While talking about guitars, you cannot stress enough about the importance of the amps since they have to control the output on your guitars and you need to have the right amp.
Without a good amp, even the best-sounding guitars won’t be able to produce a clear, rich sound. That’s one of the main reasons why you need to be so careful. With all that being said, you will need to pick the right amp that suits your needs perfectly.
Not to mention that you have to keep the design aesthetics and looks in the perspective as well.
Hiwatt and Marshall are two such highly sought-after, popular, and efficient amps that you can get your hands on and there is hardly something that you will be getting wrong if you choose to go with these amps.
Both of these amps are well-designed, got the perfect finish on them, and along with all that, you also get to enjoy the right design dynamics, aesthetics, and durability on them both.
Yet, if you are looking to have a choice between them both, here are a few options that you need to choose from:
Hiwatt vs Marshall (Comparison)
| Features | Hiwatt | Marshall |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Vibrant clean tones, ideal for blues | Versatile, can be used for metal and rock too |
| Ideal for | More suitable for rhythm | Can be used for playing both rhythm and leads |
| Variety | 20W – 100 W | 10 W – 150 W or higher |
| Founded | 1966 | 1962 |
Hiwatt
Hiwatt is a brand that is based out of the UK and they have been in the business for quite some time now. Hiwatt manufactures a wide range of amps that vary based on output power, design aesthetics, and more at the same time.
With all that being said, you just need to pick the right one that fits your needs best and you will be able to enjoy just the perfect experience out of these.
Needless to say, you do need to be careful about the brand and if it would suit your playing styles.
Being a company based out of the UK, you can expect the very best in terms of quality and performance, making the Hiwatts an excellent choice for people who are more concerned with performance.
Yet, they are not precisely the amps that you might want for those properly aggressive and more dynamic genres, since they are designed to deal with country music and are calibrated that way.
The looks are a bit old-school as well for some of the guitarists out there.
Longevity
There is hardly something that you will be missing on these guitar amps there, if you love the cultural and folk songs and genres and you will be enjoying just the perfect balance of having an amp that gets the job done for you and never dies on you.
The durability is certainly unmatched, on the amp and you won’t really have to worry about performance issues.
Hiwatt is one of the companies that contributed to the popularity of the iconic “British sound,” with other brands like Marshall and Vox.
The company was originally founded by David Reeves, who attended technical school and then decided to venture into the audio business.
The classic Hiwatt circuit amps are some of the best in the business, even today. They have been used by popular artists like King Crimson, and they produce some very clean tones, with a very articulate middle tone.
The company has seen a change of leadership as the founder died in 1981. However, that didn’t prevent the team from innovating, and they even have a range of amplifiers in the mix today too.
If you want a good looking amp that’s versatile and capable of handling whatever you throw at it, the Hiwatts are a great choice.
A number of people now prefer Hiwatts because they are more affordable than Marshall, and still produce an excellent tone. If you want a versatile amplifier that’s suitable for playing with an electric guitar, then this is as good a choice as any.
Marshall
Marshall amps are something truly majestic and there is hardly a person who can claim that they haven’t seen a single Marshall amp during their lives while at a live performance, in some café, some studio, or at least in the movies or series on the screen.
All that makes perfect sense for the popularity as well since there is hardly anything that you will be missing on the amp.
It has that timeless design that still doesn’t make you feel like you are using an app that has the same design that has been here for ages.
With all that being said, you will need to understand that there are several different types of Marshall amps, starting from cheaper price points and going all the way into the thousands.
It can be used for a wide range of genres and performance styles and you just have to ensure that you are getting the right amp with ample power on it to suit the type of audience that you will be entertaining.
The amp is particularly a great fit for you for all such needs.
Variety
With that, it might be just the perfect choice for you in the US, since you get a wide variety of amps, easy support and parts sourcing, and much more at the same time.
Yet, if you want the particular brand, and you are unable to get over the Hiwatt, there is hardly any issue with that either and there are a fair number of dealers in the US for Hiwatt as well.
Tone
One of the clear differences between Marshall and Hiwatt is that the latter produces brighter, thinner tones as compared to the Marshall. And, that makes sense when you consider the fact that Marshall is mainly used for playing rock music.
If you’re into soloing or making riffs, the Marshall is by and far the best choice in the market. However, if you want to consider a mix of all things, then Hiwatt is easily just up there with Marshall.
It’s a matter of preference, but a Marshall combined with a humbucking guitar, like a Les Paul, produces one of the best sounds that you’d ever hear. More importantly, when we talk about build quality, both amps are pretty solid and sturdy.
The Verdict – Which One Takes the Win?
At the end, it’s important to say that like all musicians, it comes down to a matter of preference. If you want an amp that’s versatile and one that will hold its value for longer, you can’t go wrong with a Marshall.
The company makes some of the finest amps in the market, and offers an extensive warranty to back up its claim.
However, if you’re looking for something that produces a slightly different tone and is generally reliable, then Hiwatt might be something you’re willing to consider.
Obviously, owing to Marshall’s popularity, it’s more widely available than Hiwatt, but that shouldn’t put you off. Most dealers can take orders online for a Hiwatt and deliver it to you with in a few days.