92]

Yeah, I thought the same after listening to the band for a while

[@stevec6427]

Too many modern guitarists know too many tricks but have no idea how to make a great song. All Them Witches just make great tune after great tune. I love how the bass takes the lead in some songs as well.

[@westingband]

Here he is again: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epKZaaJ5ZtWCkLc

[@AspiringSpaceWizard]

Less is more. Crazy shredding ,while impressive , is not near as good as more purposeful and “simpler” catchy playing you can feeeel.

[@matthewt.5313]

All Them Witches, TOOL and Sabbath tones? Hell Yeah! That amp just got a top spot on my future purchase list.

[@realgoodmind]

Yes! How have I not seen this stuff. Hiwatt has been hiding all these vids

[@luciodellaporta7201]

Great set up! 2 Hiwatt heads is not fare!!!

[@churchmoms6662]

Ben!

[@Kyle-zp1fq]

Ben has such an awesome sound on this new album

[@andywakelin1380]

The new album is awesome! My favourite atw album (for now)

[@eharmicar]

Pete Townshend/Hiwatt-Long Live Rock!!!

[@iwillnevergetone5]

at @1:24 shouldn't factors like an amp being too loud NOT be a problem when you're working in a studio like Abbey Road? haha you'd think they'd have the best sound-proof rooms in the world at this level. oh well

[@spudvader]

Well no because if you put sound proofing in the room then you change the room dynamics

[@iwillnevergetone5]

@@spudvader fair enough. i'm just saying- to get told "that's too loud" in such a legendary recording place would bum me out

[@spudvader]

@@iwillnevergetone5 Totally agree. I've also heard some of the magic of Abbey Road is the mics they use, an engineer use to make up his own mics or mix different mics together. Think it was on Abbey Road sessions with The Black Keys??

[@anthonychilds8193]

Yeah... but these go to 11.

[@deadbabyjokes5319]

didnt listen to alot of band but this one im addicted! thx to kexp wouldnt have found them

[@RUfromthe40s]

i´m old as all young people i know say , but this is and was always a type of sound i heard since very young a nice blues rock with personal identity and modern sounding and the influencies of the band menbers do make that litle touch who make them unique

[@geraldcalifornia5923]

Does the Hiwatt d103 its louder thana a twin reverb? Any ons knows or try both amps?

[@oldmanofcotati]

Depends on the speakers regarding "loudness"/SPL. RMS is about the same.