1978: The HIWATT 100-watt Bulldog combo amp offers a challenge to Mesa/Boogie in 1978. These must have been very rare; I can’t find a single one online. Read all about them at this link. The ‘mini-monster’ hi-powered-combo concept was introduced by Mesa/Boogie in the late 60s when Randall Smith modded a Fender Princeton by adding the power supply and output section from a Bassman, essentially making a little tiny (but heavy!) 50-watt combo amp. Curious about exactly how much of a ‘feat’ this was, I actually did this very thing many years ago to my brother’s Silverface Princeton. A decade on, the thing is still cooking. The perfect ‘vintage’ amp for NYC, or any city where you’ve gotta share a taxi to the gig!
Categories
4 replies on “The HiWatt Bulldog Combo amp c. 1978”
This thing was NOTHING like the Mesa amplifier, particularly the Mk IIB which is one of the five greatest guitar amps in history. I rate it higher than the overpriced and overfawned-on Trainwrecks and Dumbles as a matter of fact. If he’d have used the slightly larger Deluxe chassis it would have been better still.
It is a difficult unit to work on.
i have been using one of the 100 watt bulldogs for 25 years with my les pauls straight in great amp really great sound and not difficult to service this amp has a completely different sound than a mesa
I have a 1980 Hiwatt FL112 from the Kingston factory. No frills, just a brute! 2 inputs, 100 watts. Original speaker. Undoubtably one of the best amps I have ever heard! Nobody in my area of Pittsburgh Pa can appreciate this amp.
I have a 1980 Hiwatt FL112 from the Kingston factory. No frills, just a brute! 2 inputs, 100 watts. Original speaker. Undoubtably one of the best amps I have ever heard! Nobody in my area of Pittsburgh Pa can appreciate this amp.