HIWATT CUSTOM 50 SA212 Combo - General demo (Strat) with and without effects

You won't find many amps that are better built from a commercial custom workshop. The HIWATT Custom 50 SA212 Combo is one of the cleanest, loudest, bell-like and most pedal friendly amps I've ever heard. Hence it has become my choice of amp for 2011 and beyond. I love it and now see why many of my heroes swear by them, too.
Here I've teamed the amp up with my favourite Strat (loaded with Brierley Pickups), a Dice Works Muff Diver Finale (part of a custom Dice Works pedal I commissioned called 'The Overture') and an Eventide TimeFactor.
I recorded it with an SM57 to ProTools 9 via an M-Audio ProFire 610. No extra EQ was added but a Waves L3-16 was used as a limiter on the master output.
This is from a series of videos on the HIWATT Custom 50 Combo that I'll be uploading shortly.
Many thanks to Carole Johnston at CMC Music P/L Australia for her assistance.
Cheers,
Burgs

[@BaronsDuju]

This might be the video Noel Gallagher was referring to in the latest TPS episode. The episode he listened to in his car on his iPhone and inspired him to buy the same amp. :)

[@jland12]

Here after Noel Gallagher mentioned Brett in his appearance on That Pedal Show. Referred to him as "that Australian guy"

[@markg9254]

Same! Literally now.

[@cameronlesley2428]

Must be good to know that your hi video are the reason Noel Gallagher plays a hi watt amp. You even get name dropped by Noel on the TPS video.

[@MrRafaztar]

On todays interview in that pedal show Noel Gallagher said this video made him get the amp ❤

[@Tmr7t-qm9lh]

Whew°°°, There is no Amp like Hiwatt, Finest amps on the planet hands down, I own two vintage original heads...DR103 1972 and a 200 watter that smokes any venue...total reliability, tone and power beyond.

[@glanemann]

My God, that amp sounds perfect. I want.

[@georgecaplan11]

I think this is the video that Noel Gallagher references in his interview on that Pedal Show.

[@mononoaware1960]

Holy shit a demo where the guy can actually play! This is a perfect example of the searing gilmour like tones you can get.

[@angusorvid8840]

The clean tones are supreme and the Gilmour tone could melt a tank. Talk about a powerful strat tone.

[@epilefsiul]

You made Noel Gallagher to buy a Hiwatt Custom 50 because of this video 😮😮

[@BrettKingman]

That's OK, I bought a few of his songs. They're pretty good too. 😃

[@mikelongstaff7579]

Brett, in case you read this and we’re not aware Noel Gallagher said he uses this Amp because of this vid. Great work!

[@mikelongstaff7579]

Ps I got a Blackstar Artisan 15 because of your vid on that. Great amp for next to no money! Thanks for your great work over the years.

[@neighbourhoodmusician]

Nailed that Comfortably Numb tone. Great demo.

[@dickdog1]

Some of the best reviews on the net, thanks!

[@bassmangarrett151]

i am so obsessed with this guitar/amp combo

[@barryplem]

THANK YOU for taking the time to mic the amp and do the demo right! Great demo :)

[@smoss469]

For the price they charge, they'd better be awesome! Sounds great! Very crisp and still mellow!

[@Cluless02]

Ok, I'm darn jealous now!! Didn't catch what speakers were installed - stellar tone in any case!

[@3dsman]

@Burgerman666 I'm pretty sure that stuff is "Tone Oxide"!! Whatever you do, don't touch it! If any of it comes off the amp will sound like shxx!! ;-) I paused the video at the gut shots and just stared and drooled for 10 minutes! What a thing of beauty! ;-) Great demo as always! Cheers

[@TruthSurge]

yeah, guitar rig 5 has a "high white" amp. I'm guessing it's a high watt sim since they never put brand names on them. Anyway, I played it and it has a nice sound but it breaks up some at higher settings but the strat sound is really nice and tinkly. I added a dist in front and got a kind of Alex Lifeson tone as on Limelight (intro/verses). I might do a little cover of that!

[@tjnugent62]

Beautiful sounding amp... Gotta love the Hiwatt...

[@buddachile]

Another great demo. You're the best!

[@shakeyjonez]

When you kick on that Muff...

[@kitsokollias]

was waiting for a 'david' tune !!! nice vid

[@asdf9890]

Drooling on my guitar, man that thing sound sweet.

[@chenhen72]

1:28 killer tone!

[@CryWahWah]

Wow amazing tone. Well-done man.

[@darkcide1959]

Wow!!..just Wow!

[@Klampfenmann]

Dude you have the best tone! Im thinking about selling my Marshall JVM and getting a Hiwatt custom 50! Probably it will sound amazing with my Musket Fuzz, Carbon Copy Delay and Tube Screamer. Keep On Rockin

[@rsl84416]

thats an impressive muff sound. Sounds much better than the p.o.s. ones they're turning out these days.

[@stepanbarty]

:) damn it, I loved every single sound in this video (excluding his voice, which is quite normal :) ). I'd SO love to own this amp... but... .

[@dickdog1]

Kingman is THE King man!

[@GraffitiPhysical]

Very nice demo.

[@SAMMYKO1]

Mr Kingman you are quality.

[@peterpav7098]

Now that's an amp !!!!

[@thetzel70]

What's with the Dice Works pedal? Amazing 👏 is it vintage? Available?

[@jetmicbev2006]

wow!!! sound amazing!

[@LIVE2ROCK2011]

i really want one ahhhhhhhhhh !!!!!!!!!!! also what camera are you using i want to start making videos and yours sounds great , great playing by the way

[@jcmcclain57]

Sweet! I am about to build a replacement amp for my DR103 half stack that I am getting ready to part with and was thinking about what could possibly fill that void. It's clear that my home build will be a DR504 chassis with most likely a 2X12 combo cabinet or possibly a 1X12 combo or just buying a vintage SA212 (if I can find one). Appreciate the demo!

[@angrygoldfish]

Is that rust in the chassies near the turret boards at 0:35? Sounds amazing. It really does. I intend on buying a Verellen Loucks in the coming year. It's an amp based somewhat on a Hiwatt. Sludgy metal 4ever. xD

[@FraPinkFloyd]

Hi Brett, lovey amp! Hi have the Custom 50 head from 2009. Which tubes are installed on yours? Thank you, happy music

[@jamesm5744]

Great amps indeed Brett, I use the custom stage studio myself, best amp Ive ever had..

[@montag4516]

I have the Studio Stage Mark 2 myself. After hearing this demo I'm realizing how much I'm miss having a presence control and/or a bright input. Also, typical of tube combo amps there's often a culprit rattle at volume that needs dampening to eliminate. Love the reverb on it, very smooth and musical.

[@nuudelimuusikko1608]

I love Hiwatt!

[@ciclosonico]

WOW Brett that's great! I want one!!! :)

[@OldRunt]

Tell me why you changed the pickups in the strat. I dislike the frets extremely but play it because of the pickups. The EQ and the pickup sound great to me in a 2022. I would like to hear your experience. Thank you.

[@TruthSurge]

Yeah, that strat sounded clean as #($))$# in that amp. But not thin or brittle. And you can always warm it up with some overdrive/comp I guess. He missed a note on Gilmour's lead but I didn't say anything. HEHEHEH Also, Gilmour doesn't use very much distortion on that solo. Lots of compression and a little gain but not much. Just sustain. I have some amp sims... i think a hiwatt may be in the list not sure. I'm gonna check! hahaha prob old model tho.

[@mikeaustin4138]

Can you get natural overdrive/saturation on this amp or is is twin-reverb clean?

[@heavenlyguitar5913]

Gorgeous tone! My Carvin x 100b Sounds great too. Thank you for this video.

[@AM007009]

beautiful sounds man! i need to ask becuase there is a biacrown custom 50 that i hve my eyes right now to replace my jtm45 handwried clone as it's more in the musical direction that im currently going, how loud really is this at 50 watts? like twin reverb loud? i don't want to have to dime it, my jtm is about perfect in volume at something like 38 watts i believe, thanks man and shine on

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Noel Gallagher shouted you out in his that pedal show interview.

[@MrDavemiley]

Been a while since I watched this Video . Do you still have and use this Amplifier ?

[@BrettKingman]

I do, but's currently up for grabs via nepeanmusic.com.au/products/hiwatt-custom-50-2x12-50w-pre-loved?variant=42520693342358

[@fatuefatuttu]

have you built alone the distortion pedal that you use in this video? great sound!!!!!

[@Harrysound]

Noel sent me here

[@rodneyharris1879]

Great demo! But the model number on the back says SA112? Is it the 112 or 212? (I'm referring to the still shot at 0:44)

[@BCStratking]

Hi man great amp what is the price for that amp ? and do you get the David Gilmour clean sound like on the song "shine on your crazy diamond" and "Echoes" intro ?

[@rbiess]

WOW!!!

[@98bforsy]

what are your timefactor settings , it sounds wonderful. gorgeous sound. cheers

[@alphadog62]

burgs back!!

[@FraPinkFloyd]

JJ tubes, I saw it! Do you think using the NOS Mullard this amp sounds better?

[@TruthSurge]

blasphemy! playing the Comf. NUmb solo w/o using the whammy??? cmon man. hahahah Nice sounds. So, the distortion is just the pedal and not the amp?

[@TheMusicDude1997]

how does this amp break up ? nice DEMO ! Cheers

[@TruthSurge]

I should learn to read. haha Funny name. instead of driver. hehe man, those sounds are very nice. The chorus sound was really clear and just how it should sound, not all phased or flanged. A real chorus should be shimmery and clear as if the sound was pitched lower for a sec then higher and somehow not get the phasing effect.

[@buzzcrumhunger7114]

wow. was this your Blue Floyd amp of choice?

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

make a great amp like that in the UK and put Chinese JJ valves in it!! what is the industry coming to?

[@michaelwoods9005]

Richard Brain Not everybody shits gold and can afford NOS mullards..

[@TheWells119]

@BCStratking Gilmour used this amp for almost everything in Pink Floyd so yeah probably

[@WyattLeeRay13]

I have one hiwatt maxwatt g50r and do not listen like this, now he was fall on the floor and it's brake it I got to take at repair. Sound high yes but I don't know how to do it for sound more like a heavy rock.

[@brunofreireguitar]

What's the difference between Hiwatt Hi Gain 50 and this one?

[@stepanbarty]

Nay, it isn't - if I got it right, it's Dice Works Muff Diver Finale.

[@PepeIreiGuitar]

Hi Brett does this amp comes with an fx loop?

[@montag4516]

No, but there is more than plenty of clean headroom for running effects such as reverb and delay into the preamp section. Hiwatt's Studio/Stage series offer tube based reverb, placed right before the power amp section, and uses (el84 tubes running at 15/30 watts).

[@oberfour1]

Hardware used by The Who to rattle the fillings out of your teeth. Love the imports from Great Britain.

[@Smurfman256]

This'll work in the US, right?

[@BlackLocustMusic]

Wrong. JJ tubes are made in the Slovak Republic. Best tubes out there right now. And don't say Mullard because they're not the same mullards.

[@myway43]

A slice of Heaven.

[@TheFman43]

it must weigh a ton!...not a gigging amp I imagine..

[@rgbplumbinghilton]

To be honest..... JJ are not the best out there at the moment. That is just your opinion. In my 1965 Vox AC 50 I use new old stock Mullards from the late 60's. They cost more each than a set of JJ's. The only other valve I would put in my Vox is Phillips. If you are on a budget JJ's are okay. But that is it.

[@michaelwoods9005]

Richard Brain "they cost more than JJs" Yeah, like 10 times more. I've seen them for $200 PER TUBE.

[@neoaureus]

So completely 80s

[@harveycan5820]

Brett I don't usually complain but I wanted to hear THIS AMP. Not muff Pedals and Eventide. So generic. I wanted to hear YOU play the Hiwatt not treat it like a pedal platform. First time you let me down buddy.

[@feefop9858]

Why is it that everytime someone plays a Hiwatt they HAVE to do Floyd? Come on!

[@pentagonoenllamas]

...and sone delay-delay