Glorious 1972 Hiwatt DR504 Custom 50 Head in Excellent Condition
Another truly iconic 1970s amplifier has arrived in the shop, this time in the form of a beautifully preserved 1972 Hiwatt DR504 Custom 50. This is the classic 50-watt all-valve head built during the golden era of Hylight Electronics, delivering the authoritative British voice that defined an entire generation of rock music.
This example remains in superb condition for its age and is fully original inside and out, with the sole exception of a previous owner replacing the original Bulgin mains connector with a modern IEC inlet—a common and practical update on professional-use amps of the period. All major components, including the Partridge transformers, capacitors, and wiring, remain original. It is an exceptionally clean specimen and, at the time of listing, one of the finest examples currently available. The only cosmetic flaw is the loss of one rear panel label at some point in its life.
As with all new arrivals, this Custom 50 has been thoroughly inspected and serviced by our in-house workshop to ensure optimum reliability and performance for its next owner.
1972 Hiwatt DR504 factory specifications
• 50 watts RMS output
• EL34 power section, typically Mullard or Brimar valves when new
• ECC83 (12AX7) preamp valves
• Partridge power and output transformers
• Point-to-point turret-board wiring
• Normal and Brilliant channels with independent High/Low inputs
• 3-band EQ with presence control
• Fixed-bias power amp with exceptional headroom
• Original Hylight/Harry Joyce construction standards
The tone
Early-’70s Hiwatts are renowned for their immense clarity, precision, and explosive dynamic response. Unlike many British amps of the era, the DR504 delivers a tight, articulate low end, a glassy upper midrange, and a fast, immediate attack. Pushed hard, it produces a muscular overdrive that retains exceptional note definition—an ideal platform for pedals or for players who value touch sensitivity and harmonic complexity.
Artist association
The DR504 and its 100-watt sibling, the DR103, were famously used by players such as David Gilmour, Pete Townshend, and the engineers of Olympic Studios. Their unmistakable clean-to-crunch character helped shape landmark recordings throughout the 1970s.
We are an appointment-only store, and all instruments and amplifiers are handled exclusively by Motomusic staff. We are always happy to consider high-quality part-exchange pieces.
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