Paul Dean

Probably one of the better known amps of the early Loverboy sound, a Hiwatt 50 Watt Amp (Most likely a Hylite era DR105 as some people on various forums have mentioned). Paul used this alternatley with a Marshall in the early days of the band. You can usually pick this amp out on the early albums based on the midrange - if it's buzzier, and a bit more 3D, it's the Hiwatt, if it's more midrange grindy and has a bit more grainy-ness to it, it's the Marshall. A good way to tell the difference is to listen to the first two tracks of the first album and compare them.

Paul's Hiwatt was a Canadian spec model, and most likely was one of those modded by Harry Joyce after import. Canadian Spec Hiwatts were typically modified so the first input was a regular gain input, but the second one added an extra gain stage, giving that thick, saturated goodness that made the sound he had on those early Loverboy records. This is what he meant by "I had the channels ganged" - basically, additional gain stages by connecting channels together, giving it that tone.

Here's Paul Referencing the Hiwatt in the source material, it's hard to find pictures of him using this amp, there used to be one on Google photos for the Hondo guitars he was promoting, but I'm no longer able to find that specific picture anymore.

How did you get the hollow, echoey effect on the solo intro to "Always On My Mind"?

I have this '75 Les Paul with ceramic pick-ups--it's an anniversary copy of the '55 flat-top with the wraparound bridge. I used it with my 50-watt Hi-watt that I've had for five or six years. I'm on the neck pick-up, and I've got the tone off, with full bass, no treble, and the volume up all the way. I have a Boss graphic equalizer that I use to punch it up at 800 cycles. You put this combination together, and you get that smooth Brian May sound. I also triple-tracked it.

Where does your distortion come from?

From my Hi-watt amp. I had the two preamps ganged, and that made it sound like God. It drives either two or three cabinets that use Celestion 12s. I had those enclosures built to copy Marshal bottoms because it was cheaper than buying them. Onstage I have a monitor to the left of my mike--that's what I play to all night.

Also, a forum referenced finding an actual Hiwatt cab that may have toured with Loverboy - http://vintageamps.com/plexiboard/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11664

Postby charged on Mon Jul 04, 2005 2:04 am For what its worth, there is a guy at my practice space that has a Hiwatt 4x12 cab that has a "Lover Boy" designated serial number plate and it is a Sterling Imports cab.

Cheers Charged

From an Interview with Guitar World - http://www.guitarworld.com/interview-paul-dean-and-loverboy-are-set-rock-n-roll-revival

What guitars/amps are you using now?

I thought you’d never ask. 2011 Gibson Les Paul Axcess, with a Floyd-Rose whammy. I changed the pickups to Gibson T500’s and put a big ol’ brass block in the Floyd. TC Electronics G System into a Marshall 900 50-watt. Four Marshall 900 cabs, but I just use the top two, that way I‘m not too loud for Mike.