I got mine a little over a month ago... best decision I've ever made on an amp. Was seriously considering one of the marshall origins or the HK Black Spirit until I tried this. Game over. It nails the classic hiwatt tones and goes beyond it in the best possible way. Every pedal I've thrown at it has absolutely loved it!
@ratedepth it’s a loud amp with an excellent clean tone and JCM800-style dirt channel. Channel two will not give you edge-of-breakup tones because it is voiced for high gain. It does that very well. I tried this amp with a newer HiWatt SE212 cab with two Fane F75 speakers and also through my older HiWatt T20/10 combo through its 150 watt FHG-150 hi-gain speaker and I preferred the older FHG speaker over the newer 75 watt Fanes. The F75s have a vintage voicing and tonal range, more upper midrange; perhaps they simply need to break in more but demos of these speakers are accurate to my experience of them. In contrast, FHG speakers are well-suited to hi-gain - the Leeds sounds huge and tight with great clarity in the lower mids and highs, despite distortion through them. This makes sense since they were originally found in all the “HG” or “HI GAIN” Hi Watt cabs from 10-15 years ago. The Leeds still sounded tight with this speaker even though it was in the T20 combo’s open back cab. I don’t know how the FHG stacks up to the new octapulse speakers. That said, I think the T20 is more my thing than the Leeds, unless I were to use the Leeds strictly as a clean pedal platform.
I’ve had mine for two months now. One of the best SS amps I own (I have 10 SS amps, 9 tube amps, and 3 hybrid amps). It’s one of the best deals in amps around. Sounds amazing plugging straight into the amp, but also takes pedals really well. I’m constantly recommending it. I was hoping Marshall would release a new version of their 80’s era 3210 Lead 100 Mosfet amps (I have a 3210 and a 3310 head), but with newer features, and this HiWatt Super Leeds is just the amp I wished Marshall would have come out with. Definitely some Marshall DNA in its sound. I can dial in Van Halen 1/Fair Warning sounds easy (cranked up Plexi tones), dial in JCM800 sounds (have compared it to my twin tube JCM800 preamp pedal going into EL34 power amp), 90’s era Valvestate 8100 type metal sounds, Modern high gain tones, great cleans and makes a good pedal platform amp if that’s what you need. Pretty quiet for amounts of gain it has, great fx loop, etc. Fits perfect on top of my 410 cab so it’s not too big. Sounds great at any volume. I think HiWatt knocked it out of the park with this amp. I would keep it over some of my tube amps too if forced to choose. Sounds as good as my SS AMT Stonehead SH-50-4 head. Definitely one of the best non-modeling SS amps. I love the Orange Super Crush amps and Crush Pro CR120 heads too and I would say if you want more Rockerverb type tones to go for the Orange Super Crush, but if you want more Marshall sounds and modern high gain sounds, then buy one of these HiWatt Super Leeds heads.
@@75Pollux if all you want is a clean pedal platform amp, then I wouldn’t get either. You’d be missing out on most of where these amps shine. Just get a clean Fender solid state amp if you want a pedal platform amp. There are demos of both the Super Crush and the HiWatt on cleans - you’ll have to decide. I think they both do cleans great not a lot of difference. The clean channels stay very clean, but why get a two or 2.5 channel (like the HiWatt) amp for just one channel? Most pedal demonstrations for gain pedals are done referencing a Fender clean anyway. You can get a 100 watt 212 Champ combo for $400 that would make a great pedal platform. If you want a solid state Fender head, they have those too.
Hi, Thanks. I played many fender in my life and I'm quite tired of this sound, especially those high frequencies. I prefer more straight and bold clean, like ampeg or hiwatt, and for me they take pedals better.
I just got one of these. This amp is just awesome. You did a great job showing a lot of tones it’s capable of. Nice cleans and really heavy gain channel. I ran mine through a Marshall 1936V and it sounded really great with the Marshall branded G12 Vintage speakers. I also ran it through a 4x12 with V30s and that sounded great too. You are correct that this amp is a bargain at the price.
Thanks so much! I’m still a newbie at posting reviews and such but I really had to show this amp off! Going to see if it can hang with my band at the next practice. 🤙🏼
Killer demo man! Thanks for doing this, have you been able to try with a live band? I’m legit thinking about buying one of these heads but trying to decide between the 150 and 300, my drummer is mad loud and I want to sound huge
This sounds beefy and grindy. Would be great for death metal, grindcore, maybe sludge (definitely as a pedal platform for some gnarly fuzz.) If you just need a clean clean for pedals this would do it for sure based on the demo here. How well does the gain hold up when you really crank it? Some solid states kind of fall apart and get lost in the mix when you crank the volume.
@@SonicSoundofDoom I see. Thanks for letting me know and replying! I appreciate it. With the overdrive section, will it also do the crunchy to cranked hiwatt sound?
They do sell 50w head with the exact same specs. But since it is a solid state amp, you should be able to just turn down the volume and get the same sounds
I’m considering buying another to have one for clean and another for dirt 😂 I mean, $75 for the pedal or I can spend $280 more and just have another head 🤷🏻♂️ haha
You’re a nut 😂. I get it, though. Guess I’m a nut too. Really curious how it sounds through some Fanes. Dumb question, but do you think it’s loud enough to keep up with a band?
@@underground_manno question is dumb!! We will see! I’m going to take it to my next band practice. Going to ABY with my 40w tube amp, have them both going through their own 412. We shall see!
@@SonicSoundofDoom Sounds good. It would be cool to hear it in a mix. The only thing I would want to hear differently from your demo would be what it sounds like on the gain channel at lower gain settings, and also what the clean sounds like when "pushed" - I'm typically a lower gain player. Even though it's solid state, Johan Segeborn has a great video of him playing through an old Maxwatt SS combo with the clean volume up and it has a similar break up character to the tube Hiwatts.
00:00 Start
01:30 Clean w/ Reverb
02:26 Clean w/ Reverb & Flanger
03:50 Clean w/ Selltronics Klon•a•pin
05:02 Gain 1 w/ Klon•a•pin
05:44 Clean w/ Muff
07:25 Gain 1
09:12 Gain 1 w/ SD-1
10:52 Gain 2 w/ SD-1
12:49 Gain 2
I got mine a little over a month ago... best decision I've ever made on an amp. Was seriously considering one of the marshall origins or the HK Black Spirit until I tried this. Game over. It nails the classic hiwatt tones and goes beyond it in the best possible way. Every pedal I've thrown at it has absolutely loved it!
Excellent demo. Thank you.
Because of this video, I just ordered the Leeds 150 head along with a 212 Hiwatt cab. I am so excited.
Hope you got it! And I bet you not disappointed
What's the verdict?
@ratedepth it’s a loud amp with an excellent clean tone and JCM800-style dirt channel. Channel two will not give you edge-of-breakup tones because it is voiced for high gain. It does that very well.
I tried this amp with a newer HiWatt SE212 cab with two Fane F75 speakers and also through my older HiWatt T20/10 combo through its 150 watt FHG-150 hi-gain speaker and I preferred the older FHG speaker over the newer 75 watt Fanes.
The F75s have a vintage voicing and tonal range, more upper midrange; perhaps they simply need to break in more but demos of these speakers are accurate to my experience of them. In contrast, FHG speakers are well-suited to hi-gain - the Leeds sounds huge and tight with great clarity in the lower mids and highs, despite distortion through them. This makes sense since they were originally found in all the “HG” or “HI GAIN” Hi Watt cabs from 10-15 years ago.
The Leeds still sounded tight with this speaker even though it was in the T20 combo’s open back cab. I don’t know how the FHG stacks up to the new octapulse speakers. That said, I think the T20 is more my thing than the Leeds, unless I were to use the Leeds strictly as a clean pedal platform.
Absolutely killer review! Some familiar riffs and amazing tones!!!!
Thanks brother!!! Much appreciated 😍
You just convinced me to pull the trigger, especially with how killer Gain 2 sounds with an SD-1 in front of it. Nice demo. Subscribing! 🤘
I’ve had mine for two months now. One of the best SS amps I own (I have 10 SS amps, 9 tube amps, and 3 hybrid amps). It’s one of the best deals in amps around. Sounds amazing plugging straight into the amp, but also takes pedals really well. I’m constantly recommending it. I was hoping Marshall would release a new version of their 80’s era 3210 Lead 100 Mosfet amps (I have a 3210 and a 3310 head), but with newer features, and this HiWatt Super Leeds is just the amp I wished Marshall would have come out with. Definitely some Marshall DNA in its sound. I can dial in Van Halen 1/Fair Warning sounds easy (cranked up Plexi tones), dial in JCM800 sounds (have compared it to my twin tube JCM800 preamp pedal going into EL34 power amp), 90’s era Valvestate 8100 type metal sounds, Modern high gain tones, great cleans and makes a good pedal platform amp if that’s what you need. Pretty quiet for amounts of gain it has, great fx loop, etc. Fits perfect on top of my 410 cab so it’s not too big. Sounds great at any volume. I think HiWatt knocked it out of the park with this amp. I would keep it over some of my tube amps too if forced to choose. Sounds as good as my SS AMT Stonehead SH-50-4 head. Definitely one of the best non-modeling SS amps. I love the Orange Super Crush amps and Crush Pro CR120 heads too and I would say if you want more Rockerverb type tones to go for the Orange Super Crush, but if you want more Marshall sounds and modern high gain sounds, then buy one of these HiWatt Super Leeds heads.
Hi, between this Hiwatt and the Super Crush, which one has the best clean tone ? I'm looking for a great pedal platform.
@@75Pollux if all you want is a clean pedal platform amp, then I wouldn’t get either. You’d be missing out on most of where these amps shine. Just get a clean Fender solid state amp if you want a pedal platform amp. There are demos of both the Super Crush and the HiWatt on cleans - you’ll have to decide. I think they both do cleans great not a lot of difference. The clean channels stay very clean, but why get a two or 2.5 channel (like the HiWatt) amp for just one channel? Most pedal demonstrations for gain pedals are done referencing a Fender clean anyway. You can get a 100 watt 212 Champ combo for $400 that would make a great pedal platform. If you want a solid state Fender head, they have those too.
Hi, Thanks. I played many fender in my life and I'm quite tired of this sound, especially those high frequencies. I prefer more straight and bold clean, like ampeg or hiwatt, and for me they take pedals better.
I just got one of these. This amp is just awesome. You did a great job showing a lot of tones it’s capable of. Nice cleans and really heavy gain channel. I ran mine through a Marshall 1936V and it sounded really great with the Marshall branded G12 Vintage speakers. I also ran it through a 4x12 with V30s and that sounded great too. You are correct that this amp is a bargain at the price.
Thanks so much! I’m still a newbie at posting reviews and such but I really had to show this amp off! Going to see if it can hang with my band at the next practice. 🤙🏼
Where did you find one? I can’t find any online, I want one
@@Whatthewhatat got mine from Pitbull audio but it seems they are sold out now :( hopefully Hiwatt will get some more out!
Looks like I might need to snag one of these as a backup to my Beta Lead
Incredible video! Thanks for this!
Lots of info ,thanks!!
Id love to know how this amp compares to the orange super crush 100. Which do you prefer?
you just convinced me on this amp
Killer demo man! Thanks for doing this, have you been able to try with a live band? I’m legit thinking about buying one of these heads but trying to decide between the 150 and 300, my drummer is mad loud and I want to sound huge
This sounds beefy and grindy. Would be great for death metal, grindcore, maybe sludge (definitely as a pedal platform for some gnarly fuzz.) If you just need a clean clean for pedals this would do it for sure based on the demo here. How well does the gain hold up when you really crank it? Some solid states kind of fall apart and get lost in the mix when you crank the volume.
Something special about that Klone or would any sound that good through this amp? Because that sounds VERY good.
Great demo! About to grab one of these. How loud does it get compared to your other tube amps?
I own this amp and it sounds excellent.It blows away my Marshall origin 50 at half the price.
Trying to decide between this or a Hi-5. Any help?
Wow! Never knew Hiwatt has this line of amp. Will it overdrive or reach crunch territory using the clean section?
I cranked the volume on the clean and turned the master up and it never got dirty 🤷🏻♂️
@@SonicSoundofDoom I see. Thanks for letting me know and replying! I appreciate it. With the overdrive section, will it also do the crunchy to cranked hiwatt sound?
Can it switch to 50 watts?
They do sell 50w head with the exact same specs. But since it is a solid state amp, you should be able to just turn down the volume and get the same sounds
Sounds sick. What cab/IR are you using here?
Orange PPC412 mic’d with an SM57. No IR’s or post. You are hearing the true sound coming from the speakers, into the mic. 🤙🏼
I’m considering buying another to have one for clean and another for dirt 😂 I mean, $75 for the pedal or I can spend $280 more and just have another head 🤷🏻♂️ haha
You’re a nut 😂. I get it, though. Guess I’m a nut too. Really curious how it sounds through some Fanes.
Dumb question, but do you think it’s loud enough to keep up with a band?
@@underground_manno question is dumb!! We will see! I’m going to take it to my next band practice. Going to ABY with my 40w tube amp, have them both going through their own 412. We shall see!
@@SonicSoundofDoom Sounds good. It would be cool to hear it in a mix. The only thing I would want to hear differently from your demo would be what it sounds like on the gain channel at lower gain settings, and also what the clean sounds like when "pushed" - I'm typically a lower gain player.
Even though it's solid state, Johan Segeborn has a great video of him playing through an old Maxwatt SS combo with the clean volume up and it has a similar break up character to the tube Hiwatts.
I bought one and returned it. Thought it was trash. Lol!