Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $3,100
High-end/Boutique
$300
$801+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
The Hiwatt DR103 Custom Head is a legendary piece of gear, revered by guitarists for its unparalleled tonal clarity and robust construction. Ideal for both stage and studio, this amplifier head is a staple among professional musicians seeking that quintessential British sound. Hiwatt's meticulous craftsmanship shines through in every detail, from the high-quality components to the durable finish, ensuring reliability and performance that stand the test of time. With its distinctive 11-tube chassis, the DR103 delivers an impressive 100 watts of pure power, offering rich harmonics and a versatile sonic palette that can handle everything from crisp cleans to roaring overdrives. Whether you're a classic rock aficionado or an experimental soundscaper, this amplifier head provides the dynamic response and tonal depth to elevate your playing.
Key Features:
- 11-tube chassis for rich, dynamic tone
- 100 watts of power for commanding performance
- Two separate channels with multiple input options
- Renowned for its tonal clarity and construction quality
- Versatile sound suitable for various musical genres
Product specs
| Brand | Hiwatt |
| Model | Custom 100 DR103 |
| Finish | Black |
| Year | 1970s |
| Made In | United Kingdom |
| Categories | Guitar Heads |
| Color Family | Black |
| Direct Output | No Direct Output |
| Electronics | Tube |
| Impedance | 16 ohms, 4 ohms, 8 ohms |
| Number of Channels | 2 Channels |
| Number of Inputs | 4 Inputs |
| Output Power (Watts) | 100 |
| Power Tube Type | None |
| Reverb | None |
FAQs
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What kind of tone can I expect from the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100?
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The Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 is renowned for its clear, articulate tone with a robust low end and sparkling highs. It maintains clarity and definition even at high volumes, making it ideal for rock and prog-rock genres.
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Is the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100, with its 100-watt output, is powerful enough for live performances, providing ample headroom and clarity in larger venues.
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How many channels does the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 have?
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The Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 features two channels, allowing for versatile sound shaping and tonal variety.
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Does the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 have built-in reverb?
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No, the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 does not include built-in reverb, focusing instead on delivering pure tube-driven tone.
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What are the impedance options for the Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100?
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The Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 offers impedance options of 4, 8, and 16 ohms, providing flexibility to match various speaker cabinets.
Videos
Fractures In The Sky
Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 - Sound Demo
Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 - Sound Demo
Fractures In The Sky
Hiwatt Custom 100 DR103 - The worlds most MUSCULAR amp!
Johan Segeborn
HIWATT DR103 Custom 100 Head Handmade boutique amp demo
DoomBox StompBoxes
Reviews
PROS
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Pristine cleans with loads of uncompressed headroom
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Excellent pedal compatibility, enhancing drive/fuzz effects
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Maintains clean tone even at extremely loud volumes
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Crystal clear sound that reveals true character of pedals and guitars
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Perfect weight despite heavy transformers
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Exceptional build quality, nearly unmatched
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Unique voice, darker/smooth tone distinct from other British amps
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Natural tube overdrive provides rich sound
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Military-grade construction with top-notch components
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Compatible with modifications for personalized sound
CONS
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Original legs may be too short for some cabinet handles
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100.
Mods and upgrades
User experience
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Owners of DR103s from different eras (e.g., 1969, 1971, 1980) report satisfaction using the amp for both guitar and bass, praising its versatility.
Source -
The amp's extraordinarily loud clean tone is highly praised, making it an ideal pedal platform.
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Owners report that the amp's interior craftsmanship is exceptional, often described as a "work of art."
Source
Comparisons
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Some prefer the Biacrown-era DR103 over Hylight versions due to personal tonal preferences, despite the Biacrown being slightly louder for apartment settings.
Source -
Old Laney amps with effective EQ and large output transformers can approximate the Hiwatt's loud cleans, though not perfectly.
Source -
Hiwatt DR103 is closer to a Vox AC-50 or early '60s Fender than a Marshall, with its own unique sound profile.
Source
Features and functionality
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Owners highlight the DR103’s exceptional ability to handle effects, necessitating a well-curated pedal chain for optimal performance.
Source -
Unlike cranked Marshalls, Hiwatt amps don't produce excessive hiss at high volumes.
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The DR103 maintains a sharp clean tone without low-end mush, even when the volume is maxed out.
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The DR103's lack of sag and reverb reveals every playing flaw, requiring precise technique.
Source
Use cases and applications
Build quality
Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 15 Ratings
655
Beautiful, Powerfully Clean Sound!
My Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 is an original 1974 with the Linked Input modification done by Pete Cornish himself. I'm in line for another 1974 DR103 without the mod. All Hiwatts have Mullard late-70's (new badge) matched tubes installed.
146
Single Channel version
Late '70's early '80's version. Re-capped and re-tubed. Sounds great!
Artist usage
Add artist
"If you want to add guitar amps, I think Hiwatt amps could be added as they were used by David Gilmour, Alex Lifeson, Steve Hackett, Martin Barre, Peter Banks, Gary Green and Robert Fripp (and more I suppose...)"
Harry McVeigh of White Lies uses the Hiwatt DR103 Custom Head for its crystal-clear clean tones, as seen in a Getty Images photo of his performance.
At 8:56 in the YouTube video "Amyl and the Sniffers Rig Rundown with Declan Mehrtens & Gus Romer" by Premier Guitar, guitarist Declan Mehrtens is shown using a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 as part of his amp setup.
In this vid he talks about his amps: A Hiwatt 100W and a HiWatt 200W
In the YouTube video "林檎の歌 Dynamite live" by 東京事変, at timestamp 1:34, guitarist Mikio Harama can be seen using a Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 guitar amplifier head.
For 2019, Jona used this rig for tour : https://www.facebook.com/coilguns/photos/pb.100044575743085.-2207520000./2158822070861043/?type=3
Pictured and mentioned in this May 17, 2021 The Sleeping Shaman interview.
I always love reading your liner notes and posts on social media about the backstories on songs and how they are recorded, so let’s get started, what amps are you currently using?
I find that my 1969 Laney Supergroup is the amp I go to in the studio the most. That’s the one that gives me all the range of sound that I personally like and if I do want to use a pedal, which is not typical for me, that’ll take them well. I have a 1980 Hiwatt DR103, it sounded brutal, but sometimes taking those older amplifiers out on tour is not the best idea because they can blow transformers. Those old amplifiers don’t get that nice gain until they’re turned all the way up, so if you tour for five weeks with the amp turned all the way up every night, when you got something that’s 40 to 50 years old, you’re going to be blowing transformers left and right. In the studio it’s usually the Laney or the Hiwatt, or this amp from the 70s I have that’s called Risson that I toured with a few years ago. I also have a clone of the preamp built by Ben Verellen to use in Europe as the tone is so unique.
Album Usage
The Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100 has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Hiwatt DR103 Custom 100, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yours
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