Menatone - MenaWatt

gilmour_pugliese · Post by **gilmour_pugliese** » 07 Apr 2012, 18:50

Another amp-to-pedal work by Menatone, based on the Hiwatt DR103:

Some pics and infos:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-1-kind-M ... 0751762461

Note the brand's classic weird construction...

phibes · Post by **phibes** » 07 Apr 2012, 18:58

As an avid DR103 user I'm always puzzled when I see pedals trying to emulate em...

Cut, Res and Gain? The DR103 isn't a 5150!

gilmour_pugliese · Post by **gilmour_pugliese** » 07 Apr 2012, 20:00

phibes wrote:As an avid DR103 user I'm always puzzled when I see pedals trying to emulate em.

Me too (I own a DR504 clone built by me)... I've owned an original Catalinbread WIIO which is completely different from the real thing!

phibes wrote:Cut, Res and Gain? The DR103 isn't a 5150!

The pedal on Ebay seems to be a prototype... The other has correct labels under the pots

B3ar · Post by **B3ar** » 08 Apr 2012, 17:07

Just peaked at the WIIO thread. Looks like it never occurred to anyone that maybe the CP-103 was the target amp rather than a DR. I haven't done any sort of direct schematic comparison, but it'd just make sense.

phibes · Post by **phibes** » 08 Apr 2012, 17:54

The CP-103 doesn't vary far off from the DR-103 other than having volume control on all four inputs. There are a few tweaks in the circuit but it'll still sound DR-103. The old Hiwatt sound is known more for days and days of headroom at extreme volumes, then you have the Fane sound yadda yadda yadda. All these pedals sound more like a cranked Marshall to me.

Then again it's not surprising as everyone markets their overdrives as 'DUMBLE' tone'd.

Lawnchair · Post by **Lawnchair** » 10 Apr 2012, 23:20

I really dig Brians style of eyelet boarding. It is fucking confusing to look at.

Dr Tony Balls · Post by **Dr Tony Balls** » 11 Apr 2012, 13:18

gilmour_pugliese wrote:Me too (I own a DR504 clone built by me)...

Curious....did you use a kit or hiwatt-specific parts (chassis, faceplates, etc) from anywhere, or did you do it completely from scratch? Ive built a number of amps, and thought about doing a hiwatt.

gilmour_pugliese · Post by **gilmour_pugliese** » 11 Apr 2012, 16:00

Dr Tony Balls wrote:
gilmour_pugliese wrote:Me too (I own a DR504 clone built by me)...

Curious....did you use a kit or hiwatt-specific parts (chassis, faceplates, etc) from anywhere, or did you do it completely from scratch? Ive built a number of amps, and thought about doing a hiwatt.

No kit... I've built it from scratch

phibes · Post by **phibes** » 11 Apr 2012, 17:08

If your gonna build a Hiwatt just get one of these kits.

http://www.vintagehiwattrestorations.com

Super great bang for yer buck. I'm picky on choosing components and everything in the kits are what I'd choose and you'll end up saving money rather than ordering everything by hand. Definitely very up to par with Hylight era stuff. The Custom JP 100 kit looks fun. Good guys to talk to too.