The sunn Forum
Other Musical Equipment => General Discussion => Topic started by: EdBass on February 16, 2011, 08:38:34 am
-
I know it's not a Sunn, but it's still fun to look at. I just picked up this new Reeves prototype for testing. It's a 400 watt version of the Reeves C225; for those who just can't get the job done with a "puny" little 250 watter... :roll:
Here's the pics I have. I'll probably fire her up later this week once I figure out what to hook it to, and where I can blast it without hurting anybody or damaging anything.
First I need to scrounge up six matched KT88's though.
If there are any questions I'll answer if I can, but at this point it hasn't had a note played through it. The trannies are freekin' massive, the chassis as pictured weighs 64.8 lbs.
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00057.jpg)
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00059.jpg)
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00061.jpg)
-
How about using one of your 200S or 2000S cabs? Those would certainly seem appropriate!
Based on your earlier posts about testing Reeves projects, I'm pretty intrigued by the C225. I know we've talked about the 2000S and I already have a 200w all-tube Aguilar DB359, which sounds wonderful, but as my car buddies always say, "There's no such thing as too much horsepower."
-
I'd love to hear that with a pair of 2000S cabs,and a Fender bass,man that would be cool !!
-
that looks massive|? :-o waiting for some clip.
so Reeves is basically an actualized version of the vintage Hiwatt? I've read Hiwatt has build some amp for Sound City between 1966-1968, that explain why these are super hard to find.
I know it all come from Dave Reeves design but why having 2 brand selling the same thing, is there a difference?
it's a different beast than Sunn amps except some model can make a nice clean& loud amp...I must say those amps get my attention... :wink:
all I've found for now is this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiwatt
thanks for posting...
-
How about using one of your 200S or 2000S cabs? Those would certainly seem appropriate!
Based on your earlier posts about testing Reeves projects, I'm pretty intrigued by the C225. I know we've talked about the 2000S and I already have a 200w all-tube Aguilar DB359, which sounds wonderful, but as my car buddies always say, "There's no such thing as too much horsepower."
I had a DB 359 for a while, very sophisticated tube amp. Probably a little too sophisticated for me, actually, but IMO a great, well built modern amp with lots of versatility. Kind of an awkward size, I used to call it the “pizza box”.
I'd love to hear that with a pair of 2000S cabs,and a Fender bass,man that would be cool !!
There is no doubt that “the beast” will get a run with a pair of 2000S cabs. Truthfully I’m a little concerned about my vintage drivers; I would be really bummed if I popped a D or K series, but I have a pair that I can load with EV’s and probably be safe.
I do have a pair of 215S’s that have EVN15L’s in them and will probably get worked out tomorrow afternoon if I can get the logistics worked out.
As far as the Fender bass… Here’s a pic I just took. I’ve been comparing the C400 tone stack against the C225 using a K140 loaded Sonic I40 cab at low levels, and you can see what basses I’m using. :wink:
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00063-1.jpg)
Notice the 3 JJ’s and 3 GT’s I’m using for KT88’s, they were the best matched sextet I could scrounge up around the house. Luckily a matched sextet of JJ’s should arrive tomorrow, I just had some time to kill this evening and wanted to get at the new “toy”.
that looks massive|? :-o waiting for some clip.
so Reeves is basically an actualized version of the vintage Hiwatt? I've read Hiwatt has build some amp for Sound City between 1966-1968, that explain why these are super hard to find.
I know it all come from Dave Reeves design but why having 2 brand selling the same thing, is there a difference?
it's a different beast than Sunn amps except some model can make a nice clean& loud amp...I must say those amps get my attention... :wink:
all I've found for now is this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiwatt
thanks for posting...
The original Reeves Amplification (http://www.reevesamps.com/) was initially established as a way to import new British Hiwatts to the US. Fernandes owned the rights to the Hiwatt name for the US, but weren't importing the UK models (built by Music Ground, the original "Hiwatt" was long gone by then), but I think they were just branding some small wattage, inexpensive Asian imports with the Hiwatt label.
So, Reeves was bringing in the UK Hiwatts, but labeled as "Reeves" because of the Fernandes situation. Of course, Reeves was a brand in and of itself, once the amps got here all warranty, repairs, etc. needed to be covered by Reeves, so they needed to have full repair and testing facilities in the US to service and back the products. It didn’t take long for them to realize that building the amps domestically was far more cost efficient than paying to import the amps from the UK, so for a while they were building Hiwatt clones and selling them side by side with the UK imports. For the last several years Reeves has stopped importing amps from the UK completely, and has branched out into building their own designs, generally based on the original Dave Reeves circuits, some totally different, but all built to the stringent build standards established by Harry Joyce in the Hiwatt heydays. Look at the wiring on the prototype I posted, that will give you a good idea what I mean.
The current C225 and the prototype C400 aren’t Hiwatt clones, there are some differences; more bass response, higher power output and more headroom than the UK versions. Also, the Reeves are 24” wide to better fit on a variety of bass cabs than the 28” wide Hiwatts, have a 12dB input pad for active basses, and have a DI; after the output transformer to get all the “tubey goodness” to the mixing board, if PA support is required.
The foremost authority on Hiwatt history that I know of personally is Mark Huss, his website is http://hiwatt.org/
That is probably the best “primer” about Hiwatt if you are looking for info about the history, and info about models, years, etc. He’s a real nice guy, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with him in person on several occasions at Hiwatt conventions.
-
EdBass' post: I had an Aguilar DB 359 for a while, very sophisticated tube amp. Kind of an awkward size, I used to call it the “pizza box.”
Agreed. It is sophisticated but easy to operate, which I like. If not for that awkward size, I wouldn't even be considering an alternative.
-
Awesome Amp, I'd love to hear it. That Ric is awfully purdy too :-o
-
thanks for the info Edbass.
now I know the 1970's Hiwatt I've seen for 1200$CAD was the deal! :roll:
if I ever get something in that vein one day, it will have to be a vintage Hiwatt or a new Reeves...!
-
Finally got a chance to do some high SPL testing, opened her up pretty good. It’s loud, real loud, but that’s not too surprising. We used a SVT for comparison, also a nice amp but not even in the same league as far as clean, chest punching power. We used some of a buddy of mines gig rig cabs;
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/3015TL606.jpg)
Pair of Eminence 3015’s in TL606 cabs. Pretty loud
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/SVTV9.jpg)
Ampeg V9 and SVT cabs, seventeen 10” drivers, original, I think CTS. We took it a little easy on the old cabs…
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/TL606And215SEVM.jpg)
The “blaster” rig. A Sunn 215S loaded with EVM15L on top of a pair of EVM15B’s loaded in another set of TL606 (my buddy likes the 606’s, and they work particularly well with EV drivers since they are EV designs).
We pretty much dimed it with this set up. The Reeves chassis was dancing around like an ice cube on a skillet, we had to take turns playing and holding the amp from walking off.
Both of us have decades of experience with truly loud situations, arena league PA’s from 5’, etc., but it was SO freekin’ loud in that smaller room we stopped after a few minutes and put on shooting range ear protection; really.
No clip, it was a quickie, but I’ll try to get some clips up with some 2000S cabs soon.
-
We pretty much dimed it with this set up. The Reeves chassis was dancing around like an ice cube on a skillet, we had to take turns playing and holding the amp from walking off.
lol! :-D
sick test rig you have there! :-o
-
Beautful!! All around beautiful!
Of course, the handbag amp crowd will whine that you cannot carry in a cute little gig bag...
-
Beautful!! All around beautiful!
Of course, the handbag amp crowd will whine that you cannot carry in a cute little gig bag...
Yeah, well, it's not exactly "portable"! :-D
Until I figure out how to get it mounted in the head cab I have for the C225, the "handy carrying case" is pictured here on top of the power transformer...
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00066-1.jpg)
-
Because of your wisdom as to the 24" width, it is portable. Heavy is a lot more easy to deal with than awkward size.
In my modest opinion.
-
Ed, are you going to build a Hiwatt/Plexi style cab for the head?
-
Ed, are you going to build a Hiwatt/Plexi style cab for the head?
The production C400 will be in the same cabinet as the production C225 is in, except the C400 will have two handles, one on each end, instead of one.
The production chassis are the same between the two, this is a pic of the original C225 prototype and the C400 prototype next to each other;
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00075.jpg)
The C225 proto was actually built on the lighter gauge cadmium plated? UK Hiwatt DR201, which is why it looks different.
I put the C400 in the C225 head cab to gig it last weekend, this is what the production C400 will look like, except it will have “buddy handles” rather than just the one in the middle.
(http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt341/EdBass/DSC00082C.jpg)
-
Did you get a weight of that while its in the amp cabinet? I'm guessing 75 lbs. Just wondered.
-
Did you ever do a direct comparo between the C225 and the DB359? I love the Aguilar's tone but the size, shape and (with 30 lb case) weight make for an awful lot of trouble - and take up a lot of space in my truck.
-
Did you get a weight of that while its in the amp cabinet? I'm guessing 75 lbs. Just wondered.
Sorry, I missed this question. Good guess! I think the production model is targeted at around 82 lbs.
-
Did you ever do a direct comparo between the C225 and the DB359? I love the Aguilar's tone but the size, shape and (with 30 lb case) weight make for an awful lot of trouble - and take up a lot of space in my truck.
I spent a good amount of time A/B'ing the two. They are different animals, the most obvious difference is that the C225 is louder, by a pretty big margin, maybe a little brighter and certainly stronger on the bottom.
I think it's probably the transformers. To be fair, it's not really a heads up comparo as far as volume; the Reeves "225" actually outputs about 260 watts at 5% THD.
Both are real clean, both have gobs of headroom. The Aggie is more controlled sounding, certainly a more modern, sophisticated circuit, an excellent amp to be sure. Probably more versatile, but the Reeves just seems bigger and bolder overall, a little more raw. As you touched on, the Aggie is a "unique" shape, more cumbersome IMO than the traditional "amp head" size of the Reeves IMO; but neither one is really "portable". :-D
-
Thanks, Ed! Sounds like the Reeves would work for me - AND take up less room in the truck, which is an important consideration when I have to transport two 215s plus the 115RH we use for the PA. (The drummer brings my other 115RH, thankfully.)
-
Just spotted this on the Vintage Guitar site:
http://www.vintageguitar.com/7726/reeves-launches-custom-400-amp/